252
��MANNERS AND CUSTOMS IN HOPKINTON.
��of the Hill, I give and Be Stow on the Town. John Putney."*
In the earliest days of this township, if a person died, the body was enclosed in a winding sheet, which enwrapped the form in such a manner as to favor the lapping of certain edges over the face of the deceased after the obsequies were performed and before the coffin was closed. The coffin was made by the local carpenter, who does not ap- pear to have ever kept one on hand in case of an emergency, and was fitted with a pane of glass over the place al- loted to the head of the corpse, through which glass the features were to be viewed by the mourners and friends. The funeral exercises being finished, the detached lid of the coffin was screwed over the pane, and the re- mains were ready for burial.
The preparations for burial being fin- ished, the coffin was placed upon a bier, or barrow, and covered with a pall. The pall was a large piece of black cloth, about the size of a bed- sheet, and served as a symbol of gener- al solemnity and mourning. The pall was the property of the town. A pall was purchased in this town in 1768. The bier was at first borne on the shoulders of a number of men selected for the purpose ; in later times, it was carried by the hands, as it is now, for short distances, on the way to the grave. The coffin was buried without any box, or other investing receptacle. At first, there were sometimes at- tempts at preserving the memories of the dead by rude headstones of un- hewn rock, in which were cut the ini- tials of the deceased. A number of these headstones can be seen in the old cemetery on Putney's Hill. Only one of these bears a date. It is in memory of a child. The whole in- scription is "1758, J. C," the initials being cut below the date. As soon as the prosperity of the local settlement
- The public act of the town in advance
of this gratuity is as follows :
"Voted that Haifa Nacre of Land Be Procurd for a Buring Place where they have Be gun to Bury on the top of the Hill."
��would allow, wrought gravestones be- gan to be used. These were at first "with shapeless sculpture decked," be- ing exceedingly rude. In the old graveyard on Putney's Hill are the two oldest artificial headstones in town. One is a memento of Lieut. Aaron Kimball, who died July 30, 1760, aged 50 ; the other, of Jeremiah Kimball, who died May 18, 1764, aged 56. These headstones are supplemented by corresponding footstones.
The gravestones of the older time sometimes exhibited a prolixity of in- scription that was quite noticeable. The most remarkable case in kind is seen in the lower village cemetery.* On a large, slate headstone, finely sculptured on its face, is the following elaborate inscription :
In testimony of sincere
affection,
This humble monument was erected by
E. Darling, to inform the passing stranger that be- neath rests the head of his beloved Eliza W. Parker,
youngest daughter of Lt. E. P., who died of consumption, May n, 1820,
JEt. 18. Invidious Death ! How dost thou rend
asunder The bonds of nature and the ties of love. In Coelo optamus convenire. We know that her Redeemer liveth.
- In 17G6, the following act, doubtless
relating to the original cemetery at the village, was passed by the town :
"Voted that half a nacor of Land Be Procurd for a Buring yard on the High way Leding to Concord Be tween the Land of Mr. Mark Jewet and Mr. John Blaisdel, a quartor out of Each of these Lands. " Subsequently to a blank space immediately following this vote, this gratuity is expressed :
"a quarter of a nacor of Land for a Buring Plas which was Voted to Be Procurd on my Land I give and Be Stow on the Town. John Blaisdel."
The blank space in the record was doubtless intended for the accommoda- tion of Mr. Jewett, who for some reason never used it.
�� �
