MANNERS AND CUSTOMS IN HOPKINTON.
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��On the left of this inscription, ac- cording to the reader's observation, is the perpendicularly chiseled sentiment, " Her Eulogy is written on the hearts of her friends ;" on the right, another, " Her friends were — ALL, who knew her."
The first artificial headstones in the town were of slatestont, rudely sculp- tured, with a death's head and wings. Afterwards came the improved slab of slate, on which the monument and weeping willow — one or both — were representative graven symbols of afflic- tion. The marble slab followed, to be in its turn largely superseded by the more imposing stone or stately monu- ment, the latter being usually of mar- ble, though sometimes of granite.
The first tomb constructed in this town was built by Roger E. Perkins, and is located in the lower village grave- yard. It received the bodies of nu- merous members and descendants of the Perkins family, but will receive no more. A few years ago it was closed and sealed for all time. In front of this tomb, on a slab of soft stone, is this inscription :
Roger E. Perkins'
Tomb,
Erected July 11, 1821.
It is an interesting fact that this in- scription was cut by the late Rev. Ed- ward Ballard, son of the late John Os- good Ballard, the renowned select school teacher, and that the sculptor used only his pocket knife in the opera- tion.
The mention of the lower village cemetery suggests an interesting fact of local history. This yard, as originally laid out, extended two or three rods in- to the present main street. When the growth of the village demanded an in- creased width of street, the graveyard fence was set back the necessary dis- tance at this point, and many bodies were disinterred and reburied in other places ; but many others were left in their original positions, the mounds be- ing smoothed off, and the thoughtless travelers to day tread above them while passing and repassing. The above
��change of outline occurred not far from the year 1820.
MATRIMONIAL.
There is less that need be said of matrimonial customs than of some others. There are some legal features of this part of the present subject that are worth noticing. The colonial statute of marriage required that an in- tention of matrimony should be attend- ed by a certificate from the clerk of the town, or a license from the governor of the province, and be published on three several meeting days. Subse- quently to Independence, in 1791, a law was enacted in New Hampshire, making it compulsory upon parties de- siring to consummate marriage to have their "desire or intention published at three several public meeting days, or three Sabbath days," in town, or, if there was no clerk to publish, in the next adjoining town. The first publi- cations of matrimonial intents were by open "crying" of the same by the town clerk at some interval in the re- ligious services of Sunday. Afterwards notice was given by posting the legal evidence of the intent of parties in the entry, or porch, of the meeting-house.
The posting of marriages was kept up till a late period. In the rooms of the New Hampshire Antiquarian Soci- ety, at Contoocook, can be seen the last marriage notice posted in this town. It reads as follows :
Mr. - Erastus Dan forth, and Miss Mary S. Nichols, both of Hopkinton, intend marriage.
F. P. KNOWLTON,
Town Clerk. Were married Aug. 23, 1854.
In later times, as is well known, the certificate of a town-clerk is a sufficient guaranty of the privilege of legal mar- riage.
BENEVOLENT.
Charity is an attribute of human na- ture in all times and places. Its for- mulated services are modified to suit the times and. circumstances. In the earlier days of this town, the poor were assisted by the public, as now. Such
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