Vermont AHGP
Part of the American History and
Genealogy Project
Burying Grounds
At an early date, Hon. Seth Putnam deeded his one-acre lot in the white pine division, which is in the village, on the east side of the street opposite the railroad depot, to the town for a burying ground. The yard is well fenced, and kept in as good condition as the scanty room will admit. I have not learned who was the first person buried there, and the number cannot be very accurately determined, but the cemetery is nearly all occupied.
The following names, taken mostly from the headstones there, show that there sleep some of the brave veterans who fought to establish our nation, and some of the daring pioneers who cleared the dense forest from our fertile fields:
Lyman Tolman, aged 95
Cyrus Hill, 94
Ebenezer Woodbury
Revolutionary Soldiers
Hon. Seth Putnam, fourth settler in town, 93
Capt. Holden Putnam, Captain at Plattsburgh, 86
Jesse Johnson, Sen'r, 86
Luther Haskins, 84
Mary Petty Haskins, wife of Luther, 81
Sally, wife of Dr. Joseph Lewis, 83
Polly Goldthwait, 79
Elihu Atherton, 79
Moses Holden, 78
Aaron Ladd, 78
Jesse Johnson, Jr., 77
As the ripened autumn leaves surely and successively drop from the forest trees and are borne to the silent earth, so are we, in sure succession, dropping from the stage of life, and being borne to the silent cities of the departed. And as the inhabitants of these cities will soon outnumber those living in our villages and along our valleys and hill sides, it seems just and appropriate proper mention should be made of them ; and I think much credit is due the inhabitants of this town and near vicinity for the improving and adorning of their cemeteries.
The Middlesex Centre Cemetery
Now one of the most neatly arranged country cemeteries to be
found; situated in a slightly, pleasant place, on the east side
of the first made and most direct road from the village to the
Centre, about 2 miles from the river, on the top of the first of
three elevations of rolling ground road. Along the roadside and
within the gate near the entering avenue, is a grove of handsome
maples in rows, casting their shade upon the turf and over the
pretty, white school house upon the left. The grounds within the
cemetery are neatly arranged in 6 rows of lots, with 3 carriage
avenues running the length of the ground and cross avenues. Each
lot is raised above the avenues, with walk left between each 2
lots, and flowers, blooming shrubs and roses, break the mat of
thick green grass and add their beauty to the sacred plots. A
substantial wall and close-trimmed cedar hedge inclosing all.
But it is more the tasteful arrangement of the whole that makes the place seem beautiful for everyone, than any profuse adornment. The stranger, too, pauses to admire the lovely scenery around as well, and the mourners feel a spirit of thankfulness that their dear friends are resting in so fair a place.
There are some 200 graves here now, with many monuments. Jan. 1, 181 2 Nathan Benton, one of the first settlers, deeded 2 acres of land here to Joseph Chapin, Josiah Holden and 16 others: the land tc be used for a neighborhood burying ground. In the spring of 1822 there were 5 graves in this ground, but it was in an open field, and had not been exactly located. That year the neighbors met and appointed Stephen Herrick to measure and stake out the ground, and a fence was built around it.
But little was done to improve it more until about 1856, when through the influence and under the supervision of Horace Holden, the friends of the deceased buried there, and others who felt interested, began to kill the weeds and brakes that had become abundant, and improvements were continued from time to time till 1858, when everything was completed nearly as at present. In 1866, an association was formed called "The Middlesex Centre Cemetery Association," to which Aaron Ladd, Asa Chapin, and 21 others, owners of lots, deeded their right and title. Under the Association each one of those who deeded and each one who took an active part in the work of improving the ground were entitled to a family lot.
Some of the Oldest buried here are:
Elizabeth McElroy, came from Scotland to U. S. in 1740, died in
1823, aged 99
Joseph Chapin, Sr., 96
Susanna Chase, 89
Jeremiah Leland, 78
Elizabeth, wife of Jeremiah Leland, 88
Samuel Daniels, 87
Lucretia, wife of Samuel Daniels, 78
Polly McElroy, 84
Sanford White, 80
Maj. John Poor, 79, and Eliza M., his wife, 73, both buried in
one grave
Joseph Chapin, Jr., 78
Horace Holden, 74
Marian Leland, 92
Abram Gale, 78, and Mary, his wife, 92
Margaret Mead, 79
Benjamin Willey, 72
Mary Wilson, 73
Hosea Minott, 74
Knight Nichols, 81, and Mercy, his wife, 92
Geo. H. Lewis, 71
The North Branch Cemetery
On North Branch, about 1 mile below Putnam's Mills, is another
cemetery, of which Mr. Putnam furnishes the following
description:
"About 1810, Jno. Davis was buried on land then occupied by him, known as the Scudder lot, nearly in front of his house, on the opposite side of the road. After that time the place was used for a burying ground, and k of an acre was enclosed with a log-fence. At that time a man by the name of Flanders lived where Chester Taylor now lives; Levi Lewis and wife, Polly, lived where G. M. Whitney now does. Jno. Davis and wife, Nancy, were the first who lived on the Stiles place. James Pittsly and wife, Esther, commenced on the place known as the Bohonnon place, on the east side of the stream, now occupied by Jacob Putnam. After this, Wm. Lewis purchased the Scudder lot and the inhabitants erected a board fence around the burying lot. October 8, 1863, an association was formed called the North Branch Cemetery Association. The trustees purchased 10 acres, together with the old ground of Lathrop Lewis, son of Wm. Lewis, for $150, and built a good, substantial fence around it, erected a hearse-house and purchased a hearse. The location being on the main road, and the soil dry found in coming from the village on this and sandy, makes it the most desirable cemetery in the town."
Some of the oldest buried in North Branch Cemetery were:
Clarissa Gould, aged 66
Ruth Minott, 66
Daniel Russell, 68 his wife. Temperance, 81
Reuben Russell, 78 his wife, Susannah, 69
John Gallison, 83 his wife, Phebe, 85
Allen Gallison, 68
Enoch Kelton, 64 his wife, Huldah, 72
Josiah Wright, 76 his wife, Betsy, 84
Nathaniel Wentworth, 71
Elizabeth, relict of Moses Wentworth, 87
William Lewis, 88 his wife, Hannah, 67
Jacob Putnam, 73 his wife, Polly W., 57
Betsy Thayer, 67
Isaac Batchelder, 61 his wife, Mary, 68
David Herrick, 86 his wife, Mary, 85
Stephen C. Jacobs, 76
Andrew Tracy, 75 his wife, Levina, 84
Ebenezer Cummings, 94
Abel H. Coleman, 75
David Gray, 82
David Hatch, 63 his wife, Sarah, 57
John McDermid, nearly 77 his wife, Adelia, nearly 72
Louiza Lane, 72
Margaret Smith, 81
Thomas Culver, 71 his wife, Anna, 73
Zeley Keyes, 76
Micah Hatch, 83 his wife, Mary, 69
Ephraim Hall, 68
Timothy Worth, 84
Solomon Lewis, 89 his wife, Susannah, 70 his second wife,
Lucinda, 68
Elizabeth Church, 60
Sabra Burrell, 85
Wm. R. Kinson, 56
Hannah Kinson, 73
Eunice Edgerly, 64
Mrs. Lydia King, widow of Elder Nathaniel King, died at the
house of her son-in-law,
Stephen Herrick, at the age of 91 years, and was buried in
Northfield.
Source: History of Washington County Vermont, Collated and Published by Abby Maria Hemenway, 1882.
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