USGenWeb Genealogical Site for the Town of

	Easton  Massachusetts

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Easton Cemeteries

     Collecting information about the cemeteries of Easton is an ongoing effort, and this page will be revised as needed. If you have cemetery information or gravestone transcriptions that you would like to share please send me email.

     Where I have been able to determine it, the records repository for a cemetery is indicated. When the location of a cemetery is known there are links to maps to help you find it, as well as a brief description of the location. Below these paragraphs is a locator map of the town - place the mouse cursor over a sector to highlight it, and click to bring up a sector map showing the cemetery locations in that part of the town. Any gravestone transcriptions online also have links. At the bottom of the page is a separate section listing all online, published and manuscript gravestone transcriptions that I have found for these cemeteries.

     When a cemetery has had more than one name during its history the first name listed is the one by which it is usually known today, and alternative names are listed in square brackets. In some cases a cemetery has been abandoned, its burials have been removed to another cemetery, or its location has been lost. In those cases the name may indicate that it is a cemetery site, meaning that no gravestones are to be found there. The year in parenthesis next to a cemetery name is my best estimate of the year in which that cemetery was established. In some cases the year is mentioned in town records, a town history or some other source. In other cases it is the year of the oldest gravestone for which I have found a record.

     I would like to thank John Melin of the Easton Cemetery Commission, who was kind enough to provide a great deal of information on existing and vanished cemeteries in the town. I would also like to thank John Sterling and Cherry Bamberg for sharing the Bristol Cemeteries Database of Bristol County gravestone records. Much of the other information for the cemeteries has been drawn from that database and from Cherry's files that were used to compile the database.

     Special thanks go to Thomas Keegan of Easton, who has provided new information about some of the cemeteries, as well as some new photographs and transcriptions of the stones in some of the cemeteries.

 

Lost Cemeteries and Grave Sites

     Some Easton burial places have been lost, or their burials removed to another cemetery. Several of them were described by Chaffin in his history of the town. Those burial places include:

• Asaph Howard Cemetery, on the west side of Pine St. south of High St. These burials were removed to the northwest corner of South Easton Cemetery in 1839, when a house was built on the land. Three old stones were set up at South Easton, and a modern granite monument placed there for the rest of the graves.
• The solitary grave of Dr. Seth Babbit, d. 1761, located on "the southern slope of a hill northwest of the old Dwelly Goward place." John Melin of the Easton Cemetery Commission reports "There are homes in the area where the Dr. Seth Babbit grave is supposed to be. We went to the area a couple of times with a fellow who said when he was a kid he remembered seeing the grave, but when we brought him to the site he said everything has changed so much, and couldn't point out the exact spot."
• Two graves of children, one of whom d. 1819, near or on the site of "Andrew Erickson's house in North Easton village, on Andrews Street." John Melin of the Easton Cemetery Commission reports "We have never found the grave sites on Andrews Street."
• The solitary gravestone of Mary Howard, d. 1819, on "the brow of a hill west of the Bay road near the Sharon line, and just south of the Ansel Adams house." John Melin of the Easton Cemetery Commission reports "We have searched and spoken to some of the old timers about the girl's grave on Bay Road but have not found anything."
• Isaac Manley Lot, ca. 1805, containing several graves, "now indistinguishable," "just west of a large bowlder on the Alonzo Marshall (now O. A. Day) place, not far east of the railroad tracks." John Melin of the Easton Cemetery Commission reports "Never found the site along the RR tracks."

     Thomas Keegan reports that the Easton Historical Society is currently preserving two unmarked burial grounds. When more is learned about those yards it will be posted here.

Location:   Across from 35 Rachael Cir.

Description by Thomas Keegan:  This approximately 50 foot square burial ground has 4 concrete posts marking its corners. There is one stone (not a headstone, it's more like a small boulder) in the front center on the east side of the burial ground with a mounted plaque facing east, containing a memorial message.

Notes:   Maintained by the Town of Easton.

Location:   East side of Black Brook Rd. south of Summer St.

Description by Thomas Keegan:  This burial ground is located on the east side of Black Brook Road, in a residential area, adjacent to the front/side yard of a private residence. This burial ground has 6 wooden steps leading the visitor up from the road and through an entry way flanked by 2 stone posts. There are also 4 stone posts in the far corners of the grounds, with chains linking the posts rimming the entire perimeter except the entry way. The sides of this slightly asymmetrical burial ground are facing approximately east-west and north-south. The approximate lengths of the westerly and southerly sides are 33', the easterly side 30' and the northerly side 42'. There are about a dozen trees (mostly pines) growing within the area of this burial ground. There are 2 headstones and 1 footstone within this burial ground. All stones are facing east-west and the inscriptions are on the west faces.

Notes:   Maintained by the Town of Easton.

Location:   West side of Red Mill Rd. in a wooded area.

Description by Thomas Keegan:  Bordering this small, approximate 15 foot square burial ground, there are 8 stone posts, each connected by 2 iron rods to the next adjacent post, although a few of the rods are now missing. There are 2 headstones and 2 footstones in this yard, all facing east-west. All engravings are on the east face of the stones.

Notes:   Maintained by the Town of Easton.

Location:   In the parking lot of the YMCA Wellness Center, 25 Elm St. The grave's location is believed to have been near the northeast corner of the lot, and the town has placed a stone monument and a marker there.

Description by Thomas Keegan:  The marker is in the location of where the burial ground is believed to have been. The marker says "CAPT. ELISHA HARVEY 1757" and is adorned with an American veteran's flag. The stone memorial put in place by the town has the following engraving:

Notes:   Maintained by the Town of Easton.

Location:   West side of Bay Rd. just south of Greystone Way.

Description by Thomas Keegan:  On the west side of Bay Road, at approximately 50 foot deep (east-west) and 40 foot wide (north-south), this burial ground is guarded by stone walls on four sides with an opening to Bay Road on the east side. Although Chaffin in 1886 reported 2 regular gravestones belonging to Captain Jedediah Willis and his wife Mrs. Susan Willis, along with 8-10 other graves, marked by round headstones and footstones, there are no visible signs today of headstones in this burial ground. The marker says "Capt. JEDIDIAH WILLIS 1820". One American veteran's flag stands alone here.

Notes:   Maintained by the Town of Easton.

Location:   West side of Center St. south of Meetinghouse La.

Notes:   Maintained by the Town of Easton.

Location:   North side of Prospect St. east of Bay Rd.

Notes:   Maintained by the Town of Easton.

Location:   North side of Church St. west of Depot St. This was originally one with the Old Burying Ground, but they are now separated by Church St., which was once called Cynthia Drake Road.

Notes:   Maintained by the Town of Easton.

Location:   South side of Highland St. opposite South St.

Notes:   Maintained by the Town of Easton.

Location:   East side of Bay Rd. opposite Beaver Dam Rd. It is set back from Bay so look carefully for it.

Description by Thomas Keegan:  This cemetery on the east side of Bay Road is approximately 20 feet square in dimension and has 8 granite posts surrounding the perimeter. These posts were all connected together by two rows of chain at one time, some of the chain still remains. There are four headstones in this burial ground and two smaller footstones. They all face east-west and the inscriptions are located on the west face.

Notes:   Maintained by the Town of Easton.

Location:   East side of Prospect St. opposite No. 123.

Notes:   Maintained by the Town of Easton.

For records contact:   Henderson Nurseries, 492 Bay Rd., Easton MA, 02375, 508-238-1615.

Location:   East side of South St. between Foundry St. and Highland St., opposite 69 South St.

Notes:   Maintained by Henderson Nurseries.

Location:   At the end of Picker Lane, on the left just inside the entrance to Picker Field.

Description by Thomas Keegan:  This burial ground is at the very end of Picker Lane, on the left, just a short distance in the woods. The burial ground is guarded by 10 stone posts, linked together by chain. It is about 30 feet long (north-south) by about 18 feet wide (east-west). There are 6 stones remaining in this burial ground, five are in line on the western side of the yard, all with American Veteran's Flags in the ground and the sixth is on the eastern side near the south end of the yard. All stones are facing east-west with all inscriptions on the western face of the stones.

Notes:   Maintained by the Town of Easton.

Location:   Borderland State Park, near Massapoag Ave., in an area bounded by a stone wall south of the Ames Mansion.

Description by Thomas Keegan:  Located in Borderland State Park, south of (behind) the mansion a few hundred yards or so, just inside the tree line in line at approximately the mid-point of the mansion. Note there are stone walls on three sides of this cemetery, two approximately 70 ft long (east-west) and one on the east side of the burial grounds, approximately 35 ft wide (north-south). There are three stones in this burial ground, two larger stones on the west side of the grounds and one smaller stone just east of these stones.

Notes:   This was originally the site of George Wilbur's homestead, which later became Peter McDermott's farm. The property was eventually owned by Oakes and Blanche Ames, who built a three-storey mansion there in 1910. The property, including cemetery and mansion, are now part of Borderland State Park.

Location:   On the left just inside the Washington St. (Rte. 138) entrance to Stonehill College, surrounded by a brick wall.

Notes:   Owned and maintained by Stonehill College.

Location:   East side of Canton St. opposite No. 100.

For records contact:   Immaculate Conception Parish, 193 Main St., North Easton, MA 02356, phone 508-238-3232.

Notes:   Maintained by Immaculate Conception Parish.

Location:   North side of Purchase St. west of Washington St. (Rte. 138).

Notes:   Maintained by the Town of Easton.

Location:   West side of Mill St. between Rockland St. and Massapoag Ave.

Notes:   Maintained by the Town of Easton.

Location:   South side of Prospect St. east of Bay Rd.

Notes:   Maintained by the Town of Easton.

Location:   North Side of Chestnut St. at the corner of Acorn Road.

Notes:   Maintained by the Town of Easton.

Location:   East side of Turnpike St. north of West St.

Notes:   Maintained by the Town of Easton.

Location:   East side of Bay Road north of Kingsley Road.

Description by Thomas Keegan:  This burial ground is approximately 200-250 feet wide (north-south) and 75-100 feet deep (east-west) and is located on the east side of Bay Road. Guarding the front border of the burial ground are 10 granite posts with evidence of chains that once linked the posts together. A larger space between the middle two posts undoubtedly was an entryway into the burial ground.

Notes:   Maintained by the Town of Easton.

Location:   South side of Church St. west of Depot St. This was originally one with Cynthia Drake Cemetery, but they are now separated by Church St., which was once called Cynthia Drake Road. In 1948 Sprague found only one stone standing, two fallen, and a footstone.

Description by Thomas Keegan:   Located on the southern side of Church Street, this irregular, almost triangular shaped burial ground is approximately 700' in length along the front edge that borders Church Street. When facing the burial ground, the far left (eastern) side is approximately 250' deep. The back edge of this yard meanders its way back to the front right (NW) corner of the yard. In this corner, there are 4 concrete posts marking an area of approximate 20' x 40' and a 5th post where an iron gate hangs between it and one of these corner posts. This area is seemingly out of place now and without function, but may have at one time been the main entrance to the yard. The entire front edge of this burial ground along Church Street is bordered by an iron fence from corner to corner with a gate that is now the main entrance, approximately in the middle of the yard.

The left and right sides of this burial ground abut the properties of private residences and the back is bordered by a wooded area. This burial ground is mostly cleared grassy grounds, however there are a few trees in the front and left area of the grounds.

Inside the gate in the center, a stone-paved walk leads the visitor approximately 75' back from the street to 3 stone memorials, one large memorial in the center flanked by two smaller ones. Not far behind these memorials is a tall flagpole flying the American Flag. The tall memorial in the center has two smaller American Flags in the ground on either side of it as well as a patriotic wreath lying on the ground. The two smaller memorials on either side each have an American Flag in place in the ground beside them.

Notes:   Maintained by the Town of Easton.

Location:   South side of Short St. across from Lyman Wheelock Rd.

Description by Thomas Keegan:   This somewhat trapezoidal shaped burial ground is located on the southwestern side of Short Street, across from Lyman Wheelock Road. Measuring about 100' on the front (along Short Street), 75-80' on the sides and 40' along the back, this burial ground has four stone walls around the perimeter with no break for an entryway into the grounds. On the left side of the burial ground, near the center, there is a small mound of earth and pile of stones that at first sight appears to be a possible burial location, but upon further inspection, a partial breach in the stone wall on the left side near this mound leads the observer to believe it is merely the result of the stones being relocated from the wall at one time for whatever reason. Also, there are nine mature pines in the front left and along the left side of the yard, with evidence of two mature pines having been cut down in the past, with only the stumps remaining. A couple of other smaller trees are in the back left along with a lone cedar tree. There are 11 headstones in this yard, some with footstones and all but 2 are in the right front section of the yard. The remaining 2 stones are located in the left rear section.

Notes:   Maintained by the Town of Easton.

Location:   West side of Flyaway Pond Drive. Park by the woods on the west side of Flyaway Pond Dr. and walk in the path along the south side of the woods.

Description by Thomas Keegan:  The marker says "PEREZ PACKARD 1878" and an American veteran's flag is in place in the ground. The memorial stone in place here has the following engraving:

Notes:   Maintained by the Town of Easton.

Location:   North side of Morse Rd.

Notes:   Privately owned and maintained.

Location:   East side of Washington St. (Rte. 138) north of Belmont St.

Notes:   Privately owned and maintained.

Location:   North side of Depot St. opposite No. 214.

Description by Thomas Keegan:  This burial ground is located on the north side of Depot Street located in between two private residences on the west and east sides of the burial ground, with the backyard of the easterly residence also bordering the back (north) side of this burial ground. The burial ground is bordered by stone walls on the front (south) and the west sides. In the front, there is an approximate 8' opening in the stone wall flanked by 2 stone posts. There are numerous mature pines buffering the back (north) edge that abuts the neighboring residence's backyard. On the east side, there is a thick line of pines and rhododendrons between the burial ground and the grounds of this private residence. There are also several mature trees (mostly pines and oaks) within this burial ground. The approximate dimensions of this burial ground are 85' long (east-west) and 45' wide (north-south). There are 7 headstones in this burial ground, 3 accompanied by American Veteran's Flags and each with a sticker on the faces of the stones, as observed elsewhere, "American, Let Us Not Forget, Those Who Served." © 1993 and there is 1 footstone. All stones are facing north-south, with the inscriptions on the south face. The only exception is the footstone, which has its inscription on the north face. The stones are approximately in the center of the yard (n-s) and nearer to the right (east) side of the yard.

Notes:   Maintained by the Town of Easton.

Location:   West side of Washington St. (Rte. 138) north of Belmont St.

Notes:   Privately owned and maintained.

Location:   West side of Bay Rd. north of Dunbar Dr.

Notes:   Maintained by the Town of Easton.

Location:   South side of Lincoln St., in the woods behind No. 112. Park in McEntee Lane (entrance road to the town pool) and walk down the right-of-way between 108 and 112 Lincoln.

Description by Thomas Keegan:  This cemetery, on the south side of Lincoln Street, is about 110 feet long (north-south) and about 85 feet wide (east-west). It is bordered by short stone walls on the south and west sides and portions of stone walls on the north and east sides of the yard. There are at least twelve graves that are apparent, as evidenced by a slight mound of earth and a perimeter of stones around each. Five of these graves are marked with American Veteran's Flags in the ground, three of which are adorned with name plates. There are at least five other spots in the burial ground where there appears to be some evidence of what remains of a perimeter of stones and/or a slight mound of earth, indicating other likely grave locations. There are about 10 or more other stones visible in the ground in various places in this burial area, but it is not clear if these stones are naturally in place or if they were placed intentionally to mark graves.

Notes:   Maintained by the Town of Easton. Has Revolutionary War markers for Paul Lincoln and Hugh Washburn, a War of 1812 marker for William Washburn, and a much later headstone for a baby girl named Annie. Other graves are marked only by outlines of stone or piles of stones.

For records contact:   Village Cemetery Corporation.

Location:   Behind the Unity Church of North Easton.

Notes:   Maintained by the Village Cemetery Corporation.

Location:   Southwest corner of the intersection of Washington St. (Rte. 138) and Elm St.

Notes:   Maintained by the Town of Easton.

Location:   North side of Rockland St. just east of Mill St.

Notes:   Maintained by the Town of Easton.

Gravestone transcriptions by Thomas Keegan:

• Almshouse Cemetery, transcribed in February, 2007
• Apollos Clark Cemetery, transcribed in March, 2007
• Asa Newcomb Cemetery, transcribed in February, 2007
• Elijah Copeland Graveyard, transcribed in February, 2007
• George Fergusson Burying Ground, transcribed in February, 2007
• George Wilbur Cemetery, transcribed in January, 2007
• Old Bay Road Cemetery, transcribed in February, 2007
• Old Burying Ground, transcribed in March, 2007
• Oliver Howard Cemetery, transcribed in March, 2007
• Silas Phillips Cemetery, transcribed in March, 2007
• Thomas Manley Cemetery, transcribed in February, 2007

The Bristol Cemeteries Database Project currently contains some 27,000 Bristol County gravestone inscriptions collected by volunteers using the Association for Gravestone Studies (AGS) Gravestone Database Standard Program. Records are first entered from published sources and manuscripts. Those records are then verified and corrected by trained volunteers during field visits, and additional information about those gravestones and their cemeteries is added. This project is still in its earliest stages. I am currently working with Ray Sears, Massachusetts State Manager for the USGenWeb Tombstone Transcription Project, to put this database online. Volunteers are needed to enter records found in books, libraries, and historical and genealogical societies. Additional volunteers are needed who will receive training in AGS methods and standards for transcriptions, and who will then correct and update the database during cemetery visits. This project is being undertaken in accordance with AGS standards in order to create a complete and accurate record of Bristol County gravestone inscriptions for future researchers and historians. If you would like to volunteer for this project please send me email.

William Ladd Chaffin, History of the Town of Easton, Massachusetts (Cambridge MA: John Wilson & Son, 1886; Facsimile reprint: Salem MA: Higginson Book Co., 1997). Contains a small selection of transcriptions, as well as the history of a number of Easton cemeteries.

William Ladd Chaffin, Records of Deaths in Easton, Mass., ca. 1713-1886 (Mss 864). R. Stanton Avery Special Collections Department, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston. Includes handwritten transcriptions of gravestone inscriptions from several Easton cemeteries.

Waldo Chamberlain Sprague, Inscriptions, Old Church St. Cemetery, Easton, Mass. (MS/70/EAS/312). R. Stanton Avery Special Collections Department, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston. Contains handwritten 1948 transcriptions of gravestone inscriptions from the town's oldest cemetery, which is divided by Church St. into two sections generally known as "Old Burying Ground" (east side of road) and "Cynthia Drake Cemetery" (west side of road).

Mrs. J. Clifford Ross and Mrs. Albert B. Joy, Memorandum of Graves, Center Street Near the End of Short Street, and Short Street Opposite Lyman Wheelock Road (MS/70/EAS/340). R. Stanton Avery Special Collections Department, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston. 1956 typescript of transcriptions from Central Cemetery and Oliver Howard Cemetery.