Hello, Last year I had a little more time to visit little graveyards within an hour's drive of my home, and I took some pictures. I have some from Littleton, MA, which were taken in the autumn and turned out to be nice pictures. (one-time-use camera) I have found out that in MA in the 1600's, those gravestones would have long since disappeared. In the Boston to Lowell area, you would be very lucky to find a stone for someone from born 1700-1720. My KIDDER ancestor and his 2 brothers left Chelmsford, MA, and went to New Ipswich, NH, as it was being founded (late 1700's), and I've read that their gravestones are nowhere to be found. That doesn't seem right to me. The brother, Reuben KIDDER, was rich, a well-known man in the State, a large land-owner, etc., and I can't believe that there wasn't an important gravesite for him ! I'm told that in Billerica and Chelmsford (both founded 1655), many stones in "family plots" - meaning "on" the family's land, disappeared - one way or another. As more people came to the towns, more houses had to be built. Some graves would have been moved, but we can only guess what happened to others. In contrast, I've visited Gloucester, MA, and they have much more "old graveyards" than towns do near Lowell, MA. A good guess is that many of the gravestones were for fishermen and sailors, etc., because that's where they lived. But, why did those graveyards last much longer than ones "in land?" I've never had a chance to visit one of the old graveyards (hubby doesn't like to browse). But, in the fall, maybe I'll drive there myself and poke around. Regarding the stones, I read someplace that the reason why there were different kinds of stones - depending on which decade or year - was that the material used for the gravestones - was needed during "war time." So, people had to come up with other material to build the stones with. Was different kinds of material used in gravestones in Canada? Betty (near Lowell, MA, USA) List Administrator P.S. There is a booklet which tells about the "Forefather's Burial Ground" in Chelmsford, MA. I drive by it often ! Oh, that reminds me, it is one of many, old graveyards in New England which were created on the grounds of a church. The above graveyard backs up to the historic church in Chelmsford Center. I've seen an old graveyard in Townsend, MA, which not only backs up to an historic church in the Center but some of the stones - lay against the church building.

Betty Have you posted those gravestone pictures on http://www.findagrave.com That's where everyone can post photos of old stones, and it's very simple. Even this old techno-tard can do it! Then they can be seen by everyone. Who knows. Somebody just might post a picture that YOU have been wanting! Nancy Find-a-grave Volunteer #46778169 ----- Original Message ----- From: "Betty" <bbffrrpp@comcast.net> To: <can-usa-migration@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, August 14, 2009 6:33 AM Subject: [CAN-USA-MIG] Gravestones, 1700's vs. 1800's > Hello, > > Last year I had a little more time to visit little graveyards within an > hour's drive of my home, and I took some pictures. I have some from > Littleton, MA, which were taken in the autumn and turned out to be nice > pictures. (one-time-use camera) > > I have found out that in MA in the 1600's, those gravestones would have long > since disappeared. In the Boston to Lowell area, you would be very lucky > to find a stone for someone from born 1700-1720. My KIDDER ancestor and > his 2 brothers left Chelmsford, MA, and went to New Ipswich, NH, as it was > being founded (late 1700's), and I've read that their gravestones are > nowhere to be found. That doesn't seem right to me. The brother, > Reuben KIDDER, was rich, a well-known man in the State, a large land-owner, > etc., and I can't believe that there wasn't an important gravesite for him > ! > > I'm told that in Billerica and Chelmsford (both founded 1655), many stones > in "family plots" - meaning "on" the family's land, disappeared - one way or > another. As more people came to the towns, more houses had to be built. > Some graves would have been moved, but we can only guess what happened to > others. > > In contrast, I've visited Gloucester, MA, and they have much more "old > graveyards" than towns do near Lowell, MA. A good guess is that many of > the gravestones were for fishermen and sailors, etc., because that's where > they lived. But, why did those graveyards last much longer than ones "in > land?" I've never had a chance to visit one of the old graveyards > (hubby doesn't like to browse). But, in the fall, maybe I'll drive there > myself and poke around. > > Regarding the stones, I read someplace that the reason why there were > different kinds of stones - depending on which decade or year - was that the > material used for the gravestones - was needed during "war time." So, > people had to come up with other material to build the stones with. > > Was different kinds of material used in gravestones in Canada? > > Betty (near Lowell, MA, USA) > > List Administrator > > > P.S. There is a booklet which tells about the "Forefather's Burial > Ground" in Chelmsford, MA. I drive by it often ! > > Oh, that reminds me, it is one of many, old graveyards in New England which > were created on the grounds of a church. The above graveyard backs up to > the historic church in Chelmsford Center. I've seen an old graveyard in > Townsend, MA, which not only backs up to an historic church in the Center > but some of the stones - lay against the church building. > >