Middlesex County CT Archives History - Books .....Cemeteries 1887

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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com May 20, 2005, 11:15 am

Book Title: The Old Chimney Stacks Of East Haddam

CHAPTER XIII.
CEMETERIES.

  For many years after the settlement of the town the people, carried their dead
across the river to Haddam for burial. Not far from the year 1700, a party of
mourners, bearing their dead, crossed the Cove and the narrow peninsula of
Haddam Neck, and attempted to cross the river. It had overflowed its banks and
the floating ice rendered a passage impossible. Slowly and sadly the procession
retraced its steps through the snow, and buried its dead in the forest in a
romantic spot a little back from the Cove. This person was Mrs. Arnold, a great,
great aunt of Mrs. Elijah Bingham. Thus commenced the Cove burial ground, and
the place is now known as "Grave Yard Point." It is situated about one and a
half miles north of the Landing, and a little west of William O. Brainerd's.
Although the spot has twice been cleared of wood within ninety years, large
trees stand beside the rude grave stones as if to offer their protection, and
throw over the spot their solemn shade. The brown stones, covered with the moss
of time, are adorned by the traditional angels having the usual round heads with
wings protruding from the ears. In a prominent part of the cemetery is a
moss-covered tabular monument with this inscription: "Under this tombstone lyeth
interred the body of the Rev. Stephen Hosmer, the first Pastor of the First
Church of Christ in East Haddam, who departed this life the 18th day of June, A.
D., 1749, and in the 70th year of his age. And at his right hand lyeth Mrs.
Sarah Hosmer, his beloved consort, who departed this life September ye 30th, A.
D. 1749, and in the 67th year of her 
age.
    "Sweet souls we leave you to your rest, 
    Enjoy your Jesus and your God,
    Till we from bands of clay released,
    Spring out and climb the shining road."

  Near this is another slab of brown stone with this inscription: "Here lieth
the body of Thomas Gates, Justice of the Peace, April ye 20th, 1734, in ye 70th
year of his age." Also, another slab recording the death of Dea. Daniel
Brainerd, who died 1743." Beside this stands a handsome stone for those days,
which has remained in a good state of preservation, and records the death of
Capt. Joshua Brainard, who departed this life May the 13th, A. D. 1755, in the
84th year of his age." In a line with this, stand rude brown stones which mark
the graves of Nehimiah, Lucy, Uri and Hannah Brainard, and at the end of the
line stands the only marble stones in the yard. They mark the graves of Bezaliel
Brainard and Lydia his wife. They were the grandparents of Wm. O. and Abby
Brainard who own the ground. Here, too, is the resting place of the Cones, the
Ackleys, Arnolds, Olmsteads and many old families of the town. A more, pleasant
or romantic spot than this can hardly be found. Moodus and the Landings, instead
of each having a cemetery, should have united and purchased this spot for a
common burial ground. The distance from either place is convenient. Nature,
history and tradition have already made it an interesting spot; it would only
have needed the embellishments of art, to make it a "retreat of which the town
might well be proud. One cannot wander through this silent city of the dead,
without his mind reverting to the time, when its occupants roamed over these
hills and possessed our present homes. Their rude boats were moored beside the
ruder canoes of the Indians in the snug harbor afforded by the Cove, or glided
in friendly rivalry over the peaceful waters of the Connecticut. But one
generation removed from their Puritan fathers, they inherited their virtues and
their faith, and were loyal subjects of their God and King. At last, weary with
life's toils they laid down to sleep beneath these pleasant shades, and for
nearly two centuries the din and confusion of progress and civilization have
failed to disturb their silent repose. The mourner who was wont to visit this
retreat with a secret yet melancholy pleasure comes now no more. The flowers and
shrubs which once fringed these lowly graves, and which the hand of friendship
delighted to cherish, are replaced by those of Nature's own bestowing, for God
has not forgotten them. "He sends the golden beams of the morning to shine upon
the tree-tops with refreshing cheerfulness, and the lingering tints of evening
to hover over them with a tranquilizing glow." The other grave yards in East
Haddam were laid out or commenced as follows:

   Old Yard in Hadlyme, 1723.
   Long Pond Yard, 1726.
   Moodus Yard, 1748.
   Meeting House Yard in Hadlyme, 1750.
   Bashan, 1760.
   'Tater Hill, 1760.
   Near Millington Green, 1764.
   Eight Mile River, 1769.
   Landing, 1773.
   Mt. Parnassus, 1774.
   Centre Cong. Church, 1778.
   Wicket Lane, 1793.

  There is probably no more healthy town in the State, the air and water being
uncommonly pure. Some of the old accounts refer to periods when virulent
diseases prevailed throughout the town, but of nothing very serious. Within a
few years past, malaria has prevailed, to some extent, along the river, and in
fact it has prevailed throughout the whole State. In the year 1775, there were
over forty deaths in the town; in the year following, more than fifty. The
population of East Haddam, in 1800, was 2,805. The total number of deaths in the
town for ten years after was 614, or an average of over sixty each year, being a
much larger average of mortality than has existed since that time. In 1870, the
population was but 2,952, or 147 more than it was at the beginning of the
century. The number of deaths during the year ending June 1st, 1870, was 5.4, or
an average of 1 in 55 persons. Twenty of those deaths were caused by
consumption, six from typhoid fever, two were accidental. The other deaths
resulted from diseases pertaining to childhood and old age. Twenty-two of the
number were under twenty-three years of age; eleven over seventy; seven over
eighty, and one over ninety years. Thus while two-fifths failed to reach the
average of human life, more than one-third passed the three-score years and ten
alloted to man by the Creator.


Additional Comments:
Transcribed from:

THE OLD CHIMNEY STACKS OF EAST HADDAM, MIDDLESEX COUNTY, CONNECTICUT,
BY
HOSFORD B. NILES,
Author of Genealogy of THE NILES FAMILY.
NEW YORK: LOWE & CO., Book and Job Printers No. 210 Fulton Street.
1887


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