Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-10-04
WlUttester 4aiIg Spp
Memorials of the Dead in the old Colony.

ed than the location of this ancient cemetery
Situated upon the brow OF a hill east of the
village, it overlooks the valley of the Acush-
net, and with the eye you can follow the
course of the river until it is lost in Buzzard's
Bay. Beneath lies the pretty village of Acush-
net, all around the landscape is dotted with
the beautiful residences of those who prefer
the country to the town, and far below, with
1T many church spires glistening in the sun,
sits our own lovely city, New Bedford. To
one at all conversant with the early history
of Dartmouth, which once comprised within
its limits the present corporations OF Dart
mouth Eairhaven, New Bedford, Westport,
and portions of Little Compton and Ilverton,
it cannot but be interesting to walk through
this resting place of the early dead, and read
upon the ancient tOmbstones the names OF
those who figured in the early settlement of
the town. Here we find the Popes, Russells,
Jennys, Blossoms, Huttlest0ns, Kemptons,
and others, whose names are in the earliest
records, and whose descendants are our every
day companions. Many of the early burials
were without headstones, but succeeded in
finding the following, with date as early as
l7l0
"Here Ives We body of Mrs. Deborah Pope,
wife Of Capt. Seth Pope, aged Sc years. De-
parted this life February we 18th, 17l0." The
next record we find is "Here lies We body OF
Mary Delano, wife to Jabez Delano, aged 80
years; dyed April ye 29th l716." In 1920
Lieut.. Jonathan Deano was buried here che
died Dec. we 10th, in ye 73d year of his age"
Seth Pope was one of the early settlers. The
following is to his memory: ''Here lyes bur-
led We body of Seth Pope, Esq, of Dartmouth,
who died March 18th, 1927, aged 49,"
The old congregational meeting house stood
here, but was long since taken down. Among
no Oft al
contribution box, with the following in
scribed upon it: ''Those who refuse to pay by
rate, to end dispute may contribute"
''Clarks Congregational Churches in Mas
sachuSetts' says: probably the first church
in New Bedford was gathered at the head of
Acushnet river, during the year 100" DIR.
Mather, in his "Magnaha," puts down Dart
mouth in 1896, then including New Bedford,
Fairhaven, &C., as ''perishing without vision"
or in other words, destitute of preaching.
@'While it is KNOWN" says Clark, ''that the
Rev. Samuel Hunt was preaching there in
100, to a church whose organization can be
assigned to no subsequent period" The Rev.
Samuel Hart was an itinerant at the time of
the colonial expedition against Port Royal,
which expedition he joined as chaplain and
afterwards settled at Acushnet. In 1885 Rev.
Richard Pierce was settled here. He died in
1749, and was succeededby Rev. Mr.. Cheever
who was dismissed in 1853. In 1761 the Rev.
Samuel West was settled over the society.
We copy the following inscriptions from
stones at Acushnet COMMUNICATING the death
of these early pastors, ''Here lieth we body of
the Rev. Samuel Hunt, who was the first or
dained Minister over the Church of Christ in
Dartmouth, who died JAMS we 25th, 1923 in
ye As year of his age" Near by is a venera-
lelooling stone erected to the memory of
~. .--EA Il. "a
the following EHere lieth Joanna we wife of
We Hon. Ephraim Hunt, Esq, late of Wey
mouth, and youngest daughter of Doct John
Alcock late of RoXbury, who died March We
29th, 174G, in ye S7th year Of her age" "Me-
mento Mort. Here lieth inferred the remains
of Richard Pierce A. NJ, who was born
March Goth, 100, departed this life March
23d, 1749, after having spent 16 years in the
work of the Gospel Ministry. A gentleman
of unspotted character in the office he sus-
tanned, of polite behavior, remarkable atfable
and kind to all. Who lived greatly beloved,
and died much lamented. Cujus Pulvis in
Pulvere, dormit Expectans Stellam Matuti-
man," Rev. Mr.. Cheever was not buried
here; the following we find in memory of his
wife. ''Here lies the remains of Mrs. Esther
Cheever, consort of the Rev. Israel Cheever'
She was born Jan'y the 10Th, 1882, died April
2Sth, 176l." The fourth pastor was DIR.
West and we find the following to his mem
Dry. ''Samuel West, D. ID. &C., the son Of
DIR. Sackfield West by his wife Ruth Jenkins
was born in Yarmouth, c. c., 1928, ordained
in this place 1861, relinquished his pastoral
charge, 1903, died in 1ivertOn, 1907" Near
this tombstone is another to his wife. Eek
perience the wife of Samuel West ID. D., the
daughter of Consider son of Thomas, son of
Joseph son of John Rowland, who came to
Plymouth in the May Flower, Dec. 22d, 1920,
and survived all the Pilgrims or ships compa-
ny that lived in Plymouth. Born at Ply
moth l74S, died at New Bedford 1889" 1t is
told of Mrs West that she was very tall
woman, and the doctor used to say that che
knew by long experience what Sgood wife
was" The Rev. Mr.. Hunt, during his settle
ment here, became a large landed proprietor.
find, upon examination of the old ''proprie-
tors records" now deposited in the city clerk S
office, that he had surveyed and set of to him,
at different times duringithe year 1920, no less
than $50 acres of land, with due allowance
for mean," the same being in the 1900 acre
division near the Cushanet Meeting House.
This, have been informed, was by gift from
his parishioners Near the center of the
ground is white marble shaft to the memory
of an ex-cashier of the old Bedford Bank.
"John Pickens of New Bedford, died July
y
in the Revolution, and afterwards served the
town in various offices. He was long es.
teemed for his piety, integrity, and exemplary
life. Erected by John Pickens of Boston, the
only surviving son of John and Mary Pick.
ems Here is a stone Gin. memory of Mrs
Mary, wife of Mr.. John Lowden, who died
Oct. ye Sd, 1775, aged 80 years"
:'Reader stand still and spend tear
Think on the dust that slumbers here,
And when'yOu read the state of me,
Think on the glass that runs for thee"
stMemento Mort. Here lies buried Mr.
Reuben JENNIE, son of Mr.. Samuel JENNIE, anC
Patience, his wife, who died March we Sd
1777, inye Is year of his age.
An that pass by may look and see
We had two sons was lost at sea.
Abisha was in his 26th year, Ervel was il
his 18th year"
'tMemento Mori. In memory Of Mrs. De
sire, wife of Mr.. Nicholas Taber, who dice
oct We Both, 1892, in her Both year, also theil
infant daughter lies by her.
Adeu my friends and kindred dear,
For silent dust conceals me here,
And when the mighty trumpet shall sound,
TO call the nations from the ground
I'll then reanimate my clay,
And wing my way,
TO Join the great celestial day,
Aud thou sweet infant too shall rise,
And pierce the star be-spangled skies,
And join thy saviour's arm"
Here a modest slate is 'In memory of Syl
vanus Hathaway, who deceased July ye lth
1862, in we AZ year of his age.
For am lett Alone
Tor to lament and morne,
God has smitten sore