Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-12-13
MOttrster 4aiIg Spy
The Ancient Dead of the Old Colony.
he Nc Red Lord

Visiting the Acushnet burial grounds after
autumnal frosts had removed the foliage which
in many instances concealed from view the
tombstones as well as the graves of the dead,
l found many mementoes which should have
had their proper places in former papers. And
with the thought that perhaps there might be
some one who, though now as ever cherishing
the memory dear of those their ancestors,
who had long gone before, still might be pc
rusing these lines find among the copied in
scriptions some cause to renew their affec
tions for, and strengthen with another link
their memory OF the dead, have culled from
my note book such as bear the names of our
citizens of to-day and might most interest
your readers. Many of the burials here are
of persons living to an age much beyond the
usual life Of man. Near the east wall, few
rods from the road, upon quantity carved
stone find the following in memory of one
who near two hundred years ago lived upon
this earth, whose descendants we are proud
to claim as friends and neighbors, and who
point you with pride to the grave of grand
mother Kempton. ''Memento Mort" In
memory of Mrs. Patience, widow of Mr.
Ephraim Kempton. She died May we oath,
1779, aged los years, mos. and days.
In peaceful slumbers of the dead
The aged Saint reclines her head
The paths of virtue long she trod,
Reyered of men beloved of God.r
Near by, above, we find buried Ephraim
Kempton, I'd, who died JAN 25th, 1902, aged
55. Elizabeth Kempton, wife of Ephraim
Kempton, I'd, lived to the good old age of So,
and was buried here Nov. 29th, 1848. Here
stone is sin the memory of Thomas Kemp
ton, died Dec. ye 29th, l76S, aged g." Near
by is another SIN the memory of Mrs. Ruth
wife OF Mr.. Thomas Kempton, who died Dec.
ye 9th, 177l, in her 25th year" Among the
first to attract the notice of the visitor here is
stone "ln memory of Capt. VIM. Gordon,
an officer in the revolutionary army from its
commencement to its close, who was born in
Boston, Oct. 9TH, 1854 and died in New Bed
ford, June 26th, 1885, E. 80years.
No further seek his merits to disclose
Or draw his frailties from their dread abode;
(Ihere they alike in trembling hope repose)
The bosom of his Father and his God.n
In close proximity is "In memory of Nabby
I'd, wife of VIM. Gordon, who died Nov. Is,
1881, H. 20. Readers, the prominent vir-
tues that adorned the life and embellished
the character of this estmable woman are
truly depicted in the last chapter of the PROV
erbs of Solomon
One hundred and thirty-ive years have past
and gone since Jane Whitcumb died, and re-
moving the moss that for nearly century
and half had gathered upon her tombstone l
read the following to her memory: "Here
leth the body Of Jane, we wife of James
Whtcumb, Jun, died Jan. we 18th, 1727-8,
In we 25th year of her age.
Cease fruitless tears and weep no more
She is not dead but gone before.
Death il a haven where we shall
Arrive ere long beth great and small.
o letus live while we are here,
So that when Jesus doth appear,
We may arise with her and sing
Anthems of praise to Christ our King.n
The next that claims our notice is in mem
DRY of Deacon Jireh Swift, who departed this
life March ye 18th, 1882, in the 74th year of
his age; and another in memory of Mrs. Deb
Orah, wife of Deacon ,ireh Swift who died
January ye 9TH, 1894, in her sgd year. Dea-
con Swift was one of the early landed proprie-
tors at the village of Acushnet, and the great
grandfather of those of that name now living
in that vicinity. In 1902 died "Maj. Eben
Willis, aged 49," Next lies the body of his
wife, Elizabeth, who died in 1907, aged 70.
''1n memory of Mrs Samuel Pope, who died
in 1892
Stop, traveller, read not for amusement,
But learn here that as / am so thou must be.
Farewell, depart hence and learn how to die"
"Memento Mori, in memory of Col. Sam
uel Willis, who departed this life October the
Sd, 1868, in the 10th year of his age" Mrs.
Mehitable, wife of Col. Samuel Willis, was
buried here Jan. Is, l772, in the Oath year of
her age. In 1871 Edward Pope, Esq, buried
here his wife, Elizabeth, who died in the 32d
year of her age.
''The tear shall fall, the tender sigh shall rise,
Hope built on virtue reaches to the skies"
Among the earliest burials we find ''In
memory of Moses Mendall, who died MAY We
18th, A. d. l74S, in we SD year of his age
In 1853 was buried Jonathan Hathaway
aged 81. Here a slate is Sin memory
of Thankful, wife of Mr.. Thomas Pope, who
died April We 18th, l746, in her 3Sth year"
Thomas Pope died in 1884, aged TO- and his
body was laid by the side of her who had
gone before. Another stone is SIN memory
of Mrs. Nancy, wife of Mr. Jonathan Dan
forth. She died April, 1903, in her 9th
year.
"LoOk down upon this monument & see
What death will do to yov as well as me,
Sweet bosom friend, your falling sand is nigh,
Children prepare, tits Tod that calls on high,
Neighbors and friends alike must be the same,
Prepare for death in time. for God doth reign"
''Memento Mort in memory of Innocent
Church, wife of Capt Nathaniel Church,
died April ye 18th, l775 in ye 84th year of
her age, with the small pox." Here is to the
''memory of Samuel West, son of Samuel
and Experience West. Born in this town
June 18th, IVA, settled in Tiverton, r. l., as
physician, and died in this place June 18th,
1885" Memento mort in memory of Major
Ebenezer Willis, who died Aug 9th, 1877, in
her 18th year" Cut down in the flower Of
her youth was Mrs. Elizabeth, wife of Doct
Rounsevel Spooner. "She died Dec. We 9th,
1900, in her 2lst year, & daughter of Edward
Pope, Esq.
Consumption come, Gods will was done
Let every muTmur cease,
To Jesus fly prepare to die,
And find eternal peace.n
"Here lies buried Mrs. Lydia, wife to Mr.
Soule Cushman, who died Nov. we 20, 1910,
E II years, 8 mo-" And here tomb stone
is to the memory of James Kempton, who
died Jan. 18th, lSl9 in his Goth year, also Mr..
Daniel Kempton, his son, who died in Halifax,
N. s., Nov 81, 1914, in his 34th year. In
1898, Jonathan Hathaway died, aged 81, by
his side was lain his wife Deborah, who died
1918, aged II. In 1911 died Capt Hezekiah
Winslow, in his 5Sth year. Here a modest
slate is to the memory Of Mr. Aron, son Of
Mr.. Henery and Mrs. Mary Washington,