Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-10-11

graves Were uHindTkeu Inc expense OF get
ting gravestones from England, and the many
cares and labors required to hold possession
| of the country, were doubtless the causes of
this seeming want of respect for the dead
Among those, the location Of whose graves
are unknown, are Richard Warren, who died
162S, Samuel Fuller 1888; Stephen Hopkins
l644, and Thomas Southworth 1863. These
were all leading spirits in the colony, both in
secular and religious things. Gov. Bradford
died in 1867 having been Governor of the
colony for 81 years. A few years ago a beau
tiful marble monument was erected by his
relatives over the spot where he was buried,
bearing this inscription:
"Under this stone rest the ashes of Gov.
William Bradford, jealous puritan and sim
cere christian, Governor of Plymouth Colony
from l626to 1867 when he died, aged 60 years."
John Rowland was the last survivor of the
pilgrims who settled in Plymouth. He mar
ried Elizabeth, daughter of Gov. Carver.
They had four sons and six daughters and
their posterity is scattered over every State in
the Union. According to the inscription on
1872, aged so years.
The most conspicuous monument on the
Hill" is that erected by his descendants to
| the memory of Rev. Isaac Cushman, fellow
| exile with the pilgrims in Holland and who
arrived in the Plymouth colony Nov. 9, 1921.
Dec. 8 following he preached his memorable
sermon on "1he danger of self-love and
Sweetness oftrue friendship" This sermon
was preached in the first house built in the
colony. 1t was twenty feet square and was
| owned in common. Mr.. Cushman was after
wards the agent of the colony in England and
died in 1925.
''liere lies buried the body of Thomas
Faunce, ruling elder of the first Church in
Plymouth. Deceased Feb. ~, l745 aged 80
years"
"Here lyeth we body of Joseph Bartlett
who departed this life April, We g. 1908 aged
So years.
Thousands of years before blest Abel's fall
twas said by him, being dead he speaketh yet,
From silent grave methinks hear voice,
Pray fellow mortal don't your death forget
You that your eyes cast on this grave,
Know you dying time must have"
"Here lyeth ye body of DR.. Francis Le-
Baron, who departed this life Aug. we Sth,
l704 aged Sc years"
| This DIR. LeBarron WIS a surgeon on board a
French privateer which was wrecked and
he came to Plymouth and remained there. He
is probably the father of all the LeBarons in
this country.
'Saered to the memory of Rev. Adoniram
Judson, who died Nov. %, 1926, aged IS.
A faithful and devoted minister of Christi
"Adoniram Judson, d. D., Baptist mission
airy to the Burman Empire, died at sea, April
II, 1850, aged 62 years."
On the same monument with the above,
are the names Of Ann II. and Emily c., wives
of Adoniram Judson, d. D., both of whom
were co-laborers with him in his missionary
field in India.
l have copied only few taken at random
of the many rude epitaphs found in this hal
lowed spot. Many of the stones are rudely
hammered out of coarse slate, with fright
full looking face drawn at the top of the head
stone; the letters are badly made and the
words mis-spelled, but the text while warning
the living to prepare for death, always ex-
presses an unfaltering trust in the mercy and
goodness of the great Creator.
On this hill, seventy five sailors were buried
. in one grave. The brig Gen. Arnold, COM
manded by Capt. Magee, en- the 25th of Dec.
1913, was driven upon the ''White Flat" of
Plymouth Harbor and could not be got off.
g The night was fearfully cold and stormy, the
vessel bilged leaving only the quarter deck
above water, where the crew, numbering 100,
remained from Friday to Sunday without food
or shelter. On Sunday the inhabitants of
Plymouth succeeded in cutting away the ice
so as to reach them, when horrible specta-
Gle was presented. Seventy five of them
were already dead and the remaining thirty
: four were fearfully frozen. The living ones
were taken to the village and tenderly cared
far while the dead were committed to the
grave upon this spot. Many of the poor fell
lows taken off died in few days and the re-
manning ones were more or less manned for
life.
In deciphering the inscriptions on these
tombstones, one is surprised at the advanced
|
and mothers. Though death made such fear
full havoc among them the first winter, those
who survived soon became acclimated and
lived, in many instances, far beyond the
allotted years OF man. That they should es-
cape death from the savage hordes seemed al
most providential. The early treaty made
with that powerful chief Massasoit, the con-
dihons of which were kept sacred for many
years, doubtless had a restraining effect upon
all the surrounding warlike tribes.
/ have fingered long and lovingly over this
hallowed spot, for to me it is the most inter-
esting metropolis in America.
The day is beautiful and solemn stiffness
seems to pervade all nature. The waters of
the bay are unruffled by winds, and all the
!, surrounding objects seem to be in sympathy
with that deeper repose which broods over
the peaceful slumber of many generation.