The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-01-15
CONNECTICUT eRAvEYARps.
Epitaphs $50 Years Old That Nav SIN n.
Rcnd In Them

"iohou1 tumDlluE upon
some little graveyard, where the
ruhpiins headstones are covered with
moss anu the grass runs riot. In some
instances the names and dates on the
tom pstoncs have been obliterated by
the hand OF time, while in others thew
eau be just barely made out Most of
inc ourlai grounds are the same to-day
that they were half century ago.
turing these years they have been I'M
touched- Only i'll rare instances have
lnterments been made since the first
decade of the present century.
The quaintest and quietest burying
ground in the state, and in all New
England for that matter, is situated al
most in the very heart of the city of
Hartford. 1t is completely hidden be-
hind the old Center church on Main
street and other high buildings in the
neighborhood. A high brick wall in
closes the acre and half of ground.
The huge elms and naples with which
the plot abounds have grown both
ways. In some instances the roots of
these trees have broken through the
ground and wrapped themselves tightly
around the crumbling headstones. If
it were not for this support the head
ago. The oldest grave is that of Thomas
Hooker. This is what his epitaph SAYS:
In memory of Thomns Hooker, who in
1886 with his assistant. Mr. stowe removed
TO Hartford with about 100 persons. where
ne planted ye first church in Connecticut
An eloquent, able and faithful minister of
Christ. He died July Z. 1917, Act I'M.
Assistant Stowe is buried few steps
away His moss-covcrcd stone bears
this cncOmium:
Mr. Samuel Stowe.
Deceased In yc Glst year of his age
July 20, 1914
New Encland's glory and her radia,pa
crowne
Was he who now in softcst bed of downc
TIL glorious resurrection morn appears
Dotli safely, swcetly sleep in Jesus here.
In Natures solid art and reasoning well
Ills knowing beyond compare he did ex-
Gel.
Connecticut's first governor is also
buried here in tomb BETTING his
rank. He died on March 1, 1853 No
praises arc sung to his memory on
stone Beyond the line: 'Frst gov
'ernor of yc colony of Connecticut, in
New England" there is nothing out of
the ordinary about this inscription.
The frs, child born in Connecticut
after the colony had been settled was
i'hN Ut thililEE lie llNcu 10 DC t1ftE-
four years old. lie was buried with
the rest ol the celebrities in the little
varied plot. His memory has been
favored with the following lines:
Well. sic1, deal i'm one hours space En-
crave the Tcincmbr ,ncc of death on thine
he'rt. when ~ thou dost scc now swiftly
hours depart
Born ut Saybrook
April - IL t.
The frat hit,. bnr i,,C n,
Another historical slab is that which
marks the grave of Capt. Thomas Bull.
He was one of the first settlers of
Hartford, F" the crude inscription reads.
"a lieutenant in the decisive battle
with the Pcouots, at Mystic, Nav oo.
1851, and commander of the fort at
Saybrooll in July, 1875, when it's sur
render was demanded by Mai. Andre.
This battle, in which Capt Bull was
a lieutenant insured the peace of New
England. Capt. John Mason, with
ninety men, surprised and slaughtered
near Mystic and burned the defenses.
Capt. John Mason, the leader of that
famous Indian campaign, is buried in
the old Post and eager burial ground
in Norwich, together with about thirty
OcASi Va iS ihui oCbblSIo Ol JtldU Town..
These intcrmcnts all occurred in the
latter part of 1000. No headstones
mark their graves, however The old
cemetery is cone shaped and has a
single tree growing from its summit.
The ridges of the ground which marked
the grave have long since become lev
eied. The ancient burying ground is
inclosed with n crude stone fence, how
ever, and is kept a sacred spot
dozen miles from there is the old
Lebanon burying ground. where more
illustrions dead are buried. The Trum-
bull tomb is its chief attraction. This
tomb contains the ashes of Connecti-
cuts war governor, Brother Jona-
than" as Washington used to call him,
and the other members of his fnmily,
all of whom were renowned. The
tomb was wofully neglected for MANY
years. The Sons of Revolution have
recently taken up the matter, however,
and it will be repaired. All around
this tomb cracked and moss-covered
headstones rise above the wild grass
and bramble bushes. These stones
bear inscriptions which were chiseled
SO long ago that they can scarcely be
deciphered now.
On the old post road between Daniel
sonvillc and Providence are a mum Der
of burial grounds where the same
headstoncs have stood for two CEN
turtles or more. I'ethels old burying
ground is still open for use. Only one
has taken place in ten years. The
graveyard is in the rear of the Congre-
gational church. 1t comprises small
triangular plot extending from the
church to the town hall. The oldest
grave is mnrlxad nv "a stopa which CHM