Frank H. Perkins

“ There is always eager inquiry from the visitors to Burial Hill for the grave of the “Nameless Nobleman,” the hero of Mrs. Jane G. Austin’s famous historical novel of that title. We find it near the Cushman monument. The stone has the small figure of an hourglass at its top, under which appears the winged cherub, the sculpture being better defined than is usual in such old work. ”

“ For us they languish, & for us they die
And shall they languish shall they die in vain.
Readers of “Dr. Le Baron and His Daughters” will recall the following reference to the graves of the Howland family:—
[Pg 26]
Consider Howland slept with his fathers on Burying Hill, and Ruth Bryant, his loving wife, had meekly followed him thither. You may see their stones today, in the shadow of that majestic though mistaken monument to the memory of John Howland, the Pilgrim, who married Elizabeth Tilley, and not Ellzabeth, daughter of childless Governor Carver. ”

“ We have no Reason for to mourn
For gods will must be don
He lent him for a little space
Then sudden Called him home
In memory of Elizabeth Savery, wife of Lemuel Savery who died August 1, 1831, Aged 71 years.
Remember me as you pass by,
As you are now so once was I;
As I am now so you must be,
Prepare for death to follow me.
There are about 2,150 headstones on Burial Hill, and many graves are unmarked. In some cases, undoubtedly, this absence of a memorial is due to the considerable cost of stones in the early days. ”

“ He had charge of the enlistments for the Revolutionary army in this quarter of the State. On the surrender of Burgoyne and his men, Gen. Goodwin was placed in command of the guard over them at Somerville. Burgoyne’s sword fell into his possession. He died in 1819.
Just across the path from the grave of William Crowe is the tombstone of Capt. Jacob Taylor, another of Plymouth’s Revolutionary patriots, who died in 1788. Beneath the name and date we read these quaintly worded lines:—
Through life he brav’d her foe if great or small
And march’d out foremust at his country’s call. ”

“ Built of timber from old Burial Hill Fort.
The hill was not used as a place of burial until after it was abandoned for defensive purposes. Those of the “Mayflower” company who died the first winter were buried on Cole’s Hill, and, while no traces of their graves remain, a tablet appropriately inscribed marks their resting-place. Others of the Pilgrim band found burial on their own estates, and no man knoweth their sepulchre. ”

“ Tradition says that the oldest grave is that of John Howland, who died in 1672, although the stone which marks it was erected within comparatively recent years. Tradition also places here the earthly remains of Gov. William Bradford, and a monument bearing his name rises among the graves of the Bradford family, the exact place of the Governor’s interment, however, not being designated. ”

“ On the west side of the hill are the graves of Dr. William Thomas, a surgeon in the expedition against Louisburg in 1745; and his sons Joshua, who was on the staff of the Revolutionary Gen. Thomas; Joseph, a captain of artillery in the Revolution; John, a surgeon’s mate under his father; and Nathaniel, who was also engaged in the struggle for independence.
Other soldiers of our first war who are buried here are Dr. James Thatcher, a surgeon in the American army, and an early historian of Plymouth; Col. Ben Warren, a brave officer, whose grave is unmarked: and Capt. ”

“ A few steps along the path northward from the Judson lot, and we come to a rough boulder on which is carved the name of Thomas Russell, and the dates Sept. 26, 1825, and Feb. 9, 1887. Judge Russell was for many years president of the Pilgrim Society and took an active interest in the history of the old town. It is fitting that his earthly remains should find a resting-place in this ground.
Under the shadow of the Bradford monument, not many feet away, is a blue slate stone with this inscription:—
Here lies the body of ye honorable Major William Bradford, who expired Feb. ”

“ The stone of Elder Faunce occupies a prominent position on the hilltop. It bears the figure of a skeleton, seated on an hourglass. The left hand of the skeleton holds a scythe, and wings are attached to the hourglass. Above the figure is the drawing of a scallop shell. The inscription is:—
Here lyes buried the Body of Mr. Thomas Faunce ruling Elder of the first Church of Christ in Plymouth deceased Febry 27th An: Dom. 1745-6 in the 99th year of his Age.
The Fathers, where are they?
Blessed are the dead who
Die in the Lord. ”

“ On the under side appears the inscription:
“A rock in the wilderness welcomed our sires
From bondage far over the dark rolling sea.
On that holy altar they kindled the fires,
Jehovah! Which glow in our bosoms for thee.”
A useful memento of historic value. In two sizes. Price, by mail, 50c and 35c.
Massasoit
A bronze replica, 11 inches in height, of the statue designed by Cyrus E. Dallin and erected by Improved Order of Red Men on Cole’s Hill at Plymouth. ”

“ Within recent years pieces of the brick of which this watchhouse, or watch-tower, as it is more commonly called, have been unearthed.
Strolling down the southeasterly slope, the visitor comes to another similar oval stone, which tells us that here stood the old fort, erected in 1621. This may be the site of the first fortification, but history makes no record of it. We have evidence, however, that in 1676, when invasion from King Philip, the Indian chieftain, was feared, a fort was built on this spot, and the conformation of the ground indicates the existence at some time of such a work. ”

“ Puts on a pink when storm she fears
Or damp and humid air;
And when she dons a violet gown
A change you can depend upon. Pilgrim Book Marks
Dainty Ribbon Markers—five subjects. Priscilla—The Pilgrim Maiden—Massasoit—Pilgrim Monument—The Mayflower. Pretty for favors or class gifts. The price 20c each, $2.00 a dozen postpaid.
[Pg 62]
Plymouth Rock Chocolates
A solid piece of sweet chocolate moulded into the shape of Plymouth Rock, with date 1620. ”

“ He married his second wife, Mrs. Alice Hallett Nichols of Boston, in 1664. He lived for some years in Boston, and also in Harwich, of which town he was one of the original proprietors. He died in Plymouth, having lived in the reigns of six British sovereigns and the Com’th. This stone is erected to his memory by his descendants A.D. 1891.
It is with reverent step that the latter-day Pilgrim approaches the Cushman monument, an enduring memorial to a “precious servant of God.” This is [Pg 19] a granite column, twenty-five feet high, and it is by far the most conspicuous monument on the hill. ”

“ Prepare to live prepare to die
Prepare for long Eternity.
[Pg 38]
James Jordan. Drowned in Smelt Pond, June 25, 1837, aged 27 y’rs.
Buried on the day he was to have been married.
Near this is a stone which is sometimes called the “Masonic stone.” It bears the name of Nathaniel Jackson, and the date 1743. Above the lettering the sculptor has engraved a death’s-head, a tomb, an hourglass, cross-bones, an urn, a rose-tree, and the figure of a skeleton seated on a globe. ”

“ It is of white marble on a granite base, and rises to a height of eight feet or more. On the south side are these words:—
H I William Bradford of Austerfield Yorkshire England. Was the son of William and Alice Bradford He was Governor of Plymouth Colony from 1621 to 1633 1635 1637 1639 to 1643 1645 to 1657
On the north side is a Hebrew sentence, said to signify “Jehovah is our help,” but by other Hebrew [Pg 17] scholars translated “In Jehovah’s name I die.” Then follows:—
GOV. BRADFORD’S MONUMENT.
Under this stone rest the ashes of William Bradford a zealous Puritan & sincere Christian Gov. ”

“ He lies with the sixty seamen who perished on board the “General Arnold.” A marble shaft on the extreme southwesterly edge of the hill marks the place of their interment. The inscription on the northeasterly side is:—
In memory of Seventy two Seamen who perished in Plymouth harbour on the 26, and 27, days of December 1778, on board the private armed Brig, Gen. Arnold, of twenty guns, James Magee of Boston, Commander, sixty of whom were buried on this spot.
On the northwesterly side:—
Capt. James Magee died in Roxbury, February 4, 1801; aged 51 years.
On the southwesterly side:—
Oh! ”

“ Massasoit was Chief of the Wampanoag Indians, in whose country the Pilgrims settled, and through his kindness, for more than fifty years, they were able to survive and prosper.
Price of replica $8.00 by insured mail. ”

“ They are made by an expert from the original negatives. Price 50c each; $6.00 per dozen.
[Pg 72]
Priscilla and
John Alden
Candles
Hand dipped and painted candles, made on Cape Cod, representing two Mayflower passengers famous in Pilgrim story. The pair in a gift box, $1.25 postpaid. With low glass Candle Holders, decorated in colors to match costumes, $2.00 the pair postpaid.
Plymouth Oilette Calendars
Plymouth pictures in colors—size 31⁄2 by 51⁄2 closely resembling oil paintings—with ribbon attached Calendar for this year and next. ”

“ Coats of Arms of Mayflower Families
Bradford, Howland, Standish, Alden, Brewster,
Fuller, Winslow, White, Cook, Warren, Hopkins
[Pg 55]
Pilgrim Literature
History of Plymouth Plantation, 1608-1650.
The original narrative by Gov. William Bradford with notes
by Wm. T. Davis. By mail, $4.00.
Standish of Standish.
By Jane G. Austin. A story of the Pilgrims. Deeply interesting.
Historically correct. 12mo, cloth, 422 pages. By mail $2.50.
Betty Alden.
By Jane G. Austin. The story of the first-born daughter of
the Pilgrims. 12mo, cloth, 384 pages. By mail, $2.50.
A Nameless Nobleman. ”