Old South Windsor Cemetery, South Windsor, CT

Old South Windsor Cemetery, also known as the Edwards Cemetery, was established in 1708, according to the sign that stands just beyond the gate, and is the burying place of the parents and siblings of the Rev. Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758), the hellfire-and-brimstone-spewing preacher of the First Great Awakening most famous for his sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" (I hear he was a real sweetheart in person, though). Edwards's father, Timothy Edwards, was also a preacher, and his mother Esther Stoddard, was the daughter of a preacher. 

Above is the grave of the Rev. Nathaniel Sherman; like Edwards, he was a preacher and a graduate of the Ivy League (though Edwards graduated from Yale, which was established just a few years before he was born, and Sherman Princeton College, established several decades later). The full inscription, which is very detailed (my favorite kind), reads:

In Memory of the Rev. Nathaniel Sherman A. M. He was born at Stoughton in Massachusetts March 5, AD 1726: was educated at Princeton College, and graduated in 1752. He soon after entered on the work of the Gospel Ministry: was ordained pastor of the Church & Society at Bedford, Massachusetts: and afterwards, for several years, was the pastor of the first Church & Society in Hamden. He was ever fond of the Study of divinity, skillful, faithful & zealous in his calling: a true Calvinist, a fervent preacher: a pious man. After enduring, for years an uncommon share of bodily infirmities, which he bore with Christian fortitude. He died at East Windsor July 18, 1797 AE. 71.

The first thing that struck me about this stone was that it seems very pristine for a stone of its age, especially one made of marble; it may have been very rigorously cleaned (perhaps too rigorously, judging by the slight fuzziness of the lettering). The second thing that struck me is that it is made of marble; 1797 is on the early side for a stone in this location to be made of marble instead of sandstone. Several of the most ancient sandstones in this cemetery have been "replaced" by replicas in marble, which are positioned directly beside the original. Is this a reproduction? Possibly, but if it is, there is no original in sight.

Also notable: the words at the very bottom seem to be carved in a different, slightly less skilled hand. Were they added later? Perhaps the Reverend wanted to have his stone made while he was alive? Or perhaps an overzealous and slightly morbid friend made it for him as a birthday present, a la "One Foot in the Grave?" In any case it stands to reason that the stone was carved prior to the Reverend's death, with the exception of the last lines. If so, I would assume that this stone is the original.

Finally, I always wonder how much of the epitaph is boilerplate/generic language and how much of it actually reflects the particularities of the person's life. The "uncommon share of bodily infirmities" stands out among all the talk of piety as something real and unique. (Not saying the Reverend Sherman wasn't pious, only that you would be hard pressed to find a preacher's grave that doesn't mention piety, just as almost all consorts were "amiable.")

Great foliage on the borders of this stone, and a great happy cherub that preserves the shape of the earlier death's head. The wings look a bit like foliage, too. Also ...

Here Lyes ye Body of Mr Joseph Drake Who after he had Servd his GEneration Departed this Life January ye 14th 1754 In ye 80th Year of his Age 

Also His wife Mrs Ann Drake att his Left Side she Died Sept [?] 1717 Aged about 38 

Classic graveyard sexism, poor Mrs. Ann Drake relegated to an "Also" at the bottom of the stone. Also, did she have her own gravestone during the forty years that passed between her death and her husband's, or did she have to wait until Mr. Drake died to be commemorated? My best guess: her grave was marked with a temporary wooden marker in the meantime. In early America a lot of people were buried beneath wooden markers (if they received any marker at all); as you can imagine, these haven't preserved nearly as well as the stone ones.

 Above you can see one of the replacement stones. On the left, the stone of Mrs. Namee Loomis, d. 1770; center, the stone of Capt. Joel Loomis, d. 1788; and the right, a later marble stone for Capt. Loomis, noting his service in the Revolutionary War. Interestingly, Mrs. Loomis's stone is larger than that of her husband's (it is usually the opposite, if there is a size difference). Perhaps the family didn't have as much money to spend on gravestones after the Revolution.

 One of the few proper death's heads I saw on this trip, belonging to Mr. Samuel Tudor who died in 1727. The pinwheels on this grave are somewhat flower-like.

This stone, belonging to Mr. Aaron Grant, features my favorite epitaph (yes, I have a favorite epitaph), a New England classic:

Behold me now as you pass by

As you are now so once was I

As I am now so you must be

Prepare for death and follow me.

Mrs. Elisabeth Woolcott, wife of Charls [sic] Woolcott, died in 1763 at the age of only 19.



Above, in the foreground, the stone of Ann and Eunice, the daughters of Capt. Ebenezer and Mrs. Ann Grant, a beautiful double stone. I love how the carver squeezed in the words at the bottom of the stone; the vines and berries are really gorgeous too. In the background, a fellow AGS member. Yes, we wear nametag necklace thingies.

 An early urn & willow, with some shell-like flourishes. My question is ...

In memory of Mr. Josiah Wolcott, son of the Hon. Roger Wolcott Esq., formerly Govern of the Colony of Connecticut.

Which was the governor, the deceased or his father? According to Google, it was the father. It seems somewhat strange that an 84-year-old man was remembered by his father's occupation.

This stone is really something. It's easily six feet tall, and must extend at least three feet underneath ground level. It's worth reading the whole inscription (if you can):

Sacred to the Memory of Five Brothers & Sisters whose earthly remains are deposited within this enclosure, viz. Mr. DANIEL PHELPS deceased July 11th 1792, aged 85 years. Mr. JERIJAH PHELPS deceased January 22nd 1792, aged 80 years. Mr. ISAAC PHELPS deceased October 30th 1787 aged 63 years. They were Sons of Capt. JOSEPH PHELPS. Mrs. DANARIS wife of Mr. DANIEL PHELPS who deceased May 5th 1792 aged 80 years. Mrs. SARAH wife of Mr. JERIJAH PHELPS who deceased September 10th 1794 aged 71 years. 

They were happily united in brotherly lovethrough a long life were disciples of peaceful virtueand shed in the hope of a blessed immortality. 

This Monument is erected by the Son of Jerijah and a Nephew of the Brothers and as a tribute [?] ofaffectionate Veneration for their worthy Ancestors. 

The memory of the [?] is blessed.

Another stone with Rococo flourishes and an urn and willow, doubtlessly from the same workshop as the stone of Josiah Wolcott, which contains a strange epitaph, referring to his wife (though not by name):

Sacred to the memory of the Hon. Erastus Wolcott Esq. one of the Judges of the Hon. Superior Court & General in the Army of the late war. He was a sincere friend of Religion & filled up his important life with usefulness to mankind. Deceased Sept. 14th, 1795. AE. 70. 

To few & wondrous few has Heav'n assigned
A wife a liberal all confiding mind.

The stone above, belonging to Mr. Augostos Mills, has some interesting symbolism - what are the things on either side of the cherub's head? Baskets? Bells? Thimbles?

I could have easily spent another five hours in this cemetery. Part of me wishes I could live nearby so that I could visit weekly.