Long time readers will know that one of my guilty pleasures is visiting cemeteries and looking at the artwork on the stones. On the way home from Camp Ogunquit, Teague and I stopped at the York Village Museum and visited the cemetery across the street.
The museum docent had said the cemetery had some fine examples of funerary art and the cemetery also had its own witch! The witch's name was Mary and her stone had her portrait on it. Very intriguing.
Beautiful marble stone with two weeping willows, a symbol for the sorrow of those left behind..
Elizabeth,
Relict (archaic form for Widow) of
David Sewal L.L.D
The three stones at the base of the monument indicate someone stopped by to visit.
Mary, (but not the one I was looking for.)
instead of wife of her stone reads consort of David Sewall
Her slate headstone is adorned with an urn (a symbol for death) and a lovely border of twisting acanthus leaves as well as a vertical border of diamonds.
William Frost, a veteran of the American Revolutionary War has a plaque that lists his genealogy and curriculum vitae
To the left is the smaller marker for his wife, Elizabeth. She's a mere footnote to his life.
Two similar headstones featuring "Winged Death" meaning life is fleeting
These two headstones are of siblings (my guess) who died as children.
The slate stones weather badly.
An urn with a Weeping Willow
Urn with bunting
Another Mary, but not the one I was looking for
And then I saw her face, carved like a Greek or Roman goddess
Here rests quite free from Lifes
Distrefsing (the f is actually the long s, or double s) care
A loving wife
A tender parent, dear
Cut down in midst of days
As you may see
But - stop - my grief
I soon shall equal be
When death shall stop my breath
And end my time
God grant my dust
May mingle then with thine
Sacred to the Memory of Mrs
Mary Nasson, wife of Mr. Samuel
Nasson who departed this life
August 28, 1774
Age at (I think) 29
So how did this beloved soul get labeled a witch? According to the docent, in the 1850s or so some man decided Mary must have been a witch because her grave had a
stone slab. This man thought the slab was meant to keep Mary from rising from the dead! The slab was a common practice an meant to keep animals from digging up the grave. If the idiot really thought about it, why would a witch be buried in consecrated ground?
Those that visit Mary's grave leave her a token. I had a dime in my pocket so left that for her along with an apology for people thinking she was a witch.
The docent said when the grave is full of trinkets, someone from the church across the street disposes of the items and any money left is collected for the church.
Another urn and weeping willow
In memory of my Elizabeth
She died suddenly on a visit to her friends
June 1808
Age 46 years
She needs no storied urn
to record her worth
for she lives in the memory of those
who loved her
and who mourn her.
another Winged Death
Hannah
wife of
Timothy Grow
died
Aug. 5, 1807
Age 30 years
This unusual stone
has a stylized Winged Death
This Winged Death looks more like an angel or a cherub
Another urn
Under this sod lies
Edward Emerson, Esq.
The mortal part of a man
Who when a child was dutiful
A man honourable A husband affection
ate A parent indulgent A christian hum
ble In age resigned in death believing
Born at Malden AD 1727
Died at York AD 1806
This looks like a happy angel or cherub
In memory of Mrs. Mary Emerson
wife of Mr. Edward Emerson
died 14 May 1793
in the 65th year of her age
Ye weeping friends fupprefs (suppress spelled with the long S) your tears
Her ravifh'd (ravished with long S) Soul now lives above the Stars
Happy Halloween
Blessed Samhain
Happy Monday
Happy Birthday to Ink who would have been 25 years old today
.JPG)
