Central Burying Ground (Boston, Massachusetts)
Encyclopedia
The Central Burying Ground (est.1756) in Boston
, Massachusetts
was established on the Common
in 1756. It is located at the corner of Boylston Street
and Tremont Street
. There, one can find the burial sites of the artist Gilbert Stuart
, painter of the famed portraits of George Washington
and Martha Washington
, and the composer William Billings
, who wrote the famous colonial hymn "Chester." Also buried there are Samuel Sprague and his son, Charles Sprague
, one of America's earliest poets. Samuel Sprague was a participant in the Boston Tea Party
and fought in the Revolutionary War.
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
was established on the Common
Boston Common
Boston Common is a central public park in Boston, Massachusetts. It is sometimes erroneously referred to as the "Boston Commons". Dating from 1634, it is the oldest city park in the United States. The Boston Common consists of of land bounded by Tremont Street, Park Street, Beacon Street,...
in 1756. It is located at the corner of Boylston Street
Boylston Street
Boylston Street is the name of a major east-west thoroughfare in the city of Boston, Massachusetts. Another Boylston Street runs through Boston's western suburbs....
and Tremont Street
Tremont Street
Tremont Street is a major thoroughfare in Boston, Massachusetts.-Etymology:The name is a variation of one of the original appellations of the city, "Trimountaine," a reference to a hill that formerly had three peaks. Beacon Hill, with its single peak, is all that remains of the Trimountain...
. There, one can find the burial sites of the artist Gilbert Stuart
Gilbert Stuart
Gilbert Charles Stuart was an American painter from Rhode Island.Gilbert Stuart is widely considered to be one of America's foremost portraitists...
, painter of the famed portraits of George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
and Martha Washington
Martha Washington
Martha Dandridge Custis Washington was the wife of George Washington, the first president of the United States. Although the title was not coined until after her death, Martha Washington is considered to be the first First Lady of the United States...
, and the composer William Billings
William Billings
William Billings was an American choral composer, and is widely regarded as the father of American choral music...
, who wrote the famous colonial hymn "Chester." Also buried there are Samuel Sprague and his son, Charles Sprague
Charles Sprague (poet)
Charles Sprague was an early American poet. He worked for 45 years for the State and Globe Banks and was often referred to as the "Banker Poet of Boston". His odes and prologues won several competitive prizes and were collected and published in 1841 as The Writings of Charles Sprague.-Personal...
, one of America's earliest poets. Samuel Sprague was a participant in the Boston Tea Party
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was a direct action by colonists in Boston, a town in the British colony of Massachusetts, against the British government and the monopolistic East India Company that controlled all the tea imported into the colonies...
and fought in the Revolutionary War.
Notable burials
- "British soldiers who died of disease during the occupation of the citySiege of BostonThe Siege of Boston was the opening phase of the American Revolutionary War, in which New England militiamen—who later became part of the Continental Army—surrounded the town of Boston, Massachusetts, to prevent movement by the British Army garrisoned within...
[1775-1776], and those who died of wounds received at Bunker HillBattle of Bunker HillThe Battle of Bunker Hill took place on June 17, 1775, mostly on and around Breed's Hill, during the Siege of Boston early in the American Revolutionary War...
" - Caleb DavisCaleb DavisCaleb Davis was a merchant, revolutionary patriot, and public servant in Boston, Massachusetts. He held several positions of public trust, including state legislator, 1776–1788; Speaker of the Massachusetts General Court, 1780–1782; and Elector for Massachusetts' Suffolk County in the first U.S...
(1738-1797) - William BillingsWilliam BillingsWilliam Billings was an American choral composer, and is widely regarded as the father of American choral music...
(1746–1800), composer - John Baptiste Julien (d.1805), proprietor of Julien's RestoratorJulien's RestoratorJulien's Restorator was a restaurant in Boston, Massachusetts, established by French-born Jean Baptiste Gilbert Payplat dis Julien...
- Gilbert StuartGilbert StuartGilbert Charles Stuart was an American painter from Rhode Island.Gilbert Stuart is widely considered to be one of America's foremost portraitists...
(1755–1828) - Charles SpragueCharles Sprague (poet)Charles Sprague was an early American poet. He worked for 45 years for the State and Globe Banks and was often referred to as the "Banker Poet of Boston". His odes and prologues won several competitive prizes and were collected and published in 1841 as The Writings of Charles Sprague.-Personal...
(1791–1875)
Further reading
- Nathaniel Bradstreet Shurtleff. "Central Burying-Ground." A topographical and historical description of Boston, Part 1, 2nd ed. Boston: Printed by request of the City Council, 1871.
- Ogden Codman, comp. Gravestone inscriptions and records of tomb burials in the Central burying ground, Boston Common: and inscriptions in the South burying ground, Boston. The Essex institute, 1917
External links
- City of Boston. Historic Burying Grounds Initiative
- Google news archive. Articles about the Central Burying Ground