George S Porter

Inscriptions from Gravestones in the Old Burying Ground, Norwich Town, Connecticut George S Porter

The Old Burying Ground in Norwich, CT, resides on land once known as the Bean Hill Burying Ground, secured by the town in 1661 for purposes of burial. For several decades after 1700 the property was kept partly private; then, in 1734, the town declared the grounds "open to the common" as a public burial place. For 150 years the Old Burying Ground enjoyed an "active career." This book transcribes 1,405 gravestone inscriptions from Norwich's oldest burying ground. Gravestones predating 1700 no longer exist; the bulk of these inscriptions are from the 19th century. Along with the "standard" information recorded on the stones--name, age and date of death--can be found everything from cause of death to relatives' names to occupation or military service to loving quotes and epitaphs. The text of each transcription is arranged on the page to visually mimic its appearance on the stone, adding an extra dimension to the reader's experience. Illustrations include photos of the Old Burying Ground's entrance gates, its memorial gates (on East Town Street), and headstones of more than a dozen people. An everyname index provides easy access to the more than 1,500 names found in these pages.