Oldest Grave in the Cemetery
Samuel Blanchard: 1629-1707
My ninth-great-grandfather has the distinction of having the
oldest grave in the West Parish Garden Cemetery in Andover, Massachusetts. The
grave has a small sign next to the headstone that reads:
Samuel Blanchard: April 22, 1707
First Burial in West Parish Cemetery and Oldest Stone in
Andover
Not only is Samuel’s headstone the oldest in the city (which
is quite impressive, as Andover was founded early in the 17th
century), but it is elaborately carved with incredible iconography. It is a
true work of art.
Samuel was born in England on August 6, 1629. He came to
America with his father and siblings on the ship Jonathan, arriving in New
England on June 23, 1639. He settled in Charlestown and began farming with his
father Thomas. Samuel married Mary Sweetser on January 3, 1654; his father died
a few months later. Samuel inherited some of his father’s land, although less
than his older brothers did. He managed to leverage what he had, acquiring more
acreage over the years, eventually moving to Andover on June 10, 1686, where he
amassed nearly 200 additional acres, a large amount for the time period.
Samuel and Mary had six children before Mary died February
20, 1669. Four years later, Samuel married Hannah Doggett on June 24, 1673.
They had four more children together.
 |
| List of Samuel's significant life events and his children's birthdates from family Bible. |
By the time Samuel died on April 22, 1707, he was quite
wealthy. One researcher noted that Andover tax rolls show he paid more taxes
than nearly all the other residents in the city, evidence that he was one of
the most prosperous citizens. He seems to have been respected, holding the
occasional small office such as selectman and tax collector, but didn’t become
entangled in community conflict. None of his extended family was swept up in
the witch trials like many of his Andover neighbors, and he was rarely mentioned
in court records from the period. He
left all of his surviving children with considerable inheritances of land and
money.
His funeral sounds like it was quite the production. Abbott’s
book, the History of Andover, includes the list of Samuel’s funeral expenses,
along with explanations of their purpose. Bereaved families provided gloves to
pall bearers, the minister and other figures of importance. Twenty pair of
gloves were ordered for Samuel’s funeral at a cost of one pound and 10
shillings, and “mourning scarfs”, whatever purpose they may have had, cost even
more, one pound and 17 shillings. The coffin itself, along with the costs of
digging the grave, only totaled 17 shillings. Obviously this was an extravagant
affair if so much was spent on decorative items (There were twenty shillings in
a pound). Refreshments post-ceremony included six gallons of wine, a half barrel of cider, and a rum punch of rum,
sugar and allspice.
Given his wealth, it is not surprising that Samuel merited
an elaborate headstone. According to some sources, the white granite stone was
imported from England and is believed to have been carved by Joseph Lamson of
Charleston, with the help of his young son Nathaniel Lamson, whose initials can
be seen next to the carved hourglass.
The top of the stone features a toothy Death’s Head skull
framed by elaborate, feathered wings, inset below a complicated pattern that
may signify a tasseled drape. The winged skull symbolizes the flight of the
soul from the body.
Just below the skull is a thin, platform-like section
depicting two small figures—one expert on Lamson’s work describes them as
imps--pulling draperies away from an hourglass with draining sand, signaling
the passage of time.
To further remind the viewer of their mortality, the words
“Memento Mori” which means “remember you will die” are on the left of the
figures, and the words “Hora fugit”, meaning “the hour flees or flies” are on
the right.
 |
| Hourglass with stone carver's initials "N" and "L" |
 |
| Imp with Memento Mori |
The inscription was carefully carved, and reads:
"Here Lyes Ye Body of Samuel Blanchard
Who Departed The Life on Ye 22d of
April 1707
in Ye 78th Year of His Age”
Below the main inscription, in smaller lettering, is the
following: “Ye Memory of Ye Just is Blessed.”
At the very bottom, nearly covered by the grass, are some
rosette-type decorations. I wish they could be seen more clearly.
Flanking the main section of the stone are two “shoulders”
to the stone, each topped with a beautiful face framed with curling hair. The
eyes are deeply set, and the lips are pursed as if the two figures are singing. Deep,
pointed collars extend below the faces. One source states that these are meant
to be clerical collars, symbolizing the church.
Below the faces are amazing three sets of paired globes separated
by scored leaf-like shapes. The globes reminded me of breasts, and when I
researched Lamson’s work, I discovered that breasts were a symbol that appeared
on many Puritan graves, apparently symbolizing the church and the nourishment
of the soul! The globes may also have been intended to be gourds, which have
the same meaning.
Sadly, this extraordinary stone has not been treated with
the care and respect it deserves. A large portion on the right has been broken
off and replaced, splitting one of the amazing faces in half. I hope to visit this 320 year old stone in person someday.
Interestingly, Samuel is the only Blanchard in this cemetery. His second wife and extended family can be found in the South Parish Burying Ground. Since his stone is so much older than other graves around him, it is likely he was buried on his own property first, and reburied when the West Parish cemetery opened.
Sources:
History of Andover:
From Its Settlement to 1829, by Abiel Abbott, Flagg and Gould, Andover
Massachusetts, 1829.
No comments:
Post a Comment