Burying Ground of the First Settlers, Newbury, Massachusetts

The First Burying Ground of the Settlers,  Newbury, 1635 is also known as the First Burying Ground. It is located on Route 1A (238 High Road), near the border of the town of Rowley.  You will find it on the left as you head north on Route 1A.  The original meeting house was located  nearby.  When the meetinghouse moved closer to the Merrimack River, another burial ground was established near the new building (now known as the First Parish Burying Ground.

This burial ground is not very visible from the road, and is set back quite a way from Route 1A.  The white sign is easy to miss.  The GPS coordinates are latitude 42.7703, longitude 70.84379. 

This burial ground is cared for by the organization known as The Sons and Daughters of Newbury. Memorial stones can be installed in memory of first settlers by contacting the Sons and Daughters of Newbury for approval.  All memorial stones must have the wording "In Memory Of".  The public is always welcome to visit this little cemetery. 

The bronze plaque on the right post reads:

FIRST BURYING GROUND
NEWBURY

This burying ground was

laide out in 1635 by the first town 

selectmen and restored in 1929 by

William and Jane Dole Moore

in memory of Richard Dole

and the first settlers

My 11th great grandfather, Edmund Greenleaf, who married Sarah Moore.  I descend from two of his children - Judith (1625 - 1705) who married Tristam Coffin and Henry Somerby, and also from Stephen Greenleaf (1628 - 1690) who married Elizabeth Coffin and Hester Weare. 

In memory of

CAPTAIN

EDMUND GREENLEAF

Born Jan. 2, 1574

Died Mar. 24, 1671

 

A ship detail on the tombstone for Edward Woodman

In memory of

Mr. EDWARD WOODMAN

who came from England and

settled in Newbury in 1635.

"A man of talents, influence,

firmness and decision."

He served faithfully for man years

as Selectman, Deputy to the General

Court and Commissioner.

He died about 1690. 

This is my 11th great grandfather's memorial tombstone erected by descendants.

In memoriam

PERCIVAL LOWELL

Born 1571 in 

Somerset Co., England

Merchant of Bristol, 

came to Newbury 1639

Died Jan. 8, 1665

In memory of

Anthony Somerby

Died July 31, 1636

AEt. 76 yrs. 

For the Truly Curious:

The Sons and Daughters of Newbury webpage for this burial ground:   https://www.sonsanddaughtersofnewbury.org/the-burial-ground   

A short tour of the Burying Ground of the First Settlers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Froy-qpsRt4 

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To cite/link to this blog post:  Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Burying Ground of the First Settlers, Newbury, Massachusetts", Nutfield Genealogy, posted October 25, 2022, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2022/10/burying-ground-of-first-settlers.html: accessed [access date]). 

Queen Isabella's Castle, Segovia, Spain - Weathervane Wednesday

 

Today's weathervane was photographed above the castle known as the Alcázar in Segovia, Spain.  There were several of these arrow weathervanes above the turrets, and all were alike.  They were metal, without gilding or compass points. The weathervanes are best viewed from the plaza by the front entrance to the castle. 

The Alcázar is a famous castle built in the 11th century as a fortress and a palace for twenty two monarchs of the Almoravid dynasty.  The most famous monarch to reside here was Queen Isabella of Castile.  This is a fairytale like castle with moat, courtyard, turrets, and a large keep.  The interior is richly decorated with gilding and tapestries.  There are several museums inside, a throne room, armory, treasury, grand halls, and a chapel. The Hall of the Monarchs (Sala de los Reyes) was commissioned by King Alfonso X (1252 - 1284) with a frieze of carved rulers of Castile and Leon.  You can read more about this at a blog post I wrote in 2010 HERE.  

We took our granddaughter to visit the Alcázar last year, because her name is Isabella, too!  Not only that, but some of the monarchs carved inside the Room of the Monarchs are our ancestors, including Alfonso IV and Queen Berengula.  You can read more about these ancestors HERE. 

For the truly curious:

Alcázar de Segovia (available in English):  https://www.alcazardesegovia.com/    

Wikipedia:   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alc%C3%A1zar_of_Segovia  

My 2010 blog post about the ancestors carved into the walls of the Alcázar of Segovia:   https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2010/09/wordless-wednesday-last-week-in-spain.html   

Click here to see over 475 other weathervanes featured at this blog:    https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/search/label/Weathervane%20Wednesday  

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To cite/link to this blog post: Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Queen Isabella's Castle, Segovia, Spain - Weathervane Wednesday", Nutfield Genealogy, posted October 19, 2022, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2022/10/queen-isabellas-castle-segovia-spain.html: accessed [access date]). 

A Double Ghost Sign in Concord, New Hampshire - Funny Friday

This is a double ghost sign.  You can see an advertisement for Coca Cola, and also a taller advertisement for Gold Medal Flour.  I can't tell which one is older.  Both are visible heading south on Main Street, to the left, south of the New Hampshire State Capital Building.  I've been noticing many ghost signs in the Manchester, New Hampshire area - perhaps I will feature more in upcoming blog posts. 

A ghost sign is an old hand painted advertisement on the side of a building, usually faded but still legible. They are also known as "fading ads".  You can find them on brick buildings or on the sides of barns.  

For the truly curious: 

The Ephemera Society of America, ghost sign page:    https://www.ephemerasociety.org/ghost-signs/  

The Ghost Signs Facebook page (mostly UK):    https://www.facebook.com/ghostsigns/   

The San Francisco Ghost Sign Mapping Project:  https://sfghostsigns.com/  

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To cite/link to this blog post: Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "A Double Ghost Sign in Concord, New Hampshire - Funny Friday", Nutfield Genealogy, posted October 14, 2022, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2022/10/a-double-ghost-sign-in-concord-new.html: accessed [access date]). 

Lempster, New Hampshire Meetinghouse - Weathervane Wednesday

 

This weathervane was photographed over the steeple of the historic meetinghouse in Lempster, New Hampshire. This building is on the corner of Allen Road, Lempster Street and North Pitkin Road.  It hasa simple banner style weathervane, with no compass points.  It appears to be cast iron, with no gilding visible (if it was ever gilded in the past?).  The steeple also contains a Revere bell dated 1824.

This meetinghouse was built in 1794 about a mile away, and moved to its current location in 1822 and the steeple was added.  It was a church for many years, and the meeting space was known as "Union Hall" from 1858 to the 1870s.  The Lempster High School was upstairs in this building from 1872 until about 1892.  There was a public library in this building until 1966. The Silver Mountain Grange, number 196, rented the upstairs of this building in 1897 with a 99 year lease. The members of the grange took on the responsibility of restoring this meetinghouse when it fell into disrepair. 

Today it used as a town hall.  In 1980 it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2008 it received funds for restoration from the New Hampshire "Moose Plate" or Land and Community Heritage Investment Program, also known as LCHIP.  

1794 Lempster

Meetinghouse

This property has been protected

with assistance from the

NH Land and Community

Heritage Investment Program

2008

For the truly curious:

Wikipedia:    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lempster_Meetinghouse   

Also see the book Sacred and Secular: Historic Meetinghouses and Churches of the Monadnock Region, 1750 - 1850, 2006, published by the Historical Society of Cheshire County. 

Click here to see over 475 other weathervanes featured at this blog:    https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/search/label/Weathervane%20Wednesday  

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To cite/link to this blog post: Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Lempster, New Hampshire Meetinghouse - Weathervane Wednesday", Nutfield Genealogy, posted October 5, 2022, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2022/10/lempster-new-hampshire-meetinghouse.html: accessed [access date]). 

Acworth, New Hampshire Meeting House - Weathervane and Horse Sheds

 It's Weathervane Wednesday!  Today's weathervane was photographed in Acworth, New Hampshire at the meetinghouse which still retains its horse sheds behind the building. 

This simple banner weathervane is original to the Acworth Meetinghouse, built in 1821. It appears to have been regilded and restored when the steeple was removed and renovated in 2011.   It is currently the Acworth Congregational Church, also known as The Church-On-The-Hill.  This Federal style steeple and cupola hold up the gilded weathervane.  Banner weathervanes are very common on meetinghouses and churches of this era in New England. 

The meetinghouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975, and restored with LCHIP monies in 2011.  The original congregation was founded in 1773, and this is the second meetinghouse erected in Acworth.  Last year the congregation celebrated its 200th anniversary with a concert, bellringing, books sale, crafts and a chicken barbeque.  

Acworth Meetinghouse
This property has been protected
with assistance from the
NH Land and Community
Heritage Investment Program
2011

The horse sheds behind the meetinghouse

The little red convertible visits the horse sheds.
Behind the reflective glass was a
horse drawn carriage used by parishioners 

The sign reads:
This property has been protected with assistance from
LCHIP  Land &Community Heritage
Investment Program
[Known in NH as the "Moose Plate" project,
monies collected from moose license plates for preservation]

For the truly curious:

Preservation Timber Framing led the effort to restore the Acworth Meetinghouse in 2011.  Click here to see their webpage on this restoration:   http://www.preservationtimberframing.com/acworth-meetinghouse-preservation-honor-award/    

Preservation Timber Framing also completed the restoration of the steeple at the First Parish Meetinghouse in East Derry, New Hampshire:   http://www.preservationtimberframing.com/east-derry-derring-do/   

More photos from my blog about the East Derry project:

https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2015/09/steeple-renovations-for-first-parish.html    

https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2017/02/derrys-first-parish-meetinghouse.html

https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2018/02/an-update-on-meetinghouse-at-first.html  

A very nice video of the Acworth Meetinghouse, by drone with closeup views of the weathervane:

https://vimeo.com/499615625  

From the United Church of Acworth, a video on the history of the meetinghouse:

https://www.unitedchurchofacworth.org/history   

Click here to see over 475 other weathervanes featured at this blog:   https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/search/label/Weathervane%20Wednesday  

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To cite/link to this blog post: Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Acworth, New Hampshire Meeting House - Weathervane and Horse Sheds", Nutfield Genealogy, posted September 28, 2022, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2022/09/acworth-new-hampshire-meeting-house.html: accessed [access date]). 

John Beahan, died 1816 Portsmouth, New Hampshire

This tombstone was photographed at the Old North Cemetery in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

HTWSSTKS

Washington 

Chapter

Here rests in peace

the Body of

John Beahan

A native of Ireland

who emigrated to this happy land

AD 1809 died July 31, 1816,

AEt 31

Stranger; Brother; Companions Gone

To join the Royal Arch above,

Where the Great High priest will sure reward

His acts of Kindness, Charity & Love.

 In researching the life of John Beahan I found the website for the St. John's Lodge of Freemasons from Portsmouth, New Hampshire, with an explanation of the symbols on this tombstone.  The initial letters HTWSSTKS are for Royal Arch Masons.  The letters are "Hiram, Tyrian, Widow's Son, Sent to King Solomon", which is a reference to the mason and architect of the Temple of King Solomon.  John Beahan was a member of the Washington Chapter, No. 3, Royal Arch Masons in Portsmouth.  He became a master mason on July 7, 1813.  

John Beahan was a hatter.  He learned this trade in Ireland and he continued with this occupation here in New Hampshire. According to the Portsmouth Freemason website, his gravestone was carved by Samuel Treat. 

For the truly curious:

"John Beahan" by Alan Robinson, Historian for the St. John's Lodge, Portsmouth Freemasons, accessed June 24, 2022:  https://portsmouthfreemasons.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/JanuaryTrestle_Board_for_Email.pdf   

North Cemetery Epitaphs:    https://files.cityofportsmouth.com/files/library/North%20Cemetery%20Epitaphs.pdf  

John Beahan's entry at the Find A Grave website:   https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8091086/john-beahan   

An explanation of HTWSSTKS: 

https://tuisnider.com/2015/08/18/historic-cemetery-symbols-the-acronym-htwsstks-its-meaning/  

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To cite/link to this blog post:  Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "John Beahan, died 1816 Portsmouth, New Hampshire", Nutfield Genealogy, posted September 20, 2022, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2022/09/john-beahan-died-1816-portsmouth-new.html: accessed [access date]). 

Jacob Sheafe, died 1791 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire - Tombstone Tuesday

 This tombstone was photographed at the Old North Cemetery, Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

This Stone is erected

in Memory of

JACOB SHEAFE ESQUIRE

who died June 26th 1791

in the 76th Year of his Age.

His useful life was deservedly esteemed

And his death sincerely lamented.

As a man,

He was humane, just and generous.

As a merchant, 

which business he followed for upwards of fifty years, 

he was ever esteemed for his honesty and punctuality. 

His conduct in private and public life,

Will erect the best statue to his memory. 

Jacob Sheafe, son of Sampson Sheafe and Sarah Walton, was born 21 October 1715 at New Castle, New Hampshire, and died 26 June 1791 in Portsmouth.  He married Hannah Seavey, daughter of James Seavey and his wife Abigail Pickering.  They had eleven children:

1. Matthew Sheafe, shipmaster, born 13 August 1741, died at sea, married Abigail Hart

2. Abigail Sheafe, born 26 April 1744, died 10 December 1805, married John Pickering

3. Jacob Sheafe, IV, merchant, b. 6 September 1745, died 25 January 1829, married Marcy Quincy

4. Sarah Sheafe, born 1 August 1748, died 8 June 1839, married John Marsh

5. Hannah Sheafe, born 24 April 1750, died 1 September 1845, married first Hugh Henderson and married second William Hart. 

6. Thomas Sheafe, merchant, born 16 April 1752, died 4 September 1831, married first Mary Bell, ad second Mary Hale.

7. Mary Sheafe, born 22 November 1753, died 6 March 1826, married Joseph Willard (President of Harvard College).

8.  James Sheafe, merchant, born 16 November 1755, died December 25, 1829, married first Sarah Merserve, and second Sarah Fisher.

9. William Sheafe, merchant, born 11 September 1758, died 1839, married Anna Wentworth.

10. Mehitable Sheafe, born 12 April 1760, died 4 September 1843, married Eben Smith.

11.  John Sheafe, born 13 July 1762, died 24 January 1812, married Elizabeth Bunbury.

Jacob Sheafe was a successful merchant in Portsmouth, like his father and grandfather before him.  He had a large house which formerly stood near the southwest corner of Market and Deer Streets. When he died he left each of his ten surviving children a house and a farm. The family warehouse (built about 1705 by his grandfather Sampson Sheafe) still stands on the waterfront next to Prescott Park.  

Sheafe Warehouse, photographed 2013

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To cite/link to this blog post: Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Jacob Sheafe, died 1791 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire -  Tombstone Tuesday", Nutfield Genealogy, posted September 13, 2022, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2022/09/jacob-sheafe-died-1791-in-portsmouth.html: accessed [access date]). 

Mr. and Mrs. John Mushaway, Portsmouth, New Hampshire - Tombstone Tuesday

 This tombstone was photographed at the Old North Cemetery, Portsmouth, New Hampshire

In memory of

MR. JOHN MUSHAWAY

who departed this life

April 4th, 1826

aged 72. 

In memory of

Mrs. Mary Mushawy,

Consort of

Mr. John Mushaway,

who departed this life

July 13th, 1819

aged 67

Refrain my friends and cease to weep,

For I in Christ have fell a sleep

We photographed this tombstone because of the unusual surname MUSHAWAY.  While doing some research on the family I found that the name was spelled many ways in the Portsmouth records - Masseure, Massuerre, Masoury, Masury, Massua, etc.  Perhaps it was a Huguenot family? 

John Mushaway (Jean Francois Masoury Giron?) was born about 1754.  He married Mary Libbey on 30 March 1774 in Greenland, New Hampshire.  Mary Libbey was the daughter of Theodore Libby and Deborah Shackford.  She was first married to Samuel Lamson, Jr. 

John Mushaway is listed as a mariner, boatswain, and as a pilot in several records. He was recorded on a list of Naval pensions on January 1st, 1820 with a monthly pension of $10.  There is a Peter Mushaway in the records, who married Sarah Loud before 1754 in Portsmouth (brother? cousin?) 

John and Mary Mushaway had one son and one daughter:  

1. John Francis Mushaway, born about 1776 in Portsmouth, died 8 May 1859 in Boston, and married to Susan Draper. They had three children: George, Lucy Ann and Caroline. 

2. Rebecca, born 23 March 1785 in Portsmouth, married first to William Leighton and second to Samuel P. Hutchings.  

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To cite/link to this blog post: Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Mr. and Mrs. John Mushaway, Portsmouth, New Hampshire - Tombstone Tuesday", Nutfield Genealogy, posted September 6, 2022, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2022/09/mr-and-mrs-john-mushaway-portsmouth-new.html: accessed [access date]).