Tour Stop 10: Quaker Ground
Watch your step as you walk through the stones. Sunken spots, iron posts, small markers are all tripping hazards! Also, please never step backwards unless you double-check what you're stepping on first.
Part of the Quaker ground (full-size image of the Quaker view on Flickr)
In 1795, when the town received all of Reverend Smith’s field, burial rules were established and improved record-keeping efforts began. Also, a designated burial ground for the town’s Quakers (members of the Society of Friends) was established. Quakers lived an austere life, and for many years were buried only in unmarked graves. In the early 1800s, Quakers made changes to allow graves to be marked with very simple, undecorated gravestones. The few marble markers you find here are the types of stones that were allowed on Quaker graves. Though there are just a few dozen records of Quaker burials, there are certainly many more people buried here than we’ll ever know.
Continue to Stop 11: Preble Monument, Field of Tombs
Take a few more steps back to Funeral Lane, and cross over it to enter the field of underground tombs. Notice 4 rows of large monuments parallel to Funeral Lane. Look here for the largest marble monument in this section inscribed with the name Preble. This is bordering Funeral Lane. You have reached Stop 11, Preble Monument and the field of tombs.