Hurst Cemetery

This cemetery is alternately called Newman Church Burial Grnd. (and variants). The church in these photos was gathered in 1641, by Rev. Saml. Newman, who reportedly pchsd. the land from Sachem Massasoit. This was soon to be the Western Parish of Rehoboth, Mass.

Today, it is bounded on the east by busy RI hwy. 114. It is no longer rural New England.

The grounds are extensive and overwhelmingly open --- trees are found only only on margins. Among the remaining stones from late 17th / early 18th Cs. are those of ancestors of mine, successive ministers in this place, the Reverends Thomas and John Greenwood. Both men were graduates of Harvard College.

The headstone pictured is that of another ancestor, Wm. Carpenter. I love how the stone with flawed inscription was rescued by the carver. No Yankee would toss a perfectly good slate for one missing letter.