Jul 28, 2011 the copps hill burial ground is located in the northend of boston, along the freedom trail, on top of a steep hill between the charles river and the old north church. Copps hill burying ground was originally called north burying ground. May 16, 2015 copps hill burying ground which is in the north end of boston, massachusetts, is named after shoemaker william copp from whom the town purchased the land. Media in category copps hill burying ground the following 43 files are in this category, out of 43 total. The burial ground dates back to february 20, 1659, when the town of boston bought land on copps hill. Many of the tombstones have puritan death artwork, which is interesting, and many are still readable. Everything you need to know about copp s hill burying ground, from our travel experts.
Copps hill burying ground which is in the north end of boston, massachusetts, is named after shoemaker william copp from whom the town purchased the land. The hill takes its name from william copp, a shoemaker who lived nearby. In the day it is a well maintained cemetery with lots of interesting headstones. Copps hill seems to be the largest of the old burial grounds in boston, and is located up the street from old north church. In 1659 there was bought a lot of land on the summit of copp s hill, which formed the nucleus of the present ground. Some notables buried in copp s hill are fireandbrimstone preachers cotton and increase mather, two puritan ministers closely associated with the salem witch trials, and black freemasonry founder prince hall. Visited copps hill burying ground both in the day and at night with my wife while touring boston. Copps hill burying ground is featured on the freedom trail for its association with the revolutionary war.
Bostons 17thcentury burying grounds 5minute history. The information in this database is based on surveys conducted in the mid1980s by staff and volunteers of the historic burying grounds initiative. The grave markers are arranged in rows that parallel the property boundaries or internal pathways. During the revolutionary war, the british camped in the graveyard in order to shell charlestown to the north and bunker hill. Feb 04, 2008 this short film shows copps hill burial ground or burying ground,which was founded in 1659 in boston, massachusetts.
Now named copps hill burying ground although often referred to as copps hill burial ground, it is the second oldest cemetery in boston second only to the kings chapel burying. The name would change to copp s hill burying ground, named after william capp the shoemaker. Copps hill burying ground copps hill burying ground. Old roxbury or eustis street, roxbury 1630 granary burying ground, downtown boston 1660 hawesunion burying ground, south boston 18161841. Copp s hill seems to be the largest of the old burial grounds in boston, and is located up the street from old north church.
Now named copp s hill burying ground although often referred to as copp s hill burial ground, it is the second oldest cemetery in boston second only to the king s chapel burying ground founded in 1630. The cemetery is on the freedom trail in the north end so if you follow the trail you cant miss it. Copp s hill burying ground is in the far northern area of the north end on the crest of a hill that overlooks the charles river, historic buildings including the narrowest house in boston, and the spire of the old north church. Located on a hill, it overlooks the harbour and the banks of the charles river, and because of. It was the second place of interment on the boston peninsula and was laid out in 1659. The following commanders of the ancient and honorable artillery company are interred in the ground. The cemetery was founded on february 20, 1659, when the town bought land on copps hill from john baker and daniel turell to start the north burying ground. Originally known as windmill hill, the hill took the name of william copp, a shoemaker who donated the land for a burying ground in 1659. The surveys recorded all legible grave markers at that time. Copps hill burying ground is the second oldest burial ground in boston and was founded in 1659. It is near the old north church, and is about three acres in dimension. Copps hill burying ground was the second burying ground established in boston, in 1660.
Copps hill burying ground is owned and maintained by the city of boston, ma. The area acquired its present name through its association with william copp, a shoemaker and early settler who lived near today s prince street. The ingame tombstone for shem drowne is based on the tombstone of mr. The land was originally settled on by english colonists in the 1630s who built a windmill there to grind grain and establish a small settlement. Copp s hill burial ground was founded in 1659 and is boston s second oldest burial ground. Copps hill burying ground appears only in fallout 4. Historical sketch of copps hill burying ground with. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages. Old burying ground cambridge, ma 028 the first grave here dates from 1653, and, because it was the only burying ground in cambridge for about 200 years, it. Despite its interesting past as a geographic landmark, copps hill has become best known as the site of a burial ground comprised of 88,000 square feet, making it the largest cemetery located in boston proper. A nice day to visit copps hill burying ground and spend time with some folks from the 1600s in bostons north end shem drowne the creator of the grasshopper weathervane atop faneuil hall in. Ye ancient epitaphs by john norton hull street, boston 1919. Some notables buried in copps hill are fireandbrimstone preachers cotton and increase mather, two puritan ministers closely associated with the salem witch trials, and black freemasonry founder prince hall.
A quick video of copps hill burying ground on the freedom trail in boston, ma. Copps hill burying ground is more than just an old cemetery. You can learn about bostons history with slavery and how images on. Apr 30, 2010 copps hill burying ground, north endboston 1659 dorchester north burying ground 1634 dorchester south burying ground 1814 eliot burying ground a. Also known as new north burying ground, north burial ground, north burying ground, old north burying ground, small ground. The oldest part of the cemetery is on the northeast side of the hull street entrance.
Copps hill burying ground is well maintained and an easy stop on the way to the old north church on the freedom trail. This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. Charles wells built 34 tombs in between this new land and the old land, facing charter st. You can use the back to the old site link in the yellow bar at the top of each page to return to the old. Copps hill burying ground, boston, ma burial records. A collectors guide, copps hill burying ground is half a block west of the old north church, where paul revere saw the lights that signaled one if by land, two if by sea. Although lower than beacon hill and fort hill, it was scarcely less commanding and seemed equally a topographical feature. Media in category copp s hill burying ground the following 43 files are in this category, out of 43 total. A nice day to visit copps hill burying ground and spend time with some folks from the 1600s in bostons north end shem drowne the creator of the grasshopper weathervane atop faneuil hall in 1742 even hangs out here. Copps hill was established in 1659 and is filled with famous figures such as cotton and increase mather, as well as former. History of copps hill burial ground copps hill burying ground. Copps hill burying ground in boston, massachusetts find a grave.
The cemetery s boundaries were extended several times, and the grounds contain the remains of many notable bostonians in the thousands of graves and 272 tombs. The tombstones themselves looks alike, only the engravings are mirrored. In 1659 there was bought a lot of land on the summit of copps hill, which formed the nucleus of the present ground. In addition to the marked graves, the grounds contain 272 aboveground tombs, most with legible inscriptions. It is bordered by hull street, charter street and snow hill street. This short film shows copps hill burial ground or burying ground,which was founded in 1659 in boston, massachusetts. Copps hill burying ground, north endboston 1659 dorchester north burying ground 1634 dorchester south burying ground 1814 eliot burying ground a. Ivy covers these old stones as mother nature tries to reclaim all traces of the dead. Copps hill cemetery boston puritan graves cotton mather. Copps hill burial ground was founded in 1659 and is bostons second oldest burial ground. This is not a complete record of all burials in these sites. The burying ground also holds old north church sexton robert newman, the man who hung the lanterns on the night of paul reveres midnight ride, and edmund. Copp s hill is an elevation in the historic north end of boston, massachusetts.
Aug 30, 2014 a quick video of copps hill burying ground on the freedom trail in boston, ma. Copps hill burying ground boston, massachusetts cemetery. The cemetery was founded on february 20, 1659, when the town bought land on copp s hill from john baker and daniel turell to start the north burying ground. Thomas webb, who is actually buried at the old granary burying ground.
These 8 haunted cemeteries in massachusetts are not for the. Copps hill was bostons largest colonial burying ground, dating from 1659. Copp s hill burying ground is a stop on the freedom trail. Named after shoemaker william copp, this historic cemetery in the north end is the final resting place of many merchants, artisans and freed slaves. On the 27th of may, 1833, fifty dollars was appropriated by the city authorities towards purchasing trees for ornamenting the ground, and from that date the whole appearance of the hill began old copp s hill and burial ground, 15 to assume a change, and the hill resumed its ancient popularity. Named after shoemaker william copp, this historic cemetery. Originally called north burying ground, copp s hill was the second place of interment on the boston peninsula and was laid out in 1659. The area acquired its present name through its association with william copp, a shoemaker and early settler who lived near todays prince street. The land was originally settled on by english colonists in the 1630 s who built a windmill there to grind grain and establish a small settlement. This is the resting place of quite a number of notable historic figures. Although its just the second oldest burial ground in boston, copps hill burying ground was founded an astonishing three and a half centuries ago, in 1659. Copps hill burying ground boston, massachusetts atlas. It was originally named windmill hill but later was named for william copp who had once owned the land.
Everything you need to know about copps hill burying ground, from our travel experts. Copps hill burying ground is a historic cemetery in the north end of boston, massachusetts. Now named copp s hill burying ground although often referred to as copp s hill burial ground, it is the second oldest cemetery in boston second only to the kings chapel burying ground founded in 1630. Historic burying grounds initiative city of boston.
Copps hill burying ground in boston, massachusetts find. An ancient and melancholy air hovers like a fine mist over this colonialera burial ground. Copps hill burying ground 21 hull st boston, ma historical. Now named copps hill burying ground although often referred to as copps hill burial ground, it is the final resting place of over 10,000 people buried between 1660 and 1968 and contains more than 2,200 marked graves 60% of which date to before the american revolution, including the remains of various notable bostonians. On the snowhill street side of the graveyard are many unmarked graves of african americans.
Located on a hill, it overlooks the harbour and the banks of the charles river, and because of its height, the british used this vantage point to train their. Learn about copps hill burying ground in boston with our complete information guide featuring historical facts, map, pictures, and things to do nearby. Copp was a shoemaker and the burial ground became the final resting place of craftsmen, artisans and merchants. It was subsequent expanded twice to its present boundries. Founded by the town of boston in 1659, copp s hill burying ground is the second oldest burying ground in the city. But when even these stones finally return to nature, the stories of those they mark will live on in the hearts and minds of others. There are signs throughout with details about who is buried here and all that happened on this small hill 300400 years ago. Oct 03, 2017 visited copp s hill burying ground both in the day and at night with my wife while touring boston. Edward publication date 1882 topics copps hill burying ground boston, mass. The copps hill burial ground is located in the northend of boston, along the freedom trail, on top of a steep hill between the charles river and the old north church.
It is the place of rest for thousands of artisans, craftspeople, and merchants. At first it was called windmill hill, but was later renamed copps hill after william copp who once owned the land. Copps hill burying ground in boston, massachusetts find a. This includes revolutionary war heroes and men and women of national and international fame. Copps hill burying ground boston, massachusetts, u. Copps hill burying ground the cultural landscape foundation. The gravestones in copps hill burying ground, bostons second oldest burying ground, tell the story of the population of the north end in colonial times. Copps hill burying ground boston, massachusetts atlas obscura. The video also depicts old north church where paul revere was notified by. The north end earliest became the most populous part of the town as well as the seat of boston gentility, and about it longest clung the distinctive old boston flavor. Originally called north burying ground, copps hill was the second place of interment on the boston peninsula and was laid out in 1659.
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