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Granary Burying Ground

Founded in 1660, the Granary Burying Ground on Tremont Street in Boston, Massachusetts is the city's third-oldest cemetery. It serves as the final resting place for many notable Revolutionary War-era patriots, including three signers of the Declaration of Independence and the five victims of the Boston Massacre. The cemetery is adjacent to Park Street Church and immediately across from Suffolk University Law School.

The cemetery's Egyptian revival gate and fence were designed by Boston architect Isaiah Rogers (1810-49) who designed an identical gate for Newport's Touro Cemetery.

History

The Granary Burying Ground is the 3rd cemetery established in the city of Boston, dating to the year 1660. The need for the site arose because the land set aside for the city's first cemetery, King's Chapel Burying Ground located a block east was insufficient to meet the city's growing population. Early in its existence the area was known as the South Burying Ground until 1737 at which point it took on the name of the granary building which formerly stood on the site of what is now the Park Street Church. In May 1830 trees were planted in the area and an attempt was made to change the name to “Franklin Cemetery” to honor the family of Benjamin Franklin, but the effort failed.

The Burying Ground was originally part of the Boston Common which originally encompassed the entire block, but two years after the cemetery was established the southwest portion of the block was taken for public buildings, which included the Granary and a house of correction and the north portion of the block was used for housing.

Tombs were initially placed near the back of the property and on 15 May 1717 a vote was passed by the town to enlarge the Burying Ground by taking part of the highway on the eastern side, (now Tremont Street). The enlargement was carried out in 1720 when 15 tombs were created and assigned to a number of Boston families.

The property was improved twice, first by planting a number of trees in 1830, then again in 1840 by the construction of an iron fence on Tremont Street designed by Boston architect Isaiah Rogers at a cost of $5,000, half paid by the city and half by public subscription.

Prominently displayed in the Burying Ground is an obelisk erected in 1827 to the parents and relatives of Benjamin Franklin who was born in Boston and is buried in Philadelphia. Constructed of granite from the Bunker Hill Monument quarry, the obelisk was constructed to replace the original gravestones which had been nearly obliterated in order to memorialize this prominent family by a number of Boston citizens and was dedicated on 15 June 1827.

The oldest memorial in the yard lies near the Franklin monument memorializing John Wakefield, aged 52 who died 18 June 1667. Why there is a seven year gap between the establishment of the burying ground and the oldest memorial is unknown.

Notable burials

Samuel Adams (1722-1803), statesman, signer of the Declaration of Independence
Crispus Attucks (1723-1770), African-American victim of the Boston Massacre, in a common grave with the other 4 victims and a boy killed 11 days before
Peter Faneuil (1700-1743), benefactor of Faneuil Hall
Members of Benjamin Franklin's family, but not Franklin himself, who is buried in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Mother Goose (1665-1758), famous author of fairy tales and nursery rhymes (likely not the original Mother Goose, since some of her stories long predate the 17th century, but had many children and was well-known at the time for her knowledge of nursery rhymes)
John Hancock (1737-1793), statesman, signer of the Declaration of Independence
James Otis (1725-1783), lawyer, Revolutionary War Patriot
Robert Treat Paine (1731-1814), signer of the Declaration of Independence
Paul Revere (1735-1818), silversmith, Revolutionary War Patriot
Benjamin Woodbridge (1708-1728), victim of the first duel fought in Boston