Granary Burying Ground
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Some of America’s most notable citizens rest here. An elaborately embellished obelisk marks the site of John Hancock’s tomb. Nearby rests his servant Frank. Although Franks’ marker is humble, the fact that his resting place is marked at all is a sign that his employer held him in very high esteem. Other Revolutionary heroes buried here include Paul Revere, Samuel Adams, James Otis, all five of the Boston Massacre victims, Benjamin Franklin’s parents and Peter Faneuil. |
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Originally called South Burying Ground because of its location at the most southerly area of Boston settlement, it was then renamed Middle Burying Ground, as Boston sprawled toward the south. The current name is derived from the grain storage building, or granary, which stood on the site where the Park Street Church now stands.
Although the Granary contains only 2300 markers, it is estimated that more than 5000 people are buried here. Each tomb contained on average about 20 bodies. The Infant Tomb alone contains about 400 babies. Since headstones were expensive it was common to put several bodies of one family under one headstone with one name on it. There is discrepancy in the number of headstones and the number of people buried in the Granary. There may be several possible explanations as grounds keepers arranged the stones in neat rows to facilitate maintenance, shaped the grounds more into a mold of the new “trendy” garden-style cemetery, or wanted to encourage people to stroll in the site instead of having sheep grazing on the “unorganized,” old looking burying ground.
“Stranger stop and cast an eye As you are now, so once was I
As I am now, so you shall be Prepare for death and follow me”
Epitaph from the gravestone John DeCoster in Granary Burying Ground
Granary Burying Ground
Tremont Street
617-635-4505
Open daily 9:00 - 5:00
www.cityofboston.gov/freedomtrail/