HomeMy WebLinkAboutHistory of the Robbins Burial Ground by Ellen Robbins Stone, 1919, TRANSCRIPTION.pdf 145, Mass.Ave, Lexington (East)
August 1, 1919
Mr.Wm. B Foster,
Selectman, Lexington:
Dear Sir,
The Old Cemetery in East Lexington is the"Robbins Cemetery."So-called—was originally part of the Homestead
Farm of Samuel Winship,son of the High Sheriff of Middlesex Co.of the same name, under King George III.At the death of
Samuel,or some time not long thereafter, his son Simon,for consideration paid,the receipt of which was acknowledged,
conveyedto
John Williams
Jacob Buckman
Charles Cutler
Nathan Blodgett
Stephen Robbins
Francis Bowman
Stephen Winship
John Winship
Thomas Fessenden
Jonas Lock
"a piece of land at the west corner of my Farm near Jonas Lock's,for the use of a Burying-ground and that use only"—
reserving part of the same for his own use.
These persons were the chief householders at the east end of the town at that time.The land,containing about 6830 sq.
feet,was enclosed by a wall and used as a burying-ground by themselves,their families and, as the settlement grew, by
other persons in the community—there being no convenient place for public burial at hand. Between 90-100 persons have
been placed there, I have always been told—75 of whom can be now identified,others probably upon research.Those
include 2 Revolutionary soldiers and victim of the small-pox epidemic which ravaged the town in earlier days. Burials are
known to have been made as early as 1790.With the death of the original grantees,the removal from town of others,and
the opening of the"New Cemetery,"so called, in the upper town, burials here became less frequent and in 1881 entirely
ceased.
At the time of the Centennial Celebrations in 1876, public attention began to be awakened to the neglected and
uncared-for appearance of public places in the town—and about 1887-8 persons were invited to deposit with the Town
Treasurer sums of money—and bequests were received,the income of which was to be applied to the maintenance and
care of private burial lots in the cemeteries. In accordance with this,on Jan. 20, 1881, Miss Caira Robbins,only surviving
child of Stephen Robbins,one of the grantees—herself 87 years of age—deposited with the treasurer of the Town,the sum
of$300.00 for the purpose of the suitable care and maintenance of the Burying-Ground in East Lexington.The money was
accepted,the Town entered at once upon the discharge of its duties—and from that time until now, nearly 39 years, has
exercised such control and care as it deemed necessary—cutting the grass annually, looking after the monuments,at one
time building a face wall, keeping off trespassers etc. Miss Robbins died shortly after this transaction named—the last of
her generation—happy in the thought that the graves of her father and mother,together with those of old friends and
neighbors,as well as her own,were left in the safe care and keeping of her native town.
Yours very truly,
Ellen A. Robbins Stone.