Rochester has seven official town cemeteries. The ones that may be most familiar to people are Sherman Cemetery on Pine Street across from Rochester Memorial School, the Woodside Cemetery next to the Rochester Historical Museum on County Road. and the Hillside Cemetery, with its large sign, off of High Street.
The Sherman Cemetery was originally on about a 1+1/2- acre lot, but it doubled in size with land donated by the Winslow (Hartley) Sawmill. Its major period of use was the 1850’s-1900, though burials still take place there today. The cemetery was turned over to the town in 1954. The oldest stone is that of George Douglas who died March 3, 1843 at the age of 80. Also buried here is Samuel B. Staples who died March 13, 1890. He invented the log caliper described in an earlier article. One of the most noteworthy markers in the cemetery is that of Capt. Charles Bryant who was appointed the first territorial Governor of Alaska. This marker can be found beside the driveway on the left facing side of the cemetery.
The Woodside Cemetery was mainly in use from 1830-1890, and its oldest stone belongs to Benjamin Gurney, a Revolutionary War soldier, who lived from 1748-1828. Although it is beside the church, it preceded the church building.
Recently I wrote about the Hillside Cemetery and its history as part of the Pierceville or Douglas Corner area. Hillside was turned over to the town after a petition to the Massachusetts Legislature asking to authorize the town takeover and a 1962 special town meeting vote to allow Rochester to take title to it.
The remaining four cemeteries are the Union Cemetery on Walnut Plain, the Old Parish Cemetery on Braley Hill Road, Ashley Cemetery and the North Rochester Cemetery, both on North Avenue.
Union Cemetery, once known as Rochester Burial Ground came into existence in 1810 and by 1854, it was affiliated with the Union Methodist Church. The two churches on the site burned and early records were lost. It became a non-denominational town cemetery in 1954. Veterans of the Revolutionary War are thought to be buried here, as well as two Civil War veterans, one of whom died in Georgia.
Ashley Cemetery is near the Freetown line. While there are the graves of Allans, Barns, Leonards, and a Peirce, most (not surprisingly) bear the surname Ashley. North Cemetery, like Ashley is on North Avenue and was first known as Lakeville Cemetery. It first appears on an 1856 map. Located 25 ft. from the road, most of the stones date from mid to late 19th century. The earliest grave is that of Abigail Bisbee, 1744-1810.
Old Parish Cemetery is also on the 1856 map and was near the original North Rochester Church. It was the property of the third Parish. The second and third North Rochester churches were built further up on North Avenue. The cemetery on Braley Hill Road. has a tall wooden gate bearing the cemetery’s name. The earliest stone is that of Ebenezer Lewis, 1710-1758. The latest dates are 1857.
The Rochester Center Cemetery where we will be leading our tour on June 12 at 1:00 is a private cemetery and not a town property.
By Connie Eshbach