It may seem a bit odd, but while wandering around in the quaint town of Concord this afternoon, I ended up spending a lot of time in an old cemetery there, as far as I could tell called simply the South Burying Place.  Perhaps I was feeling pensive, but I wanted to give some time and thought to these people who lived long ago and who, for the most part, are forgotten now.  I imagine that the events of their lives, their worries and loves, were just as important to them as ours are to us today.

The stones are difficult to read in some cases, so I’ve transcribed the inscription.  I made no attempt to capture the incredibly erratic capitalization and punctuation, but tried to preserve the interesting spelling.

Here lyes ye body of Thomas Hartshorn (son of Mr Thomas & Mrs Sarah Hartshorn) who dec.d November 17, 1697 in ye 14th year of his age.

In memoriam. Nathaniel Billings.  One of the earliest settlers in, and supposed to be one of the founders of, the town of Concord.  Died Aug 24th, 1673.  A patriot and a freeman, he was one of the signers to the memorial of 1664, to the general court, who pledged their lives and estates to maintain their charter rights.  Erected Aug 24th, 1890 by some of his descendants.

John Hosmer. Died Feb 16, 1836, AE 84.  Although in arms at the Battle of Concord, and a soldier in the Continental Army, he was in all his life after a man of peace.  Also Mary is wife died 17 of June, 1814, aged 54.  A prudent and faithful wife, she aided her husband and shared with him the love and veneration of ten children.

In memory of Miss Elizabeth Cordis, dau.r of the late Cap.t Thomas Cordis & Mrs Elizabeth is wife, who died Aug.t 30, 1797, aged 24 years.  Early, bright, transient, chast as morning due, She sparkled, was exhaled, and went to heaven.

Momento mori.  Here lies interred the body of Mrs Dorcas Barret, wife of Mr Thomas Barret Jun.r, who died the seventeenth day of April AD 1767, in the 29th year of her age.  She was a virtuous wife, a tender mother, and was truly religious and examplary in her life and conversation.

Sacred to the memory of Mrs Lucy Barrett, wife of Mr Abel Barrett, who departed this life Sep 25th, 1798, aged 28 years.  She left behind a pleasing boy, his father’s hope and grandfir’s joy.  She left behind a precious name, a character without a stain.

Here rests in hope the body of Mrs Mary Jones. widow of Cap.t Thomas Jones, who departed this life Oct.r 26th, 1782, in the 73d year of her age.  She was useful in life, and hopeful in death. She was discret in her behaviour — prudent in her affairs — an affectionate & faithful wife, a tender & careful mother, a kind and ablidging neighbour, compassionate and cheritable to ye poor, an humble & exemplary Christian; being such in life, we hope her reward of grace is great in heaven.  Her price is far above rubies.

Here lies burried the body of Lieu.t John Jones. he died Aug.st 23.d, 1772 in the 55th year of his age.  he was a kind husband a tender father of the poor & needy & most oblidgeing & compassionate of friends.  Halt passenger as you go past, remember time it runneth fast, my dust in narrow bownds do ly, remember man that thou must die.  This dust revive it shall again, and in a grave no more remain, when trumpet sounds I shall be rais’d, for this Gods holy word hath said.