17th Century

Scattered across our gravescape are numerous memorials carved by untrained and unnamed persons.  These local craftsmen had no background in either artistic design or lettering but had the desire to use native stone materials and rudimentary tools to shape a tribute to the deceased.

The earliest marked grave was fashioned by such a carver in 1661.  It marks the burial location of Lydia (Albee) Lovell who died in Medfield at the birth of her first son on March 1, 1661.  She was born April 14, 1641 in Braintree and married Alexander Lovell on October 30, 1658 in Medfield.

18th Century

An 18th Century Gravestone Project was funded in part by Mass Humanities, which receives support from the Massachusetts Cultural Council and is an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.  This project comprised two parts.          

A photo album of 18th Century gravestones (1704-1799) in surname order. 
A listing of 18th Century gravestones in numeric order by year. 

19th Century

The 19^th Century gravestones are the single largest collection of memorials in the Old Section. To date, they have not been cataloged or photographed.