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The Ancient Sears CemeteryWest Brewster, Barnstable County, Cape Cod, MassachusettsRespectfully submitted and copyrighted(1992) by L Ray Sears, III this 14th Day of October Anno Domini One Thousand Nine Hundred and Ninety Eight. Descendant of Nos. 10, 5, 117, and 112 Use is granted for non-commercial use of this presentation of information.
Located at: Lat 41.44.39N Lon 070.08.45W
Cape Cod Gravestones-many of these stones have been photographed and described by Robert Carlson on his site The 124 headstones and footstones in the Ancient Sears Cemetery, W Brewster, Barnstable co, MA are facing west. The older stones start at the NW corner of the 30 x 55 yd plot and the newest are in the SE corner. There are eight rows and the following numbering system was used as we crawled from one row to the next. All 124 people are directly related to one another. See the bottom of the file for more information. Additions and corrections are certainly welcome. ________________________________________________ |NE SE | | | | | |124 - 111 row 8 /\| |95 - 110 row 7 3| |94 - 79 row 6 0| |60 - 78 row 5 | |59 - 45 row 4 y| |38 - 44 row 3 d| |37 - 16 row 2 s| |1 - 15 row 1 \/| | [boulder] | | (<55 yds>) | |NW____________________________________________SW|Note: The icon at the top of each stone is in parentheses. The long s "ſ" character was used to simulate the ancient letter "s." (e.g. Joſeph = Joseph)
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I have been dreaming of this project since my Dad first took me to the old family cemetery.
It was a secret place that only "natives" could find which added to its mystique. To see the name
SEARS on so many stones was intriguing. The cemetery is located on the east side of the boundary
brook (Quivet Creek) between Dennis and Brewster on Cape Cod, Mass. It once fronted Old County Way
but when The Kings Highway, Route 6A, was straightened, it was left off the beaten path. The
burying ground is entered through an iron gate held by granite posts which are labeled 1881 on the
left and 1721 on the right. I imagine the granite/iron rail fence was erected in 1881. The quiet
knoll on which it is situated overlooks an unnamed pond which, is evidently the headwaters of
Quivett Creek.
I vividly remember my first visit to the cemetery because of the case of poison ivy which I got there. The trail in from Airline road is about 75 yards long and has stepping stones over a herring ladder. Local residents recently repaired this ladder to insure the herring can return to their breeding ground. In recent years the path and the cemetery itself have been extremely well maintained. Katherine Sears(see No. 2566)left money in her will to the town of Brewster for maintenance and this may have helped with the care. Her father-in-law William G and brother-in-law Samuel T. are buried there. A brass plaque mounted on a post at the entrance used to announce this cemetery as "The Ancient Sears Cemetery" with dates of use but all that remains is the post. The earliest stone is #38 and the last stone is #102, Knyvet Howes, who owned the house just northeast of the cemetery on Old County Way. Some stones are missing (evidenced by the existence of a footstone but no headstone). Other stones are unmarked. It appears there were once straight rows of stones which have probably "drifted" in the last 250 years. There are some blank areas with no stones which may be additional unmarked graves. I made up my own numbering system which is the order in which the stones were read. Some are cracked and one had broken into three pieces and was duplicated three stones further in the row. The slate stones from the 1700's have stood up the best. White marble stones have some kind of yellow lichen attacking them. It was often necessary to dig around the bottom of the stone to reveal the complete inscription. The stones are typical for the Cape and show evidence of all the popular icons of the time. The tympanum or curved top part of the stone usually had a carved icon. The main body contained vital statistics and possibly an epitaph. The shoulders were usually rounded and below were borders containing wreaths, vines and other carvings. I have tried to show a general outline of the stone and describe the icon. I have also reproduced as carefully as possible the layout of letters on the stones. All of the popular icons are represented here. The winged skull, winged cherub, sunrise, willow and urn. The winged skull may have represented that death was impossible to beat but that with God's grace, the soul may be immortalized in heaven. The fleshed out cherub's face was less gruesome than the skull and may have been the beginning of the euphemisms we use to hide death's face. The sunset (or sunrise?) possibly signifies the end of life on earth and beginning of a new day. The urn and willow represent the people left on earth with the urn as the repository of the loved one and the willow as the tree of mourning. Some stones were cenotaphs which indicated that the person had been lost at sea (stone No 97). A couple of stones showed multiple names (especially for children), which may not be proof that the individuals were actually buried there. Stones were often placed many years later, which can account for discrepancies in locations and dates. Epitaphs are especially interesting. Some stonecutters supposedly had books full of them from which a family could choose. Other epitaphs must have been composed by the deceased or his family. In any case this study of our ancestors burying ground can reveal much about the way they lived and their hopes and fears. Work remains to be done to document the blank spots in the burying ground. Maybe Richard the Pilgrim is even buried here under the big boulder on the west side? |
Pedigree Chart of People Buried Here (Number corresponds with listing above. If number is missing then name is shown for relationship only. Maybe the person is buried in one of the unmarked locations?) |---- 30-Seth ----------|---- 22-Priscilla(See below) | 29-Priscilla Ryder|---- 55-Rowland -------------|---- Roland ---------------|(91) | |---- 41-Seth | | |---- 58-Joseph |---- 108-Joseph -----------|(104) 2-Samuel----------|---- 3-Jonathan ------|---- 106-Prince -------------| 107-Kezia Hamblen ----|(104) 1-Mercy Mayo | 35-Elizabeth Hawes| 105-Betsy Hall ---------|---- 69-Sarah(See below) | |---- 36-Sarah | |---- 56-Jonathan | | |---- 89-Ruth(See below) |---- 60-Elizabeth |---- 34-Samuel --------|---- 39-Isaac |---- 61-Mary | |---- 62-Samuel --------------|---- 64-Samuel | 63-Desire Howes --------|---- 94-Hannah | |---- 96-Abigail -----------|(97) |---- -Joshua ---------|---- 38-Nathaniel 95-Freeman Remick ----|(97) |---- 3-Joseph | 4-Elizabeth Paddock | |---- -Benjamin ------|---- 40-Heman 31-Lydia Ryder 32-Mary Snow |---- William ----------|(112) |---- 120-Elkanah | 118-Sallie Berry |---- 117-Elkanah ------------| 119-Clarissa Hall | 116-Mercy Bray ---------|---- 115-Susan | |---- 114-Thomas-----------| | 113-Azubah Crowell---| |---- 5-Edmund ---------| | 6-Hannah Crowell | | |---- 122-Edmund -------------|---- Jacob -----------|(65) | | 121-Hannah Taylor ------|---- 70-Mary | |---- 7-Mercy | |---- 68-Joshua --------------|---- 67-Betsey | 69-Sarah(See above) ----|---- 76-Reuben | | |---- 51-Micajah 10-Paul-----------|---- 12-Daniel --------| 50-Anna Crowell 11-Mercy Freeman 13-Mercy Snow |---- 49-Daniel --------------|---- 47-Keziah 48-Priscilla (see below)| |---- 16-Constant |---- 17-Enoch |---- 18-Bethiah |---- 19-Samuel |(87) |---- 14-Elisha --------|---- 21-Elisha --------------|---- 79-Elisha ----------|(110) | 15-Sarah Vincent | 20-Thankful Snow -------|---- 80-Constant(no stone) | |---- 43-John | | 44-Keziah Howes 8-John -----------|---- 25-Betty |---- 42-Mehitabel 9-Priscilla Freeman --- 26-Bithia |---- 45-Noah ----------------|---- 77-Sarah |---- 27-Bathsheba 46-Desire Merrill ------|---- 78-Noah |---- 28-Heman | | | | | | | |---- 48-Priscilla(wife of 49) | |---- 109-John | |---- 74-Seth ----------------|---- 81-Seth |---- 23-John ----------| 73-Hipzabah Hall -------| | 24-Deborah Crowell| 75-Sally Hurd | 22-Priscilla |---- 84-Bethia --------------| | |---- 82-Vienna |(86) | |---- 103-Samuel |(86) | |---- John --------|(86) | |---- 85-Susanna |(xxx) | |---- 83-Edward --------------| |---- 53-Willard -------| | 52-Margery Homer |---- -Reuben | 54-Susanna Howes 66-Rhoda Mayo |---- 59-Isaac Joseph------------|---- 88-Joseph --------|---- 90-Larned |(98) |---- 89-Ruth(See above)|---- -Stephen -------------|---- 101-Levi --------|(100) 99-Jerusha Foster|(123) |(124) Pedigree cont'd: 91-Thankful 104-Benjamin 104-Prince 97-Eben Ryder ----|---- |92-Nabby Rider 97-Sally Remick --| 97-Sally Ryder 92-Nabby Rider 112-William G ----|---- |111-Samuel T 65-Jacob 87-dau. 110-Keziah? 86-Maria 86-Tamsen 86-Bethia xxx-Mercy --------|---- |102-Knyvet Howes xx-Barzillai 100-Laban 98-Almira 124-Jonathan -----| 123-Sarah Crowell-| This index uses maiden and married names. The Seq # refers to the Sears Genealogical Catalogue with more information at http://emcee.com/~lrsears Name Stone#Seq # Died Age Berry, Sallie 118 1142 18 Mar 1889 87 Bray, Mercy 116 401 09 Jul 1846 83 Crowell, Anna 50 388 26 May 1785 47 Crowell, Azubah 113 1143 04 Jan 1867 66 Crowell, Deborah 24 74 18 Sep 1753 34 Crowell, Hannah 6 62 22 Jun 1802 77 Crowell, Sarah 123 1614 16 Jul 1871 71 Foster, Jerusha 99 1614 10 Apr 1858 106 Freeman, Marcy 11 9 30 Aug 1747 74 Freeman, Priscilla 9 12 08 May 1764 78 Hall, Betsey 105 252 01 Jul 1818 81 Hall, Clarissa 119 1142 11 Apr 1835 32 Hall, Hipzabah 73 455 09 Jun 1793 22 Hamblen, Keziah 107 799 14 Dec 1838 75 Hawes, Elizabeth 35 44 08 Jan 1748 52 Homer, Margery 52 76 01 Aug 1795 60 Howes, Desiri 63 229 06 Jan 1804 79 Howes, G Knyvet 102 2724 Nov 1949 92 Howes, Keziah 44 435 04 Sep 1827 57 Howes, Susanna 42 76 09 Apr 1763 42 Hurd, Sally 75 455 29 Sep 1812 40 Mayo, Mercy 1 2 20 Jan 1748 84 Mayo, Rhoda 66 461 16 Apr 1784 28 Merrill, Desire 46 438 01 Sep 1828 62 Paddock, Elesebath 4 7 11 Jun 1772 Remick, Abigail 96 748 13 Dec 1828 72 Remick, Freeman 95 748 30 Nov 1826 71 Remick, Sally 97 1844a 18 Sep 1828 51 Rider, Nabby 92 1844a 08 Aug 1811 11 Ryder, Lydia 31 50 24 Mar 1734 25 Ryder, Priscilla 29 49 18 Jan 1743 36 Sears 87 1155 12 May 1839 Sears, Almira 98 1614 20 Aug 1863 62 Sears, Bathsheba 27 12 19 Apr 1735 24 Sears, Benjamin 104 799 15 Apr 1825 18 Sears, Bethia 84 457 10 Nov 1812 81 Sears, Bethiah 18 12 08 Sep 1736 9 Sears, Betsey 67 399 05 Oct 1787 8 Sears, Betty 25 79 Sep 1755 36 Sears, Constant 16 73 27 Jun 1768 19 Sears, Daniel 12 61 28 Nov 1771 62 Sears, Daniel 49 391 23 Sep 1776 32 Sears, Edmund 5 62 12 Aug 1796 85 Sears, Edmund 122 395 16 Mar 1832 88 Sears, Edward 83 457 14 Sep 1907 61 Sears, Elisha 14 73 07 Mar 1790 84 Sears, Elisha 21 434 05 Dec 1822 81 Sears, Elisha 79 1155 14 Dec 1838 42 Sears, Elizabeth 60 229 23 Oct 1798 34 Sears, Elkanah 117 401 01 Jun 1836 78 Sears, Elkanah 120 1142 20 Jan 1876 75 Sears, Enoch 17 73 09 Mar 1767 21 Sears, Hannah 94 229 15 Jan 1835 74 Sears, Heman 28 12 01 Aug 1726 1 Sears, Heman 40 50 01 Jun 1734 3mo Sears, Isaac 39 41 13 Jan 1724 2 Sears, Isaac 59 155 24 Mar 1759 25 Sears, Jacob 65 1104 23 Apr 1803 8mo Sears, John 8 12 09 Apr 1739 61 Sears, John 23 74 05 Dec 1791 79 Sears, John 43 435 24 Aug 1812 68 Sears, John 109 443 09 Jun 1817 72 Sears, Jonathan 33 44 03 Sep 1738 45 Sears, Jonathan 56 246 16 Dec 1759 28 Name Stone#Seq # Died Age Sears, Jonathan 124 1614 18 Jul 1871 73 Sears, Joseph 3 7 25 Aug 1765 70 Sears, Joseph 58 44 14 Mar 1758 30 Sears, Joseph 88 155 06 Aug 1779 72 Sears, Joseph 108 799 05 Jan 1846 82 Sears, Joshua 68 399 31 Mar 1825 73 Sears, Keziah 47 391 29 Jul 1787 17 Sears, Keziah 110 455 17 Mar 1833 74 Sears, Laban 100 1614 10 Aug 1819 13 Sears, Larned 90 155 11 Oct 1760 22 Sears, Levi 101 229 05 Dec 1825 54 Sears, Maria 86 1224 01 Mar 1823 Sears, Mary 61 229 11 Apr 1794 30 Sears, Mary 70 395 15 May 1785 9 Sears, Mehitable 42 435 19 May 1798 48 Sears, Mercy 7 62 27 Jan 1849 89 Sears, Micajah 51 388 01 Feb 1823 85 Sears, Nathaniel 38 46 04 Jan 1724 3 Sears, Noah 45 438 23 Sep 1835 85 Sears, Noah 78 431 25 Aug 1828 21 Sears, Paul 10 9 17 Feb 1740 71 Sears, Prince 104 799 10 Feb 1810 23 Sears, Prince 106 252 25 Feb 1829 94 Sears, Priscilla 22 246 12 Apr 1819 89 Sears, Reuben 76 399 02 Jun 1829 28 Sears, Rowland 55 285 01 May 1750 24 Sears, Ruth 89 155 27 Mar 1761 46 Sears, Samuel 2 7 08 Jan 1741 78 Sears, Samuel 34 41 22 Nov 1726 40 Sears, Samuel 19 73 18 Mar 1792 56 Sears, Samuel 62 229 13 Aug 1774 53 Sears, Samuel 64 229 31 Jul 1783 20 Sears, Samuel 103 457 29 Jan 1855 63 Sears, Samuel T 111 2566 18 Sep 1928 52 Sears, Sarah 36 44 16 Dec 1749 19 Sears, Sarah 69 399 15 Jan 1792 33 Sears, Sarah 72 399 15 Jan 1792 33 Sears, Sarah 77 431 23 Jun 1834 29 Sears, Seth 30 49 05 Mar 1750 48 Sears, Seth 41 49 31 May 1733 2 Sears, Seth 74 455 05 Mar 1806 39 Sears, Seth 81 455 11 Mar 1808 8 Sears, Susan 115 401 02 Jun 1857 63 Sears, Susannah 85 457 08 Feb 1800 2 Sears, Thankful 91 868 28 Jul 1793 7 Sears, Thomas 114 1143 28 Nov 1891 91 Sears, Vienna 82 457 27 Jun 1880 82 Sears, Willard 53 76 19 Aug 1765 51 Sears, William C 112 2566 19 Dec 1904 66 Snow, Marcy 32 50 29 Jun 1736 31 Snow, Mary 13 61 08 May 1790 76 Snow, Thankful 20 434 10 Dec 1811 44 Taylor, Hannah 121 395 08 Jul 1828 76 Vincent, Sarah 15 73 12 Apr 1783 75