How to Find a Tombstone in the Old Cemetery in Lexington, MA, My Stearns / Stone for Tombstone Tuesday

This spring, I discovered I had the Stearns line, and made it my mission to see if any distant relatives were buried near where I live. As it turned out, my 8th great-grandaunt, Sarah Stearns was buried in Lexington, Massachusetts with her husband, Dea. Samuel Stone. Since I knew where the cemetery was, I thought it would be an easy find, especially since there was a photo on FindAGrave. I went two times, and couldn't find it, even with the help of my husband. Nothing looked remotely like the FAG photo, I think the sun or shadow was the problem.

I called the cemetery department to get the exact location and spoke with the cemetery supervisor, who couldn't figure out their record-keeping system (clerk on vacation), then I waited a week and called her. She explained where my stone was, so we went again and still couldn't find it. Another call to the clerk and I suggested a map of the cemetery, she had one to send me. I received it 3 weeks later, after another call to remind her. I also received a partial list showing "my names" with their grave number. Seems there are many typed lists, and each grave has a number which corresponds to the map. (Copies of map and list are shown below.) Anyway, we finally found the stones in August and the lighting was perfect, but I waited over two months to post this because I had to take a photo of the red burning bush by the rock with the words "Ye Old Burying Ground."

During my conversations with the cemetery clerk, she offered to call the Town Hall to see what the status was regarding their updating cemetery records. I mentioned I wanted to get a listing so I could put it online for readers. I was told they were working on it right now and I could call back to find out the status. I said I'd do it in six months. NOTE: I called the cemetery on September 6, 2016 and was told that the Historical Society and Cemetery department, along with a Boy Scout Troop are working on getting information put online. I will call back in February 2017.

In the meantime, I discovered a full map of the cemetery, online (yes a Lexington site), and it's below. It would have been most helpful if the clerk had just given me the Stearns and Stone cemetery numbers (38 and 39), and the town website, then I could have found the map and their location in a minute or so, from home!

Ye Old Burying Ground

1690

HERE LYES Y^e BODY OF

SARAH (Stearns) STONE

WIFE TO SAMUEL

STONE AGED 65

YEARS DIED OCTOBER

26   1700

HERE LYES THE

BODY OF DEACON

SAMUEL STONE

AGED 84 YEARS and

7 M^o Died SEPTEMBER

THE 27 1715

Samuel and Sarah Stone, side by-side and are in this large semi-circle shown below. The headstones are to the left, and foot-stones to the right.

Tombs are the first thing you see if you enter at the rock marker below. There are three ways to get in the cemetery. The path that begins with the rock marker; park in the cemetery lot behind the First Parish-Unitarian Church; park in the St. Brigid Church lot, left of the large rock marker. See detailed map below.

First Parish-Unitarian Church

The two church parking lots are shown on the Google map below, and the path is close to the H in Harrington Rd. (I have no idea why the Cemetery isn't marked.)

I found the above map at this Site, you can see there is church parking on the left and right sides, and the path is in the middle. If you are looking for somebody in person or just want to know the grave number, call the cemetery office at 781-861-2718 and get the number of your gravestone. Then enlarge this map to see their location. Note: I suggest looking on FindAGrave first, just to be sure they were buried there. You'll have a much easier search than I had.

Below is the map and corresponding list of grave numbers 34-77, I was sent. I was interested in numbers 38 and 39. Note: the typed list isn't in alphabetical or chronological order!

The Descendant Report is for my direct lines of Isaac Stearns, Samuel Stearns and Mary Stearns Jennison. The two individuals mentioned above are in red.

---

Descendant Register, Generation No. 1

---

1.	ISAAC STEARNS ( STEARNS1) was born ABT 1600, and died 19 JUN 1671 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. He married MARY BARKER BET 1622 AND 1625 in Stoke-by Nayland, England, daughter of JOHN BARKER and MARGARET WALTER. She died 23 APR 1677 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. He married Marie BEF 1620.
	Children of ISAAC STEARNS and MARY BARKER are: 2   i. Mary STEARNS was born ABT 6 JAN 1625 in Nayland with Wissington, Suffolk, England, and died 1664. She married Isaac LEARNED 9 JUL 1646 in Woburn, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, son of William LEARNED and Goodith GILMAN. He was born 25 FEB 1624, and died 27 NOV 1657 in Chelmsford, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. 3   ii. Anna \ Hannah STEARNS was born ABT 5 OCT 1628 in Nayland with Wissington, Suffolk, England, and died 17 JUN 1656 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. She married Henry FREEMAN 25 DEC 1650 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, son of Samuel FREEMAN. He was born 1625 in England, and died 12 NOV 1683 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. + 4   iii. Isaac STEARNS was born 6 JAN 1632/3 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 2 AUG 1676 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. + 5   iv. Sarah STEARNS was born 22 SEP 1635 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 6 OCT 1700 in Cambridge, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. + 6   v. SAMUEL STEARNS was born 24 APR 1638 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 31 AUG 1683 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. 7   vi. Elizabeth STEARNS was born BET 1640 AND 1644 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 24 JUN 1671 in Billerica, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. She married Samuel MANNING 13 APR 1664 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, son of WILLIAM MANNING and DOROTHY (--) w\o WILLIAM MANNING. He was born 21 JUL 1644 in Cambridge, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 22 FEB 1710/1 in Billerica, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. 8   vii. Abigail STEARNS was born ABT 1646 in Stoke Nayland, Suffolk, England, and died 16 OCT 1690 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. She married John MORSE 27 APR 1666 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, son of Joseph MORSE and Esther PIERCE. He was born 18 FEB 1639 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 23 JUL 1702 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Child of ISAAC STEARNS and Marie (--) w\o ISAAC STEARNS is: + 9   i. John STEARNS was born ABT 20 APR 1623 in Higham, Suffolk, England, and died 5 MAR 1668/9 in Billerica, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.

---

Descendant Register, Generation No. 2

---

4.	Isaac STEARNS (ISAAC STEARNS2, STEARNS1) was born 6 JAN 1632/3 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 2 AUG 1676 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. He married Sarah BEERS 24 JUN 1660 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, daughter of Richard BEERS and Elizabeth FIRMIN. She was born AFT 1639 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 24 JAN 1723/4 in Concord, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.
	Child of Isaac STEARNS and Sarah BEERS is: + 10   i. Mary STEARNS was born 8 OCT 1663, and died 24 FEB 1733.

5.	Sarah STEARNS (ISAAC STEARNS2, STEARNS1) was born 22 SEP 1635 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 6 OCT 1700 in Cambridge, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. She was buried in Lexington, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. She married Samuel STONE 7 JUN 1655 in Cambridge, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, son of Gregory STONE. He was born 1631 in Nayland, Essex, England, and died 27 SEP 1715 in Lexington, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. He was buried in Lexington, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.
	Child of Sarah STEARNS and Samuel STONE is: 11   i. Samuel STONE was born 1 OCT 1656 in Lexington, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 17 JUN 1743 in Lexington, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. He married Dorcas JONES 12 JUN 1679 in Cambridge, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, daughter of John JONES and Dorcas (--) w\o John JONES. She was born 29 MAY 1659 in Concord, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 24 SEP 1746 in Lexington, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.

6.	SAMUEL STEARNS (ISAAC STEARNS2, STEARNS1) was born 24 APR 1638 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 31 AUG 1683 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. He married HANNAH MANNING 1 FEB 1662/3 in Cambridge, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, daughter of WILLIAM MANNING and DOROTHY (--) w\o WILLIAM MANNING. She was born 21 JUN 1642 in Cambridge, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 26 FEB 1723/4 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.
	Children of SAMUEL STEARNS and HANNAH MANNING are: 12   i. Samuel STEARNS was born 4 MAY 1664 in Cambridge, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 7 JUN 1671. 13   ii. Hannah STEARNS was born 8 DEC 1666. She married Thomas BISCOE 26 DEC 1684. He died BEF 1699. She married Samuel GOOKIN 28 SEP 1708, son of Daniel GOOKIN. 14   iii. Nathaniel STEARNS was born 13 DEC 1668, and died 24 AUG 1716. He married Elizabeth DIX. He married Sarah NEVINSON. 15   iv. Sarah STEARNS was born 23 APR 1671, and died SEP 1726. She married Joseph WINSHIP, son of Edward WINSHIP. He was born 1661, and died 25 SEP 1725. 16   v. Samuel STEARNS was born 29 MAR 1673 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 16 AUG 1746. He married Mary HAWKINS 2 MAR 1697/8 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. 17   vi. Isaac STEARNS was born 31 DEC 1674, and died 1737. He married Mary BEMIS. 18   vii. John STEARNS was born 24 JUN 1677, and died 1729. He married Abigail FISKE. + 19   viii. MARY STEARNS was born 5 APR 1679 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 1732. 20   ix. Abigail STEARNS was born 16 APR 1680, and died 11 JUL 1710. She married Benoni GARFIELD. 21   x. Joseph STEARNS was born 11 DEC 1682, and died 4 FEB 1683/4.

9.	John STEARNS (ISAAC STEARNS2, STEARNS1) was born ABT 20 APR 1623 in Higham, Suffolk, England, and died 5 MAR 1668/9 in Billerica, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. He married Mary LOTHROP 20 NOV 1656 in Barnstable, Barnstable Co., Massachusetts, daughter of Thomas LOTHROP and Sarah LEARNED. She was born 4 OCT 1640 in Barnstable, Barnstable Co., Massachusetts, and died AFT 1735 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. He married Sarah MIXER BEF 1654 in Billerica / Watertown, MA, daughter of Isaac MIXER and Sarah THURSTON. She was born ABT 1636, and died 10 JUN 1656 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.
	Child of John STEARNS and Sarah MIXER is: + 22   i. John STEARNS was born MAY 1654 in Billerica, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 26 OCT 1728.

---

Descendant Register, Generation No. 3

---

10.	Mary STEARNS (Isaac STEARNS3, ISAAC STEARNS2, STEARNS1) was born 8 OCT 1663, and died 24 FEB 1733. She married John CUTLER 1 JAN 1694, son of JAMES CUTLER and Phebe PAGE. He was born 19 MAR 1663 in Lexington, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 21 SEP 1714 in Lexington, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.
	Children of Mary STEARNS and John CUTLER are: 23   i. Samuel CUTLER was born 20 DEC 1694 in Cambridge Farms, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 12 JUL 1742. 24   ii. John CUTLER was born 3 JUN 1696 in Lexington, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. 25   iii. Ebenezer CUTLER was born 24 JUL 1700 in Lexington, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 17 JAN 1777 in Lincoln, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. He married Anna WHITNEY 3 MAR 1724, daughter of Jonathan WHITNEY. She was born in of Concord, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 24 AUG 1793 in Lincoln, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. 26   iv. Mary CUTLER was born 3 APR 1702 in Lexington, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 13 JUN 1776 in Lincoln, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. She married Samuel BOND 7 FEB 1724 in Lincoln, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. He was born in of Weston, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 20 JAN 1763 in Lincoln, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. 27   v. Sarah CUTLER was born 20 NOV 1704 in Lexington, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 12 FEB 1749.

19.	MARY STEARNS (SAMUEL STEARNS3, ISAAC STEARNS2, STEARNS1) was born 5 APR 1679 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 1732. She married SAMUEL JENNISON 2 NOV 1699 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, son of SAMUEL JENNISON and JUDITH NEWCOMB. He was born 12 OCT 1673 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 2 DEC 1730 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. He was buried in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.
	Children of MARY STEARNS and SAMUEL JENNISON are: 28   i. Mary JENNISON was born 17 AUG 1700. She married John GERRISH 8 NOV 1733 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. 29   ii. Hannah JENNISON was born 17 JUL 1702, and died 10 DEC 1777 in Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts. She married Jonathan STONE 15 FEB 1724/5. She married John GODDARD. 30   iii. Samuel JENNISON was born 26 SEP 1704. He married Abigail HOLDEN 13 FEB 1733 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. 31   iv. William JENNISON was born 6 FEB 1706/7, and died 1 APR 1750 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. He married Abigail LINDALL. + 32   v. Nathaniel JENNISON was born 5 APR 1709 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 18 MAY 1769 in Barre, Worcester Co., Massachusetts. 33   vi. John JENNISON was born 19 FEB 1710/1, and died AFT MAR 1755. He married Mary HUBBARD 21 JUL 1740 in Lunenburg, Worcester Co., Massachusetts. 34   vii. Lydia JENNISON was born 2 APR 1712, and died 28 MAR 1749. She married Ebenezer WHITE 11 JAN 1736/7. 35   viii. Abigail JENNISON was born 22 APR 1715. She married Jonathan HUBBARD. 36   ix. Mercy JENNISON was born 11 MAR 1717/8, and died 26 OCT 1756. She married Stanton PRENTICE 26 JUN 1740. 37   x. Sarah JENNISON was born AUG 1720 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 23 NOV 1720. + 38   xi. EUNICE JENNISON was born FEB 1721/2 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 17 FEB 1750/1 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.

22.	John STEARNS (John STEARNS3, ISAAC STEARNS2, STEARNS1) was born MAY 1654 in Billerica, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 26 OCT 1728. He was buried in Billerica, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. He married Joanna CALL 22 APR 1696 in Malden, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, daughter of Thomas CALL and Lydia SHEPARDSON. She was born MAR 1659?60 in Malden, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 4 DEC 1737 in Malden, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. She was buried in Malden, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.
	Child of John STEARNS and Joanna CALL is: + 39   i. John STEARNS.

---

Descendant Register, Generation No. 4

---

32.	Nathaniel JENNISON (MARY STEARNS4, SAMUEL STEARNS3, ISAAC STEARNS2, STEARNS1) was born 5 APR 1709 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 18 MAY 1769 in Barre, Worcester Co., Massachusetts. He married Abigail MEAD 23 OCT 1729 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, daughter of Hopestill MEAD and Elizabeth HASTINGS. She was born ABT 30 AUG 1713 in Lexington, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.
	Children of Nathaniel JENNISON and Abigail MEAD are: 40   i. Josiah JENNISON was born 22 JAN 1730 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. 41   ii. Elizabeth JENNISON was born 23 MAY 1731 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. 42   iii. Nathaniel JENNISON was born ABT 10 DEC 1732 in Weston, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. 43   iv. Mary JENNISON was born ABT 6 APR 1735 in Weston, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. 44   v. Abigail JENNISON was born 22 APR 1737 in Weston, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. She married Andrew PARKER 29 NOV 1759, son of Andrew PARKER and Sarah WHITNEY. He was born 11 APR 1738 in Lexington, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. 45   vi. Sarah JENNISON was born 22 APR 1737 in Weston, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. 46   vii. Anna JENNISON was born ABT 5 AUG 1739 in Weston, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. + 47   viii. Eunice JENNISON was born ABT 28 JAN 1742 in Weston, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. 48   ix. Abijah JENNISON was born ABT 5 OCT 1746 in Weston, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 3 JAN 1747 in Weston, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. 49   x. Abijah JENNISON was born ABT 21 DEC 1747 in Weston, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. 50   xi. Hopestill JENNISON was born ABT 6 OCT 1751 in Weston, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.

38.	EUNICE JENNISON (MARY STEARNS4, SAMUEL STEARNS3, ISAAC STEARNS2, STEARNS1) was born FEB 1721/2 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 17 FEB 1750/1 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts. She was buried in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts. She married DAVID WILDER ABT 16 JUN 1744 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, son of EBENEZER WILDER and MERCY HOUGHTON. He was born ABT 27 JAN 1714 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, and died 17 NOV 1776 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts. He was buried in Leominster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.
	Children of EUNICE JENNISON and DAVID WILDER are: + 51   i. SAMUEL WILDER was born 13 JUN 1745 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, and died 22 OCT 1824 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts. 52   ii. John WILDER was born 1747.

39.	John STEARNS (John STEARNS4, John STEARNS3, ISAAC STEARNS2, STEARNS1). He married Elizabeth BIGELOW.
	Child of John STEARNS and Elizabeth BIGELOW is: + 53   i. John STEARNS.

---

Descendant Register, Generation No. 5

---

47.	Eunice JENNISON (Nathaniel JENNISON5, MARY STEARNS4, SAMUEL STEARNS3, ISAAC STEARNS2, STEARNS1) was born ABT 28 JAN 1742 in Weston, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. She married Josiah PRIEST 11 DEC 1758 in Weston, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.
	Child of Eunice JENNISON and Josiah PRIEST is: + 54   i. Faithful PRIEST was born ABT 1782 in Marlborough, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 10 AUG 1865 in Danvers, Essex Co., Massachusetts.

51.	SAMUEL WILDER (EUNICE JENNISON5, MARY STEARNS4, SAMUEL STEARNS3, ISAAC STEARNS2, STEARNS1) was born 13 JUN 1745 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, and died 22 OCT 1824 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts. He married SARAH BALLARD 1 AUG 1768 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, daughter of JOSIAH BALLARD and SARAH CARTER. She was born 30 NOV 1747 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, and died 28 JAN 1843 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.
	Children of SAMUEL WILDER and SARAH BALLARD are: + 55   i. Samuel WILDER was born 25 JUN 1769 in Templeton, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, and died 20 AUG 1849 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts. + 56   ii. ABEL WILDER was born 11 AUG 1770 in Templeton, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, and died 3 APR 1862 in Bridport, Addison Co., Vermont. + 57   iii. Sarah WILDER was born 25 FEB 1772 in Templeton, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, and died 1852 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts. 58   iv. Eunice WILDER was born 6 JUN 1774 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts. + 59   v. David WILDER was born 1 APR 1776 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, and died 23 JUL 1813 in Keene, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire. + 60   vi. Mary WILDER was born 12 NOV 1779 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, and died 6 NOV 1853 in Westminster, Windham Co., Vermont. 61   vii. John WILDER was born 16 AUG 1781 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, and died 5 MAR 1831. He married Mary KNIGHT. 62   viii. Josiah WILDER was born 22 OCT 1782 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts. + 63   ix. Luke WILDER was born 25 SEP 1785 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, and died 1869. 64   x. Dolly WILDER was born 18 MAY 1788 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts. She married Samuel HOWE.

53.	John STEARNS (John STEARNS5, John STEARNS4, John STEARNS3, ISAAC STEARNS2, STEARNS1). He married Esther JOHNSON.
	Child of John STEARNS and Esther JOHNSON is: + 65   i. Josiah STEARNS was born 20 JAN 1732 in Billerica, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 25 JUL 1788 in Epping, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire.

She Died a Virgin in Woburn, Massachusetts -- Tombstone Tuesday

Here lyes the Remains of

M^rs. ELIZABETH COTTON

Daughter of the Rev.

ROLAND COTTON late

of Sandwich Dec^d. Who Died

a VIRGIN October 12, 1742

Aetatis 46.

"If a Virgin Marry She hath not Sinned Nevertheless Such shall have trouble in the Flesh, but He that giveth her not in Marriage doth better, She is happier if She so abide"

The size and angle of this stone is what enticed me to walk up the hill to read it. However, the 2007 FindAGrave photo is totally in a different position. It looks like the stone was raised.

FOLLOW UP: On November 21, 2015, I was  in this cemetery again, and could see that the above tombstone was no longer upright. Upon investigating, I saw that it was now flat, and face down on the ground! I'm sharing my new photo below.

First Burial Ground

Woburn, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts