A Make-Over for the 1637 Burying Point Cemetery in Salem, Massachusetts

The Burying Point Cemetery or Charter Street Cemetery in Salem, Massachusetts has always been popular with researchers and tourists. It is in the middle of historic Salem and steps away from the Phillips Essex Museum. I have been here many times because I have four ancestors buried there. However, the thing I was always concerned about were the trees, especially the ones about to fall on your head or break a very old cemetery stone. The photos above and below were taken several years ago, in summer. Recently, work was done to remove dead branches, shrubs, and trees, and repair work was done to some stones. My photos were taken on April 14, 2019.

The above stone is for my ancestor, John Marston, and you can hardly see the footstone in the back (I had to move the shrub away for a close-up). Below is a recent photo showing Marston's stone, his footstone and way in the back is an unknown one that was repaired!

 Repaired stones.

Cut trees and branches, above and below.

Large tree stump overlooking the Salem Witch Trials Memorial in the background.


 Salem Witch Trials Memorial with names.

Beyond the wall are museum office buildings, and the museum.

Look at the branches above my ancestor's tombstone of Simon Bradstreet. A 2010 photo is below.

(Photo from several years ago.)

If you have ancestors buried in this cemetery, I'd like to recommend an excellent reference book, complete with all the names and a good amount of genealogical information about the individual (following this paragraph). The quotes of my Miles and Sarah were taken from this book. In addition, there is a map of the layout, including the Witchcraft Memorial. I've used the source below many times because I have six other ancestors buried there (Stephen Daniels, John Marston, Simon Bradstreet, Miles Ward, Sarah Massey, and John Proctor).

Charles Street Cemetery Burial Records

Salem, Massachusetts

Compiled by William C. Carlson

2012

(Copy at NEHGS in Boston)

Graves of Greatest Historical Interest.

Names mentioned:

Nathaniel Silsbee

Mary Cory

Jonathan Ward

Mary Cromwell

Benjamin Lynde

ohn and Anstiss Crowninshield

Clifford Crowninshield

Bartholomew Gardner

William Browne

Hilliard Veren

Habakuk Boditch

Nathaniel Bowditch

Deliverance Parkman

Simon Bradstreet

William Hollingworth

Samuel McIntire

John Hathorne

John Higginson

Richard More

John Turner

Timothy Lindall

Robert Peele

George Heusler

John Swinerton

Nathaniel Mather

Richard Derby

Simon Forrester

William Orne

Dr. Grimshawe

My previous posts with photos:

Miles Ward and his wife Sarah Massey Ward -- Salem, Massachusetts 

Marston of Salem, Massachusetts

Tombstone Tuesday -- Steven Daniel (Massachusetts)

Tombstone Tuesday - SIMON BRADSTREET of Salem, Massachusetts

No post, but a photo taken April 14, 2019, of my 9th great grandfather,  John Proctor.

From: JOHN PROCTOR of Ipswich, Leland H. Procter, Pub. Research Associates: Genealogical Research Group, 1985. Page 7.

"Much has been written concerning John's heroic and stubborn refusal to answer to the charge of witchcraft brought against him in the hysteria of 1692, but rather than confess to a crime he had not committed (which would have saved his life), he faced the awful reality of death by hanging.  His wife, Elizabeth, was also charged but released because she was pregnant."

There Were 27 Books About Witchcraft

In December 2013, I shared some parts of my 2nd great-grandfather's will in my post, Finally, What Was the Good Stuff in The Probate? I couldn't share his entire will and probate because it was 44 pages long. Three other posts were written about his will. Post #1, Post #2, Post #3.

The 4th post was written because I wanted to know what happened to the 2,600 books that were going to be sold. Specifically, I wondered if they went to a library.

A BILL OF APPRAISEMENT

of the Estate of William F. Poole, late of the County of Cook and State of Illinois, deceased.

                   One lot of Books (2,600 in number) at $1.00 per volume.

                                                                                      Total-         $2,600

Portrait of W.F. Poole
Newberry Library
Photo by Diane Boumenot

Being that William Frederick Poole was a well-known librarian, I thought his books would sell quickly. Thanks to a reader who contacted me in September, I now know how they were sold, and the titles of his 1,087 books, part of his 2,600 collection.

Ivy wrote, "I am a fellow at the Newberry library currently doing some research on Poole's Index, which is how I happened to come across your blog. I happened upon some biographical information in the Newberry Library archives regarding the sale of William Frederick Poole's books after his death. Yes, they were his personal collection, and it was quite extensive. The family tried to sell them privately, but it seems as if that didn't work out and so a public sale was held in 1900; there is a copy of the catalog of the sale in the Newberry's collection (Catalogue of the valuable private library of the late William F. Poole, LL.D., Librarian of the Newberry Library, Chicago, Ill.)" I was given the link and additional bits of information. 

She wrote again saying, "If you ever find yourself in the Chicago area, I would definitely suggest looking into those files, as his notes have information about family trees and other information (they're not super organized, though!). Williamson's (wrote biography of my ancestor) records do show that he tried to get in contact with family/descendants in the 1950s to see if they had letters or other records, but he did not turn up much." 

Then, I read: "I did happen to find that the sales catalog from Poole's book collection is also digitized on HathiTrust here, so you can see for yourself what books he had." http://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015020833938.

There were 76 pages of cataloged books! What were the topics? Well, the most surprising thing was seeing 27 books about witchcraft in his collection. If you would like to see the entire list, use the link above and scroll down to page 73. I'm sharing the description of two books on witchcraft, papers by Mr. Poole and his listing of the NEHGS Register (he was an early member to that society). The majority of his other books are about history.