fINLEY fAMILY cEMETERY
Address: West Road
Contemporary Name: Finley Family Cemetery
Historic Name: Finley Family Cemetery
Present Use: Cemetery
Historic Use: Cemetery
Date constructed: 1783-1863 (Baber)
Materials: Schist, marble, brownstone, granite
Size: .24 acre
Description: The approximately 65 stones of the Finley Family Cemetery are in the eastern two-thirds of the parcel. The western one-third is vacant. The monuments are lined up in rows running in the north-south direction. Most of the stones are schist in rectangular, segmental, and tombstone shapes. The predominant family names on the stones are Finley and Chamberlin. Many are carved; for instance, three Chamberlin stones dates 1789 are 1790 display arched tops carved with death’s heads, shoulders, foliate borders, and incised lettering. The Esther Finley and John Finley memorials both are carved schist but reflect changing tastes in funerary arts at the turn of the 19th century. Esther Finley, 1794, displays foliate vertical borders under the shoulders and winged death’s head in the arch in the traditional 18th century mode. John Finley, a somewhat larger stone of 1807, is still schist but with stylized vertical borders and an early 19th century urn in the arch, thereby reflecting contemporary evolving preference in funerary art. Dozens of other stones are similar. One schist stone of 1813 features the urn-and-willow motif. Several stones are broken off. Many are covered with biological growth and black crusts. On the whole, however, the cemetery is reasonably well maintained.
Significance: The Finley Family Cemetery is significant because of its many carved schist stones and because of the uniformity of appearance and character of the stones. Most turn-of-the-18th century cemeteries display monuments of brownstone, slate, schist, and marble in more-or-less equal proportions. Here almost all the stones are schist, an unusual uniformity. Elaborate carving of tombstones with such features as death’s heads, decorated shoulders, foliate borders, and incised legends proliferate in brownstone, which was easier to carve because it is soft. The large collection of schist stones with carving of this character in the Finley Family Cemetery is unusual. Continued preference for schist in this cemetery into the 19th century is demonstrated by the 19th century urn-and-willow design of 1813 executed in schist. The cemetery’s location about a quarter of a mile east of Jones Hollow Road suggests a Jones connection. Samuel Finley Jones, for who Jones Hollow Road was named, provides such relationship.
Sources: Baber, David. Capitol Region Council of Governments Historic Resource Survey of Marlborough, 1978.
Ransom, David. Historical and Architectural Resources Survey, Town of Marlborough, Connecticut. April 1998.
Notes:
Posted on May 31, 2007 1:28 PM
Contemporary Name: Finley Family Cemetery
Historic Name: Finley Family Cemetery
Present Use: Cemetery
Historic Use: Cemetery
Date constructed: 1783-1863 (Baber)
Materials: Schist, marble, brownstone, granite
Size: .24 acre
Description: The approximately 65 stones of the Finley Family Cemetery are in the eastern two-thirds of the parcel. The western one-third is vacant. The monuments are lined up in rows running in the north-south direction. Most of the stones are schist in rectangular, segmental, and tombstone shapes. The predominant family names on the stones are Finley and Chamberlin. Many are carved; for instance, three Chamberlin stones dates 1789 are 1790 display arched tops carved with death’s heads, shoulders, foliate borders, and incised lettering. The Esther Finley and John Finley memorials both are carved schist but reflect changing tastes in funerary arts at the turn of the 19th century. Esther Finley, 1794, displays foliate vertical borders under the shoulders and winged death’s head in the arch in the traditional 18th century mode. John Finley, a somewhat larger stone of 1807, is still schist but with stylized vertical borders and an early 19th century urn in the arch, thereby reflecting contemporary evolving preference in funerary art. Dozens of other stones are similar. One schist stone of 1813 features the urn-and-willow motif. Several stones are broken off. Many are covered with biological growth and black crusts. On the whole, however, the cemetery is reasonably well maintained.
Significance: The Finley Family Cemetery is significant because of its many carved schist stones and because of the uniformity of appearance and character of the stones. Most turn-of-the-18th century cemeteries display monuments of brownstone, slate, schist, and marble in more-or-less equal proportions. Here almost all the stones are schist, an unusual uniformity. Elaborate carving of tombstones with such features as death’s heads, decorated shoulders, foliate borders, and incised legends proliferate in brownstone, which was easier to carve because it is soft. The large collection of schist stones with carving of this character in the Finley Family Cemetery is unusual. Continued preference for schist in this cemetery into the 19th century is demonstrated by the 19th century urn-and-willow design of 1813 executed in schist. The cemetery’s location about a quarter of a mile east of Jones Hollow Road suggests a Jones connection. Samuel Finley Jones, for who Jones Hollow Road was named, provides such relationship.
Sources: Baber, David. Capitol Region Council of Governments Historic Resource Survey of Marlborough, 1978.
Ransom, David. Historical and Architectural Resources Survey, Town of Marlborough, Connecticut. April 1998.
Notes:
Posted on May 31, 2007 1:28 PM
cENTURY cEMETERY
Address: South Main Street
Contemporary Name: Century Cemetery
Historic Name: Century Cemetery
Present Use: Cemetery
Historic Use: Cemetery
Date constructed: c. 1800
Materials: Brownstone, schist, slate, marble, granite, zinc
Size: .87 acres
Description: Century Cemetery has about 500 markers, arranged in rows running north-south parallel with South Main Street. The oldest, which are concentrated on the west side and start as early as 1781, are round-headed schist stones carved with shoulders and death’s heads. Rectangular schist stones decorated only with incised script dating roughly from 1795 to 1831 are nearby. Round-headed brownstone markers from the turn of the 19th century, to the east, are carved with volutes and foliate borders. Several are deteriorated and crumbling, the brownstone substance having lost its binder. Segmentally topped marble monuments number in quantity during the first quarter of the 19th century. There are two marble obelisks from the third quarter of the 19th century and two brownstone obelisks from the fourth quarter. The cemetery has two metal objects. One is the gate in the center of the stone wall along South Main Street. It is composed of wrought-iron pickets and cast-iron posts. The other is the zinc monument of the type made by the Monumental Bronze Company of Bridgeport, Connecticut, although this one is not signed. It is a typical example of the firm’s Neo-Classical Revival/Baroque work. In general, the cemetery is well-maintained. Some stones are broken off; some have been repaired; there is little indication of vandalism. Many stones are covered with black crusts and biological growth. The encircling stone wall is tall, deep, and in good repair. Hall refers to the cemetery as the “old burying ground,” and mentions that the circumferential wall was built prior to 1846 and re-laid in 1846.
Significance: Century Cemetery displays good examples of the 19th century memorial markers in the schist, slate, brownstone, and marble popular at the time. Most stones post-date the 18th century’s heavily carved symbols of angels, death’s head and homespun homilies and legends. It appears that this is Marlborough’s first town-wide cemetery, earlier burials having been made in the older towns of Glastonbury, Colchester, and Hebron from which Marlborough was formed and in family cemeteries (see, for example, the Finley Cemetery on West Street). Many interments later in the 19th century and through the 20th century were made in another town-owned location known as Marlboro Cemetery.
Sources: Hall, Mary. Report of the Celebration of the Centennial of the Incorporation of the Town of Marlborough. 1904.
Ransom, David. Historical and Architectural Resources Survey, Town of Marlborough, Connecticut. April 1998.
Notes:
Posted on May 31, 2007 11:20 AM
Contemporary Name: Century Cemetery
Historic Name: Century Cemetery
Present Use: Cemetery
Historic Use: Cemetery
Date constructed: c. 1800
Materials: Brownstone, schist, slate, marble, granite, zinc
Size: .87 acres
Description: Century Cemetery has about 500 markers, arranged in rows running north-south parallel with South Main Street. The oldest, which are concentrated on the west side and start as early as 1781, are round-headed schist stones carved with shoulders and death’s heads. Rectangular schist stones decorated only with incised script dating roughly from 1795 to 1831 are nearby. Round-headed brownstone markers from the turn of the 19th century, to the east, are carved with volutes and foliate borders. Several are deteriorated and crumbling, the brownstone substance having lost its binder. Segmentally topped marble monuments number in quantity during the first quarter of the 19th century. There are two marble obelisks from the third quarter of the 19th century and two brownstone obelisks from the fourth quarter. The cemetery has two metal objects. One is the gate in the center of the stone wall along South Main Street. It is composed of wrought-iron pickets and cast-iron posts. The other is the zinc monument of the type made by the Monumental Bronze Company of Bridgeport, Connecticut, although this one is not signed. It is a typical example of the firm’s Neo-Classical Revival/Baroque work. In general, the cemetery is well-maintained. Some stones are broken off; some have been repaired; there is little indication of vandalism. Many stones are covered with black crusts and biological growth. The encircling stone wall is tall, deep, and in good repair. Hall refers to the cemetery as the “old burying ground,” and mentions that the circumferential wall was built prior to 1846 and re-laid in 1846.
Significance: Century Cemetery displays good examples of the 19th century memorial markers in the schist, slate, brownstone, and marble popular at the time. Most stones post-date the 18th century’s heavily carved symbols of angels, death’s head and homespun homilies and legends. It appears that this is Marlborough’s first town-wide cemetery, earlier burials having been made in the older towns of Glastonbury, Colchester, and Hebron from which Marlborough was formed and in family cemeteries (see, for example, the Finley Cemetery on West Street). Many interments later in the 19th century and through the 20th century were made in another town-owned location known as Marlboro Cemetery.
Sources: Hall, Mary. Report of the Celebration of the Centennial of the Incorporation of the Town of Marlborough. 1904.
Ransom, David. Historical and Architectural Resources Survey, Town of Marlborough, Connecticut. April 1998.
Notes:
Posted on May 31, 2007 11:20 AM
mARLBOROUGH cEMETERY
Address: East Hampton Road / SR 66
Contemporary Name: Marlboro Cemetery
Historic Name: Marlboro Cemetery
Present Use: Cemetery
Historic Use: Cemetery
Date constructed: Mid 19th century
Materials: Schist, brownstone, marble, granite
Size: 3.88 acres
Description: (Exterior) Marlboro Cemetery has upwards of 500 markers, including a dozen or more marble and brownstone obelisks. The stones are arranged in north-south rows, perpendicular to East Hampton Road. Memorials to the west generally date from the 19th century, those to the east from the 20th/late 20th century. The majority of the stones in the western section are segmentally topped, from the mid 19th century. The range of dates for the historic monuments is wide, from 1817 for an example in marble which carries the year 1815 to a large polished-granite sarcophagus of 1893.
Significance: While Marlboro Cemetery is newer than Century Cemetery, there is much overlap in the dates on the monuments. Some of the overlap is occasioned by the fact that interments were moved to Marlboro from Fawn Brook Cemetery on the southeast corner of South Main Street and Kellogg Road a the time that burying ground was essentially destroyed. Marlboro is larger, and has more late 20th century stones than Century. Both have good examples of monuments created in a variety of materials and artistic treatments representative of current practice and taste at time they were erected.
Sources: Ransom, David. Historical and Architectural Resources Survey, Town of Marlborough, Connecticut. April 1998.
Notes:
Posted on May 31, 2007 11:19 AM
Contemporary Name: Marlboro Cemetery
Historic Name: Marlboro Cemetery
Present Use: Cemetery
Historic Use: Cemetery
Date constructed: Mid 19th century
Materials: Schist, brownstone, marble, granite
Size: 3.88 acres
Description: (Exterior) Marlboro Cemetery has upwards of 500 markers, including a dozen or more marble and brownstone obelisks. The stones are arranged in north-south rows, perpendicular to East Hampton Road. Memorials to the west generally date from the 19th century, those to the east from the 20th/late 20th century. The majority of the stones in the western section are segmentally topped, from the mid 19th century. The range of dates for the historic monuments is wide, from 1817 for an example in marble which carries the year 1815 to a large polished-granite sarcophagus of 1893.
Significance: While Marlboro Cemetery is newer than Century Cemetery, there is much overlap in the dates on the monuments. Some of the overlap is occasioned by the fact that interments were moved to Marlboro from Fawn Brook Cemetery on the southeast corner of South Main Street and Kellogg Road a the time that burying ground was essentially destroyed. Marlboro is larger, and has more late 20th century stones than Century. Both have good examples of monuments created in a variety of materials and artistic treatments representative of current practice and taste at time they were erected.
Sources: Ransom, David. Historical and Architectural Resources Survey, Town of Marlborough, Connecticut. April 1998.
Notes:
Posted on May 31, 2007 11:19 AM