Southborough Rural Cemetery Records

Southborough Historical Society

Southborough, MA

Southborough Rural Cemetery Records

Introduction

Beginning in February 2002 we set out to collect and record all the inscriptions on the markers in the Southborough Rural Cemetery, located on Route 85 in Southborough, Massachusetts. This information is intended for use by persons who are doing genealogical and historical research. It will be available through the Southborough Historical Society. The project was completed in 2003 and was subsequently updated to include all burials through and including December 2004.

We copied everything we could read from the gravestones, and we checked the information against the cemetery’s record books. The record books enabled us to capture information about persons for whom there were no grave markers, and in many cases gave us additional information about persons whose names do appear on grave markers. This additional information is shown at the end of each entry.

Format

This data contains an alphabetical listing of the persons buried in the Southborough Rural Cemetery. There are two types of entries: (1) an entry which includes data from a primary grave marker, together with information from any additional markers that relate to some or all of the persons named on the primary marker; and (2) an entry which contains information from the cemetery records and indicates that there is no grave marker. In addition to information from grave markers and cemetery records, we have also indicated the presence of flagholders that commemorate military service or membership in a police, fire, or fraternal organization. Each entry includes the Section and Lot numbers where the grave is located.

An example will illustrate the process. Consider the gravestone in Section 2A, Lot 51, which includes the names of Lewis Hunting, Amy R. (Adams) Hunting, Helen M. Hunting, David Henry Brewer, and Julia E. (Hunting) Brewer. The entry with all the information appears alphabetically under the Hunting surname. In addition, there are references alphabetically under “Adams, Amy” and “Brewer, David H. & Julia” which say “see Hunting, Lewis et al.” This format makes it easy to find the marker for any individual buried in this cemetery, while eliminating the need to show the information more than once. In cases where a woman’s maiden name and married name are both shown either on the marker or in the cemetery records, this format makes it possible to find the available information even if only the maiden name is known.

In order to conserve space, the information on each marker is shown here without line breaks. For markers with more than one surface (front, back, top, and sides of a stone or the multiple sides of an obelisk), a slash (/) is used to indicate where one surface ends and the next begins.

Scope

The Southborough Rural Cemetery was established in 1842. We have recorded 2,434 entries which include 5,910 graves and 4,422 markers. Multiple markers for a single grave occur whenever there is a family marker with additional markers for individual gravesites, or where there are one or more military markers in addition to the family marker. In addition to the 5,910 graves, there are 292 names recorded here of persons still living who have made plans to be buried here and have had their names inscribed on the markers; these are marked with a single asterisk (*) in the First Name(s) column. There are also 91 persons whose memories are honored on gravestones here but who, according to cemetery records, are buried elsewhere; these are marked with a double asterisk (**) in the First Name(s) column. Based on available data, at least 710 Veterans are included among the names documented here.

Disclaimer

While great care has been taken in collecting and transcribing the information, there may be some errors. We assume no responsibility for the accuracy of the information included here. If you find an error, please send the details to Donna and Peter LeClair, 7 Adams Circle, Southborough, MA 01772, and we will reflect the correction in any future updates of these records.

Acknowledgements

We extend to Bridget Gilleney-DeCenzo, cemetery division superintendent, our thanks for her considerable help and support with this project, and for the map showing the location of the various sections of the cemetery. We also thank John Boland, Jr., superintendent of the Department of Public Works, and the selectmen of the Town of Southborough for giving us access to the records of the cemetery, enabling us to publish much more complete and accurate information than would have been possible otherwise. In addition, we thank George Mooney of the cemetery staff for his help and encouragement. We also acknowledge the excellent work of current and past cemetery staff in maintaining the cemetery records. In particular, Leo Bertonazzi, superintendent of cemeteries in Southborough from 1962 to 1986, deserves recognition for his efforts in recording information on Veterans who are honored here.

Donna and Peter LeClair

Southborough Historical Society

January 2005

Southborough Rural Cemetery Map

Southborough Rural Cemetery Records