I’ve always been drawn to the cemeteries of New England. Maybe it’s because they’re some of the oldest in the country, or maybe it’s the headstone designs—skulls, cherubs, and hourglasses—that turn death into art. Whatever the reason, I’ve been fascinated with them for years.
Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to visit in person yet, but it’s high on my list. Thankfully, I have friends who don’t mind wandering through old burial grounds and sending me photos of weathered epitaphs and eerie carvings. One cemetery that’s always been on my radar is Granary Burying Ground in Boston.
A Cemetery Older Than the Country Itself
Founded in 1660, Granary Burying Ground is Boston’s third-oldest cemetery, located on Tremont Street (Tremont & Bromfield). But for the first several decades, it wasn’t even called Granary Burying Ground—it was known simply as the South Burying Ground until around 1737, when Boston moved its public granary from the head of what is now Park Street and rebuilt it on the site of the present-day Park Street Church. The cemetery’s name changed accordingly, forever linking it to a structure that no longer exists.
Like many burial grounds of its time, Granary holds far more people than its visible markers suggest. There are 2,345 gravestones, but an estimated 5,000 burials. The dead were layered upon each other over time, which is why headstones in these old cemeteries sometimes seem haphazardly arranged—they’ve been moved, but the bodies haven’t.
This cemetery is the final resting place of some of the most famous figures of early American history, including Paul Revere, John Hancock, and Samuel Adams. But beyond the names of the dead, Granary also tells a visual story of how early Americans viewed death.
Symbolism in Stone
Puritan churches rejected religious imagery, icons, and elaborate funerary art—which is why their graveyards became the place where people expressed their beliefs about death and the afterlife. These symbols evolved over time, mirroring the shifting attitudes of the people buried beneath them.
Death’s Head (Winged Skull): One of the most iconic carvings of early New England cemeteries. The skull with wings symbolized the inevitability of death and the journey of the soul.
The Winged Cherub (Winged Face): By the mid-1700s, grim skulls started transforming into cherubs. This shift happened as Puritanism declined and new religious beliefs embraced the possibility of resurrection.
Hourglasses (Sometimes with Wings): A reminder that time is fleeting—and that you’d better get right with God while you still had time. Some hourglasses sprouted wings, driving home the point that time literally flies.
Bones or Crossbones: A stark reminder of mortality, often carved alongside a Death’s Head as a warning that death was always near.
The Urn & Willow: By the early 1800s, the urn symbolized the remains of a life lived, and the weeping willow represented grief and remembrance.
Open Books: These were less common but often symbolized a love of learning or the Bible. A book with blank pages suggested a life cut tragically short.
A Hidden Crypt Beneath Granary Burying Ground
Granary Burying Ground holds far more secrets than just what’s written on its gravestones. In 2009, one of those secrets was accidentally rediscovered when a woman on a self-guided tour fell hip-deep into the ground.
On January 31, 2009, she stepped off the designated path to get a closer look at some of the markers. What she didn’t realize was that the piece of slate beneath her feet was covering a hidden granite stairwell—one that hadn’t been opened in centuries.
She didn’t crash into a coffin or any bones, but she did fall into a stairwell leading down to a hidden crypt, about three feet deep and 18 inches across. The crypt itself—a brick chamber measuring 8 by 12 feet—was still intact and structurally sound.
Records from the Massachusetts Historical Society suggest it may belong to John Armitage, who died in 1738. Like many old Boston crypts, it had been forgotten, its entrance hidden beneath layers of dirt, time, and neglect.
Notable Burials at Granary Burying Ground
Granary is filled with figures whose names are woven into the fabric of American history. Some were Revolutionary War heroes, some were tragedies, and some are just strange footnotes in Boston’s past.
Samuel Adams (1722–1803): A signer of the Declaration of Independence and the fourth Governor of Massachusetts.
Crispus Attucks (c. 1723–1770): The first martyr of the American Revolution, killed in the Boston Massacre.
John Hancock (1737–1793): Famous for his oversized signature on the Declaration of Independence.
Paul Revere (1734–1818): Patriot, silversmith, and famous for his midnight ride.
James Otis Jr. (1725–1783): A key revolutionary figure who died in a freak accident—struck by lightning.
Samuel Sewall (1652–1730): One of the judges of the Salem Witch Trials who later publicly apologized.
A Lingering Spirit
Granary isn’t just home to the famous dead—it’s also said to be haunted. The most frequently reported ghost is James Otis Jr., the revolutionary whose death by lightning was as dramatic as his political career. Visitors claim to see him dressed in colonial attire, lingering in the cemetery at night. Maybe he’s still keeping an eye on Boston, watching to see if his warnings about tyranny are still being heeded.
Why I Love These Cemeteries
Granary Burying Ground is more than just an old cemetery—it’s a time capsule of beliefs, fears, and legends. The transition from Death’s Head to cherubs tells the story of how early Americans came to terms with mortality.
And this is exactly why The Dead History logo is a nod to one of these headstone symbols—the Death’s Head, or Totenkopf. A stark but timeless reminder of our own mortality.
Next time you visit a historic cemetery, take a closer look—you might just see a Death’s Head staring back at you… or maybe even James Otis Jr. himself.
Sources:
1. Historical Sketch and Matters Appertaining to the Granary Burial Ground (1902)
2. Wikipedia
3. Death’s Head or Winged Skull
4. Winged Face
5. Hourglasses
7. Open Books