Chelmsford Historical Society

Touring the Forefathers Burying Ground

Touring of the Forefathers Burying Ground takes you on a tour of one of New England's oldest colonial cemeteries–the Forefathers Burying Ground in Chelmsford, Massachusetts. The first settlers of the town of Chelmsford included families of the name: Abbott, Adams (relations of the presidents of that name), Bloggett, Blood, Butricke, Butterfield, Byam, Chamberlin, Fletcher, Hall, Hildreth, Lerned, Parker, Perham, Pierce, Proctor, Spalding, and Underwood. During your tour, you will find the final resting places of our earliest inhabitants and view some beautiful colonial cemetery art, while learning about their lives and their families. In the History of Chelmsford, Massachusetts, Rev. Wilson Waters reminds us of the origins of these names. . .

"…when Abbotts were abbots and Barrons, barons; when Kemps were knights; when the Chamberlains cared for the wardrobe of the lord; and Park, Parker, Parkhurst, the Warrens and the Fosters (Foresters) had charge of the hunting and pleasure grounds; and the Baileys were bailiffs. When the Fletchers fledged or feathered arrows and the Bowers made the weapons to propel them; when Henchman was the faithful "right-hand man" of his chief, and Stoddard bore the Standard. When the lay Clarke (clerk) made the responses in Church, and the Hayward looked after the hedges and kept the cattle away. When Webb wove cloth, and Fiske (Fysche or Fisher) represented a craft which supplied many with an important portion of their food. When Wright worked in wood and the softer materials, and the Smith in metals; of which the latter name there is a remarkable dearth in our records. When Leach practised physic, and the Proctors kept the order, or managed the affairs of others. When Kidder carried his kit; when Marshal and Farrer shod horses; when Perham and By(h)am lived at the hamlet, and the sturdy Spaulding [epauleding] gave shoulder blows; and everybody knew the meaning of his name."

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