Cemeteries in Thorndike

This is a report on cemeteries and grave yards in the town of Thorndike, by giving their location, also the oldest as nearly as we have been able to find grave in each yard, out in the short time we have had. Some of the oldest graves have no markers or grave stones.

CENTER CEMETERY:

This cemetery is located northeast of the old Center Church. It is the largest cemetery in the town, and contains thirty-five monuments. One of these monuments has the date of 1802 on it, which is the grave of a small boy, and is probably the oldest one in town. There are twenty-three soldiers buried in this cemetery. Two of these are of the Revolutionary War, two of the war of 1812, sixteen of the Civil War, one of the Spanish American War and two from the World War.

There is also a receiving tomb for use in the winter. The fund for a lot in this cemetery is the Mark P. Palmer fund.

THE SAYWARD CEMETERY:

This cemetery is located about one mile south of Thorndike village, and near the farm buildings of Arthur Leonard, once owned by Joseph Sayward. This cemetery is second in size, is well fenced, and is mowed and kept in good condition. This is one of the oldest yards also, and some of the stones bear inscriptions of an early date. Several soldiers of the Civil War are buried here. The Israel Hall family lot is enclosed with an ornamental iron fence and curbstone. There are also several monuments in this yard.

WING CEMETERY:

The Wing Cemetery is in the southern part of the town near the farm buildings of Joseph E. Wing. This cemetery is enclosed with a good wire fence. One of the grave stones has the date 1842 on it, but there are probably older graves that are unmarked in this cemetery.

FILES HILL CEMETERY:

This cemetery is located on land conveyed to E. M. Hunt by Edmund M. Cates, now owned by Wilbur J. Hunt. The size of this cemetery is about six by nine rods. There are some good grave stones in this cemetery. One is dated 1827. Many of the graves are unmarked, and there seems to be a good many children's graves in this cemetery. This cemetery was neglected for a number of years, and was grown up to trees and bushes, but several years ago it was cleared up, and now it is mowed every year and kept in good order.

COFFIN CEMETERY:

This cemetery is on the south side of the road running from Unity to Jackson, by the Palmer farm, and is one-half mile west of where the Friends church once stood. It is at the foot of the big hill on the east of the cedar swamp,, and just below the road that goes into the old John Coffin farm, now owned by Fred Ward. This could be called a cemetery in the wilderness. It has about twenty graves, and one grave stone is dated 1815. This yard has a cemetery fund, the John H. Coffin fund. This yard is well cared for.

FRIENDS CEMETERY:

This cemetery is on the south side of the Jackson road, about one third of a mile east of the four corners, near the site of the Friends Church, on the George E. Files farm, once owned by Robert Hanson, one of the old settlers. This yard has one monument, the Cole monument. There are about fifty graves in this yard and one grave stone is dated 1833. The town is trustee of a fund to care for this yard, the Asa J. Cole fund. Asa J. Cole was a soldier in the Civil War.

HUBBARD CEMETERY:

The Hubbard Cemetery is in the southeastern part of this town, on the old Samuel Small farm, now owned by Phineas P. Shibles. This yard has some good grave stones. The oldest grave with head stone is dated 1845. This yard has a good woven wire fence around it.

PATTERSON CEMETERY:

The Patterson Cemetery is in the south part of this town. This is a private yard on the farm of Charles H. Patterson. This is a very pretty little yard, enclosed with curb stone and iron fence. The oldest grave stone is dated 1844.

BLETHEN CEMETERY:

The Blethen Cemetery is on the Philip Blethen farm now owned by H. R. Ward. This is a family yard, and one of the oldest in the town. It has one monument which has the date of the oldest grave in this yard on it, which is 1819, just one hundred years old.