Interesting Grave Statistics and Info

Interesting Statistics

Population

1767- 93

1775- 250

1790- 1000+

1850's- 1400

1940's- 850

1990's- 2000

Deaths from 1769-1778, total 31

From 1769-1886, total 2114

In 117 years, children under 5, 649 died

160 were taken to other graveyards in other towns

30 Catholics were taken to Catholic graveyards

In the 1870's the life span was about 40

The first burial was on April 30, 1769. It was that of Thaddeus Stone, age 5, who was scalded to death. He was the son of Jason Stone that lived on the Old Jaffrey Road.

In 1787 the town voted to build a stone wall to fence in the graveyard. In 1828 15 tombs were built for deaths in the winter and the single town tomb was built in 1881.

The most deaths in a single year were in 1863 for a total of 41. 6 died in the Civil War. The year of 1847 was the most for children and that was 15.

The size of the yard was increased as the old yard became filled in 1846. In the 1840's and 1850's there was a new outlook and it became fashionable to visit cemeteries. The price of a lot rose to $10, the cost of a week’s wages. 

In the early years, the body was buried in a shroud. Later, the body was clothed. In the summer the coffin was laid in ice or packed with ice for protection. Flowers were placed around to offset the odor.

Costs of coffins:

1831- $1.50 to $20. with wages in 1830 being 50 cents a day.

1851- $2.25 to $2.50

1854- Briggs of Keene sold coffins from $1.75 to $3.25

1860- $2. to $3.25

Wages by 1860 averaged $5. to $7. a week.

Customs: Until 1830 it was customary to serve liquor at funerals.

Well-to-do: They gave, as gifts, white or black gloves and rings.

Name plates appeared on coffins about 1850. Brass tacks or painted names appeared on coffins early on.

No communal services were held until the mid 1860's, and no flowers were left at the gravesite.

Grave robbers were a problem.

General Grant had to have ice and was buried in a coffin.