Memorial Day

I live in a small New England town outside of Boston. It was established in 1715 and has lots of hidden, historical gems. Most of the time, I don't stop to notice, but Memorial Day and a new blog provided the inspiration to look.

Near the center of town is the Old Burying Ground. At the entrance, there is a plaque dedicated to Revolutionary War Veterans. Men in the town joined the Minutemen in 1775 and also served throughout the Revolutionary War. I read the names and decided to try and find one of their graves.

I walked down one side of the grounds and didn't find anything. Then, I came across a well preserved headstone. It was marking the grave of one of those veterans. His name was Dr. Enoch Dole, and he was 33 when he was killed.

The inscription on his headstone captures the feeling of that time: disdain towards the British, praise for the ambition to fight for freedom, and the sadness of losing a loved one to war.


The inscription reads:

Here lies ye body of Dr. Enoch
Dole of Lancaster AE 33 Years 5
months & 3 days, he unfortunately
fell with 3 others ye 9th of March
1776, by a Cannon Ball from our
cruel & unnatural Foes, Ye British
Troops while on his Duty on Dorch
ester Point.

No warning giv'n! Unceremonious fate!
A sudden rush from Lifes meredian joys!
A wrench from all we are from all we love!
What a change
From yesterday! *Thy darling hope so near
Long labourd prize! O how ambition flushed
Thy glowing cheek! ambition truly great,
Of virtuous praise.
And Oh! ye last last; what can word express
Thought reach? ye last last, silence of a friend.

*Meaning his entrance into Boston which so soon
took Place & on which his heart was much.