Hancock Cemetery, cemetery in Quincy, Massachusetts
Hancock Cemetery is a burial ground in Quincy, Massachusetts, established around 1640 and covering about 2 acres. The cemetery contains numerous headstones in varying styles, from simple markers to elaborately carved stones, and sits across from the United First Parish Church.
The cemetery was founded around 1640 and served as the primary burial ground until about 1854. In 1809, John Adams and other citizens purchased the land to establish it as a dedicated burial place, protecting it from livestock grazing.
The cemetery is named after Reverend John Hancock Jr., father of the famous American Revolution leader John Hancock. The headstones display colonial symbols like winged skulls and cherubs alongside classical designs, reflecting how people in different time periods expressed their beliefs about death and remembrance.
The cemetery is accessible with quiet paths winding between the headstones and trees providing shaded spots for reflection. Visitors should note that rubbings of stones are not permitted and leaning on or sitting on gravestones should be avoided to help preserve the site.
Two U.S. Presidents, John Adams and John Quincy Adams, were originally buried here before their remains were later moved to a special crypt in the church across the street. This relocation makes the cemetery a significant marker of early American history and changing burial practices.
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