Men of Kent Cemetery, Historical cemetery in Scituate, Massachusetts.
Men of Kent Cemetery is a historic burial ground in Scituate covering about 0.75 acres and containing numerous slate headstones with detailed carved inscriptions from different periods. The stones showcase the craftsmanship and designs that evolved over generations within this burial community.
The cemetery was established around 1624 as the burial ground for original settlers arriving from Kent, England to establish Scituate. Over the centuries it became a record of early American life, with tombstones documenting important moments in the town's development.
The cemetery displays the work of gravestone carver Jacob Vinal, whose stones feature winged skull designs common to early American burial art. These carved motifs reflected the beliefs and artistic preferences of the people who commissioned them.
The cemetery is located on Meetinghouse Lane and is open to visitors interested in learning about early American burial customs and practices. Those wanting to photograph stone details and read old inscriptions should visit during daylight hours, when the carvings are easier to see in natural light.
The oldest surviving tombstone belongs to Captain John Williams from 1694, a man who owned the building that later became Barker Tavern. This connection links the burial ground to an important colonial-era business establishment in the area.
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