Boston Burial Grounds

Location: Historic Boston Burial Grounds
City:  Boston, Massachusetts

This trip was a leisurely walk through a couple of Boston’s oldest known burial grounds.  We followed the Freedom trail through town and hit some of our historic buildings and hotspots, and then made 2 purposeful stops at these two in-town burial grounds.  Even though we’ve been there before, it seems like each time we visit there’s something different that catches our attention.  This time through it was the lively tour guide who had plenty to say about our founding fathers; Samuel Adams and John Hancock.  His exuberant characterization of Paul Revere was priceless.  If you’re ever wondering if it’s worth the money to take a guided walking tour my opinion is, “it’s absolutely worth it”.

Although we took a few pictures in each of the two graveyards we had a notion they wouldn’t produce any type of paranormal “evidence”.  This wasn’t an investigation, to any degree, but I figured I’d post the trip anyway, just for the fun of it.  The beauty among these old cared for grounds can leave an impression on a person.  It seems like a morbid sort of pastime but the fact remains, there’s a lot to be learned from taking a walk through the burying grounds of those people who passed on before we were born.  You can get a true sense of family and community from reading the headstones, and by observing the types of artwork that grace each of the markers.

One of my favorite stories of America’s history is somewhat exhibited here in the photo of Sam Adams’ headstone and the adjoining marker for the victims of the Boston Massacre.   The pro-revolution propaganda, the evil redcoats and the victim revolutionaries, and the poor 12-year-old boy shot in cold blood. I rather hear the story of the antagonized, intimidated and incredibly outnumbered redcoats backed against the wall of a building by an angry mob bent on making something out of nothing… the rogue shots fired by the English Soldiers in their anxious and nervous attempts to defend themselves before a community of angrily approaching rebels… and the very few “innocent victims” that fell during the onslaught that followed.  My favorite part of the story, however, was when John Adams defended the redcoat soldiers – not because he was loyal to the crown, no way! – but because he believed in justice and right versus wrong.  Winning American freedom from the hand of the English crown was worth more than a faked-up story of a ruthless massacre that didn’t happened the way the angry mob portrayed.  If Adams was to fight for the cause of the American Revolution he was going to do it with honor and dignity, and in doing so he brought honor and dignity to America.  He defended the victimized redcoat soldiers… and won.  John Adams was a great man, but above all, a true “American”.  Here's a picture of a Samuel Adams memorial, with the Boston Massacre Memorial behind and to the left.