There are two Quaker burial grounds in Sandwich. The first, referred to by historians as the “ancient burying ground,” is near the site where Quakers met for worship in the home of William and Pricilla Allen during the mid 17th century. It is located on Quaker Road and is surrounded by a stone and iron fence (see photo below). Historian R.A. Lovell, Jr. has estimated that it contains 33 unmarked graves. There is no record of the names of those buried within the enclosure nor of the servants who were buried adjacent to it. This small burial ground is now surrounded by private property.
Those interested in seeing the site can contact us at museum@sandwichquakers.org for the location and our guidelines for visiting.
The second, larger burial ground lies behind the present meetinghouse at 6 Quaker Road. In 1890, Simeon Deyo wrote that “According to the town’s record, in 1694 the town did give to those of their neighbors called Quakers half an acre of ground for a burial place.” Later, the meeting purchased more land that formed the present burial ground.
The oldest marked grave, pictured below, is that of Rose Jennings who lived from 1681 to 1720. Like the ancient burial ground, there are also many unmarked graves at this site as gravestones were not generally marked until 1720. According to local historian, John Cullity, “early Quakers kept their graves unmarked as an expression of humility and equality as children of God.”
Not everyone buried in this cemetery was Quaker but the non-Quakers typically had Quaker ancestors or other close connections to the meeting. Interestingly, a few of the early grave stones have the winged skull symbol, commonly seen on 17th and 18th century Puritan New England gravestones.
Today, the East Sandwich Friends Meeting follows burial guidelines that are in keeping with the Quaker principles of simplicity and equality. Most Friends choose cremation or green burial. If a gravestone is used, it is a small, ground-level stone.
