Tiverton is participating in the RI Historical Cemeteries Awareness & Preservation Weeks program by holding the following programs for the public in May 2025:
Saturday, May 3rd & 10th at 10:30 AM: Guided walking tour of the Old Congregational Cemetery #11 on Lake Road (near East Road intersection). This cemetery has the most slate gravestones of the 90 known Tiverton burial grounds. The tour will highlight some of the 16 Revolutionary War veterans and 2 Civil War veterans, including some other renowned Tiverton citizens of the past. The public may park in the adjacent St Madeleine’s Church lot on Lake Road, north of the cemetery.
Saturdays, May 17th and 31st from 10-3: Hands-on gravestone cleaning, resetting, and repair at the William Gray Lot #5 on Main Road (next to 3580 Main Road, south of Town Farm). No experience or supplies needed, but work gloves might help (on the job training provided). Parking available on Main Road. Come help for a couple of hours – or more!
The William Gray Lot is 40′ by 40’ and contains fourteen graves, most descended from William Gray, the great-grandson of Edward Gray of Plymouth, one of the Pocasset Purchase proprietors who bought nine of the thirty Great Lots.
There are actually four William Grays buried here. The oldest William’s brother was the famous Captain Robert Gray whose birthplace and home is just south of this burying ground. Captain Robert was the first American to circumnavigate the globe in his ship Columbia Rediviva, when he discovered a new river on the west coast which he named after his ship.
There are two non-Grays buried here; both married into the family. Captain Eli Hammond’s early death was recorded in the local newspaper in 1887: Capt Eli A Hammond, of Four Corners, Tiverton, commanding fishing schooner North Star of Newport, met with a terrible accident on Saturday last, which resulted in his almost instant death. The vessel was cruising off No Man’s Land and Capt Hammond was aloft looking out for swordfish, when the hand which holds the fore and fore top mast gave way and he fell to the deck fracturing his skull and right thigh. The vessel was immediately headed for New Bedford for surgical assistance, but he expired before the vessel reached there. He was unconscious from the time he fell until he died. Captain Hammond is spoken of as a most worthy man, and was about 34 years of age.
This cemetery has 23 gravestones to be reset. This is why the Tiverton Historical Cemeteries Commission is asking for help from anyone willing to spend some time working on either or both of these Saturdays. The five retired members of the Commission cannot do it alone – they need your help!
This is a great opportunity for Scouts and others needing community service hours!
Tuesday, May 27 at 6 PM at the Tiverton Public Library: Presentation on Tiverton Historical Cemeteries: Jim Spears, co-Chair of the Tiverton Historical Cemeteries Commission, will talk about:
– comparison between the several phases of cemetery practices used from colonial times to the present;
– some of the 91 known historical cemeteries in Tiverton.
– some noteworthy examples of gravestones including Elizabeth Rogers, a resident of Newport who came to Tiverton, died of unknown causes in 1704 and was buried in the Philip Cory Lot. Her well-preserved slate headstone is the oldest known memorial in town.
– discussion of past, current and planned cemetery and gravestone restoration projects taken on by THCC.