Rev. Stephen Farrar's Grave Decorated
June 23, 1908
June 23, 1908
NEW IPSWICH, N. Η. 1908 The 99th anniversary of the death of Rev. Stephen Farrar was quietly ob- served on June 23, by the assemblage of Rev, and Mrs. Charles R. Peacock, Mrs. F. W. Preston, Mrs. Helen Brooks, Mrs. H. P. McKown, Mrs. W. L. Phelps Mrs. Samuel A. Thayer, Mrs. Katherine Preston, Mrs. Frederick Jones and F. W. Jones at the grave in the old cemetery on the hill. His grave, as well as that of his wife, who died Sept. 9, 1818, was decorated, and the intention is upon the advent of the hundredth anniversary to properly observe the event. The gathering at the grave was suggested by Mrs. Wilbur L. Phelps, who has taken great interest in the early history of the town, and it has been her custom in the past to visit his grave for some years upon each succeeding anniversary. The grave is marked by a large table stone supported at either end upon a tier of brick; three others, those of Col, Reuben Kidder, Isaiah Kidder and Ebenezer Champney, of similar design, may be found in the yard, but supported upon stone posts. He died In his 71st year and in the 49th year of his ministry. The Inscription reads "The people of his charge leave this stone to mark the spot where they have laid him." Rev. Mr. Peacock found a printed copy of the sermon preached at the ordination of the Rev, Stephen Farrar, Oct. 22, 1760, by the pastor of the church in Lincoln, Mass. The text was I Peter v, 2-3: "Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind, neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock" A copy of the sermon by Rev. Seth Payson, pastor of the Church of Christ in Rindge, at the interment on June 26, 1808, and various other church records, as well as a church warrant, pertaining to the long pastorate of Mr. Farrar, were brought by Mr. Peacock and spread upon the table tombstone for the perusal of those present. The house where he resided Is now occupied by Alphonso Travis. The oldest grave in the yard is that of Benjamin Hoar, who died Dec. 13, 1752, aged 1 year, 9 months, 4 days. The most recent date is 1870.
Stephen Farrar Grave at Porter Hill
James Roger diary entry
September 26th 1908 (Saturday)
Warm dusty and smoky, wind westerly. David went to Greenville in forenoon load of sleighs for Lonie Willard and picked apples in afternoon then went to Selectmen’s with his bills. I helped with apples, swept vestry and picked stray corn stalks left by David and Walter Hardy when cutting the corn yesterday. Meeting at Miss Lee’s tonight about Farrar Commemoration.
There used to be a small bottle dump of sorts up in the woods near the old cemetery. I still have a bottle that we dug up there when we were young teenagers. We never defaced anything or left trash around. We understood the cemetery was holy ground. And also probably because we used to recite passages of “In Flanders Fields” up there as elementary schoolers. I wonder if this bottle we found ever contained any of the liquid curing preparations being described here in recent days.
Extract of Cochineal? Beetle juice.