From Zanny-
“ZAT is John Wise’s Grave in Essex, at the Ancient Burial Ground on Main St…”
Congratulations! Enjoy your gift certificate from the Black Swan! (Thanks to Lorre and Dave Anderson!)
For more of my cemetery photos, click here.
The Old Burying Ground
Behind the Essex Shipbuilding Museum is the Old Burying Ground, originally laid out in 1680 and enlarged several times until a new cemetery was dedicated in 1852. More than 2,000 persons are buried there including veterans of the French and Indian Wars, the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812 and the Civil War. The first schoolmaster rests there along with many of the town’s shipbuilders and the first three pastors of the village church. The first pastor, Rev. John Wise, is buried in the center of the yard under the table-like stone. He was a widely read author who protested taxation without representation as early as 1687. When copies of his essays were reprinted and distributed throughout the colonies in 1772, his words set the tone for the American Revolution. Gravestone art shows examples of typical 18th and 19th century styles.
Good Morning Gloucester 
Wooo!! I won!! An Actual Prize!
I knew taking the Short Cut through that cemetery and checking out every single headstone would pay off some day! I’d like to thank My Mom, for telling me not to do that. Mrs Leslie Harris, my 4th Grade Teacher, who taught all of us Essex Kids a very detailed History of Essex, Joey, for making a fun blog to check into every day, and my neighborhood kids, for thinking that John Wise’s Grave looks like Aslan’s Table…
THANK YOU!!! I accept my prize with great pleasure, and pride!
Do you need my mailing address or anything???
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Nice acceptance speech, Zanny! Next…a Golden Globe Award? Yep, I need your address. You can email me at sharone.lowe@verizon.net so you don’t have to tell the world where you live on here.
Congratulations again! Wicked fun!
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