Democratic Sentinel, Volume 11, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 July 1887 — THE GRATE OF MILES STANDISH. [ARTICLE]

THE GRATE OF MILES STANDISH.

Seeking for the Last Resting-Place of the Great Puritan Soldier. In later years efforts hare been made to establish the place of bnrial of the old pilgrim warrior, and as far as authenticity goes the results have been diverse and discouraging, the various spots claimed to be his last restingplace being scattered over at least a square mUe, says a Duxbury correspondent of the Boston Herald, writing of Miles Standish. Probably the most direct tradition concerning the subject is the following, derived from Miss Caroline B. Hall, a descendant of Captain Standish in the seventh generation, whose brother, James Hall, collected much of the historical knowledge we now possess relative to his ancestor: About sixteen years ago Benjamin Prior, a once wealthy shipbuilder of Duxbury, died in the alms-house. Some years before his death he informed Mr.c Butk Hall, daughter of Olive Standish and mother of the present Miss Hall, that Captain Standish was interred in the old cemetery at South Duxbury, nearly opposite the Prior homestead. Mrs. Hall noted the fact at the time, and since her decease, some years since, the memorandum has been found. Mr. Prior said that his father had told him of the burial, he having learned it in turn from his father, who said that he attended the funeral, and further said the grave was marked by two three-cornered stones, one at the head and one at the foot. The Priors were all long-lived, Benjamin dying at the age of 95 years, and being noted for his remarkable memory of events The intervening 231 years since the death of Standish, Oct. 3, 1656, can be bridged by three people having an average age of 77 years. Prior’s house stood nearly opposite the cemetery, and such an event as the burial of Standish would be remembered by the family. The cemetery is a short distance west of Hall’s Corner, South Duxbury, less than three-fourths of a mile from the residence of the old soldier. A rough post and rail fence incloses it on three sides, while the fourth, next to the street, is bounded by a pretty rustic fence of cedar. Its area is less than an acre, and the surface is overgrown with rank, uncared-for gaass, interlaced with tangled blackberry vines. There are no boundaries to lots, interments having been made in little groups, various clusters of slate •stones bearing the names of Winslow, Alden, Cushman and Brewster, descendants of the Mayflower band. A noticeable feature is the lack of epitaphs on the stones, some of which date back to the end of the sixteenth century. In Standish’s will, dated “Duxburrow, March the 7th, 1635,” -and presented for probate by Captain James Cudworih, May 4, 1657, the testator states: “My will is that out of my whole estate my funeral charges be taken out and my body be buried in decent manner, and if i die at Duxburrow my body to be laid as near as convently may bee to my two dear daughters Dora Standish my daughter and Mary Standish my daughter-in-law.” In the center of the cemetery is a grave marked by three-sided, pyra-midal-shaped stones at the head and foot, while two other depressions close at hand indicate other ancient graves. How old this grave may be is not known, but it seems to bear out the tradition remarkably.