Marcy Freeman 1711

headstone footstone

HERE LYES
BURIED Ye BODY
OF MARCY FREEMAN
WIFE TO MAJOR JOHN
FREEMAN AGED
80 YEARS DEC'D
SEPT Ye 28th
1711

footstone
M F

The gravestone displays a winged head with an hourglass over the head. The inscription area is heart shaped surrounded by an ornate border. This is the oldest gravestone with a winged head on Cape Cod. The gravestone carver is unknown but possibilities include Joseph Lamson, Nathaniel Emmes or James Gilchrist all of Boston.

The right photo shows the footstone which displays a small winged skull and two sets of crossed bones in the upper corners. The combination of a winged head on the headstone and a winged skull with crossed bones on the footstone is rare.

Marcy (Prence) Freeman was the daughter of Governor Thomas Prence and his wife Patience Brewster. Marcy was the granddaughter of William Brewster and his wife Mary. Marcy and her husband John had eleven children. The youngest child was Bennet Freeman who married John Paine. Bennet (Freeman) Paine died in 1716 and is buried in Cove. Edmond Freeman, son of John and Marcy, died in 1718 and is buried in an adjoining grave at a right angle to his parents.

LOCATION - No. 38 on EHS 1976 Cove survey map

MATERIAL - slate

HEADSTONE - 18" W, 15" H, 3" D

FOOTSTONE - 12" W, 13" H, 2" D

CONDITION -

COMMENTS - Headstone encased on back and edges with resin bonded fiberglass applied about 1977. Headstone cleaned and reset July 2000. Headstone and footstone cleaned October 2004. Fiberglass backing removed October 2008. Headstone cleaned with D/2 and reset October 2008. Footstone cleaned November 2008.


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