In a Maine graveyard that dates back to the 1600's, one grave stands apart from the rest. Mary Nasson's final resting place includes not only the usual headstone, but a stone slab that covers the entire length of her grave. In an example of the different types of problems people once dealt with, her husband placed it there to keep roaming cattle from disturbing the plot. Mundane explanations like that don't make for very good legends, though, and at some point it became said that the stone was put there to prevent Mary's evil spirit from rising from the grave. Everyone loves a good ghost story, and so over the years this has come to be known as the Witch's Grave.
Located in the Old Burying Yard in York, Maine
Died From Swallowing A Pea
If I were to consider the last time my son ate a vegetable, we'd be talking not in terms of days or weeks, but of years. I'll admit I'm not a fan of certain vegetables myself - why anyone would ever pick up a brussel sprout and stick it in their own mouth is beyond me - but he won't even go near the normal stuff like green beans or corn. We've told him he's not going to die from eating vegetables, but that argument will be harder to make if he ever sees the grave of Mary McHard, a poor woman who in 1780 died at her own table by "swallowing a pea".
Located in the Old Hill Cemetery in Newburyport, Massachusetts
Grave With A Grudge
After being excommunicated from their church for trying to build their own, separate church, Caroline and Dr Calvin Cutter's lives were reduced to a poverty that led to Caroline's death in 1838. At least, that is Dr Cutter's side of things. In a lengthy accusation where he called out several church members by name, he laid out his story for the whole world to see on his wife's grave, which is now referred to as the Grave With A Grudge.
Located in the Elm Street Cemetery in Milford, New Hampshire
Grave of a Mayflower Pilgrim
If you've ever wandered Salem Massachusetts and taken a break from witch trials lore, you might have come across this next stone. Captain Richard More, who died in 1692 at the age of 84, was a passenger on the Mayflower along with a brother and two sisters. The four siblings ranged in ages from 4 and 8 years old when they made this famous voyage, and they did it without their parents. Why anyone would send such young children to the new world remained a mystery until 1959, when a descendant of the family found 300 year old documents indicating that the children's father, Samuel More, was convinced his kids were the result of his wife's long-term affair, and he solved the problem by shipping them off as indentured servants. Sadly, three of the children died soon after arriving in America.
Located in The Burying Point Cemetery in Salem, Massachusetts
Killed With An Axe
I've often considered myself the black sheep of our family, but after seeing the grave of Gilman Spaulding I'm thinking I've been too hard on myself. In 1842 Spaulding was "kill'd with an axe by an insane brother". Next time my siblings are in town I'm taking them to Spaulding's grave as a reminder of just how lucky they were to have me as a brother.
Located in New Ipswich, NH
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