Facilities

The first marked burial here was in 1757. The remains of many of the first settlers of the lands called "County Gore" lie buried here. The cemetery was enlarged in 1868 and again in 1964. The Georgie H. Camp Memorial Chapel was built in 1931 and contains the graves of Georgie H. Camp and his mother, Lilla Gould Camp.

Concerning the origin of this yard we are as yet in the dark. It is on the land which originally belonged to the Wheelock family, who settled in that section. The north part of the town was quite thickly settled at an early date, hence we think if the date be found it would confirm our impression that this is one of the oldest burial places in the town. The land may have been given by Jonathan Wheelock and permissions for burials continued by Mr. John Wheelock, who died in 1816. The heirs of John Wheelock gave further permission for the enlarging of the yard, and it was only a few years since that it passed into the full possession of the town. Since that time an enlargement has taken place, and the grounds repaired and beautified. A little outlay of time and means every season would make this a beautiful yard. Of late years there have been some new monuments which have added much to the general appearance. Among them can we especially mention the Bacon monument, erected by the descendants of Deacon Daniel Bacon who died in 1813. Also the Levi Hammond monument, and the one in the family lot of our citizen Samuel Rich. In this yard are buried the Lambs, the Bacons, the Hammonds, the Stones and Wheelocks, the Davis', the Tuckers, and Marbells, the Williams' and Pratts. And in the back part of the cemetery there are many unmarked graves. If we could only know the names of those buried there no doubt we would find many names among us of today. It is a sorry fact that so many of our early prominent citizens have unmarked graves. The earliest marked grave we found in the yard was that of Mrs. Esther Hammond, in 1762, the first wife of Ebenezer Hammond, the grandfather of our aged citizen Samuel Hammond. There must have been earlier burials than this.

Capt. Israel Waters who died in 1823, was buried here. He carried on quite an extensive tannery at the North-Side. The monument over his remains bears this inscription: "Erected by the Trustees of Leicester Academy, as a token of respect to the deceased for his great liberality to that Institution." David Dunbar, a soldier of the Revolution, is also buried here. He was quite a prominent man in all church work of this locality. In 1825, when General LaFayette made his tour through the States, he was greeted by Mr. Dunbar, an old friend and companion in arms, in words of hearty welcome. Mr. Dunbar died quite suddenly on New Year's eve, 1827, at the age of 80 years. Ebenezer Davis finds a resting place in this cemetery. At the time of his death he was among, if not the wealthiest, landholder in Worcester county. He was in the French war, and during a portion of the Revolutionary war supplied a portion of the army, at various points, with beef. He was an intelligent man and ever active for the interests of the town. He held many offices of trust in gift of the people. He was one of the founders of the Baptist church at the North-Side; and in 1779, being converted to Universalism, became on of the early and earnest advocates of it in Charlton. Accounts of Mr. Davis are found in Ammidown's Historical Sketch of Charlton, and in George Davis' Historical Sketches of Sturbridge and Southbridge. He died in 1816 at the age of 79.

Elder James Boomer, so long pastor of the Baptist church, lies buried in this yard. He became a resident of Charlton in 1804, and lived here until his death in 1837. He is spoken of by aged citizens as being an earnest, hardworking man, who, to gain a livelihood, labored on week days on his farm, and on Sunday preaching in the church at North-Side and elsewhere. His daughter, Mrs. Ruhimah Hammond, is still loving at the Hammond homestead in town, at the age of 80 years. The following is the inscription upon the tombstone of Elder Boomer: "Rev. James Boomer, died February 25, 1837, aged 78 years. The gospel that he preached to others was his support in sickness and in death. To my children, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves and your children.

God has laid up in Heaven for me
A crown which cannot fade,
The Righteous Judgment at that great day
Will place it on my head.

Source: This text is an excerpt from a compilation of Charlton Cemeteries by Reverend Anson Titus.