Webhannet Burial Grounds

Webhannet Burial Grounds. Buffum Hill Cemetery. , Marking History , Gravestones mark the history of the first English settlers in Wells in this historic neighborhood near the Webhannet River, named by the Abenaki over a thousand years ago. Nearby was the homestead of Edmond and Annis Littlefield, owners of the first mill, as well as the first Meetinghouse in the town., Wells was the frontier that raged in the fight for New England. Cotton Mather’s history of the 1692 Battle of the Storer Garrison tells of burials of native warriors at this spot., The Littlefields, as well as many early residents, used field stones to mark their graves, which have not survived. In the early 20th century, Wheelwright graves were moved to what was then the new cemetery Ocean View., Josiah Littlefield, 1644-1712, was captured in a native attack on Wells in 1708, which his wife Lydia (Masters) and eldest son perished, and brought back to Canada. He returned to Wells to farm and in 1712 was again attacked and killed., Lieutenant Johnathan Hammond (1644-1717) was a soldier in King William’s War fought between France and New England, along with their respective Native allies. He also served as a deacon of the First Church of Wells, Selectman, Clerk of Writs, and Deputy Marshall for the province in 1686., Captain Willian Cole (1772-1847) and his wife Sarah Littlefield Cole (1771-1825) had two children, Mary and Samuel. William was a shipwright in Wells., Benjamin Tredwell (1780-1815) was the fifth generation of the Treadwell family to live in Wells., Gravestone Art and History , Gravestones in this cemetery are engraved in a primitive style with names only. Later, stones were embellished with willow trees, skulls, and urns, meant to evoke the fleeting nature of life on earth., Earliest grave markers were stones taken from fields. By the mid-1700’s stone carvers traveled from town to town. Slate was used for 150 years. Each stone mason or artisan had his own style and provided the slate. Marble was used at the end of the 18th century., After the Revolutionary War, people were buried on family land, placed where one could see from the kitchen window where a loved one “lie sleeping”. Over 200 family cemeteries survive in the town of Wells.