“Imagine being lost and far from home.” That’s likely how many British soldiers felt. They were buried here near the Buried British Soldiers Plaque. This plaque marks a mass grave. It holds remains found during subway construction in 1895.
Let’s delve into the story of this solemn place. The Central Burying Ground was established in 1756. It was Boston’s fourth cemetery. The city needed more space because the other cemeteries were full. Those were King’s Chapel, Copp’s Hill, and Old Granary.
Interestingly, the first burial here happened in 1749. That was seven years before the cemetery officially opened. The last burial took place in 1856. Over 5000 people were buried here. Now there are only 487 tombstones and 282 tombs.
This burying ground is the least visited of Boston’s old cemeteries. It sits in a shady part of Boston Common. Few famous people are buried here. Painter Gilbert Stuart rests here. He painted George Washington on the dollar bill. Jean Baptiste Julien a famous restaurateur is also interred here. Charles Sprague also rests here. He was known as “The Banker-Poet of Boston.”
This cemetery wasn’t as popular as others. It was far from the city’s market center. It also holds the graves of many French Roman Catholics.
Notably, British soldiers are buried here. They died in combat or from disease during the Revolution. Foreigners who died in Boston rest here too. American patriots from Bunker Hill and the Boston Tea Party are also interred here.
In 1836, Mayor Samuel Armstrong expanded Boylston Street. This cut off a corner of the burying ground. A row of tombs was removed. The disturbed bodies were reburied in a long barrow called The Dell.
The subway construction in 1894 unearthed a grim discovery. Workers found the remains of over 900 British soldiers. They had died during the occupation of Boston. These remains were reburied in a mass grave.
This slate tablet marks the spot. It reads: “Here were interred the remains of persons found under the Boylston St. Mall during the digging of the subway, 1895.” Three boundary stones also mark the place.
So, as you stand here by the Buried British Soldiers Plaque, remember the lives lost. Remember the history beneath your feet. It’s a poignant reminder of Boston’s complex past. A past where soldiers from different sides now rest together. This place serves as a testament to history. It also underscores our shared humanity.