Home > United States of America > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Springfield > Springfield Cemetery > Sarah Cooley

Sarah Cooley

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Birth	:	unknown
Death	:	23 Aug 1684 Springfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts, USA
Burial	:	Springfield Cemetery, Springfield, Hampden County, USA
Coordinate	:	42.1015180, -72.5764990
Plot	:	Willow Avenue 2-97
Description	:	Springfield's early settlers were laid to rest in the ancient "burying place" by the river, west of the church. Stone markers were not placed in Springfield until the next century. But one stone was set in the early burial place for one early settler – Mary Holyoke, who died in 1657, said to be the "very paragon of her sex". It was set there at a later date. Mary was the daughter of William Pynchon and married Elizur Holyoke. The ancient burial-ground in Springfield had become overcrowded by graves clogged with trees and shrubbery. The new railroad tracks also... Read More	Springfield's early settlers were laid to rest in the ancient "burying place" by the river, west of the church. Stone markers were not placed in Springfield until the next century. But one stone was set in the early burial place for one early settler – Mary Holyoke, who died in 1657, said to be the "very paragon of her sex". It was set there at a later date. Mary was the daughter of William Pynchon and married Elizur Holyoke. The ancient burial-ground in Springfield had become overcrowded by graves clogged with trees and shrubbery. The new railroad tracks also had been laid across the grounds. The town ordered the remains and monuments to be removed to the new cemetery, which had been provided for that purpose. The exhumation and removal began in the Spring of 1848. The earth with the remains of 2404 bodies, and 517 markers, were moved. Dr. Joseph C. Pynchon had charge of the exhumation of the Pynchon bodies, and had this to say: Beneath the Mary Holyoke stone, dated 1657, deep in the white sand, six feet below the surface, were found the remains of two, lying side by side, with no others in close proximity. Is it too much to conjecture that these were the remains of Elizur and Mary Holyoke? The sand was discolored and some few pieces of the skulls and other bones were found while even the nails of the coffins were wholly destroyed, their places being marked by the rust only, while no other vestige of the coffins remained. The few remains were gathered, which soon crumbled to dust on exposure to the air, and with the surrounding earth, deposited in the new cemetery. Most of the bodies had disintegrated leaving no trace. Not even buckles or buttons were found which strongly suggests that corpses were wrapped in winding-sheets or shrouds. Such items have frequently been found in Indian graves of the same age. Even though the ancient burial ground was in a damp area by the river, one might expect to find some fairly indestructible items, or parts thereof, if such had been on, or buried with, corpses where they were buried. But clothing, shoes, buckles, ornaments, all were very valuable. Almost any last will and testament contains mention of the testator making a bequest of items of clothing to sons, daughters, and even grandchildren. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS CEMETERY NO LONGER EXISTS, THEREFORE PHOTO REQUESTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THIS CEMETERY. 517 MARKERS WERE RELOCATED TO THE WEST SPRINGFIELD CEMETERY. The Springfield Cemetery opened in 1831, the Old Burying Ground removals occured 1848. I do not believe a list of the 2034 burials in Old Burying Ground exists. Benjamin/Sarah and family did not have a stone (517 stones were relocated). The memorial marker is the only evidence that exists.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Sarah Cooley's memorial?
Sarah Cooley's memorial is located at: Springfield Cemetery, Springfield, Hampden County, USA.
When did Sarah Cooley death?
Sarah Cooley death on 23 Aug 1684 in Springfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Sarah Cooley's memorial?
Latitude: 42.1015180
Longitude: -72.5764990

Family Members:

Spouse

Ens Benjamin Cooley

(1615 - 1684)

Children

(1643 - 1711)

(1646 - 1690)

(1648 - 1711)

(1651 - 1726)

(1656 - 1731)

(1661 - 1740)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Springfield Cemetery
Springfield, Hampden County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1015180, -72.5764990

2. Saint Michaels Churchyard
Springfield, Hampden County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1040970, -72.5841540

3. Saint Augustine Mortuary Chapel
Springfield, Hampden County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1043400, -72.5845200

4. Cherry Lane Cemetery
Springfield, Hampden County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0971985, -72.5689011

5. Old Burying Ground (Defunct)
Springfield, Hampden County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1014190, -72.5879840

6. Sacred Heart Churchyard
Springfield, Hampden County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1122640, -72.5957250

7. Saint Benedict's Cemetery
Springfield, Hampden County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1194000, -72.5841980

8. Trinity United Methodist Church Memorial Garden
Springfield, Hampden County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0824900, -72.5739240

9. Barney Family Mausoleum
Springfield, Hampden County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0759600, -72.5802940

10. Oak Grove Cemetery
Springfield, Hampden County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1264000, -72.5625000

11. Bay Path Cemetery
Springfield, Hampden County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1231003, -72.5519028

12. Old Meadow Cemetery
West Springfield, Hampden County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1016350, -72.6147820

13. Park Street Cemetery
West Springfield, Hampden County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1062460, -72.6195540

14. Unitarian Universalist Church Memorial Garden
Springfield, Hampden County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0711740, -72.5611830

15. Saint Matthew Cemetery
Springfield, Hampden County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1310680, -72.6003280

16. Saint Michael's Cemetery
Springfield, Hampden County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1240997, -72.5392914

17. City of Homes Cemetery
Springfield, Hampden County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1142980, -72.5316060

18. Sons of Israel Cemetery
Springfield, Hampden County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1143000, -72.5316000

19. Kesser Israel Cemetery
Springfield, Hampden County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1145610, -72.5304670

20. Old North Burying Ground
Agawam, Hampden County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0825005, -72.6207962

21. Meeting House Hill Cemetery
West Springfield, Hampden County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1142930, -72.6253960

22. Fairview Cemetery
Chicopee, Hampden County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1389008, -72.5894012

23. Calvary Cemetery
Chicopee, Hampden County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1347008, -72.6042023

24. Saint Andrews Episcopal Church Columbarium
Longmeadow, Hampden County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0616680, -72.5793800