"I, Phineas
W. Noble of Harwinton, in Litch. County and State of
Connecticut for the consideration of four hundred and
fifty dollars received to my full satisfaction of James
Alling & Samuel S. Catlin selectmen of the town
of Harwinton do give grant bargain sell and confirm
unto the said selectmen & their successors in office
one piece or parcel of land lying in Harwinton. Commencing
at the South East corner at the corner formed by the
North and South, East and West stone wall and running
northerly to stake and stones twenty four rods, thence
westerly to stake and stones twelve rods, thence southerly
to stake and stones twenty four rods, thence easterly
to the first mentioned corner twelve rods. Containing
one acre, three rods and eight rods, & bounded on
all sides by land of the Grantor together with the unobstructed
roght of way (except by one gate) to said lot. Said
way to commence near the east side of the shed at the
place lately occupied by Alvord Morse. Said way to be
at least twenty feet in width & to follow nearly
in the old barn and cart path & if at any time said
way shall be obstructed by snow or ice the privilege
of passing through the lot west of said way or at some
other place convenient across the land for at least
four rods in width from the East side of said lot not
to be plowed or otherwise obstructed. The said town
to keep and maintain the fence around said lot."
It seems almost
unbelievable that they would have paid such a price
for one acre of land. There was apparently a feeling
of need for another cemetery because, only four months
later, on October 2, 1854, at a Twon meeting it was
"Voted to authorize the selectmen to sell lots
in the East and West Burying Grounds not to exceed one
half the ground."
The first burial
was made in the West Cemetery the following spring.
There is a tall, brownstone monument south of the main
drive with the following inscription" MELICENT
wife of Solomon Baker died April 13, 1855. Age 59. The
first internment in this yard."
ABout twelve years
later they formed an Association for the care of the
cemetery.
The above is written
from excerpts from
"THIS AND THAT OF EARLY HARWINTON"
by Raymond G. Bentley
Published in 1999
