1856-09-01 Trustee Committee on Lots: Interment in Public Lots, 1831.036.006

The undersigned, a Committee appointed to examine the Public Lots at Mount Auburn and ascertain their condition, and also what arrangment can be made to have a more perfect record of the interments therein, has attended to that duty and submits the following

— Report —

Upon examination of the Records, your Committee found them to have been very irregularly kept - in some cases all traces of identity of the persons interred there being utterly lost; and in one case in which a relative desired to place a marble stone over the remains of a friend, and had the stone transported there; after some twelve graves had been opened, was obliged to abandon the attempt, and the stone is now lying upon the ground.

It may be said that it is owing the negligence of the persons who have the interments made - that it is their duty to see that some evidence of the place where the body of their friend is interred should be placed upon it - but it is well known that where so many individuals have

charge of such matters, very many will neglect it, and if the Corporation keep no regular records that after the lapse of a short time every thing will become so confused that it will be nearly impossible to remedy the evil. —

In this respect, Mount Auburn exhibits a marked contrast with Greenwood on Long Island, where the records of their Public Lots are perfect and every grave can be identified.

The expense of opening all the graves in St James Lot and asertaining the name on each plate where there is any, could cost about one hundred and fifty dollars, and your Committe can see no other way of obtaining a satisfactory result. The fence is also in a very dilapidated condition, having been at the first entirely unfit for the purpose.

The new Lot, called the St Johns Lot, is in much better condition than the other and would require less expenditure to put it in proper order and obtain a correct record of the interments already made there. — In this new lot, Mr. Mann has used a neat head stone with the number of the grave upon it, which cost the Corporation thirty seven and a half cents each, and for which the purchaser of the

grave pays fifty cents in addition to the price of the grave. -

Your Committee in view of the forgoing facts would submit the following suggestions. —

First, That the whole matter be referred to a Committee with full powers - 1^st to have the lots put in order — the graves opened where necessary — and a full and complete record made of all the interments which have been made therein. — 2^d to have the old fence on the St. James' Lot, which merely consists of small iron ports with a chain, removed and stone posts substituted. — 3^d to have stones with the numbers placed on each of the graves in the St James' Lot, and those in the St John's Lot which have been sold without that condition —

Secondly That in future sales of graves in the Public Lots, in addition to the price heretofore charged, that fifty cents shall be added for a stone number, and that none be sold without that condition —

Thirdly That a separate book shall be kept for recording interments in the public Lots, said interments to be also fully described in the general Records.

All of which is respectfully submitted.

Chas. G. Nazro. Committee.

Boston August 30. 1856.

Report of Com^ee before Interments in Public Lots - Sept^r 1st 1856

Sept^r 1/56 - In Board of Trustees Accepted & adopted, & Com^ee chosen to execute recommendations contained herein -

Attest A. J. Coolidge Sec^y