Unusual Grave Marker: Mary Harvey - Deerfield, MA

Mary Harvey

 Grave Marker 

Deerfield, MA

N 42° 32.716 W 072° 36.603

Short Description: 

The gravestone Mary Harvey has an image that reveals her cause of death. She died while giving birth to a stillborn infant. She and the infant are buried in the Old Burying Ground in Deerfield, MA.

Long Description:

The grave of Mary Harvey has received a great deal of attention. Carved by Solomon Ashley, in the upper part of the slate stone is the image of a woman laid out in a coffin. Nestled in her left arm is the much smaller image of her stillborn child.

In Memory of

Mary, the Wife of

Simeon Harvey

Who Departed this

Life

Decemb,r 20th

1785 in 39th year of

Her age. on her left

Arm Lieth the Infant

Wich was still

Born

Mary was born on March 26, 1747 and died in her 39th year. Her children were:

Emilia - born March 25, 1769
Mary - born October 1, 1770.
Experience - born January 31, 1772
Orra - born January 27, 1774
James - born March 28, 1776
Henry - born February 20, 1778.
Fanny - born October 18, 1780
Mark - born September 5, 1782.
Crisia - baptized January 30, 1783.
Unnamed infant, stillborn on December 20, 1785.