Fuller Cemetery
By: Jessica K., Julie M., Makenzie R., Alexis P.
Where is Fuller Cemetery?
How old are the gravestones?
Only
some of the history of the town of Ludlow lies among the gravestones of Fuller
Cemetery. The Fuller Cemetery was created in November, 1794. This
cemetery was created when the earliest town cemetery, The Sikes Cemetery, didn’t
have enough space for the deceased. The Fuller Cemetery had been a burial
ground before it became a town cemetery, like the Sikes Cemetery. The fence
that surrounds the cemetery is the same height and length today as its original
fence. This cemetery lies in Ludlow’s center, which is next to the
First Church on Center Street. This was typical in early New England towns,
having the graveyard lay beside the church.
Gravestones were very different many years ago. Their shapes, artwork, and writing are much different than gravestones today. We discovered that the first person to be buried in this cemetery was a 5 year old boy named Wilder. He was the son of Captain Joseph Miller and his wife Anna (or Mary) Miller. He was crushed beneath a cart wheel on Oct. 13, 1786. Their daughter Joanna died Dec. 10, 1787, one year later. This is what the gravestone says:
“This stone is erected to the memory of a son and daughter of Capt. Joseph and Mrs. Mary Miller Wilder, who died Oct 13 1786 in the 5th year of his age and Joanna who died Dec 10 1787 in the third year of her age.”
The Fuller Cemetery is a cherished place in Ludlow. It is cherished because it is an interesting way to learn about Ludlow’s history.
The Fuller Cemetery on Center Street
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A Fuller Cemetery Headstone
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The Miller children are buried here.
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Some of the headstones are falling down.
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