Burial Hill Cemetery - Rehoboth
Some of the material presented here is based on "A History of the Thurbers," an unpublished, unverified work by Charles H. Thurber. Please note that directly quoted unedited passages from that work will be shown in green. This material is the work of an amateur genealogist and contains much inaccurate and conflicting information and should not be accepted as fact without independent verification.

Many of the Thurbers are buried in Burial Hill cemetery in Rehoboth, Mass. It dates back through two centuries and contains many curious epitaphs. It is well kept and a pleasant spot on a side hill where many arrowheads and old bullets have been found from battles between the early settlers and Indians.
One epitaph caught my eye:

"My wife from me did parted
And robbed me like a knave.
Which caused me broken hearted
To descend into my grave.
My child took an active part
And to doom me did contrive
Which stuck a dagger in my heart
Which I could not survive. Dated early 1700.
Another one I noticed:
Remember me as you pass by.
As you are now so once was I.
As I am now so you must be.
Prepare for death and follow me.

Another stone stood out - all Thurbers. One family. Only names and ages except for the one date, 1782.
Daniel Thurber age 66. 1782
Lois (Peck) " " 71.
Nathaniel " " 87.
Polly " " 45.
Polly (Bullock) " " 63.
Chloe " " 73.
Nancy " " 83.
Abel " " 82.

Book A - Page X9.

Rehoboth, MA

Introduction of Rehoboth, Mass where John Thurber and his family settled first (1669) in Swansea a part of it at the time. It was settled in year 1645 and was brought from the Indians. It covered a big area at that time and now consists of many cities and towns been annexed away from original area.

Rehoboth is a town now whose Colonial experiences are equaled by few and surpassed by none in the State of Massachusetts, a town which long-held the position of being the most populous (after the union) also before held that position, a town that nearly became the capital of Massachusetts, a town that within its borders commenced the King Philip's War and was also most wiped out by fire by the Indians (June 14, 1675). Some of the Thurbers were in it so it is therefore becoming that this book should start there.

There are many of the old homes still there that have been preserved by descendants too many to write about but known the Bliss, Wheeler, Marlin, Wheaton, Cole, Kinsley and many others whom Thurbers married into their families.

Book A - Page X11

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