John Endecott (1588-1665)
First Governor in the Massachusetts Bay
Burial: Mystery Resolved ©
Case Study – Provenance of Tomb # 189
by
Gordon S. Harmon
Introduction
There has been, over the years, confusion and even some
disagreement on the exact resting place of Governor John
Endecott who arrived in Naumkeag (later Salem) on September
6, 1628 1 and was the First Governor in the Massachusetts Bay,
1629 2 3 4 Most genealogists, biographers and historians who
study colonial history have concluded that the British destroyed
many tombstones in and around the Boston
area.
Part of the confusion had resulted in the placement
of the commemorative plaque on the fence at the
Kings Chapel Burying Ground on Tremont Street
along the Freedom Trail in Boston. The inscription
on the plaque had included for many years the
name of Governor John Endecott, Esq. as being
buried there. That had been incorrect. There never
was any evidence that Governor Endecott was
interred at King’s Chapel. Unfortunately, over the
years, many made the visit to Boston and went to
the King’s Chapel thinking they were at the historical and
Before
After
1
Memoir of Governor Endecott. New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Vol. 1.
July, 1847. No. 3. 104.
2
Young, Alexander. Chronicles of the First Planters of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay from
1623 to 1636. Chapter VI. The Company’s Second General Letter of Instructions to Endicott and
His Council. London, 28th May, 1629. 173.
3
Felt, Joseph. Who Was the First Governor of Massachusetts? (Boston: Press of T. R. Marvin,
42 Congress Street, 1853).
4
Harmon, Gordon S. John Endecott, First Governor in the Massachusetts Bay, 1629.
(Springfield, MO: GSH Visions, 2010).
1
final resting place of Governor Endecott. In the Spring, 2011 and at the request of the EndecottEndicott Family Association, Inc., the City of Boston finally recognized this historical error and
has made the necessary correction.
During some research at the New England Historic Genealogical Society in February, 2006,
this author had the opportunity to discuss and research this question of the burial of Governor
Endecott. David Lambert, a noted genealogist and expert on ancient burial grounds in Boston,
helped provide extremely valuable insight into the Governor’s burial. He also provided excellent
source documentation that helped lead to resolving this mystery.
Residence, Death and Burial of John Endecott
Previously, John Endecott had lived on his beloved Orchard Farm in Danversport. However,
at the request of the Council of Magistrates, he removed to Boston in 1655 5 leaving at “the
farm” his wife Elizabeth (Cogan) Gibson Endicott (1611-1676) 6 and his sons John (1631-1667)
7
and Zerubbabel (1635-1684)8. The Council required that their Governor reside in Boston.
9
Photo Credit: Gordon S. Harmon
Governor Endicott had lived in Boston at Cotton
Hill, now Beacon Hill (Pemberton Square). The
commemorative marker indicating where he lived
is directly across from the front steps of the
Suffolk County Courthouse. The inscription reads
“On this site resided Governor John Endicott from
1655 to 1665 and here Elihu Yale founder of Yale
College was born 5 April 1648. This tablet placed
by the City of Boston 1930.”
Incidentally near this site is another marker commemorating the home of Rev. Cotton Mather
(1663–1728). Within a few short blocks near the Old State House and on State Street is yet
another historic marker showing the home of John Winthrop (1587/8–1649). Winthrop was a
contemporary of John Endecott. Winthrop was Governor in 1630 subsequent to John Endecott in
1629. 10 11 Winthrop, as the second Governor, and his burial site is appropriately recognized at
the King’s Chapel Burying Ground while the burial site of John Endecott, the first Governor, at
Massachusetts Bay Colony General Court Records. May 23, 1655.
Harmon, Gordon S. Endecott-Endicott Family History with Harmon Lineages – 22
Generations from 1327 to the Present. Nine Generations in England (1327-1627) and Beyond in
America. (Springfield, MO: GSH Visions, 2002). 11.
7
Ibid. 10
8
Ibid. 11.
9
Governor John Endecott Memorial Plaque. Pemberton Square. Photographed by Gordon S.
Harmon June, 2006.
10
Felt, Joseph. Who Was the First Governor of Massachusetts? (Boston: Press of T. R. Marvin,
42 Congress Street, 1853).
11
Harmon, Gordon S. Governor John Endecott, Puritan and First Governor in the
Massachusetts Bay, 1629. (Springfield, MO: GSH Visions, 2010).
5
6
2
the Old Granary Burying Ground is not. Why the City of Boston recognizes Winthrop and not
Endecott is unclear. In addition, eight other Governors buried at the Granary are recognized with
appropriate monumentation on their respective grave sites, but not the Commonwealth’s first
Governor, Endecott.
John Endecott died in Boston, MA on March 15, 1665 12 In Lawrence Mayo’s book,
Biography of John Endecott, he quotes from the works of John Hull, master of the mint who
wrote in his diary on the date of Endecott’s death –
Our honored Governor, Mr. John Endicott, departed this life, - a man
of pious and zealous spirit, who had very faithfully endeavored the
suppression of a pestilent generation, the troublers of our peace, civil
and ecclesiastical, called Quakers.
He died poor, as most of our rulers do, having more attended the public
than their own private interest.
It is our shame: though we are indeed a poor people, yet might better
maintain our rulers than we do.
However, they have a good God to reward them.13
In May of 1665, the Court, in “remembrance of the good service of the late John Endecott,
Esq., Governor”, approved payment by the Treasurer for the expenses of the Governor’s funeral
and burial. At the same time, the court approved the expenses for reimbursement to Mrs.
Endecott for mourning cloths for herself, children and family. 14
In the study and writings of William C. Endicott, Jr., he states that “the Governor ‘with great
honor and solemnity was interred in Boston and was probably buried in the Governor’s tomb,
Granary (South) Burying Ground. Family tradition says King’s Chapel Burying Ground on the
left entrance to the Church and that the stone was destroyed by the British soldiers at the time of
the Revolution. This statement was made by Timothy Endicott, Esq. (1775-1865) to his nephew
William Putman Endicott, Esq. (1805-1888). Dr. Samuel A. Green, Librarian of the
Massachusetts Historical Society, says King’s Chapel”. 15 These two statements are incorrect.
In Lawrence Mayo’s book, Biography of John Endecott, he states that “here and there one
comes upon the statement that Governor Endecott was buried near King’s Chapel under what is
Ibid. 16.
American Antiquarian Society. Transactions and Collections, III, 215-216.
14
Shurtleff, Nathaniel B., MD. Records of the Governor and Company of the Massachusetts
Bay in New England Vol. IV 1661-1674. (Boston: From the Press of William White, Printer to
the Commonwealth, 1874). 151.
15
Endicott Papers. Working Documents of William Crowinshield Endicott. New England
Historic Genealogical Society. Boston, MA. n.d.
12
13
3
now the sidewalk in front of that building. But, lately the northwest corner of the Granary
Burying Ground has been established as the true location.” 16
Granary (South) Burial Ground
After King’s Chapel Burying Ground closed in 1660, the Granary Burying Ground was
opened and laid out in 1660 and the first tombs were built in the northwest corner. 17 18 This fact
along with the death of John Endecott in 1665 lends to the credibility that he is not buried at the
King’s Chapel, but is interred at the Granary.
While attending the NEHGS Come Home to New England Conference in August, 2003, this
author had the opportunity to visit the Granary Burying Ground. After the visit, one of the
Boston Park Rangers offered to investigate the records in the Ranger’s office on the Boston
Common to see whether there were any existing records on the burial of John Endecott. After a
review of the computer records of all known burials and a large sectional map showing each
burial, there was no record of the burial of Governor John Endecott.
“At least 1,600 people are known to have been buried in this tiny graveyard, as the land-poor
colonial Boston, old graves often were dug up to make way for new bodies; the spongy ground
hastened deterioration. Among those laid to rest at this stop along the Freedom Trail are Paul
Revere, John Hancock, Samuel Adams, the victims of the Boston
Massacre and Christopher Snider, a 12-year-old boy killed by a British
soldier 11 days before the massacre. The large central obelisk marks the
graves of Benjamin Franklin's parents; Franklin himself, though born in
Boston, died in Philadelphia. And Elizabeth Vergoose, buried here in
1690, is believed to be the prolific storyteller later immortalized as
Mother Goose” 19
Among those listed from a website of the Old Granary Burying
Ground 20 as being buried here includes: ENDECOTT, John b. 1588. d.
June 15, 1665 - This site does not provide a source citation of this listing
for John Endecott. (Note: The date of death of June 15 is incorrect. It
should be March 15.)
Partial Map of the Freedom Trail-Boston, MA
16
Mayo, Lawrence Shaw. John Endecott, A Biography. (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University
Press, 1936). 284.
17
Interview with David Lambert, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, MA 13
February, 2006.
18
Dunkle, Robert J. and Lainhart, Ann S. Inscriptions and Records of the Old Cemeteries of
Boston. (Boston, MA: New England Historical Genealogical Society, 2000). 407.
19
Freedom Trail. Granary Burying Ground
www.nps.gov/bost/Granary_Burying_Ground.htm downloaded 8 May 2006
20
The Old Granary Burial Ground. www.daddezio.com/cemetery/articles/granary.html
downloaded 9 May 2006.
4
The Rare Books and Manuscripts Division at the Boston Public Library were consulted in
April, 2006. Within this collection were May’s copies of Boston cemetery inscriptions and
records 1895-1908 21 and Billings’ (City of Boston surveyor) plan of the Granary Burial Ground
of December 31, 190422. Neither of these works showed any evidence of Tomb # 189 of
Governor John Endecott.
Previous Prevailing Views
As previously mentioned, two prevailing views have existed regarding the burial site of
Governor John Endecott. They are family lore (tradition) and the inaccurate placement of the
commemorative plaque at the King’s Chapel Burying Ground inscribing the name of John
Endecott, Gov. as being interred there. Both have been incorrect. Many do, however, believe and
accept the idea that the British destroyed many burial stones during the American Revolution,
including that of John Endecott. On the other hand, many tombstones did survive the British.
Other possible thoughts on missing tomb stones at the Granary Burying Ground are that “in early
times, cows grazed freely among the stones. Selectmen’s minutes of 1678 show grazing rights, a
source of revenue, allowed to John Woodbury. That changed by 1713 as selectmen voted to
make James Williams responsible for any damages which may happen to the graves by reason of
his cows going there” 23 Also, it has been suggested that the British used many tomb stones to
carry their wounded soldiers to be cared for.
Recent Discoveries
During the February, 2006 visit to the New England Historic Genealogical Society, two
important discoveries were made settling the question of Governor John Endecott’s burial. These
discoveries were:
A. Records of Boston Selectmen, 1722
In an extract of the City of Boston Selectmen’s Minutes of March 26, 1722 it is recorded that
“Upon a petition of Mr. John Edwards of Boston Sheweth. That whereas there is a tomb in the
South Burying Ground place belonging to the Late Governour Endicott, which has bin
unimproved for many years, and there being no family in Said Town nearer Related to the Said
Governour Endicott family then his, Desires he may haue Liberty granted him to make use of it
Suffolk County, Massachusetts, City of Boston Cemetery Inscriptions and Records 1895-1908.
Boston Public Library Rare Books and Manuscripts Division. Entry for Tomb # 189 of Governor
John Endecott.
22
Suffolk County, Massachusetts, City of Boston Plan of Granary Burial Ground. Boston Public
Library Rare Books and Manuscripts Division. Entry of Tomb # 189 of Governor John Endecott.
23
Wells, Charles Chauncey and Wells, Suzanne Austin. Preachers, Patriots and Plain Folk.
Boston’s Burying Ground Guide to King’s Chapel, Granary and Central Cemeteries. (Oak Park,
Illinois: Chauncey Park Press, 2004.
21
5
for his family. Granted that the Said John Edwards his liberty to Improuse the Said Tomb until a
person of Better Right to it appears to Claim it." 24
Then, the questions became: Who is this John Edwards? Why had the tomb of John Endecott
not been maintained by any member of his family in the past 57 years? Was there no interest of
those descendants (2nd and 3rd generations) still residing in Salem? Why had the City of Boston
not taken interest in maintaining the tomb of their First Governor in the Massachusetts Bay?
What was the condition of the tomb at the time of the petition of John Edwards? Was this site not
significant in that other famous historical figures were also buried there even those at a later
date? These and other questions will probably never be satisfactorily answered.
B. John Edwards, Jr. Connection
Further research into who was John Edwards was in order. What was his specific interest in
the Governor’s tomb at the Granary (South) Burying Ground? Further research did answer this
question.
John Edwards, Jr. was the brother of Anna Edwards of London, England. 25 Anna had
married about 1680 to John Endecott (1657- abt 1695) 26 , the grandson of Governor John
Endecott. Robert Edwards Endicott was a son of John and Ann Endicott and was baptized on
April 11, 1693. Furthermore, “the John Endicott, whose children were baptized in the parish of
St. Olave, Hart Street, in 1689 and 1693, was Dr. John Endicott, a grandson of Governor John
Endicott of the Massachusetts Bay. After Dr. Endicott’s death, his widow Ann and these two
children came to New England. The daughter, Ann, married in 1771 to her cousin, Samuel
Endicott; and her brother Robert Edwards Endicott, married in 1770 to Elizabeth Phillips.” 27
William C. Endicott, in the early 1900s, conducted some extensive research on the tomb of
Governor Endicott. Endicott states “the tomb has been handed down since his (John Edwards)
death in 1746, through the descendants Cheever, Derby and Shattuck”. An ancient plan of the
burying ground gives an exact location of the tomb. Endicott continues to write that “the present
monument (1918) is built of red-faced brick with a white marble slab on the top which has the
following inscription cut on the marble slab:
Tomb of
William Downs Cheever
Repaired by John Derby
1803
Restored by
George Cheyne Shattuck
1852” 28
24
Record Commissioners of the City of Boston. Records of Boston Selectmen 1718 to 1736.
(Rockwell and Churchill City Printers, 1885). 95.
25
New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Vol. LXXI. January, 1917. Whole
Number, 281. 90, 93.
26
Harmon. Endecott-Endicott Family History. 16.
27
Register, 93
28
Endicott Papers. n.p.
6
Tomb # 189 Old Granary Burying Ground
29
Ownership of Tomb # 189; Family Relationships (Propinquity) and Other Non-Family Burials
Information from the Inscriptions and Records of the Old Cemeteries of Boston 30 also shows
the inscription, as noted above. In addition to this reference of the Tomb # 189 inscription, this
reference also provides some important historical information on the ownerships and burials of
Tomb # 189: 31
Owners: Governor John Endecott, John Edwards
Mary Beath, wid, fam. Mary, July 7, 1837, ae. 45 y. Tomb 189
Elizabeth Derby, Sept. 11, 1831, ae.73 y. Tomb 189
John Derby, fam. John, Dec. 5, 1812. ae. 72 y. Tomb 189
Richard Derby, Capt., June 6, 1832, ae. 67 y. Tomb 189
Prince Eastman, colored, from Dorchester, Apr. 5, 1821, ae. 63 y. Tomb 189
Eliza Peirce, fam. wid. John Derby, Dec. 10, 1815, ae. 23 y. Tomb 189
“On May 31, 1904, through the courtesy of the owners, Dr. George Brune Shattuck, Dr.
Frederick Cheever Shattuck and their sister, Mrs. Alexander Whiteside, nee Shattuck, William
Chrowinshield Endicott had this tomb No. 189 opened. No trace was found that this was the
burial place of the Governor though the tomb was evidently a very ancient one judging from the
brick work and the small size of the entrance.” 32
According to the Celebrate Boston web site and the link for John Endecott Colonial
Massachusetts Governor it is stated “Endicott was interred at the Granary Burying Ground in
Boston. By the mid-1700s his tomb had fallen into disrepair and ownership was assigned to John
Edwards because Endicott had no living descendants. The Edwards family was related to the
Cheevers by marriage, so the current Cheever tomb is very likely Endicott’s original resting
place”. This information of the Edwards – Cheever connection was obtained from the Boston
Almanac, 1840. 33
Tomb # 189 Old Granary Burying Ground, Tremont Street, Boston, MA. Photographed by
Gordon S. Harmon June, 2006.
30
Dunkle and Lainhart. Inscriptions and Records of the Old Cemeteries of Boston. 495.
31
Ibid.
32
Endicott Papers. n.p.
33
Celebrate Boston web site. John Endicott Colonial Massachusetts Governor.
http://www.celebrateboston.com/biography/governor/john-endicott.com
29
7
An ongoing study since this article was first published in May, 2007, has been the family
connections of the Edwards, Cheever, Derby and Shattuck families connecting back to Governor
John Endecott. This genealogical family kinship (propinquity) study to date, leads us to 1999.
While this study does prove the kinship from 1665-1999, it does not, however, prove the
ownership of Tomb # 189 from 1904 to the present.
Ownership of Tomb # 189 1665-1904
John Endecott
1665
John Edwards
1722
Wm. Downs Cheever 1788
John Derby
1803
Geo. Cheyne Shattuck 1852
Dr. George Shattuck
1904
Dr. Frederick Cheever Shattuck 1904
Mrs. Alexander Whiteside nee Shattuck 1904
Adapted, Revised and Updated – March, 2011
Description of Tomb # 189
David Lambert describes the Governor’s tomb as being underground with the placement of
the brick work and marble slab (tablet) top upon a burial ‘room’. The tomb had an entrance with
stairs leading down into the ‘room’. At the entrance of the ‘room’ was probably a hinged locked
door which required then a skeleton key. Upon entering the subterranean tomb ‘room’, there
could have been several ‘caskets’ resting upon wooden poles against or along the wall of the
tomb ‘room’. In addition to this verbal description, the following diagram was included in the
Fall, 2010 Newsletter of the Boston Historic Burying Grounds Initiative 34 An additional piece of
important information contained in this newsletter is that in 1904, the City of Boston only owned
two tombs in the Old Granary Burying Ground 35
downloaded 20 March 2011.
34
Boston Historic Burying Grounds Initiative Newsletter. Fall, 2011 Vol. 1,
Edition 1. (Boston, MA: Boston Parks and Recreation Department). 1.
35
Ibid.
8
It is believed that this diagram and the description provided by David Lambert is
representative of the tomb of Governor John Endecott and others interred in Tomb # 189 at the
Old Burying Ground on the Freedom Trail in Boston, MA.
Sketch of the Old Granary Burying Ground
Drawn by William T. Endicott and Gordon S. Harmon - April, 2011
Conclusions
It appears that the interest of John Edwards in the tomb of John Endecott was threefold.
First, he was connected to the Endicott family through his sister Anna who was residing in
England. Secondly, it is assumed that since he lived in Boston, he was encouraged by the
Endicott family members in London to improve upon and preserve the Governor’s deteriorating
gravesite. And thirdly, he was planning and making arrangements for his final resting place. The
death of John Endicott in 1665, later the death of John Edward in 1764 and the provenance study
of Tomb # 189, the ownership of this tomb have been reasonably proven up to 1904 – a 239 year
time period.
9
With reasonable certainty, this research provides evidence on the resting place of one of the
most important Colonial figures in the founding of a new country – John Endecott, the Puritan
and First Governor in the Massachusetts Bay. It also shows the erroneous information of others
indicating the King’s Chapel and the prior incorrect plaque at the King’s Chapel about Governor
John Endecott’s burial.
Further study and research is warranted, but not limited to:
Determine the ownership of Tomb # 189 at the Old Granary Burying Ground
from 1904 to the present (the next 108 years – the continued provenance study)
Research and verify the current monumentation on all of the colonial Governors buried at
the old Granary Burying Ground and the Kings Chapel Burying Ground.
Interpretative Panel # 5
In 2004, the City of Boston erected
interpretative panels at the Old Granary Burying
Ground. Interpretative panel #5 acknowledges
that John Endecott is buried at Tomb # 189.
However, the City of Boston has not been
supportive on the appropriate historical
monumentation to be placed at or on Governor
John Endecott’s tomb. For years and up to
today, there is no monumentation of the
Governor’s tomb or even a marker indicating #
189. This makes it difficult to find the
Governor’s tomb. The interpretative marker provides for a major disconnection and confusion in
the panels orientation to Tomb # 189. This further complicates the visitor finding the correct
tomb of John Endecott. One Commonwealth of Massachusetts official visited the Granary
attempting to locate the burial site of Governor Endecott and was unable to do so. This state
official indicated that the interpretative panels were “dreadful”. Another recent example was a
Boston born native and descendant of Governor Endecott who also could not find the Governor’s
final resting place. Until which time the City of Boston recognizes this continued problem, others
will experience the same difficulty in locating the First Governor of Massachusetts.
As previously discussed, the City of Boston agreed (in January, 2010) to correct the plaque at
the King’s Chapel to help eliminate the long standing confusion on the true burial site of the first
Governor of Massachusetts. This part of the years long confusion has been corrected.
A historically accurate commemorative marker should be designed and appropriately placed
at the correct location – Tomb # 189 - of Governor Endecott’s burial in the Granary Burying
Ground. The Endecott-Endicott Family Association, Inc. would be extremely interested in
pursuing a partnership in co-sponsoring and participating with the City of Boston, the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts and others interested in this historically important preservation
project.
10
It is hopeful that Endicott Cousin researchers and those interested in the colonial Governors
will benefit from this research. Furthermore, it is believed that the City of Boston, by their
commitment on the placement of a plaque at or on Tomb # 189, will finally recognize the
historical accuracy; significance and the necessity to honor the final resting place of John
Endecott, the first and longest serving Governor in Massachusetts history. Governor Endecott
was also Major General of the colonial militia 1645-1649. 36
The citizens of the City of Boston; thousands of visitors to the Old Granary Burying Ground
on the Freedom Trail and all of the descendants of John Endecott deserve the historical
correctness versus the position shown by the City of Boston. We remain hopeful and optimistic
that the Boston imposed obstacles can and will be overcome with the right common sense
intervention.
Massachusetts National Guard at Tomb # 189 for the
Endicott Cousins wreath laying ceremony – June 18, 2012
5th National Endicott Cousins Reunion
Gordon S. Harmon is the 11th Generation descendant of Governor John Endecott. He
can be reached at 1215 W. Walnut Street, Springfield, MO 65806 (417) 350-7914 or
gsharmon10@hotmail.com He currently is serving as the President of the
Endecott-Endicott Family Association, Inc. www.endecott-endicott.com
Sanford, Teddy H. Jr. The Military History of John Endecott. (Elizabethtown, KY:
Unpublished manuscript, 2011.
36
11