Died: December 25, 1821
Horatio Noyes, a “lad of about 14 years of age,” died in a sad accident on Christmas Day 1821. Horatio went to the old First Parish Meeting House that day and found the tower door unlocked, so he climbed the stairs to the belfry. Witnesses reported that he climbed up the steeple, lost his grip, and fell to the ground—nearly 70 feet below. According to the newspaper report, he was “taken up speechless and apparently senseless,” brought to a nearby house, and lived not an hour more.
Horatio is memorialized on the same slate stone as his father Jacob who had died only 18 months earlier at age 52. The marker is decorated with a simple border, urn, and willow tree, and was lettered by stonecutter Bartlett Adams.
In memory of
Mr. Jacob Noyes,
died June 30, 1820,
AEt. 52:
also Horatio, his son
died Dec. 25, 1821.
AEt. 14.
Thanks to Ron Romano for providing information about Horatio Noyes and his stone. You can suggest a subterranean celebrity! Just send an email—it doesn't take much to make a nice little story. An index of all of our Subterranean Celebrities is available.
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