The stone does not specify the children's cause of death, but it was probably an infectious disease such as smallpox or dysentery. These illnesses were rampant in Massachusetts in the 1770s, due in part to the poor sanitation and cramped quarters in army camps. In the summer of 1778, an outbreak of smallpox in nearby Cambridge forced the cancellation of commencement ceremonies at Harvard and inspired frightened citizens to build a new smallpox hospital near Fresh Pond. I can't say for sure that smallpox killed these children, but it isn't a bad guess.
Other bloggers have commented on this stone and on the epidemics that swept the Boston area during the 1770s. I don't have much to add — I haven't been able to identify the disease that killed these children and their story is tragic, but not unique. I just wanted to call attention to the individual portraits of the children, which are beautifully detailed.
Sarah Childs, age 13
d. August 28, 1778
Eunice Childs, age 12
d. August 23, 1778
Abijah Childs, age 11
d. September 6, 1778
Abigail Childs, age 7
d. August 29, 1778
Benjamin Childs, age 4
d. August 24, 1778
Moses Childs, age 2
d. August 19, 1778
1 comment:
Here's a stylistic match for the Childs stone, from Fitchburg:
http://rjohara.net/images/cemeteries/south-street/rjo-1775-1776-Garfield-a.jpg
These are almost certainly from the William Park workshop in Groton.
You're welcome to post that image to you blog (or not) -- I just stuck it up there as a temporary file and may delete it after a while. If you use it, just link back to my South Street page as the source.
http://rjohara.net/cemeteries/south-street/
Post a Comment