Jacobs Family Cemetary, Peabody, MA

Jacobs Family Cemetery, (Revolutionary War Cemetery) Peabody, MA


My second posting of 2020 is another spontaneous, unplanned post, and only my second post entirely dedicated to a cemetery. I was walking on the Independence Greenway which connects Peabody to Middleton with two fantastic, long rail trails. On the eastern most portion, parallel to Lowell Street, I could barely make out this tiny gravesite in the woods. With a marsh in between the bike/walking path and the tiny overgrown lot, there is not an obvious pathway to access, and I'm divided on whether this is a good or a bad thing. I found a trail through the forest off of the rail-trail, followed it and found that ultimately it led far behind where the cemetery should be. Exasperated, I decided to take care of this winter day and head through the dead leaves and bramble, knowing that thankfully it would be too cold for ticks and that the poison ivy was dormant (and from the vines on the trees, there's plenty of it!) I was rewarded.



Sadly only a few of the graves in this site are not broken, and it appears that maybe it gets  cleared out from growth at best once or twice a season, as small saplings and long grass is prevalent everywhere. I would totally volunteer to help with something like this if I knew who to approach. 

Headstone of Lucy Jacobs Proctor

I googled Henry Jacobs, and while I did not find a lot of information, what I did find was interesting. Henry Jacobs Jr. died in the battle of Lexington, on April 19th 1775. Poignantly, a reenactor apparently honors the deceased nearby at Old South Cemetery in Peabody, and says a prayer on the anniversary of this battle. I'd like to think that hopefully those who died in the Revolutionary War would be grateful/happy for some of the amazing things accomplished by the country they helped establish.




This picture above looks out at the street and bike path through the woods. This protected resting place, now residing in a nature reserve is hidden in plain site.
Ruth Jacobs, Wife of John Jacobs (assumingly there is more than one John Jacobs in this cemetery), lived until 87  

Headstone of Eunice Jacobs, passed at 24 years of age, the round shape allowed me to identify from "Find a Grave"
Heartbreaking, I'd like to think these broke due to the elements, in reality, it was likely youthful ignorance that took these down, no-doubt some of the offenders probably regret their actions somewhere in the back of their minds. At least I like to think they would.

The Find a Grave website was an invaluable resource in helping me identify the owners of a few of these resting spots.


John Jacobs, Revolutionary War Veteran

Hannah Goodale Jacobs, widow of John Jacobs lived an especially long life for the times, until 85

How many graves lie broken or with missing headstones? It is a fairly sizeable plot, I'd speculate there could be 50 people burried here easily.

Text and photographs by George Parks
Sources are embedded in links

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