Vernon Street Smallpox Cemetery - Vernon Street
The FoMC knows the location of the grave of Thomas Paddock. Charles Milton Thatcher recorded this grave as being located on land owned by Henry Cushman. Thomas Weston, in his book "History of the town of Middleboro, Massachusetts", in the chapter "Titicut", wrote: The Jonathan Leonard house is probably the oldest in this part of the town, and is now owned by E.G. Shaw. In 1777, during the prevalence of the small-pox, it was used as a pest-house.". Also, in the chapter "Civil History", on page 575, he wrote "The other pest-house was located in the Leonard house, still standing, on Vernon Street, in Titicut. A number died here, and were buried by the side of the wall near this house.". The Leonard house is MID7, located at 61 Vernon Street. The house is also referred to as the "Aldrich - Shaw House". Today, Vernon Street separates the Leonard House from the grave of Thomas Paddock. He probably was buried with the other victims of smallpox, but how are their graves marked?
Deed research needs to be done in order to locate the grave Stephen Richmond. We have not found a headstone, and we do not know if he ever had a headstone. What information we do know comes from Thomas Weston and Charles Milton Thatcher. Thomas Weston, in his book "History of the town of Middleboro, Massachusetts", in the chapter "The Loyalists of the Revolution", on page 155, wrote: "Stephen Richmond lived on Vernon Street, in the house now occupied by Daniel Aldrich. His temperament and disposition were such that he had nothing of the position and esteem which the other loyalists received. He was known as the "d-d old tory". He died of smallpox in 1777 and was buried on the other side of a stone wall, opposite the grave of Mr. Paddock, the owner of the field positively refusing to allow such a man to be buried on his land." Charles Milton Thatcher wrote that Mr Richmond was buried on land that adjoined Henry Cushman, in a field owned by Elbridge Shaw. Where was this field?
Deed research needs to be done in order to locate the grave Stephen Richmond. We have not found a headstone, and we do not know if he ever had a headstone. What information we do know comes from Thomas Weston and Charles Milton Thatcher. Thomas Weston, in his book "History of the town of Middleboro, Massachusetts", in the chapter "The Loyalists of the Revolution", on page 155, wrote: "Stephen Richmond lived on Vernon Street, in the house now occupied by Daniel Aldrich. His temperament and disposition were such that he had nothing of the position and esteem which the other loyalists received. He was known as the "d-d old tory". He died of smallpox in 1777 and was buried on the other side of a stone wall, opposite the grave of Mr. Paddock, the owner of the field positively refusing to allow such a man to be buried on his land." Charles Milton Thatcher wrote that Mr Richmond was buried on land that adjoined Henry Cushman, in a field owned by Elbridge Shaw. Where was this field?
