For a listing of tombstone inscriptions in other cemeteries in Merrimack, see the CEMETERIES page.

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TOMBSTONE INSCRIPTIONS & PHOTOGRAPHS IN THORNTON'S (aka Thornton's Ferry) CEMETERY
Recommendations: first, view the list of tombstone inscriptions in the link directly below (PDF file); match up the inscription with the photograph of the tombstone. This should be done because the inscription list will have more detail, while the photograph link has only brief information. Please do not request additional photographs (as I do not live in NH currently). If you do not see your ancestor/relative here, check the transcription list FIRST, and if it appears there, then other photographs to see if your ancestor's stone is in the background. Some of the stones were missing, broken, or illegible. The photographs are not ALL the tombstones, only some of the stones in the oldest section. In a few cases the inscriptions are not shown in the original tombstone listing, so I have provided the inscription as a hypertext link to the photograph. Note that there are a couple of tombstones that I photographed that you won't find in the transcription list (go figure).

Thornton Cemetery Tombstone Inscription List - (PDF file - 8 pages)

Please NOTE: your viewing of these photographs, indicates that you understand that these photographs, in their entirety, or in cropped sections, may NOT be used for any purpose, either electronic or printed medium, which are offered for sale (for example, but not limited to, newspapers, books, web sites, brochure's, booklets, CD's etc.) without my EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION. Doing otherwise is in violation of United States copyright law. You may contact me (as the webmaster) of this site to request permission. If you are unable to contact me, this does NOT give you permission to use these photographs. In those cases where written permission is granted, posted credits must always be given to Janice W. Brown, the photographer and owner of these images.

Thorton Cemetery (Tombstone Photos) Taken July 2005
NOTES ON MATTHEW THORNTON'S GRAVE Not to give away any secrets, but alot of folks believe that Matthew Thornton is buried at the large obelisk next to the Thornton's Ferry Cemetery in south Merrimack. His burial spot is actually in a different spot, within the Thornton's Ferry Cemetery, where he is buried along with his wife and other Thornton family members. SEE below see photographs of his actual burial spot and tombstone.
SEE FREE ONLINE BOOK: "Addresses at the Dedication of the Monument Erected to the Memory of Matthew Thornton," by New Hampshire Governor and Council; Published 1894; The Republican Press Association (Google Books)
GENERAL VIEWS OF THE THORNTON CEMETERY	General View #2 - Thornton Cemetery	General View #3 - Thornton Cemetery
General View #1 - Thornton Cemetery	General View #5 - Thornton Cemetery	Tombstone - General View #6
General View #4 - Thornton Cemetery	Tombstone - General View #7 .	Tombstone - General View #8
Thornton's Graveyard sign (new sign in 2007) presented by Heritage Commission to the Town (photo used with permission of MHC)	From inside the cemetery, looking across the road to the old Thornton homestead #1- Thornton Cemetery	From inside the cemetery, looking across the road to the old Thornton homestead #2 - Thornton Cemetery
THORNTON FAMILY STONES & MONUMENTS	Matthew Thornton Monument - Thornton Cemetery #1	Matthew Thornton Monument - Thornton Cemetery #2
Grave Site of HON. MATTHEW THORNTON, M.D.	Tombstones - Hannah Thornton wife of Hon. Matthew Thornton & Hon. Matthew Thornton (d 1803) "An Honest Man"	Tombstones - Thornton FAMILY - the entire groiup
Headstone of Matthew Thornton in the Thornton's Ferry Cemetery taken 2004	Headstone, Wife of Matthew Thornton	More Thornton Family stones
Historical Marker at Thornton Monument	Tombstones - Thornton family	Tombstones - Mary THORNTON, dau of James & Mary - Thomas THORNTON, son of James & Mary
SEE Photographs of Matthew Thornton's grave in the Thornton's Ferry cemetery (external site)	Tombstones - Matthew Thornton, Esq. and Andrew Thornton	Tombstones - Sally W. THORNTON, wife of Matthew Thornton (d 1857)& Matthew Thornton d. 1822
Tombstones - Andrew THORNTON (d 1787) & Matthew Thornton (son of Hon. Matthew & Hannah,(d. 1804) .	Tombstone - Sophia SHEPHERD wife of Hon. James B. THORTON; her husband, Hon. James Bonaparte THORNTON	Tombstones - Mary THORNTON wife of James Thornton & James Thornton
OTHER STONES IN THE THORNTON CEMETERY	Tombstone - Sally BARRETT (d 1819)	Tombstone - Rhoda BLANCHARD (wife of Joseph, d. 1858)
Tombstone - Willie W. BLANCHARD, son of Joseph and Rhoda W. (d 1874)	Tombstone - Hannah BLANCHARD, wife of Joseph Blanchard (d 1904)	Tombstone - Joseph BLANCHARD (d 1896)
Tombstone - George BLANCHARD (d 1916)	Tombstones - Timothy BOWERS (d 1840) and his wife Lucy (d 1852)	Tombstone - Young sons of John and Elizabeth BOWERS, i.e. Ephraim and Joseph.
Tombstones - Ruth BURNAP, wife of Rev. Jacob (d 1773) & Mary LUND, widow of JOHN	Tombstone - Robert CARTER (1835-1916) and his wife Mary A. (1832-1906)	Tombstone - Ballard Smith CONANT, son of John and Sarah Conant (d 1812)
Tombstones - John CONANT (d 1824) and Sarah his wife (d 1812	Tombstone - Capt. Israel Conant (d 1808)	Sacred to the memory of Capt ISRAEL CONANT who died May 26 1808 in the 33 Year of his age
.	.	Tombstones - Clara and Mary COTTON and Cotton stones
Tombstones - Mary COTTON, wife of Capt Samuel (d. 1836) and Capt. Samuel COTTON, (d. 1822)	Tombstone - Anna Crooker (dau of A.F. & M.A. Crooker) d. 1860 et al	Tombstones - Stephen CROOKER, Esq. (d 1824) and hiw wife Sarah (d 1835)
Tombstones - Martin CROOKER Esq. (d 1837) -- Lydia Crooker wife of Japhet (d 1819) -- Capt Japhet Crooker (d 1835)	Tombstones - Anna, dau of Capt Japhet CROOKER (d 1840) -- Sarah, wife of Martin M. Crooker (d. 1884) -- Martin Crooker Esq. (d 1837)	Elizabeth Cumings, dau of Capt Jonathan & Elizabeth Cumings / Mrs. Elizabeth Cumings, wife of Capt Jonathan Cumings
Tombstone - Joseph CUMINGS, son of Capt Jonathan & Elizabeth Cumings	In Memory of Joseph Cumings Son of Cap. Jonathan Cumings and Mrs. Elizabeth his wife who departed this life March 9, 1776 in the 34th year of his age	Tombstone - Sarah Darrah, dau of James & Sarah Darrah.
Samuel Dickey Dyed July 6, 1824 56 years	Tombstone - Samuel DICKEY (d 1824)	Tombstone - Margaret C. DICKEY, widow of Samuel
.	Tombstone - Hannah EAYRS, dau of William and Hannah (d 1804)	Tombstone - Ferguson Stone - Side 3: Granville, Margaret his wife, Emily May their daughter.
Tombstone - Ferguson Monument - James W. (1829-1914) and his wife Emily (1831-1920)	Tombstone - Ferguson Stone - 2nd side: David (1827-1898), William (1854-1911) and Louise G., William G.'s Wife (1856-1945)	Tombstone - Abbie J. Goodwin wife of Daniel Dempsey (1833-1925)
Tombstone - William Goodwin (d 1891) and wife Abigail F. Goodwin (d 1889)	Tombstone - Freeman H. HAMBLETT 1873-1901	Tombstone - Ann HARRIS, d. 1888
Tombstone - Prudence S. Harris, died Aug 26, 1858?	Tombstones - Ebenezer HARRIS, d. 17 March 1843, AET 83 yrs 8 ms [revolutionary patriot] -- Rebecca wife of Ebenezer Harris died March 20, 1852 Aet 90 yrs.	Tombstone - ESTHER HARRIS, wife of Azariah Harris (d. Sep 6, 1851 Aet 80)
Tombstone - Azariah HARRIS (d 1856)	Tombstone - John H. HARTWELL (d 1912) and Sarah F. HARTWELL (d 1916)	Tombstones - Luther R. & Nancy S. HASSELL
Tombstone - Mary A. HENSON, wife of Richard (d 1875)	Tombstone - Thomas W. HERBERT (d 1891)	Tombstone - Evelyn A. HERBERT, wife of Thomas W. (d. 1907)
Tombstone - Charlotte H. HERBERT, wife of Thomas W. (d 1870)	Tombstones - HILLS family	Tombstones - Elisabeth HILLS, wife of Ebenezer (d. 1771) & Ebenezer HILLS (d. 1804)
Tombstone - Joseph HILLS, son of Ebenezer & Elizabeth Hills	In Memory of Mr. Joseph Hills Son of Mr. Eben & Mrs. Elizabeth Hills who departed this life July 5, 1785 in 27th year of his age [DAR flag]	Tombstone - Dr. BARNARD HOITT, d 1839
.	Tombstone - Ann P. (COTTON) HOITT, wife of Barnard E. Hoitt M.D. (d 1881)	.
Tombstone - John A. HUTCHINS, d. 8 July 1828	Tombstone - HORATIO CATES HUTCHINS, son of Horatio and Abigail HUTCHINS, d. May 14, 1855, aged 10 years 3 mos.	Tombstone - HORATIO G. HUTCHINS, died Jan 31, 1850, AE 58. [Note: not on tombstone transcription list]
Tombstone - Mrs. LUCY HUTCHINS, wife of Col. Gordon Hutchins	Tombstone - MEHITABLE JONES [transcription record says incorrectly Mehetable], d. 13 Feb 1863	Tombstone - Dorothy JONES, wife of Daniel Jones, d. 1836
Tombstone - Caleb JONES (d 1859) and Eliza T. Moulton (formerly wife of Caleb Jones) d. 1876	Tombstone - Kendall family (group)	Zebedee KENDALL, son of Lt John & Deborah Kendall
Here Lyes the Body of Mr. Zebedee Kendall the Son of Lieut John Kendall & Mrs. Deborah Kendall wife Departed his life the 24th of Aprill A.D. 1749	.	.
Tombstones - Leonard KENDALL (d 1875) and Clarrisa Kendall (d 1871)	Tombstone - Francis Kendall (d 1839, age 13)	Tombstone - Died Feb 13, 1812, age 34 - broken stone, probably that of REBEKAH LUND
Tombstones - Lt. Charity LUND (d 1793) and Lucy, wife of Charity Lund (d 1805)	In memory of Lieut CHARITY LUND who departed this life June 11th 1793 in the 62 year of his age "In the cold mansions of the silent tomb How still the solitude, how deep the gloom Here sleeps the dust unconscious close confined But far, far distant dwells the immortal wind."	Tombstones - Esther LUND (d. 1857), William Lund (d 1845), Cosmo Lund (d 1834)
Tombstones - Jarahmeel LUND (d 1818) and Stephen LUND (d 1821)	Tombstone - Charity LUND, d. 1813	Tombstones - Margaret A. Thornton (d 1850) and Mrs. Sarah LUTWYCHE, wife of Capt. Lawrence Lutwyche (d 1778)
Tombstone - Miss Eveline Frances MORSE, d. 1881 [transcription says stone missing, but thats incorrect because here it is]	Tombstone - Mr. James QUINTON, d. 1776	In memory of Mr. James Quinton who departed this Life Feby 12th 1776 in the 76th year of his age
Tombstone - single stone, can't read it	Tombstone - Miss Polley Underwood, dau of Phinehas & Mary Underwood	Tombstone - Phinehas UNDERWOOD, d. 24 Sep 1757 [transcription says footstone only, this is an error, as this is the headstone]
Tombstone - William WELLS (1840-1901) and his wife Josephine E. WELLS (1844-1918)	Tombstone - John E. WORCESTER (d 1898) and Chastina WORCESTER, John's wife (d 1896)	Tombstone - Job WORCESTER (no date) -- Ann his wife died 1898