From Paul Revere to John Hancock — 11 American Legends Resting in Boston’s Oldest Graveyard

Boston’s Granary Burying Ground

The historic Granary Burying Ground houses over 5,000 people, who have been laid to rest in its 2.5-acre grounds.

Founded in 1660 as Boston’s third cemetery, this special place draws thousands each year. Beautiful slate headstones show carved winged skulls, hourglasses, and spiritual symbols.

Some of these are for the most important figures in American history, and here are 11 of them.

Samuel Adams (1722-1803)

This Harvard graduate went from failed businessman to powerful revolutionary leader.

As one of the key organizers of both the Boston Tea Party and Sons of Liberty, he organized resistance against British taxation, starting with the opposition of the Sugar Act in 1764.

In 1795, as Massachusetts Governor, Samuel Adams, along with Paul Revere and Col. William Scollay, buried a time capsule (coins, newspapers, and a silver plaque) under the Massachusetts State House cornerstone.

Today, his gravestone, situated near the Tremont Street entrance, lies adjacent to notable figures like James Otis.

Paul Revere (1735-1818)

Boston’s famous midnight rider mastered multiple trades in his North End workshop, from crafting fine silver pieces to making copper plate engravings and even creating early dentures in his dental practice.

During the Revolution, he served as an intelligence officer before establishing America’s first copper rolling mill in Canton, Massachusetts.

His grave is marked by a modest granite marker. With 16 children from two marriages, Revere’s legacy lived on through his family’s continuation of his craftsmanship and business in early America.

Benjamin Franklin’s Parents

Josiah Franklin (1657-1744) and Abiah Folger Franklin (1667-1752) came to Boston seeking a better life. After arriving from England in 1683, Josiah set up a successful candle and soap-making shop, where he raised 17 children with his two wives.

Their reconstructed gravestone, restored in 2016, carries words written by their son Benjamin. The touching inscription tells of their 55-year marriage and how they raised a large family through ‘constant labor and honest industry’ despite having little money.

John Hancock (1737-1793)

Before becoming Massachusetts’ first governor, this wealthy merchant lived in a grand mansion next to where the State House now stands.

Hancock used his enormous fortune to fund the American Revolution. He also served as president of the Continental Congress from 1775 to 1777. An impressive granite monument marks his resting place near the cemetery’s entrance, where he lies beside his wife Dorothy Quincy Hancock, who lived 37 years after him.

Mary Goose (1665-1690)

Though people debate whether she inspired the Mother Goose stories, Mary Goose still fascinates visitors to this day.

As the wife of wealthy wool merchant Isaac Goose, she helped raise ten children and six stepchildren in their Washington Street home. Her remarkable headstone (carved by the skilled Nathaniel Emmes), draws families year-round.

Children and parents often leave books and small toys at her grave, hoping to honor the possible inspiration for beloved nursery rhymes.

John Hull (1624-1683)

As Boston’s first mint master, Hull turned silver into New England’s first legal money from 1652 to 1682.

Working from his small shop near Summer Street, he carefully crafted Pine Tree Shillings, making sure each coin contained exactly 15 pennyweight of silver. Hull was also involved in shipping and trade, including the export of masts to England.

His grave is among the oldest in the burial ground, detailed with carvings of crossed bones and Latin words.

James Otis (1725-1783)

This brilliant but troubled lawyer is known for his passionate confrontation against British search warrants at Boston’s Old State House in 1761. Look for the 1764 pamphlet ‘The Rights of the British Colonies Asserted and Proved’.

Otis died when he was struck by lightning while standing in his Andover doorway. His restored 1950s marker includes his famous words about taxation without representation, which became a rallying cry for independence.

Peter Faneuil (1700-1743)

Peter Faneuil’s funeral in 1743 was a major event, with bells tolling and shops closing across Boston. Though his wealth came partly from the controversial slave trade, he left behind Faneuil Hall, built as a gift to Boston and later known as the Cradle of Liberty.

The funeral procession included a yellow-plated coffin draped in black velvet. The ornate tomb shows unusual baroque carvings with cherubs and classical designs rarely seen in Puritan graveyards.

Boston Massacre Victims

The first person killed in the Boston Massacre shares a final resting place with four others who died that pivotal day.

Attucks, born to African and Native American parents, worked as a rope maker and sailor before his fatal encounter with British troops on March 5, 1770. An 1888 monument located on Boston Common recounts the confrontation.

John Adams, who defended the British soldiers at trial, noted Attucks’ leadership as ‘the motley rabble of saucy boys, negroes and molattoes, Irish teagues and outlandish jack tarrs.’

Samuel Sewall (1652-1730)

This Harvard-educated judge’s detailed diary gives us a rare glimpse of Puritan New England, including first-hand accounts of the Salem witch trials.

In a remarkable act of conscience, Sewall became the only judge to publicly apologize for his role in the trials, standing in Old South Church in 1697 while his confession was read aloud. His weathered headstone includes carefully carved Latin text about his scholarly works.

Sewall’s legacy includes not only his diary but also his advocacy against slavery, as seen in The Selling of Joseph.

James Bowdoin (1726-1790)

James Bowdoin was a prominent Massachusetts statesman and philanthropist. He served as a delegate to the Continental Congress, and played a key role in the American Revolution.

Bowdoin personally funded militia forces to suppress the rebellion. He later became the first governor after independence (from 1785 until 1787). Bowdoin supported education and science, helping establish the Massachusetts Academy of Arts and Sciences. His grave is marked by a tall obelisk.