On a sunny, cool Saturday morning at Hammond Cemetery in Mattapoisett, Dr. Barbara Shurtleff told more than 100 attendees that when she looks at the graves of her Hammond ancestors, “I don’t just see history, but family.”
Shurtleff is a descendant of one of the 20 Revolutionary War patriots honored at the September 19 ceremony, which was planned as part of the 250th anniversary celebration of the Declaration of Independence.
The ceremony featured the Henry Knox Color Guard, with men dressed in period costumes as Revolutionary War soldiers firing muskets. Their commander, Christopher Tourtellot, state president of the Massachusetts Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, gave a poignant Toast to the Flag. Congressman Bill Keating, State Rep. Mark Sylvia, and Town Administrator Michael Lorenco also offered remarks.
The event was the culmination of four years of work at the cemetery.
“We’ve been preparing for this event at the cemetery for the last four years,” said Raymond Hanks, chair of the Mattapoisett Cemetery Advisory Committee and a key organizer. A team, including Rochester Boy Scout Troop 31, led by Kevin Gretton, restored graves that had gone untouched for 100 years.
“We’ve worked on the grounds. We’ve worked on the graves. We’ve worked on removing a lot of the trees that have been in there,” Hanks said, later adding that the Boy Scouts “are a remarkable group of young men.”
Past New England District Vice President Edgar S. Hoak of the Sons of the American Revolution praised the work of the Cemetery Advisory Committee and volunteers.
“This cemetery is beautiful. The headstones are in fabulous condition. You should be proud of what they have done for your community,” Hoak said.
Looking at the crowd, he added, “I’m pleased to see multiple generations, including children and those older than me.”
Connor Gaudet, administrator and curator of the Mattapoisett Museum, provided a spirited historical account of Rochester, which then included Mattapoisett and parts of Marion, and its role in the fight for independence.
“They were not afraid of calling out the government, however large, to account,” he said, adding that they procured 40 firearms and were ready to fight.
“Simply put, they were preparing for a revolution,” Gaudet said.
He also noted that, of all towns, Rochester enlisted the greatest proportion of its people to the cause. Of the town’s 2,644 residents, 516 men served.
“Twenty percent of the town were veterans of war,” he said.
The ceremony also highlighted the extensive history of its namesake, the Hammond family, which may date back to William the Conqueror in 1066.
The family played a vital role in forming Mattapoisett as a settlement.
Ten members of the Hammond family who fought in the Revolutionary War are buried in Hammond Cemetery, including Captain Nathaniel Hammond, and they were all recognized during the ceremony.
Rep. Sylvia and Congressman Bill Keating both presented citations honoring the event.
The ceremony’s final moments brought the history to life. A bronze plaque commemorating the men who played a role in the fight for American independence was formally unveiled, and the Boy Scouts rang the bell for each Revolutionary War patriot buried in Hammond Cemetery.
Those honored are: Nathaniel Bessey, Nathan Briggs, Cephas Caswell, David Caswell, Joshua Chandler, David Gifford, Benjamin Hammond IV, Elnathan Hammond, Hunerwel Hammond, Israel Hammond, John Hammond III, John Hammond IV, Josiah Hammond, Nathaniel Hammond, Nathan Hammond, Elir Enoch Hammond, Jeb Haskell, Domoimcus Hovey, Wilber Southworth, and John Wallis.
By Laura Pedulli