In a small cemetery just north of the intersection of Routes 140 and 190 on the outskirts of Princeton, Sterling and West Boylston, MA, there are family plots and individual graves that range from the late 1700's to the twentieth century. I park near the mini-storage behind the cemetery and enter through what's left of the old metal gate at the back. There are many sunken graves, oddly not the oldest ones. Off to the rear on the far side is the headstone below. Thomas Lynch, just 21, was killed by the fall of a tree in January of 1820.
Recently in a local cemetery in another rural area, I noticed what to me was a high number of deaths of people in their twenties all during the past ten years. It is less common in the present to die so young and I have the internet to figure out what the cause might have been (because I am nosy....or curious). In Mr. Lynch's case, his headstone reveals the cause, but not much more. Thomas Lynch, killed by the fall of a tree. It is a tease. Was he taking the tree down as part of his work? Did a heavy winter snow storm bring down the tree? How long had he been here from Ireland? What family were with him? Was he working to bring them over?
I clearly have more questions than could ever be answered on a headstone. His stone sits far off in a corner of the cemetery by itself. If there are others in his family buried near him, their stones have gone missing.
His epitaph is one I have seen before and a favorite of mine.
"Life is a span, a fleeting hour,
How soon the vapour flies.
Man is a tender transcient flower
That in the blooming dies."
Flowers are pretty much on their way out once they bloom, some just have a longer blossoming period than others.
RIP Thomas.
I have taken additional images of this headstone and its location in the cemetery for those family members interested. This stone does stand quite alone in a far corner of the cemetery, but it seems clear to me there are other graves near him with missing headstones. I will post these shortly.
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