If These Stones Could Speak: The History and People of the Old Salem Burying Point

by Daniel Fury, Lara Fury (Editor)

A provocative and comprehensive chronicle of the varied lives, loves, and deaths of those who rest eternally in Salem's Old Burying Point, and who are commemorated by the Salem Witch Trials Memorial. With additional information about the history of the cemetery and Memorial, along with maps, historic photos, lore, a complete index of burials, and advice about how to respectfully document these sites, this book is ideal for visitors, researchers, and those who wish to take a piece of Salem home to tour in the tablets of their memory.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

Kindle Edition

Published May 17, 2021

Reviews

[Jocelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I purchased this at the Salem Witch Museum in Salem MA. I was so bummed I didn’t get it the day I saw it (distractions are annoying) and had to go back the next day to get it.
There is so much information!

[Tony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone remembers Salem for the witch trials in 1692 but that was just one part of the story. Many people lived, worked and died in Salem over the years before and after the witch trials. "If These Stones Could Speak" is an extraordinarily researched book that has delved deep into the history of the burials in the Old Salem Burying Point to try to piece together the everyday lives of the people buried there. Remember, those killed during the witch trials were not buried here but many people were. The exact number of people buried here is not known, graves markers have been destroyed over time or are just missing and many were buried without markers, but this book pulls together as much information as possible to paint a picture of the everyday lives. The book does include details of the witch trials given documentary evidence of what happened and about those who were accused and executed. It also includes details of the aftermath, and the all too late apologies that were given.
I wish that more towns had someone who could work as hard as the author has to document life in more towns across America, their stories should not be lost or forgotten even if they are just everyday life.

[Robin C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Want to learn more about Charter Street Cemetery? Pick up If These Stones Could Speak: The History and People of the Old Salem Burying Point by Daniel Fury. Learn about the people who lived and died in Salem. Black-and-white grave photographs accompany profiles of some of the dead, along with their gravestone inscriptions.

Compiled from many sources and checked against extant gravestones and vital records, the burial index is the most comprehensive list yet. To help you find your way around the burying ground, the book is divided into family groups and sections, with maps included. And if you’re unfamiliar with the symbols, terminology, and funeral practices of early Salem inhabitants, Daniel added helpful information on those topics too.

While none of the victims executed during the Salem witch trials are buried at Old Salem Burying Point, their memory lingers there. Behind the Samuel Pickman House, now the Charter Street Cemetery Welcome Center, the 1992 Salem Witch Trials Memorial features stone benches engraved with each victim’s name and death date. Every time I visit, I whisper their names as I follow the path. Near Bridget Bishop’s stone, you’ll find an entrance into the cemetery.

Besides an overview of the witch trials and the memorial, the book provides biographies of the 20 witch-hunt victims executed and those who perished in jail as well.

A resident of Salem, author Daniel Fury is a proprietor of Black Cat Tours and a founding member of Friends of the Downtown Salem Historic Cemeteries.

[Sarah Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gave a thorough presentation of all the history behind the graves in the Old Burying Point cemetery and more. The stories were interesting, and the images of the tombstones were enlightening. As a tourist of the area, I appreciated how the book paints a very clear picture of the town and functions as a great guidebook. I originally started reading the book while I was in Salem and then returned to it over a year later. The descriptions were so detailed and accurate that I felt like I was there again! I got to meet the author when I was there, and it was such a great experience. Definitely check out this book if you are looking to learn more about the lore of Salem and the Witch Hysteria!

[BuriedUnderMyTBRPile · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I’d read this and had it with me when I visited Salem. This is an excellent, well researched, and thorough guide to the Old Burying Point. This is a must-read if you are going to visit.
Even if you’re not visiting Salem, there’s a lot of interesting information about mourning practices, gravestone iconography, and history/tidbits about the every day lives (and deaths) of people who have lived in the Salem area, both the more famous, and the less. Black and white photos of the stones are included so you have a reference.