Old Field of 1800 Monument - Framingham, MA - Massachusetts Historical Markers on Waymarking.com

In Framingham, at the northeast corner of Framingham's South Common, is this tablet and another behind it marking the location where Native Americans were once traveled and buried here.

The tablet is literally at the corner of the small, rectangular common, on the Concord Street end, facing the sidewalk and road.

The marker is several feet tall and made of dark stone and flanked by two grey granite stone fence posts. The marker has three bronze plaques, near the top, of scenes with Native Americans. The left one shows people sitting except one who appears to be making an offering. The center one shows people hauling burdens. The right one shows women preparing children for travel.

Text on the marker is as follows:

"This the 'Old Field of 1800' was an Indian burial ground -
A town common since 1854 - The gift of Lovell Eames

This stone erected under will of William Harvey Smith 1946

The bronzes represent local Indian life. The center - carrying of corn to the hungry Bay Colonists in 1630 - The nearby trail later called "Old Connecticut Path.""

Part of Mass. Route 126, at the north end of Framingham by Lake Cochituate, still bears the name "Old Connecticut Path." A Wikipedia article on this path relates the history. It supports the statement about bringing corn to the Bay Colonists. Nipmucs in the Connecticut River valley brought their surplus crops to Massachusetts Bay and traded for copper, iron and woolen items. Parts of the path are now covered by roads, such as Mass. 126 and 9, while some parts are not and are hard to trace.

Behind this marker is a bronze marker embedded in a round rock on the same subject that was placed by the Daughters of the Revolution. I could not find anything concerning the burial ground, including whether they have been moved.

Agency Responsible for Placement: Other (Place below) Agency Responsible for Placement (if not in list above): Will of William Harvey Smith Year Placed: 1/1/1946 County: Middlesex City/Town Name: Framingham Relevant Web Site: [Web Link]

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