The Old North Burying Ground in Ipswich, Massachusetts was established in 1634 upon the founding of the town and is one of the oldest cemeteries in North America. The Old North Burying Ground is located at the intersection of High Street and Rt 133/1A. View at Google Maps.
Memento Mori
View online: Memento Mori a complete list of interments and inscriptions, with maps, locations, images and links to Findagrave site. Names link to the Findagrave site. Map numbers link to photos of the gravestones by this author and the Findagrave site, with special thanks to John Glassford, © 2010-2022 on Find A Grave
- Slideshow of the oldest gravestones at the Old North Burying Ground
- Section maps
- Findagrave site
- Complete guide to the Old North Burying Ground (PDF/Print)
- List of gravestone carvers, with examples
- Tombstone carvers in Essex County probate records
- Section A (partial)
- Section B (partial)
- Section C (partial)
- Section D (partial)
- Section E (partial)
- Section F (partial)
- Section G (partial)
- Section H (partial)
- Memento Mori PDF
- Memento Mori, Archive.org
Old North Burying Ground Preservation Plan
Funding for the Old North Burying Ground preservation study was provided by the Harold Bowen Fund, the Ipswich Historical Commission, a grant from Essex National Heritage, and a grant from the Massachusetts Preservation Projects Fund. Paul McGinley spearheaded the project and guided it to completion with the assistance of Gordon Harris. William Thoen provided consultation regarding structural engineering. Kaley Dorey, an intern with the Planning Dept created the database and took photos. John Glassford shared photos from the FindaGrave site, and Jeff Puter, director of Parks and Cemeteries met with us regularly. Joshua Gerloff cleared brush around many of the graves, making it possible to study them for the survey. Thanks to Glenn Gibbs and Ethan Parsons for their valuable assistance in the Ipswich Planning Department. View the Preservation Plan.
View a comprehensive list of early residents of Ipswich on the WikiTree site.
Historic Ipswich 
My daughter and I just visited this month. Aside from the rich history, it is a beautiful place for a stroll. Amazing color changing in the trees in the fall.
My 6th great-grandfather (Abraham Wells) immigrated from England and later died in Ipswich in 1666. I have so far been unable to locate a gravesite for him. Any additional information would be greatly appreciated. His son, Barnaby Wells, immigrated to Virginia as an indentured servant.
We don’t have a record of an individual named Abraham Wells.
Thomas Wells migrated to Massachusetts in 1637, and died in Ipswich in 1666. https://archive.org/details/hammattpapersear00hamm/page/402/mode/2up?q=wells&view=theater
Several of his descendants are buried at the Old North Burying Ground. https://historicipswich.net/memento-mori-the-ipswich-old-north-burying-ground/
Thank you, Gordon. From what I have seen in records on Ancestry, Abraham Wells had a brother named Thomas, and they both died on the same date in Ipswich. I find that really curious and wonder if it’s an error.
These two histories of the Wells family in America don’t mention an Abraham.
https://archive.org/details/historywellesfa00wellgoog/page/n4/mode/2up?view=theater&q=ipswich
https://archive.org/details/genealogyofwells00cush/page/8/mode/2up?view=theater&q=ipswich
My wife and I will be coming to visit Ipswich next month. She is very interested in genealogy and researches places back east when are planning on being nearby. She has discovered that Reginald Foster is her 8 times grandfather. We know about his house on Water Street and plan to go see it, but we have had trouble locating his grave. Can you suggest anyone who can help or might have a resource that has this information? We would like to visit his and other family member’s graves if we can. We have done the same with pioneer era cemeteries in Tennessee and North Carolina, but this would be the oldest ancestors we have found.
The site of Reginald Foster’s gravesite is unknown, but some of his immediate descendants are buried at the Old North Burying Ground. https://historicipswich.net/memento-mori-the-ipswich-old-north-burying-ground/
Can someone please tell me where John and Elizabeth Cogswell are buried? I called the lady that takes care of this cemetery and she said they are not buried there. They came here on the Angel Gabriel and I am only going to be here in MA for a few more days if someone can help me. Thank you.
There is no record of the burial sites for John and Elizabeth Cogswell who came on the Angel Gabriel. The Cogswells settled in Chebacco Parish, which is now the town of Essex. There are a lot of early Cogswell graves there. https://historicipswich.net/chebacco-parish-old-graveyard/
I am look for the Russells, but I can’t locate them. This record of Daniel Russell: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/83196912/daniel-russell references Sarah Sutton as his mother. I am seeking Sarah as one of the few known and named Ipswich lacemakers.
Anybody know where that might be?
Phillip Call isn’t listed as buried in the Old North Grounds. Any idea of where he may be buried?
Philip Call’s will is dated May 6, 1662. He mentions a son Philip, born in 1659. The location of the tombstone is unknown, but I understand he also had land holdings in New Hampshire.https://historicipswich.net/philip-call-house-26-high-st/
Thank you for you fast answer Gordon. With an unusual last name like mine and Philip’s; it is pretty much compulsory to find out as much as possible about any possible ancestors.