Town Center Cemetery
4 Uxbridge Road
Established in 1704, Sutton did not have its first settlement until 1716 when the families of Benjamin Marsh, Elisha Johnson, and Nathaniel Johnson built their cabins near the center of town and spent the winter of 1716-1717 here. A February snow left the Elisha Johnson cabin buried to a point where it was only found by a local Native American by the hole which the smoke from the fireplace had made through the snow. By the end of 1717, 30 families, each with home lots of 40 acres, were living in Sutton.
It is believed this Cemetery was used as a burial ground as early as 1719, although the oldest grave marker we have seen is from 1744.
It is believed this Cemetery was used as a burial ground as early as 1719, although the oldest grave marker we have seen is from 1744.
Click on the green button to access burials by name.
Use the below maps to assist you with finding the grave marker.
Use the below maps to assist you with finding the grave marker.
Cemetery Layout
Burials by Section
Cemetery Restoration Project
In 2019, the Sutton Historical Society undertook a project to clean, restore, repair, and document the grave markers in this cemetery. Over 344 memorials have been uploaded to Find-a-Grave and are accessible to anyone with internet access. There are 482 stones, including 374 head and foot stones, and 1 crypt in this cemetery. The Cemetery Restoration project has successfully reset 224 stones with 10 of these by the Boy Scouts; 71 stones have been repaired and reset; 3 stones have been repaired in place and the bases are to be reset; 2 missing stones have been replicated.
The project has grown to include other cemeteries in town. In addition, the groups’ efforts were noticed by Suzanne Buchanan, the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Volunteer Coordinator. In January of 2020, Suzanne included Ross Weaver, from the Sutton Historical Society, on a panel to discuss the Cemetery Conservation Ambassadors program and how volunteers working in historical cemeteries throughout the Corridor could work together and share resources. The result of this meeting was the Cemetery Conservation Ambassadors in the Volunteers In Parks Program which includes volunteers in other Blackstone River Valley towns.
The Sutton Historical Society’s group of 18 volunteers has logged over 914 hours with an in-kind volunteer value of $31,962. The group has partnered with local Eagle Scout candidates, received generous donations from the local veteran’s groups, has received donated granite from Silva’Stone in Millbury, and used the printing services of Ullman Graphics in Millbury to preserve the information on significantly damaged grave markers. This project has blossomed into a true community project which is “quietly making noise” in our little community and doing much needed preservation of a big piece of our Town’s history.
We are always seeking volunteers for this project as well as new members to our Society. Interested citizens are given instructions on proper cleaning techniques and are encouraged to join the project and work on cemeteries of their choice in town. The Dodge Cemetery on Leland Hill Road is a great example of two citizens “quietly making noise” and cleaning all the stones during the spring and summer of 2020. Thank you to John and Marion Belculfine. We generously accept all donations to support our efforts. Please grab a membership form or access one at our website, suttonhistoricalsocietyinc.org and help us continue to preserve Sutton’s rich history.
The project has grown to include other cemeteries in town. In addition, the groups’ efforts were noticed by Suzanne Buchanan, the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Volunteer Coordinator. In January of 2020, Suzanne included Ross Weaver, from the Sutton Historical Society, on a panel to discuss the Cemetery Conservation Ambassadors program and how volunteers working in historical cemeteries throughout the Corridor could work together and share resources. The result of this meeting was the Cemetery Conservation Ambassadors in the Volunteers In Parks Program which includes volunteers in other Blackstone River Valley towns.
The Sutton Historical Society’s group of 18 volunteers has logged over 914 hours with an in-kind volunteer value of $31,962. The group has partnered with local Eagle Scout candidates, received generous donations from the local veteran’s groups, has received donated granite from Silva’Stone in Millbury, and used the printing services of Ullman Graphics in Millbury to preserve the information on significantly damaged grave markers. This project has blossomed into a true community project which is “quietly making noise” in our little community and doing much needed preservation of a big piece of our Town’s history.
We are always seeking volunteers for this project as well as new members to our Society. Interested citizens are given instructions on proper cleaning techniques and are encouraged to join the project and work on cemeteries of their choice in town. The Dodge Cemetery on Leland Hill Road is a great example of two citizens “quietly making noise” and cleaning all the stones during the spring and summer of 2020. Thank you to John and Marion Belculfine. We generously accept all donations to support our efforts. Please grab a membership form or access one at our website, suttonhistoricalsocietyinc.org and help us continue to preserve Sutton’s rich history.
Work Completed
2019 Workshop led by Betty & Carlo Mencucci
Grave Conservators
Burrillville, Rhode Island
Grave Conservators
Burrillville, Rhode Island
Reuban Sibley grave marker
Repaired and reset
Ullman graphics printed the new burial information
Repaired and reset
Ullman graphics printed the new burial information
Cemetery Tour
October 31, 2021
Members of the Sutton Historical Society showcased this cemetery with a Halloween Tour highlighting several of the historically significant burials. The Society hopes to make this an annual event.
