Site-level health, infrastructure, and maintenance across all burying grounds
412
Total Markers
647
Individuals
38
Markers Need Attention
7
Open Site Tasks
3
Cemeteries
All Burying Grounds
Old Burying Ground
Established c.1639 · Town Centre
234
Markers
387
Individuals
24
Need Work
Site Health
58%
Iron fence failing — Section 4
Drainage issue — NE corner
Mount Wadsworth Cemetery
Established c.1845 · Woodside Road
118
Markers
189
Individuals
9
Need Work
Site Health
82%
All infrastructure in good order
North Cemetery
Established c.1718 · North Road
60
Markers
71
Individuals
5
Need Work
Site Health
71%
Tree root threatening Plot 12
All Open Site-Level Tasks
All SitesOld Burying GroundMt. WadsworthNorth Cemetery
Iron perimeter fence restoration — Section 4
Old Burying Ground · Site Infrastructure · Safety
URGENT▶ Notes (3)
4/10/2026H. RichardsonApplied for CPA grant — $12,000 requested. Reference #CPA-2026-14. Decision expected by June.
2/15/2026M. SullivanThree contractors contacted for bids. Two responded: Ironworks Plus ($14,200) and Heritage Fence Co. ($11,800). Waiting on third.
11/3/2025J. WatkinsField inspection completed. Approximately 40 linear feet of east fence failing — posts rusted through at base. Flagged as Safety/Hazard.
Drainage remediation — northeast corner
Old Burying Ground · Circulation Systems · Structural
By Fall 2026▶ Notes (1)
3/20/2026H. RichardsonStanding water observed after March thaw — pooling within 3 feet of Row 7 stones. Soil erosion beginning. Will include in CPA narrative.
Tree root removal — Plot 12, threatening OBG-088
North Cemetery · Landscape & Vegetation · Structural
Spring 2026▶ Notes (2)
4/1/2026M. SullivanArborist scheduled for April 18. Will assess whether partial root pruning or full removal is warranted.
9/14/2025J. WatkinsOak root visible at base of Samuel Howe stone — stone visibly tilted 8° north. Marker moved to Poor condition status.
Gate hardware replacement — main entrance
Old Burying Ground · Access & Security · Preventative
2026–2027▶ Notes (0)
No notes yet.
Old Burying Ground
Established c.1639 · Town Centre, Sudbury MA · Last updated: 4/10/2026 by H. Richardson
234
Markers
387
Individuals
24
Need Work
4
Site Tasks
Tap any section to expand · 2 sections require attention
📋 Site Overview & History
Established 1639 · Historic Landmark · Last survey 2019
▼
The Old Burying Ground is the oldest surviving cemetery in Sudbury, Massachusetts, with interments dating from approximately 1639. It served as the primary burying ground for the town's founding families through the late eighteenth century, containing approximately 234 markers representing 387 identified individuals — including original proprietors, Revolutionary War soldiers, and prominent civic leaders.
The cemetery was formally designated a Historic Landmark by the Sudbury Historical Commission in 1974. A restoration survey was conducted in 2019 with partial funding from the Community Preservation Act.
H. Richardson · last edited 14 Jan 2024 · condition updated, biographical notes added
JW
J. Watkins · record created 4 Apr 2017 · restored Sep 2019
MS
M. Sullivan · community story approved 2 Oct 2023
Old Burying Ground, Row 3 · Photo: H. Richardson, 2022
Nathaniel Goodnow
Husbandman & Town Selectman
SlateRestored 2019Good Condition
Born
27 March 1658, Sudbury, Massachusetts Bay Colony
Died
14 November 1721, Sudbury, Massachusetts
Spouse
Mary Goodnow (née Howe), m. 1684
Marker Type
Headstone
Material
Slate (Braintree Blue)
Carver
Attributed to the Lamson Workshop
GPS
42.3829° N, 71.4160° W
Marker ID
OBG-003-H
Inscription
Here Lyes Buried ye Body of Mr. Nathaniel Goodnow Who Departed This Life Novem.r ye 14th 1721 In ye 63d Year of His Age
Maintenance Tasks
Bio-film and lichen cleaning
Preventative · Due Spring 2025
▶ Notes (2)
3/28/2025H. RichardsonCleaning completed by volunteer team. D/2 biological solution applied. Stone looks significantly better.
10/5/2024J. WatkinsLight lichen regrowth noted on lower left corner — scheduled for spring cleaning.
Community Stories
Submitted by Helen P., November 2023
Nathaniel served as Selectman three times between 1702 and 1715. The family owned the grist mill on Mill Road. His portrait hangs in the Goodnow Library annex.
+ Add your own story or photograph →
Location & Wayfinding
📍
Old Burying Ground
Row 3, Stone 7
Opens in Google or Apple Maps on your phone
Condition
Good
78%
Last Assessed
June 2023
Restored
September 2019
Next Review
Spring 2026 — overdue
Tilt
0° — upright
Legibility
Fully legible
Prior Repairs
Reset 2019 (pier method); D/2 cleaning 2025
Lichen — minor, lower L
Parent Cemetery
Old Burying Ground →
Site health: Fair (58%) · 4 open site tasks
Others on This Stone
Mary Goodnow, 1662–1718
✦ Add New Cemetery Record
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☩ Site Identity
🏛
Upload a photo of the cemetery entrance or grounds
☩ Infrastructure Baseline
✎ Edit Cemetery — Old Burying Ground
Last edited: 4/10/2026 by H. Richardson
☩ Site Identity
☩ Infrastructure Status
☩ Change Log
Date
By
Change
4/10/2026
H. Richardson
Updated fence status; added CPA grant note
11/3/2025
J. Watkins
Added drainage issue; updated site health to 58%
6/1/2019
Admin
Site record created
✦ Add New Stone Record
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☩ Cemetery & Location
42.3829, -71.4160
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☩ Physical Description
Attribution confidence:
Incised marks at the base or reverse face — photograph and describe carefully. These disappear as stone erodes.
Inscription legibility:
ℹ
Add one entry per person on this marker. Use "Add Another Person" for family plots. If the person is unknown, use the button below.
⚠ This marker will be recorded as Unidentified — no person entry required.
Person 1
+ add month & day
+ add month & day
☩ Condition Assessment
Rating Guide (AGS / MHC Framework)
Excellent: Upright, no cracks, inscription fully legible, no bio-growth
Good: Minor lichen or surface soiling; structurally sound
Fair: Hairline cracks, moderate bio-growth, slight lean (<5°), or partial inscription loss
Poor: Significant fracture, lean >5°, major surface loss, or fallen and recovered
Critical: Broken in pieces, severely leaning (>15°), inscription near total loss — conservator required
— Select a condition rating above to calculate —
Review frequency is set by condition: Critical = 90 days · Poor = 6 months · Fair = 1 year · Good/Excellent = 3 years
☩ Displacement & Tilt
📐
Measuring tilt angle creates a baseline for tracking frost heave and root movement over time. Use a clinometer app or phone level. Record direction the stone is leaning toward.
Portland cement and bleach repairs are common and can cause ongoing damage — flag these for conservator review.
☩ Damage Checklist
🔍
Check all that apply. Specific damage types help prioritize work and track deterioration across seasons.
Fractures & Breaks
Surface Deterioration
Inscription & Motif
☩ Add Maintenance Task (optional)
☩ Photographs
📷 Standardized Photo Set — Check off as you upload
Overall front face (marker in context, relationship to ground visible)
Close-up of inscription (fill frame, rule or scale card in view)
Close-up of decorative motif (if present)
Damage area(s) — one photo per distinct damage type
Full reverse face
Base / ground contact area
Previous repair detail — joint, cement patch, or epoxy fill (if prior repair recorded)
💡 Raking light tip: For weathered or hard-to-read inscriptions, photograph at dusk or with a flashlight held at a low angle from the side. This sidelighting casts shadows in the carved letters and can reveal text that appears completely illegible in flat daylight. No special equipment needed.
📷
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✎ Edit — Nathaniel Goodnow
OBG-003-H · Old Burying Ground, Row 3 · Last edited: 14 Jan 2024 by H. Richardson
☩ Cemetery & Location
42.3829, -71.4160
Only tap while standing at the stone to update the saved coordinates.
Attribution confidence:
Incised marks at the base or reverse face — photograph and describe carefully. These disappear as stone erodes.
Inscription legibility:
Nathaniel Goodnow
− hide month & day
− hide month & day
Mary Goodnow (née Howe)
+ add month & day
☩ Condition Assessment
Rating Guide (AGS / MHC Framework)
Excellent: Upright, no cracks, inscription fully legible, no bio-growth
Good: Minor lichen or surface soiling; structurally sound
Fair: Hairline cracks, moderate bio-growth, slight lean (<5°), or partial inscription loss
Poor: Significant fracture, lean >5°, major surface loss, or fallen and recovered
Critical: Broken in pieces, severely leaning (>15°), inscription near total loss — conservator required
Spring 2026Due within 3 months — Good condition: triennial cycle
Critical = 90 days · Poor = 6 months · Fair = 1 year · Good/Excellent = 3 years. Override: set manually
☩ Displacement & Tilt
☩ Damage Checklist
Fractures & Breaks
Surface Deterioration
Inscription & Motif
☩ Maintenance Tasks
Task Notes
3/28/2025H. RichardsonCleaning completed by volunteer team. D/2 solution applied.
10/5/2024J. WatkinsLight lichen regrowth noted — scheduled for spring.
☩ Photographs
📷 Standardized Photo Set — Check off shots you have on file
Overall front face (marker in context)
Close-up of inscription (scale card in view)
Close-up of decorative motif
Damage area(s)
Reverse face
Base / ground contact
Previous repair detail — joint, cement patch, or epoxy fill
💡 Raking light: For hard-to-read inscriptions, photograph at low light with a flashlight held at a sharp side angle. Shadows in the carved letters often reveal text invisible in flat daylight.
🔩
Previous repair on record: Reset — pier & base method (2019)
A close-up photograph of the base joint is recommended so a future conservator can assess its condition without re-excavating. Select Previous repair detail as the photo type when uploading.
📷
Overall front face · 2022
H. Richardson
📷
Add a new photograph — select photo type after uploading
☩ Change Log
ℹ
All changes are logged automatically. This is a read-only audit trail.
Date
By
Change
14 Jan 2024
H. Richardson
Added biographical notes; updated condition to Good
Thank you for helping preserve Sudbury's history. Stories and photographs you share will be reviewed by our volunteers before being added to the public record. No account is required.
Share a Story or Photograph
If you are not sure of the name, you may describe the location or stone number.
📷
Tap here to choose a photo from your phone or computer
Accepts JPG or PNG. No account needed.
· · ·
A volunteer will review your submission, usually within two weeks.
Site health has declined 6 points since November 2023 (64%). Two open infrastructure tasks — one classified Safety/Urgent — are the primary drivers. Marker condition remains stable overall.
234
Markers
387
Individuals
24
Need Work
4
Open Tasks
Established c.1639 · Town Centre, Sudbury MA · Historic Landmark designation 1974 · Last full survey: 2019
Open Maintenance Tasks — Sorted by Priority
Priority
Task
Category
Est. Cost
Target
Safety · Urgent
Iron perimeter fence restoration — east section (~40 ln ft) Posts rusted through at base. CPA grant #CPA-2026-14 submitted 4/10/2026. Bids received: $11,800–$14,200.
Access & Security
$11,800–$14,200
Immediate
Structural
Thomas Goodnow Jr. (OBG-047) — stone fallen, fragment recovered Main body and top section recovered after winter frost heave. Re-setting required — conservator recommended.
Individual Marker
Est. $600–$900
Spring 2026
Structural
Drainage remediation — northeast corner Standing water pooling within 3 ft of Row 7 markers after spring thaw. Soil erosion beginning.
Circulation & Drainage
$3,500
Fall 2026
Preventative
Gate hardware replacement — main entrance Existing hardware showing rust. Functional for now; replacement recommended 2026–2027 cycle.
Access & Security
Est. $400–$600
2026–2027
Total Estimated Cost — All Open Tasks
$16,300–$19,200
Marker Condition Summary — 234 Markers
Excellent / Good
142
Fair
68
Poor
18
Critical
6
Unidentified
14
24 markers (10.3%) require active intervention. 6 Critical-rated markers require professional conservator assessment before the next frost season.
Site Infrastructure Status
Landscape & Vegetation
Attention Needed — Bittersweet encroaching Rows 8–10. Oak root threat NE corner; arborist assessment scheduled.
Access & Security
Urgent — East fence section failing (~40 ln ft). CPA grant #CPA-2026-14 pending. Gate hardware: replacement recommended.
Circulation & Drainage
Attention Needed — Standing water NE corner post-thaw. Soil erosion beginning. Remediation planned fall 2026.
Structural Elements
Good — Two table tombs stable. Fieldstone boundary wall intact.
Site Amenities
Good — Granite benches (2018) in good condition. Flagpole hardware intact.
Active Grants & Funding
CPA Grant #2026-14
Submitted 4/10/2026 · $12,000 requested for east fence restoration · Decision expected June 2026
Previous CPA Funding
2019 restoration survey — partial funding received · Enabled reset of 14 fallen markers
Preparer's Note: This report was generated from the Sudbury Historical Commission Gravestone Archive & Preservation Registry on April 10, 2026. Data reflects field assessments conducted by commission volunteers. Contact the Sudbury Historical Commission with questions or to report additional concerns.