This is Elizabeth Pain. Actually, it’s her gravestone. Seeing as how she died in 1704, there’s not much left of her. Also seeing as how the graveyards in Boston are mighty old and crowded, it’s highly unlikely that she was buried in that exact spot. That spot being in the King’s Chapel Burying Ground in Boston, where I took the above picture.
Anyhoosie. Note the A in the corner of the gravestone. It’s the point of this story.
There are some that say Elizabeth’s gravestone (not her life…just her gravestone) was the inspiration for Hester Prynne ‘s gravestone in The Scarlet Letter:
So said Hester Prynne, and glanced her sad eyes downward at the scarlet letter. And, after many, many years, a new grave was delved, near an old and sunken one, in that burial–ground beside which King’s Chapel has since been built. It was near that old and sunken grave, yet with a space between, as if the dust of the two sleepers had no right to mingle. Yet one tomb–stone served for both. All around, there were monuments carved with armorial bearings; and on this simple slab of slate—as the curious investigator may still discern, and perplex himself with the purport—there appeared the semblance of an engraved escutcheon. It bore a device, a herald’s wording of which may serve for a motto and brief description of our now concluded legend; so sombre is it, and relieved only by one ever–glowing point of light gloomier than the shadow:— “On a field, sable, the letter A, gules.”
And there are others that say that’s a crock.
Still, it makes for a cool gravestone story.
It is a great story and an awesome old tombstone.
Ahh! This is such a great story and I want to read this book now more than ever! Very cool picture!
I couldn’t believe all the old gravestones of famous people I saw in Boston. You could make a trip just out of that.
I love looking at old headstones! That headstone is in great shape considering how old it is!
COOL! And I do love a cool gravestone. And a gravestone story.
A very cool story, but I must be blind. I can’t see the ‘A’ anywhere?
Well that’s a cool story!
I loved roaming through the old graveyards of Boston when we were there…let’s just go ahead and say the story is true…that’s more fun!!
Oh cool. I like the story and I don’t care if it’s true.
Very cool… who cares if it’s actually true!
Boston graveyards…who would ever think they would be so much fun to visit? I try to stop on by to one when I’m Boston. Funny enough, I’ve never visited during the Halloween festivities. Will need to read this book, too!
Hmmm … wonder is it’s the graveyard equivalent of urban folklore? In either case, it’s a fascinating story.
It’s also an awesome cemetery. But didn’t know that–will be on the lookout next time I go to Boston. Did you go to Salem?!?
I went to an old church/graveyard also when I was in Boston back in the early 1990s.
Very cool gravestone story; I’ll take it.
We’ll have to get you back to Concord to tour Sleepy Hollow Cemetery. “Author’s Ridge” has Alcotts, Hawthornes, Emersons, and Thoreaus.
Cool story, though I’m with Jillian above as I also cannot find the “A” on the gravestone.