Nick Bellantoni - And So the Tomb Remained: Exploring Archaeology and Forensic Science within Connecticuts Historical Family Mausolea

Studies in Funerary Archaeology Vol. 16

Exploring Archaeology and Forensic Science Within Connecticuts Historical Family Mausolea

by

Oxford & Philadelphia

Published in the United Kingdom in 2021 by

OXBOW BOOKS

The Old Music Hall, 106108 Cowley Road, Oxford OX4 1JE

and in the United States by

OXBOW BOOKS

1950 Lawrence Road, Havertown, PA 19083

Oxbow Books and the author 2021

Paperback Edition: ISBN 978-1-78925-502-7

Digital Edition: ISBN 978-1-78925-503-4(ePub)

Kinddle Edition: ISBN 978-1-78925-504-1 (Mobi)

A CIP record for this book is available from the British Library

Library of Congress Control Number: 2020947373

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Front cover: The Edwin Morgan Tomb, Cedar Hill Cemetery, Hartford, Connecticut (Photo: Nick Bellantoni).

Back cover: Pitkin Family Tomb, Center Cemetery, East Hartford, Connecticut (Photo: Brian Meyer).

To the memories of

David G. Cooke

John J. Spaulding

and

my father Frank

List of Illustrations

Map 1. Map of the State of Connecticut showing locations of the six family tombs explored in this book

Fig. 1.1. Restored Moseley and Gates/Troop Family Tombs, First Church Cemetery, East Haddam, CT

Fig. 1.2. Earliest dated burial marker in Connecticut, 1644, Rev. Huit, Palisado Cemetery, Windsor, CT

Fig. 1.3. Classic 18th-century iconographic New England headstone

Fig. 1.4. Cedar Hill Cemetery, Rural Cemetery Movement, marble burial monument of Samuel Colt in center, Hartford, CT

Fig. 1.5. The family tombstone of actress Katherine Hepburn, Cedar Hill Cemetery, Hartford, CT

Fig. 1.6. Pitkin Tomb Signage with Quick Response (QR) Code Bar, Center Cemetery, East Hartford, CT

Fig. 2.1. Pitkin Family Tomb, Center Cemetery, East Hartford, CT

Fig. 2.2. A 19th-century advertisement for the Fisk Metallic Burial Case

Fig. 2.3. Fisk Metallic Coffin of Dr Edward Pitkin and the Pulp-Fisk Coffin of his wife Carlissa Pitkin

Fig. 2.4. Squire Elisha Pitkin

Fig. 2.5. House of Squire Elisha Pitkin as it stood in East Hartford, CT

Fig. 2.6. French General Comte de Rochambeau

Fig. 2.7. Interior of Pitkin Tomb, showing coffins balanced on brick partitions

Fig. 2.8. Schematic showing positions of the coffins, interior, Pitkin Family Tomb, Center Cemetery, East Hartford, CT

Fig. 2.9. Memorial Stone Placed by the Friends of Center Cemetery, Inc. listing 16 of Elisha Pitkins family interred within the tomb, East Hartford, CT

Fig. 3.1. Rediscovered marble tablets identifying the Tomb of Gershom Bulkeley and his Descendants, Colchester Burying Ground, Colchester, CT

Fig. 3.2. The earthen mound overlying the concealed Gershom Bulkeley Tomb partially uncovered

Fig. 3.3. First view inside the Gershom Bulkeley Tomb

Fig. 3.4. Collapsed coffins with human remains balanced on bottom boards

Fig. 3.5. Drs Albert Harper and State Medical Examiner H. Wayne Carver at the Bulkeley Tomb, Colchester, CT

Fig. 3.6. University of Connecticut graduate student Kristen Bastis at work with Dr Albert Harper sorting through skeletal remains recovered from the Bulkeley Tomb, Colchester, CT

Fig. 3.7. Skeletal remains of Charles Taintor removed from the Bulkeley Tomb for forensic identification

Fig. 3.8. Coffin lid of Gershoms brother, Peter Bulkeley (17121798)

Fig. 3.9. Coffin lid of Gershoms son, John Bulkley (17381807)

Fig. 3.10. Coffin lid and skeletal remains of Rhoda Jones Kellogg Bulkeley (17501807)

Fig. 3.11. Schematic of the interior of the Gershom Bulkeley Tomb showing their original coffin placements

Fig. 3.12. Gold and porcelain dental partials from the burial of Epaphroditus Bulkeley (17911817)

Fig. 3.13. Morgan Gardiner Bulkeley (18371922)

Fig. 3.14. Right femur of unidentified adult male in situ from the Bulkeley Tomb showing severe distal fracture

Fig. 3.15. Coffin hardware handle in situ as recovered from the Bulkeley Tomb

Fig. 3.16. Bulkeley descendants and friends attend reburial ceremony, 11 October 2003

Fig. 3.17. Restored tomb of the Gershom Bulkeley and his Descendants, Colchester Burial Ground, Colchester, CT

Fig. 3.18. Engraved tombstone with names of Bulkeley ancestors identified within the Gershom Bulkeley Tomb)

Fig. 4.1. His Excellency, Samuel Huntington, Esq.

Fig. 4.2. The Tomb of Samuel and Martha Huntington, Norwichtown Cemetery, Norwich, CT, prior to restoration in 2003

Fig. 4.3. Marble epitaph, exterior south wall of the Huntington Tomb

Fig. 4.4. The interior of the Huntington Tomb showing two horizontal rows of stone slabs used to support coffins

Fig. 4.5. Lateral view of the Huntington Tomb (facing east) showing the front faade collapsing from the body of the tomb

Fig. 4.6. Declaration of Independence with Samuel Huntingtons signature highlighted

Fig. 4.7. The ribbon tied in a bow on the remains of Martha Huntington

Fig. 4.8. The brass nameplate of His Excellency Governor Samuel Huntington

Fig. 4.9. The brass nameplate of Martha Huntington

Fig. 4.10. Huntington Tomb restoration process, front wall removed

Fig. 4.11. The Governors First Foot Guard carrying the period coffin of Samuel Huntington during reburial in the Huntington Tomb

Fig. 4.12. The new period coffin of Samuel Huntington returned to the stone shelf, interior, Huntington Tomb

Fig. 4.13. Samuel Huntington Tomb restoration

Fig. 5.1. The Alsop-Chauncey-Mtter Mausoleum, Indian Hill Cemetery, Middletown, CT

Fig. 5.2. Charles Chauncy (15941672), Second President of Harvard College

Fig. 5.3. John L. Stephens, William Aspinwall, Henry Chauncey, Panamanian Railroad Owners

Fig. 5.4. The SS Henry Chauncey

Fig. 5.5. Burial vaults on the interior back wall of the Chauncey Tomb

Fig. 5.6. Interior of the Chauncey Tomb floor after vandalism

Fig. 5.7. Lower limb skeletal elements, boot of Charles Chauncey (5 years of age) thrust aside on the marble-tiled floor of Chauncey mausoleum

Fig. 5.8. The inferior portion of Lucy Chaunceys wooden coffin showing skeletal elements of the lower limbs within her burial vault

Fig. 5.9. Cast-iron coffin and autopsied skull plate of Henry Chauncey as found inside the Chauncey Tomb

Fig. 5.10. Lower volcanized rubber dentures fitting the mandible of Henry Chauncey

Fig. 6.1. Clay Palo Mayombe pot with 20 sticks protruding around the rim

Fig. 6.2. Edwin Denison Morgan (18111883)

Fig. 6.3. Back side of Edwin Denison Morgans Fifth Avenue Mansion and garden viewed from 37th Street