Mrs. Anna Perkins

Anna was born on November 14, 1727 to Benjamin and Abigail (Moody) Greenleaf in Newbury, MA. Three of her siblings never married, and chose to live together in neighboring Newburyport.

On December 22, 1748 she married Matthew Perkins Jr. He was originally from Ipswich. They had twelve children together, including a set of twins who sadly died shortly after they were born in July 1861. Most of their children died before their first birthday. Their youngest child, a daughter named Elizabeth was born on June 2, 1762 and died three weeks later on June 22.

Anna died in Newbury on August 28, 1762 just two months after her daughter, leading me to believe she died from complications of childbirth. Her husband remarried after her death and lived until 1814.

This gravestone, carved by the Lamson family, has many elements commonly used on gravestones, including a skeleton carying a scythe and a pick and shovel. Less common is a dove, representing the Holy Spirit, carrying an acacia leaf, which represents the immortal soul. What is completely unique about this gravestone is the supine figure resting on a box. This figure might once have had an actual body that has since been erased, or its ghostly remains might have been intentional.

Here

lies

Deposited the Remains

of

Mrs. ANNA PERKINS

Wife of

Mr. MATTHEW PERKINS

who Departed this Life

Augst 28th, 1762 In the

36th year of her Age.