Image:Enoch Dole headstone.JPG

Picture taken by Carol A. Purinton of the headstone of Dr. Enoch Dole who died March 9, 1776 and is buried in Littleton, Massachusetts. At the top of the stone, there is a sword held in a hand; below is a face surrounded in feathers--presumably an angel or seraphim. Part of the inscription is part of Night Thoughts, a poem by Edward Young. The inscription reads:

Memento Mori Here lies ye body of Dr. Еnoch Dole of Lancaster [presumably Lancaster, Massachusetts which is about 16 miles from Littleton], Æ [abbreviation of Latin aetatis suae which means at the age of] 33 Years 5 months & 3 days, he unfortunately fell with 3 others ye 9th of March 1776 by a Cannon Ball from our cruel & unnatural foes ye British Troops while on his Duty on Dorchester Point

No warning giv'n, unceremonious fate!
A sudden rush from life's meridian joys!
A wrench from all we are! from all we love!
                                         What a change
From yesterday! Thy darling hope so near,
(Long labourd prize!) Oh how ambition flushd
Thy glowing cheek! ambition truly great,
Of virtuous praise.
And oh! ye last, last; what (can word express,
Thought reach?) ye last, last silence of a friend.

Meaning his entrance into Boston which so soon took Place & on which his heart was much set

Dr. Dole was a member of the 18th Massachusetts Bay Provincial Regiment, which, under orders from Washington, was attempting to establish a position near Boston. These movements were part of the end of the Siege of Boston. Some men built a fire and the result was cannon fire from Boston which took various lives, including Dr. Dole's. A description of the scene of this occurrence can be found in The Military Annals of Lancaster, Massachusetts. 1740-1865 by Henry Stedman Nourse on pages 136-137[1].

email from Carol A. Purinton

photo taken approximately June 1, 2007; copyright (first published) February 22, 2008

Carol A. Purinton