Honoring Boston Tea Party Participants
On December 16, 1773, approximately 100-150 colonists changed the course of history by destroying 340 chests of East India Company tea. This act of defiance and protest would eventually become known as the “Boston Tea Party” and propel America down to road to Revolution. In honor of their bravery and participation in this historic event, The Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum and Revolution 250 — a consortium of organizations working together to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the events that led to the American Revolution — have come together to form the Boston Tea Party Participant Grave Marker Project.
The goal of this international initiative is to locate the final resting places of the Boston Tea Party participants and place a commemorative marker at their graves, thus honoring their role in this iconic moment in world history. The project will proudly partner with local historical societies, museums, schools, and living history organizations, to celebrate and commemorate each community’s connection to the legacy of the Boston Tea Party.
The most recent dedication took place on October 15, 2022, in Westford, Massachusetts with the placement of the 118th commemorative plaque at the grave of Boston Tea Party participant Capt. Joseph Read. This commemoration took place in partnership with the Westford Cemetery Commission and the Westford Museum & Historical Society. Capt. Joseph Read was 57 years of age at the time of the Boston Tea Party, making him one of the oldest participants in the event. He became a prominent man in Westford and represented the community for 20 years in the General Court and served the town of Westford as a delegate at the provincial Congress.
Grave Marker Program In the News
Attendees honored at Boston Tea Party in Westford >
Boston Tea Party participant honored in Westford >
LowellsunEditorial: Patriot finally honored for part in Tea Party lore >
The Dedication of Captain Joseph Read, Boston Tea Party Participant Memorial >
SentinelanEditorial: Patriot finally honored for part in Tea Party lore >
Westford Museum: The Dedication of. Captain Joseph Read, Boston Tea Party Participant Memorial >
3 Vermonters recognized for participation in Boston Tea Party – WCAX – TV (CBS) >
3 Vermonters to be recognized for participation in Boston Tea Party – WFLX-TV (FOX) >
Three Vermonters honored for Boston Tea Party roles – WVNY-TV (ABC) >
Three Vermonters to be honored for participation in Boston Tea Party – WBTZ-TV (NBC) >
Wardsboro man honored as part of Boston Tea Party anniversary – Bennington Banner >
Wardsboro man honored as part of Boston Tea Party anniversary – Brattleboro Reformer >
Wardsboro man honored as part of Boston Tea Party anniversary – Manchester Journal >
List of Completed Grave Markers as of August 2023; 108 placed thus far
Massachusetts
Boston, MA
Central Burying Ground – November 28, 2018:
Thomas Bolter, Nathaniel Bradlee, Robert Davis, John May, David Bradlee, Thomas Bradlee, John Gammell, Henry Purkitt, Bartholomew Trow, Josiah Bradlee, Amasa Davis, Edward Compton Howe, Samuel Sprague, Josiah Wheeler (14)
King’s Chapel Burying Ground – November 15, 2019:
Thomas Crafts, Thomas Melville, Samuel Pitts, William Haskins, Isaac Pitman, Henry Prentiss, Archibald Macneil, Lendall Pitts (8)
Granary Burying Ground – November 15, 2019:
Henry Bass, Ezekiel Cheever, Samuel Gore, William Molineux, Paul Revere, Seth Ingersoll Browne, Adam Collson, Joseph Lee, Thomas Moore, Joseph Shedd, Thomas Chase, Joseph Eaton, Matthew Loring, William Pierce, David Williams (15)
Copp’s Hill Burying Ground – November 15, 2019:
Nathaniel Barber, John Brown, Jonathan Clark, Thomas Fracker, Eleazer Gay, Jonathan Hunnewell, Daniel Ingersol, Nathaniel Prentiss, John Truman, Stephen Bruce, John Decarteret, Nathanial Frothingham, Jr, Moses Grant, Richard Hunnewell, John Marston, Edward Proctor, James Brewer, Benjamin Clark, Benjamin Edes, Samuel Hayward, John Hooton, Richard Hunnewell, Josiah Snelling, Amos Lincoln (24)
Medford, MA
Sarah Bradlee Fulton (honorary) – Salem Street Burying Ground – October 2, 2021
Cohasset, MA
James Stoddard, Abraham Tower- Cohasset Central Cemetery – November 4, 2019
Jared Joy, marker mailed to Beechwood Cemetery – 2019
Sturbridge, MA
Samuel Hobbs – Common Street Cemetery – November 9, 2021
Worcester, MA
Capt. Peter Slater Jr, Benjamin Tucker Jr.- Hope Cemetery- November 21, 2019
Lynn, MA
Francis Moore – Pine Grove Cemetery – January 2, 2020
Gardner, MA
Francis Moore – Pine Grove Cemetery – January 2, 2020
Harvard, MA
Elijah Houghton – Harvard Center Cemetery – December 14, 2021
Colrain, MA
David Lyons – Chandler Hill Cemetery – May 24, 2022
Watertown, MA
Samuel Barnard – Common Street Cemetery – June 18, 2022
Salem, MA
William Russell, Rev. Dr. John Prince – Harmony Grove Cemetery, Broad Street Cemetery – June 22, 2022
Yarmouth, MA
Capt. Joseph Bassett – Ancient Cemetery- June 29, 2022
Ludlow, MA
Aaron John Miller – Fuller Cemetery – July 28, 2022
Newton, MA
Obadiah Curtis, Michael Jackson – East Parish Burying Ground – August 2, 2022
Brewster, MA
Edmund Sears – Sears Cemetery – August 8, 2022
Blandford, MA
Samuel Sloper – Old Cemetery – August 28, 2022
Westford, MA
Joseph Read – Fairview Cemetery – October 15, 2022
Charlestown, MA
Eliphalet Newell – Phipps Street Burying Ground – November 20, 2022
Cambridge, MA
Peter Mackintosh, Joseph Mountfort – Mount Auburn Cemetery – April 16, 2023
Marblehead, MA
Dr. Elisha Story – Green Street Cemetery – April 30, 2023
Hampden, MA
Robert Sessions – Old Hampden Cemetery – June 25, 2023
Hopkinton, MA
John Dickman – Evergreen Cemetery – August 27, 2023
New Hampshire
Haverhill, NH
Ebenezer Mackintosh – Horse Meadow Cemetery – July 16, 2022
Wolfeboro, NH
Samuel Nowell – Lakeview Cemetery – July 17, 2022
Connecticut
Bantam, CT
Elisha Horton – Bantam Burying Ground – July 9, 2022
Rhode Island
Warren, RI
Nicholas Campbell – North Burial Ground – August 14, 2023
Vermont
Saint Albans, VT
Adam Beals Jr. – Greenwood Cemetery – September 28, 2022
West Fairlee, VT
William Cox – West Fairlee Village Cemetery – September 28, 2022
Wardsboro, VT
Samuel Hammond – West Wardsboro Cemetery – September 29, 2022
Maine
Moscow, ME
David Decker – Baker Cemetery – October 2, 2022
Whiting, ME
John Crane – Whiting Village Cemetery – October 3, 2022
Northport, ME
Gersham Collier – Collier Cemetery (Wyman Blueberry Farm) – October 4, 2022
Warren, ME
Benjamin Burton – Fairview Cemetery – October 5, 2022
Belfast, ME
John Cochran – Grove Cemetery – October 5, 2022
Jay, ME
Jonathan Parker, James Starr – Jay Cemetery – October 6, 2022
Bethel, ME
James Mills – Skillingston Cemetery – October 6, 2022
Turner, ME
Joseph Ludden – Turner Centerville Cemetery – October 7, 2022
Gorham, ME
Ephraim Smith – Smith Cemetery (private property) – October 8, 2022
Michigan
Dearborn Heights, MI
Thompson Maxwell – Wallaceville Historical Cemetery – May 6, 2023
Ohio
Bainbridge, OH
Nathaniel Willis – Bainbridge Cemetery – May 7, 2023
Cincinnati, OH
Joshua Wyeth – Spring Grove Cemetery & Arboretum – May 8, 2023