Old Burying Point Cemetery

Posted: 01.07.2020 | Updated: 01.08.2025

The Old Burying Point Cemetery, located in the famous Salem, Massachusetts – a major destination for ghost-hunters and the curious.

Resulting in 25 unnecessary deaths, the Salem Witch Trials were the result of mass hysteria run amok. Those accused and convicted of witchcraft in Salem were tortured and ridiculed, with most being executed by hanging or fire.

Read ahead to learn the history of this burying ground and get a better understanding of the practices of Puritan New England times. You can also book a tour with Salem Ghosts to see the historic site for yourself!

What is the Old Burying Point Cemetery?

Laid out in 1637, the Old Burying Point Cemetery is not only is one of the oldest cemeteries in Salem, Massachusetts but the United States. Also known as the Charter Street Cemetery, it is the final resting place of many of Salem’s most notable residents.

Originally called the Salem Street Burying Ground, a private cemetery of the Wade family, acquired by the town of Medford in May of 1717. As evidence of just how old this place is, the earliest headstone is dated 1683, with the latest marked 1881.

The cemetery and its surrounding area were originally settled as a plantation owned by Matthew Craddock, the first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, in 1652.

How Old Burying Point Came to Be

The land’s second owner, Edward Collins, broke the land up into smaller tracts and sold them individually. Among those who purchased the land were the families of Tufts, Bradshaw, Willis, Wade, Brooks, Francis, and Whitmore, the founders of the town of Medford.

The largest farm in this area was owned by Jonathan Wade. When he died in 1689, he left the estate to his son, Dudley. It included a plot of land that Jonathan referred to as “that little pasture called the burying place”. By 1717, the Wade family plot had become the town’s burying ground.

Records show that approximately 600 people are buried there, yet there are only 485 markers. There are several reasons to account for this discrepancy.

In the 17^th century it was common practice to use one gravestone to show where an entire family was buried. The Wade family, for example, have a marker here that consists of four family members.

Secondly, there are numerous Revolutionary War soldiers laid to rest at Old Burying Point, many of whom are unknown. A large flagpole with a granite marker commemorates these fallen soldiers.

Lastly, records further show that there are more than 50 slaves buried at the cemetery. During these unjust times it was common to decline a headstone for a slave.

Who is Buried at Old Burying Point?

Several notable figures are buried at Old Burying Point. Among them are Massachusetts Governor and Revolutionary War figure John Brooks, Revolutionary War heroine Sarah Bradlee Fulton, and Judge John Hathorne, one of the most influential and hated judges of the Salem Witch Trials.

Also buried at Old Burying Point is Bartholomew Gedney, another judge from the Salem Witch Trials and physician by profession. Mary Corey, the second wife of Giles Corey who was executed by Judge Hathorne during the Witch Trials, was buried towards the back of the cemetery.

Eleanor Hollingworth, mother of Mary English and mother-in-law of Philip English, one of Salem’s richest merchants, is buried in the cemetery as well, along with Eleanor’s son and Mary English’s brother, William Hollingworth.

It is believed that Reverend Nicholas Noyes, a minister during the Salem Witch Trials, is buried in the Old Burying Point, although his grave is unmarked. Simon Bradstreet, the last governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony is also laid to rest here.

Also found buried at Burying Point is Mary Blackman, the second wife of Salem’s Reverend John Higginson, as well as Nathaniel Mather, whose father was Reverend Increase Mather, along with the wife of John Chalcedony, identified only as Mrs. Chalcedony.

Paranormal Activities

Given his cruelty toward those he had hanged, including a 4-year old girl, it’s no wonder that many visitors of the Old Burying Point Cemetery claim to have captured the ghost of Judge John Hathorne in photographs taken of his grave.

It was considered unlawful – and unlucky – to touch the corpse of a witch and so their bodies were crudely dumped around the grounds of Old Burying Point and therefore did not get a proper burial.

It is believed the lost spirits of these poor souls show up at the cemetery, as there have been multiple reports of voices, strange anomalies, odd orbs of lights, sudden fog and drops in temperature while walking through the grounds.

There was even an instance of a figure peering out of the window of the dilapidated house adjacent to the graveyard.

Horrific History

The history and morbid nature behind Old Burying Point Cemetery draws ghost-hunters and paranormal enthusiasts to it. It is the final resting place of many involved in the Salem Witch Trials.

That alone lends credence to its hauntings, but its ties to the Revolutionary War further emphasize its haunted history. Around 6,800 Americans were killed during this war, with an additional 17,000 believed to have been killed from diseases.

It’s especially frightening knowing that many of those dead here may never be identified thanks to the crude and thoughtless nature of the times. It’s possible that as technology progresses we might be able to remedy that.

Haunted Headstones of Salem

Through all of the heartache that came from the Witch Trials, we can take bittersweet solace in knowing that the dastardly Judge John Hathorne seems to have been cursed to wander alongside some of the very people that he put to death.

If some of those witches are haunting the grounds of the Old Burying Point Cemetery, perhaps their only reason for doing so is to forever torment their killer, Judge John Hathorne.

If you want to explore more of Salem’s spooky sites, book a tour with Salem Ghosts today. 

The East Coast is full of haunted locations that make us question our history with witches, ghosts, and the humans involved. If you want to learn about more creepy places around the US, follow our blog, Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram.

Sources:

https://salemghosts.com/the-top-10-most-haunted-places-in-salem

https://oddencounters.com/ghosts/Real-Ghost-Photos_Salem-Cemetery.html

Old Burying Point/Charter Street Cemetery

John Hathorne: Salem Witch Judge

https://theclio.com/entry/74902