Here lyes ye Body of
Mrs MERCY SEARS; Wife
of Capt SAMUEL SEARS
Who Departed this Life
Janry 20th AD. 1748/9, in
ye 84th Year of Her Age

Here lyes Buried
ye Body of Capt.
SAMUEL SEARS;
Who departed this Life
Janry 8 Anno Domini 174I/2
in ye 78 Year of his Age

Here lies buried
Joſeph Sears
Who Decd Aug
25, 1765 in
ye year of
his age

To the memory of
Eleſebath Sears the
wife of Capt Joſeph Se
ars who died June ye
11 A 1772 Æ75

In memory of Mr
Edmund Sears he died
Augſt ye 12 1796
In his 85th year

Remember me as you paſs by
For as you are so once was i
And as i am now so you muſt be
Therefore Prepare to follow me

In Memory of
Mrs Hannah
Widow of Mr
Edmund Sears
she died june 22
1802 in her 77 year

Miss Mercy Sears
Died
Jan. 27, 1849;
Æt. 89

Here lyes Buried
ye Body of Capt
JOHN SEARS who
departed this Life April
9th Anno Domni 1739 in ye
61 Year of His Age

Here lies buried
Mrs PRISSILLA SEARS
widow of Capt
JOHN SEARS who
died May ye 8th
1764 in ye
78th year of
her age

Here lyes Buried
ye Body of Mr
Paul Sears; Who
departed this Life
Febry 17th AD 1740 in ye
71ſt Year of his Age

In Memory of
Mr Daniel Sears
who died Novr 28th 1771
in the 62d Year
of his Age

In Memory of
Mrs Mary Widow of
Mr Daniel Sears She
Died May ye 8th 1790
in her 76th Year

In Memory of
Mr Eliſha Sears
he Died March ye
7th 1790 in his
84th Year

In Memory of
Mrs Sarah Sears
Confort of
Mr Eliſha Sears
who Died April 12th 1783
in the 75th Year of her
Age

In Memory of
Conftant Son to Mr
Eliſha Sears & Mrs
Sarah his wife who
Decd June ye 27th
1768 Aged 19 Years

Here lies buried
Enoch Sears Son
to Mr Elisha
Sears & Mrs
Sarah his wife who
Decd. March ye 29th
1767 in ye 21st
year of his Age

Here Lyes ye Body of
BETHIAH SEARS Dautr of
Mr ELISHA & Mrs SARAH
SEARS Who Departed
this life April 25th 1759 in
ye 21st Year of her Age

In Memory of Mr
Samuel Sears
he Died March
ye 18th 1792 in
his 56th Year

In Memory of
Mrs THANKFUL SEARS
wife of Mr Elisha Sears,
who departed this life
Decr 10,1811
in the 44th year
of her age

What though hir uncontrol'd decree,
Commands our flesh to dust,
Yet as the Lord our Savior rose
So all his followers must.

In memory of
Mr Elisha Sears
who died Dec 5
1822 Æ 81

In Memory of
MRS PRISCILLA SEARS
Wife of
Deacn JOHN SEARS
who died April 12th 1819
Æt 89.

In Memory of
Dean John Sears
he Died Decmr ye 5th
1791 in ye 79th Year
of his Age

Here lies buried
Mrs DEBORAH ye
wife of Mr
JOHN SEARS
she died Sept ye 18th
1 7 5 3 In
ye 34th year of
her Age

Here Lies buried
Mrs Betty Widow
to Mr John Webb
who Decd.
Sept 1755
In ye 36th
year of
her Age

Bithiah Sears Dau
of Capt John & Mrs
Priſcilla Sears
Died Septembr 8th
1736 Aged 9 Years
10 Months & 24 Ds

Here lyes ye Body
of Bathſheba Sears
Dautr of Capt John
& Mrs Priſcilla Sears
who Died April
19, 1735 in ye 24th
Year of Her Age

Heman Sears Son
of Capt John & Mrs
Priſcilla Sears
Died Augſt 1ſt 1726
Aged 1 Years 7
Months & 4 Days

Here Lyes buried ye
Body of Mrs PRISCILLA
SEARS wife to Mr
SETH SEARS Who
Departed this life
Janry 18, 1743 in ye 36
Year of Her Age

Here Lyes Buried
ye body of
Mr SETH SEARS
Who Departed this life
March 5th 1750 in ye 48th
Year of His Age

Here lyes ye Body
of Mrs LYDIA SEARS
Wife to Mr BENJAMIN
SEARS, Who Died
March 24th 1734 in ye
25th Year of Her Age

Here lyes ye Body
of Mrs MARCY SEARS
wife to Mr BENJAMIN
SEARS who Died
June 29th 1736 in ye
31ſt Year of Her Age

Here lyes Buried
ye Body of Mr
JONATHAN SEARS
Who Departed this
Life Sept 3d AD 1738
in the 45 Year
of His Age

Here lyes ye
Body of Mr
SAMUEL SEARS
Decd Novr ye 22d
1 7 2 6
in ye 40th year
of His Age

Here lyes Buried ye
Body of Mrs ELIZABETH
SEARS Wife to Mr
JONATHAN SEARS
Who Departed this Life
Janry 8th AD 1748 in ye 52d
Year of Her Age

Here lyes ye Body
of SARAH SEARS
Daugtr of Mr JONATHAN
& Mrs ELIZABETH
SEARS who died
Decemr 16th 1749 in ye
19th Year of her Age

NATHL SEARS SON
to JOSHUA
and MARY SEARS Decd
January ye 4th
1 7 2 4
in ye 3d Year
of His Age

ISAAC SEARS SON
to SAMEUEL &
RUTH SEARS
Decd January ye
13 1 7 2 4
in ye 2d Year
of His Age

Heman Sears
Son of Mr Benjn
& Mrs Lydia
Sears Died
June 1739 in
his 3rd Month

Seth Sears Son
of Mr Seth & Mrs
Priſcilla Sears
Died May 31ſt
1733 in ye 2nd
Year of his Age

In memory of
Mrs Mehitable Sears
wife of John Sears
who died May 19 1798
Æt at 48 years

The time has come I cannot stay
To sleep in dust & lye in clay
Come my friends remember me
In a short time you here will be.

In memory of
Mr JOHN SEARS
who departed this life
Aug 24 1812
in the 68th year
of his age

Friends and Physicians cannot save
The mortal body from the grave
Nor can the grave conjure it here
When Christ commands it to appear.

In memory of
Mrs KEZIAH,
wife of Mr John Sears
who died Sept 4 1827
Æt 57

Christ my redeemer lives,
And often from the skies
Looks down and watch's my dust
Till he shall bid it rise

In memory of
Mr
NOAH SEARS
who died
Sept 23, 1835
In the 85 Year
of his age

In memory of
Mrs DESIRE
Wife of
Noah Sears
who Died
Sept 1, 1828
In the 62 Year
of her age

In Memory of
Mrs Priscilla Sears
wife of
Mr Daniel Sears
who died March 11
1 7 7 7
Æt 28

In Memory of
Mr DANIEL SEARS
who died Sept 23
1776

In Memory of
Mrs Anna Wife
of Lieut Micajah
Sears She Died
May ye 26th 1785
in her 47th Year

In memory of
Lieut Micajah Sears
Born in
Yarmouth, Mass
Apr 25 1738
Died Feb 1823
In his 85th year

(new stone?)

In
Memory of
Mrs MARGERY HIGGINS
wife of
Mr Benjamin Higgins
who died Augſt 1, 1795
In ye 60 Year
of her age

Here lies buried
Mr Willard Sears
who decd Augst
ye 19th 1765
in ye 51st year
of his age

Here lies ye Body of
Mrs SuÆanna Sears ye
wife of Mr Willard
Sears who decd.
April ye 9th 1763
In ye 42nd year
of her age

Here lyes the body
of Rowland Sears
son of Mr Seth &
Mrs Prifcila Sears
Who Departed this
Life May 1ft 1750 in ye
24th Year of His Age

Here lyes ye body of
Mr JONATHAN SEARS
Junr who Died
December 16 1759
in the 28th Year
of His Age

Here lies the Body of
Mr JOSEPH SEARS
son of Mr JONATHAN &
Mrs ELIZABETH SEARS
who Died March ye
14th 1758 in ye 30th
Year of his Age

Here lies ye Body of
Mr ISAAC SEARS
son to Mr JOSEPH
& Mrs RUTH SEARS
who departed this
Life March ye 24th
1759 In the 25th Year
of his Age

In Memory of
ELIZABETH SEARS
Daur of SAML
& DESIRE SEARS
died in 23d Oct 1798
in the 34th Year
of her Age

In Memory of
Mifs MARY SEARS
Daur of Mr SAMUEL &
Mrs DESIRE SEARS
died April 11th 1794
In the 30th Year
of her Age

In Memory of Mr
Samuel Sears
He died August ye
13th 1774 in ye 53d
Year of his Age

In Memory of
Mrs Desiri Widow
of Mr Samuel Sears
She died Janry 6
1804 in her 79th Year
and Son of
Freman Rimick he
died in March
10, 1801 in his 18? year

In Memory of
Samuel Son to Mr
Samuel Sears & Mrs
Desire his wife he
Died July ye 31st 1783
in 20th Year
of his Age

In memory of
JACOB
Son of Mr Jacob & Mrs
Elizabeth Sears, who died
April 23, 1803 Aged 8
months & 27 ds.

(end
Sweet Babe, thou'rt gone to Christ thy fri
Who takes sweet children, in his arms
And their to sleep, till time shall end
Secure from sorrow or, alarm

In Memory of
Mrs Rhoda Sears Wife
of Mr Reuben Sears
who Died April 16th 1784
in the 28th Year of
her Age

In Memory of
Betſey Dautr to
Mr Jofhua & Mrs
Sarah Sears She
Died Octr ye 5th
1787 in her
9th Year

MR JOSHUA SEARS
Died March 31, 1825
In his 73d year

In memory of
Mrs SARAH
Wife of Mr Joshua Sears
who died
Jan 15, 1792
in her 33rd Year

In Memory of
Mary Dautr to Mr
Edmond Sears Jun &
Mrs Hannah his
Wife She Died May
ye 15th 1785 Aged 9
Year 5 months

In Memory of Mrs
Sarah Wife of Mr
Joshua Sears Sr
Died Janry ye 15th 1792
In her 33? Year

In Memory of Mrs
Hipzabah wife of Mr
Seth Sears She Died
June ye 9th 1793 in ye 22d
Year of her age

In Memory of
Mr Seth Sears
he died March
5th 1806 in his
36(39?) year

With love divine & puer delight
On faiths Celestial wing
With Sweet repose be took in flight
For death had loſt its sting

In Memory of
Mrs SALLY SEARS
wife of Mr Seth Sears
who died
Sept 29 1812
in the 40th year
of her age

Life is uncertain death is sure
Sin is a word but Christ he cures

In Memory of Mr REUBEN SEARS who died Jun 2 1829
Æt 28

(bad lichens)

In memory of
Mrs
Daughter of
Noah & Desire
Sears who died
Jun 23 1834
In the 29 Year
of her Age

King
How sweet she sleeps in christ her
In life she _____ her love
And Death to her had lost its sting
Her spirits soar above

In memory of
Mr NOAH
son of
Noah & Desire
Sears who died
Aug 25 1828
In the 21 Year
of her age

In memory of
Mr ELISHA SEARS
who died
Dec 14 1838
Æt 42

He liv'd a pleasant life,
And di'd a peaceful death;
His happy soul's at rest,
And number'd with the blest.

In Memory of
SETH
son of Seth & Sally
Sears
who died Mar 11
1808 in the 8 year
of his age

VIENNA SEARS
Born May 28 1799
Died June 27, 1880

In
memory
of
Mr EDWARD SEARS

In Memory of
Mrs BETHIA
wido' of
Mr Edwd Sears
who died
Nov 10 1812
Æt 81

In
memory of
Susannah Sears
Dau of Mr Edward
Mrs Bethia Sears
Died Febr 8 1800

NEAR
this stone lie
three Daughters of
John & Hannah
Sears
Maria Mar 1 1823
Tamsen Aug 20 1828 AEt 14ms 11ds
Bethiah Aug 15 1830 AE 4ms

They were taken from
their world of sorrow
to reign with Christ

Dau of
Mr Elisha &
Mehitable
Sears
May 12
1839

Memento Mori In Memory of
Mr Jofeph Sears
he Died Augst ye 6th
1779 in ye 72d Year
of his Age

In Memory of
Ruth ye Wife of
Mr Jofeph Sears
who died March
27th 1761 in ye
46th Year of his Age

Here lyes Buried
the Body of Mr
LARNED SEARS son
of Mr JOSEPH & Mrs
RUTH SEARS who died
Oct ye 11th 1760 in ye
22d Year of His Age

In Memory of
THANKFUL SEARS
Daur of Mr ROWLAND
& Mrs THANKFUL SEARS
died July 28th 1793
In the 7th Year
of her Age

In memory of
Nabby daur of Mr Eben and
Mrs Sally Rider
who died Aug 8th 1811
in the 11th year
of her age

In memory of
Mrs HANNAH SEARS
who died
Jan 15 1835
Æt 74

In memory of
Mr Freeman Remick
who died
Nov 30 1826
Æt 71
Also two sons
Thomas & Abraham
lost at sea
Feb 1810

In memory of
Mrs Abigail
wido' of
Mr Freeman Remick
who died
Dec 13, 1828
Æt. 72.

In memory of
Mrs SALLY RYDER
who died
Sept 18 1828
Æt 51
Her Husband
Mr EBEN RYDER
was lost at sea Sept 1803
Æt 32

ALMIRA
Daughter of Levi
& Jarusha Sears
Born April 27, 1801
Died Aug 20, 1863

Mrs JERUSHA widow of
Levi Sears
Born Aug 31, 1751
Died Apr 10, 1858

LABAN Son of Levi &
Jerusha Sears
Born Oct 5 1805
Died Aug 10, 1819

LEVI SEARS
Born
Dec 15 1770
Died
Dec 5 1825

G KNYVET HOWES
1857 1949

ALICE SAINT
HIS WIFE
1871 1921

(Lived in house adjacent, NE, to cemetery)

SAMUEL SEARS
DIED
Jan 29 1855:
Æ 63 Years

Here lies the body of
Benjamin Sears
who was drownd April 15,
1825 in his 18th year.
Prince Sears
was lost at sea in Feb
1810 in his 29th Year
Sons of Mr Joseph and
Mrs Keziah Sears

ERECTED IN MEMORY OF

Mrs BETSEY SEARS
wife of Mr PRINCE SEARS
who died
Jul 1st 1818
Æt 81

Here lies the dead from pain and sorrow free
She has gone to heaven I trust O God to thee,
Her bright examples let us make our own
So far as she herself in Christ was known

In memory of
Mr PRINCE SEARS
who died
Feb 25 1829
Æt 94

In memory of
Mrs KEZIAH
wife of
Mr Joseph Sears
who died
Dec 14 1838
In her 75th year

Dearest friend thou now has left us
Here thy loss we deeply feel
But tis God that hath bereft us
He can all our sorrows heal.

In memory of
Mr JOSEPH SEARS
who died
Jan 5 1846:
Æt 82

Wilst thou in peaceful silence lie
We trust thy spirit dwells on high.

JOHN SEARS
Inventor of
Salt Works
Died 1817
Aged 72 years

KEZIAH
died
Mar 17 1834
Æt 74
dau of
Elisha & Hannah
SEARS

Samuel T Sears
Born Nov 24 1876
Died Sept 18 1928

William C Sears
Born Oct 4 1838
Died Dec 19 1904
Mary H Thacher
Born July 12 1839
Died Mar 8 1903

AZUBAH
wife of
THOMAS SEARS
Died Jan 4 1867
Aged 66 years 6 mos
& 17 days

Mother thou are gone to rest
We will not weep for thee
For thou art now where oft on earth
Thy spirit longed to be

THOMAS SEARS
Nov 28 1891
91 yr 9 month

Wafted on angel wings
He has gone to the bosom
of his heavenly father

Miss Susan Sears
d. Jun 2 1857
Æt 63

When Christ revealed his word,
O may I read my name,
Among the chosen of his love,
The follower of the lamb.

Mrs MERCY
wido' of
Elkanah Sears
died Jul 9 1846
Æt 83

Farewell my friends and children dear
O may you all live in God's fear
My savior calls my soul away
To brighten realms in endless day.

SACRED
to the memory of
Mr ELKANAH SEARS
who died
Jun 1 1836
Æt 78

Farewell my wife & children dear
I leave you all below
O may you serve the Lord while here
That home to glory you may go.

SALLIE
wife of
Elkanah
d Mar 18, 1889
Aged 87y 4mo

There is rest for the weary

In memory of
Mrs Clarissa
wife of
Mr Elkanah Sears Jr
who died
Apr 11 1835 Æt 32

ELKANAH SEARS
died
Jan 20 1876
Aged 75yrs 11mo

An affectionate husband
And a kind Father

In memory of
Mrs HANNAH
wife of
Mr Edmund Sears
who died July 8 1828
in her 76 year

In memory of
Mr EDMUND SEARS
who died
March 16, 1832
Æt 88

SARAH
Wife of
Jonathan Sears
Died July 16, 1871
Aged 71 Years

JONATHAN SEARS
DIED
July 18, 1871
Aged 73 Years

I vividly remember my first visit to the cemetery because of the case of poison ivy which I got there. The trail in from Airline road is about 75 yards long and has stepping stones over a herring ladder. Local residents recently repaired this ladder to insure the herring can return to their breeding ground. In recent years the path and the cemetery itself have been extremely well maintained. Katherine Sears(see No. 2566)left money in her will to the town of Brewster for maintenance and this may have helped with the care. Her father-in-law William G and brother-in-law Samuel T. are buried there.

A brass plaque mounted on a post at the entrance used to announce this cemetery as "The Ancient Sears Cemetery" with dates of use but all that remains is the post. The earliest stone is #38 and the last stone is #102, Knyvet Howes, who owned the house just northeast of the cemetery on Old County Way. Some stones are missing (evidenced by the existence of a footstone but no headstone). Other stones are unmarked. It appears there were once straight rows of stones which have probably "drifted" in the last 250 years. There are some blank areas with no stones which may be additional unmarked graves. I made up my own numbering system which is the order in which the stones were read. Some are cracked and one had broken into three pieces and was duplicated three stones further in the row. The slate stones from the 1700's have stood up the best. White marble stones have some kind of yellow lichen attacking them. It was often necessary to dig around the bottom of the stone to reveal the complete inscription.

The stones are typical for the Cape and show evidence of all the popular icons of the time. The tympanum or curved top part of the stone usually had a carved icon. The main body contained vital statistics and possibly an epitaph. The shoulders were usually rounded and below were borders containing wreaths, vines and other carvings. I have tried to show a general outline of the stone and describe the icon. I have also reproduced as carefully as possible the layout of letters on the stones. All of the popular icons are represented here. The winged skull, winged cherub, sunrise, willow and urn. The winged skull may have represented that death was impossible to beat but that with God's grace, the soul may be immortalized in heaven. The fleshed out cherub's face was less gruesome than the skull and may have been the beginning of the euphemisms we use to hide death's face. The sunset (or sunrise?) possibly signifies the end of life on earth and beginning of a new day. The urn and willow represent the people left on earth with the urn as the repository of the loved one and the willow as the tree of mourning. Some stones were cenotaphs which indicated that the person had been lost at sea (stone No 97). A couple of stones showed multiple names (especially for children), which may not be proof that the individuals were actually buried there. Stones were often placed many years later, which can account for discrepancies in locations and dates.

Epitaphs are especially interesting. Some stonecutters supposedly had books full of them from which a family could choose. Other epitaphs must have been composed by the deceased or his family.

In any case this study of our ancestors burying ground can reveal much about the way they lived and their hopes and fears. Work remains to be done to document the blank spots in the burying ground. Maybe Richard the Pilgrim is even buried here under the big boulder on the west side?