~ Mystery Graves ~
Or are they?Researched and Written by - John Buczek
If one were to drive to Marlborough over the old Southborough town road, now known as Route 85, and take a right onto Sherman St. (just before entering Marlborough), you would pass what appears to be four old gravestones. These gravestones, or are they, would be on your left just before entering Framingham Road and if you drive this road very often, you've probably never noticed them.
These upright cut from granite stones, which are approximately three feet in height, thirty inches in width and six inches thick, are set in pairs each pair side by side and are amongst thickets and bramble bush. The surfaces are so crudely cut and blemished as to appear as unfinished. To examine them closely, you will have to fight off the sharp thorns of age old bramble bushes and be willing to come out without discovering anything and be covered with bloodied scratches from the bushes that protect these stones.
The map of 1803 shows that John Arnold's house was across the street from this site (see star) and given the time of the map he probably owned much of the land surrounding his house. A search of old burial records do not reveal a John Arnold's burial. John Arnold married Rachel Hill July 22, 1793 in Marlborough.. John and Rachel Arnold had an infant son who died March 15, 1794 and an infant daughter who died April 1, 1807; their burials are not recorded. They also had John Hills, Prudence Hills, Stephen N., Mary A., Piepoint K. and William H.. John Hills Arnold died October 12, 1823 and his burial place is not recorded. Rachel, John's wife died May 18, 1829 but she is buried in the Springhill Burial Ground.
Is it possible that poor Rachel had to bury her two infants, her son John Hills and finally her husband John on this spot?
OR.... are these just four large granite slabs placed in pairs each pair placed side by side just granite slabs?
I leave this to you, the descendants of John Arnold and Rachel Hill to reach a conclusion.
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