Entry No. 34 — the Boston file — filed under: cemetery
Eliot Burying Ground
Roxbury's oldest cemetery (dating to 1630, first burial 1633) sits on a roughly triangular 0.8-acre lot wedged into a busy intersection; the Dudley family tomb's original pewter memorial plate was cut out by American soldiers of the Roxbury camp during the 1775 Siege of Boston and melted into bullets, later replaced by a marble slab.
The story
Wedged into a busy triangular lot at the corner of Eustis and Washington Streets, Eliot Burying Ground doesn't look like much from a passing bus. Established in 1630—with its first documented burial in 1633—this 0.8-acre plot is Roxbury's oldest cemetery and one of the three oldest in all of Boston. Long before Roxbury was annexed into the city in 1868, early colonial settlers buried their dead here through harsh New England winters, packing the plot tightly with dark slate markers.
The real military heist happened during the Siege of Boston in 1775. American soldiers encamped nearby in Roxbury were desperately short on lead for musket balls while holding the line against British troops. Rather than waiting for supply wagons, a detachment marched into the graveyard, picked out the grand tomb of the prominent Dudley family, and cut away its massive pewter memorial plate. They carried the pewter back to camp, melted it down, and shot the Dudley family monument right back at the Redcoats. The stolen metal was eventually replaced years later with a white marble slab.
What it's like
Don't expect to just push open the iron gate on a casual stroll. The city keeps the perimeter locked to protect the fragile 17th-century slate headstones from vandalism, meaning you need to call the Boston Parks and Recreation Department 24 hours ahead to have someone unlock it for you. Once inside, the noise of Washington Street traffic fades into a strange quiet as you weave through closely packed, tilted stones carved with grim death's-heads. Make a point to locate the Dudley tomb to see the marble slab that sits where Revolutionary soldiers stripped the grave for lead.
The move: Call the city's Parks Department 24 hours ahead to arrange access (it's normally gated), then walk the tightly packed 17th-century stones together and find the Dudley tomb where you can still see where the original pewter plaque — turned into ammunition — was later replaced with marble.
- 📍 Roxbury
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: Eustis Street & Washington Street, Roxbury, Boston, MA 02119
Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Central Burying Ground — Pair this with another historic graveyard where 18th-century overcrowding led to mass burial trenches and Gilbert Stuart's unmarked grave.
- Warren Anatomical Museum — Head west into Longwood to transition from colonial grave markers to a 19th-century collection of preserved anatomical and pathological oddities.
- Museum of Bad Art (MOBA) — Head over to Dorchester to contrast the somber slate carvings of colonial stonecutters with a collection of sincerely attempted, wildly failed art.
Good to know
How do I get inside the cemetery if the gates are locked?
You must call the Boston Parks and Recreation Department 24 hours in advance to arrange access, as the site remains gated to protect the headstones.
Why was the original plate on the Dudley tomb removed?
American soldiers stationed at the Roxbury camp during the 1775 Siege of Boston cut out the original pewter plate and melted it into bullets for the war effort.
How old is Eliot Burying Ground?
It was established in 1630 and saw its first burial in 1633, making it the oldest burying ground in Roxbury.
Where is the graveyard located?
It sits on a 0.8-acre triangular plot at the intersection of Eustis Street and Washington Street in Roxbury.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: boston.gov · Wikipedia
last checked: 2026-07-20