Gravediggers:

Two gravediggers were elected annually for a one year term from 1743 until 1835, except during the years 1788, 1796, and 1823, when there were three. The office became defunct after 1835.

Cemetery Commissioners:

In 1861 there is a record of the acceptance by the town of the report for a cemetery committee concerning the purchase of more land. In 1862 this land, which was located half a mile south of the Old Burying Ground, was fenced in and laid out into lots, and a committee of three was chosen to report the progress made. In 1863 a committee of three was chosen to rebuild the east wall of the Old Burying Ground. In 1866 a committee of three was chosen “to lay the wall on the easterly end of the Rural Cemetery. In 1867 an agent was appointed to take charge of the burial grounds. In 1870 a committee of three was chosen “to make such improvements as they may think necessary and proper at the Rural Cemetery”. From 1872 to 1906 a cemetery committee composed of three members was elected annually, although from 1882 to 1906 it was called the Cemetery and Common Committee. In 1907 three cemetery commissioners were chosen for terms of one, two, and three years, respectively, pursuant to acceptance by the town of sections 21-25 of Chapter 78 of the Revised Laws providing for the election of a Board of Cemetery Commissioners. Beginning in 1908 one commissioner was elected for a term of three years annually, and a superintendent of cemeteries was appointed by the commissioners for an indefinite term for many years. Today, Southborough’s Cemeteries are overseen by the Town’s Department of Public Works, and a Cemetery Agent is appointed by the selectmen.

(Inventory of City and Town Archives of Massachusetts: Southborough, 1942, Secretary of the Commonwealth, Massachusetts Historical Records Survey files 1936-1942, SC1/167X, Massachusetts State Archives, Boston, MA.)