American Colonial Funeral Behavior

1. American Colonial Funeral Behavior

2. Virginia Colony • founded in 1607 in Jamestown • based on commercial interests • incorporated the Church of England into their government • burial was usually in the churchyard

3. Massachusetts Bay Colony • founded in 1630 by the Puritans • rejected the Church of England • Puritan clergy did not take part in the funeral ceremony • dead were buried without any ceremony • 1700: funeral sermons

4. Protestantism and Calvinism “good works” • Industrious • “idleness” was a sin • New Englanders: “state of one’s soul” • 18th Century: industry and trade • Secularism: pursuit of worldly goods

5. Burial Practices • Death: natural, inevitable, commonplace • Epitaphs: “The manner of expression may be ribald and ridiculous, pompous and lugubrious, eloquent, or serenely simple” (Stories on Stone: A Book on American Epitaphs – Wallis, 1954) • epidemics

6. Readings Question #1 • Describe the earliest New England funeral and interment practices. • public executions

7. Readings Question #2 • Describe the “social character” of mourning during the late 17th century and throughout the 18th century. • In 1721, 1724, and 1742 the General court of Massachusetts passed laws prohibiting “extraordinary expense at funerals”

8. Readings Question #3 • Describe a typical New England town funeral and interment during the middle of the 18th century.

9. Social Change in Late Colonial America • 18th century: 2 revolutions • political and economic • urbanization: breakdown in Puritan controls • “class” barriers • elaborate funerals for the wealthy • imported goods became scarce

10. Boston 1788 • restricted the display of mourning • fine of 20 shillings for every offense • men: black crepe band • women: black hat/bonnet; gloves; ribbons • 1790 Salem: sexton – “toll” 8 quid undertaker – chairs, warning, waiting etc. 8 quid

11. Readings Question #4 • What were the 3 general functions of colonial funerals?