Gravestone Record

Individual burial and gravestone information

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Person Details
Gravestone photograph
Photo/Image Courtesy of Rhode Island Historic Cemetery Volunteers
Last Name CRANSTON
First Name SAMUEL, GOV.
Maiden
Relation [H/O (1) MARY (HART) (2) JUDITH (PARROT)]; S/O GOV. JOHN
Cemetery Number NT003
Cemetery Name COMMON BURIAL GROUND
Birth Day 0
Birth Month
Birth Year 1659c
Death Day 26
Death Month APR
Death Year 1727
AGE nth Year -
AGE Years 68
AGE Months -
AGE Days -
Military Service
Gravestone Details
Section BI
Lot
Map 00444
Stone Material slate
Condition fair
Shape box tomb
Carving coat of arms
Legibility fair
Number of Graves on Stone 2
Stone Height (inches)
Stone Width (inches)
Exists? Yes
Last Seen Date 2007
Carver
Notes/Misc Details
Notes This ledger stone on the Gov. Samuel Cranston in NT003 is an exact replica of original stone which lies on the ground next to the Newport Historical Society broken in two pieces. [Gov Mar 1698 - Apr 1727] "Here lieth the body of Samuel Cranston Esq, late Governor of this colony, aged 68 years and departed this life April ye 26 AD 1727 He was son of John Cranston Esq. who also was Governor here, 1680; He was descended from the noble Scottish Lord Cranston and carried in his veins a stream of the Ancient Earls of Crawford, Bothwell & Traquair's having had for his grandfather James Cranston clerk, Chaplain to King Charles the first. His ggfather was John Cranston of Bool, Esq. [AGB also reports his name on the Cranston Historical Monument, erected after 1878 in Island Cemetery. His second wife is buried in NT014.] [Gov for 30 years 1698-1727. The city of Cranston was named for him. According to tradition he was captured at sea by pirates as a young man, and presumed dead for many years. His wife, a granddaughter of Roger Williams, was engaged to be remarried. Cranston arrived back in Newport the day of the wedding, put a stop to the proceedings and entertained the guests with stories of his captivity.]
Transcribed By GHR;AGB;JES