Here are a couple of views of the oldest existing tombstone that I have found for my ancestors. This one commemorates James Robertson, one of the original proprietors of Groton, Massachusetts. I have been to this cemetery and viewed the stone and memorial plaque myself – about 1980 – but the photos we took have faded.

Thank you to Amy Levesque on FindAGrave.com for this photo of the original gravestone:

A second thank you to Leatrice Zina, also at FindAGrave.com for the modern sign posted next to his original gravestone:

James Robertson married Elizabeth Farnsworth, daughter of Matthias Farnsworth and his unknown wife, on 16 Jan 1667 in Groton and they spent their lives there, living through dangerous attacks by Indians on the town.

Only one child has been attributed to James and Elizabeth, their daughter Elizabeth, born in Groton on 3 Oct 1668. She married William Lakin on 4 Jan 1685 in Chelmsford, MA. They had a family of nine children and have many descendants today.