Located adjacent to the Second Old School Baptist Church of Roxbury is the church cemetery. Funerary markers are laid out in several long rows arranged in a north to south direction, with each of the monuments oriented to the west.

One summer afternoon I was walking around the cemetery after having photographed the church. Cemeteries often provide interesting insight into a region’s history, through the graves of the area’s earliest pioneers, the veterans of our nation’s wars, including the American Revolution, and famous people, as well as the statues and art that can often be found there.

Here I came upon a quite unique grave marker which made me pause, for a moment at first, and then for much longer. The marker included inscriptions for the five children of Timothy and Eleanor Corbin, all of whom died under two years of age. Losing five children that young would have been extraordinarily heartbreaking for both parents.

Even more troubling was the cause of death for young David Corbin, who died on June 6, 1839. His marker inscription read: “David, died June 6, 1839. His death was produced by being spared [speared] in the head by a Rooster, aged 1 year, 9 months, & 24 days.”

If you ask friends and family on how they want to leave this earth, many would likely say something along the lines of “quietly, in my sleep.” Being speared in the head by a rooster, would not be a thought to be considered, and if it were, it would likely be very low on the list of the desired ways to go. It is impossible to imagine the grief of his parents, Timothy and Eleanor Corbin. Rest in peace, young David Corbin.

RIP David Corbin“David, died June 6, 1839. His death was produced by being spared [speared] in the head by a Rooster, aged 1 year, 9 months, & 24 days.”

Rest in Peace David Corbin“David, died June 6, 1839. His death was produced by being spared [speared] in the head by a Rooster, aged 1 year, 9 months, & 24 days.”