Private Property and Permission to Access Cemeteries
Individuals who need to cross private property in order to visit a cemetery must obtain permission from owners of that property. Please respect their rights.
Terminology and Definitions
Following explanations are to help understand the information provided. Should you have further questions, please Contact Us.
WSP Num
This is the number assigned by the Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC) to indicate that a cemetery is incorporated into the Inventory of Historic and Archaeological Assets of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The numbers begin with 800 and are inclusive through 899. Numbers exceeding 899 have four digits beginning with 8000. For some cemeteries, the WSP number is engraved on the stone wall facing the road. Other cemeteries have a free standing engraved fieldstone within and to the right of the cemetery entrance.
Icons
Icons are provided to access a photo of the cemetery, the forms given to the Massachusetts Historical Commission and a map of the cemetery location.
Data
Data are normally obtained from the gravestones. However, in some cases, especially if it is illegible, research has been done to ascertain the correct dates and names. Further research results are included as to relationships, marriage dates, maiden names of women, and other information about individuals. Before 1850 some of these data are derived from "Vital Records of Westport Massachusetts to the Year 1850", designated as VR in this database, which was published in 1918 by the New England Historic Genealogical Society. Other data have been obtained from family records and from Town Records at the Town Clerk's Office. When considered reliable and consistent with recorded facts, some data have come from internet sources such as ancestry.com.
Grave Records "GR"
In "Other Information" for cemeteries, the letters GR with a number after it, e.g., GR4, are utilized to indicate that the cemetery is the same as that shown in the "Vital Records of Westport Massachusetts to the Year 1850". For example, "G.R. 4 - gravestone record, Westport Point Cemetery," as shown in the book just mentioned, is WSP 800 in this database and so registered with the Massachusetts Historical Commission. The Vital Records book is available in the Westport Public Library for further information. Other data are available from the Town Clerk's Office at the Westport Town Hall.
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