Rocklawn Cemetery
Also known as: Chipman Cemetery
Why it's listed
Rocklawn Cemetery is a five-acre municipal burial ground on Stevens Street in Marlborough, Massachusetts, made up of two joined sections. The older Chipman section dates from 1813 and has family lots set in a neat grid on a hillside. The newer Rocklawn section, laid out from the 1860s, sits on the hilltop with curving roads and a more open feel. About 1,000 burials are recorded in roughly 280 family lots, marked by marble and granite monuments in classical and Gothic styles. A small brick receiving tomb with a slate roof stands between the sections. The cemetery was listed for two reasons. It was the fifth burial ground in Marlborough and holds many of the town's notable residents, along with 65 Civil War veterans. It also preserves the layout, plantings, topography and monuments of the 19th century rural cemetery movement. Its period of significance runs from the first reported burial in 1813 to 1954.
Significance in brief: The cemetery is significant locally under Criterion A for its association with Marlborough's 19th century history. It was the town's fifth burial ground and holds the graves of about 1,000 residents, including Civil War and later war veterans. Under Criterion C it is a well-preserved small example of the rural cemetery style, with defined family lots, varied monuments and a Gothic brick receiving tomb.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 04001115, listed October 6, 2004. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Stevens St., Marlborough |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | October 6, 2004 |
| Reference number | 04001115 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | 1813-1954 |
| Architectural style | Gothic |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Art, Community Planning and Development, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Generally well maintained, though some gravestones have been lost, toppled or eroded. Burials continue in existing lots, but it is not generally considered an active cemetery. The receiving tomb is no longer actively used. |
| Acreage | 5 |
| Coordinates | 42.35315, -71.54037 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Sites (archaeological sites, battlefields, landscapes) are often listed with a restricted address to protect them from looting or disturbance. Listing is honorary for private owners; federal undertakings on or near the site go through Section 106 review, and state laws may protect burials and artefacts regardless of listing.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 04001115.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7355471
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.