Hancock Cemetery
Why it's listed
Hancock Cemetery is a grassy, wooded burying ground of just over two acres in the civic centre of Quincy, Massachusetts. Burials are believed to date from the earliest settlement, and the site was formally recorded after 1640. It stayed on private land until the town took custody in 1809. An ornamental cast iron fence along Hancock Street was added in 1844. Its stones span the 17th to 19th centuries, with early slate markers giving way to marble and granite. Henry Adams, who died in 1646, is the oldest identified burial, and members of the Adams and Quincy families lie here, along with early ministers such as Rev. William Tompson and Rev. John Hancock. Revolutionary War soldiers are commemorated by a modern monument. The 1703 Cleaverly stone, attributed to a carver who signed J.N., is the most artistically significant marker. The cemetery is valued as Quincy's only surviving 17th-century element of its original center.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that it is the only surviving 17th-century component of Quincy Center and has integrity of location, design, materials and workmanship. It holds the graves of families of local, state and national repute, including the Adams and Quincy families and early ministers. It also contains notable early gravestone art, especially the 1703 Cleaverly marker attributed to the carver J.N.
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 82004421, listed January 28, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Hancock St. in Quincy Sq., Quincy |
|---|---|
| County | Norfolk County |
| Listed | January 28, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82004421 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | 1600-1699, 1700-1799, 1800-1899 (specific date: about 1640) |
| Areas of significance | Art, Exploration/Settlement, Politics/Government, Social History |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Public cemetery owned by the City of Quincy; described as occupied and unaltered, on its original site. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 42.25065, -70.99547 (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 82004421.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5647024
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.