Women of Granite: The Hidden Lives of New Hampshire Women as Seen in the Cemetery, 1674-1992

The story of women throughout New Hampshire history from all walks of life is here told from the perspective of the historic burial grounds and cemeteries located across the state. The silent gravestones and monuments within their confines which mark the final resting places of women, young and old, speak volumes. By examining them, we can learn much about their place in society and how their status evolved from early colonial times down through the end of the Victorian era and into the twentieth century. The details carved in stone can reveal to us the kind of day-to-day lives they led, as well as their accomplishments and the hardships and tragedies they endured. In this unusual and interesting work, you will read of women from the early colonial days, pioneer women who were among the first settlers in many New Hampshire towns, hard-working everyday women, both white and African American, women who performed heroically in times of war, women who broke barriers in a big way, and women who made their mark beyond New Hampshire on the national stage.