West Auburn Burial Marker

Thanks to the hard work of Helen Poirier, Regent of the General Ebenezer Learned Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and the William G. Pomeroy Foundation, the West Auburn Burial Ground on Southbridge Street now has a beautiful marker commemorating the four Revolutionary War Patriots who are buried there.

The sign reads as follows:

REVOLUTIONARY AMERICA 1775-1783
MINUTEMEN BURIALS
WEST AUBURN BURIAL GROUND
INTERMENTS INCLUDE AT LEAST
THREE PATRIOTS. TWO MINUTEMEN
ANSWERED THE LEXINGTON
ALARM ON APRIL 19, 1775.
GEN. E. LEARNED CHAPTER NSDAR
WILIAM G. POMEROY FOUNDATION 2025

The marker, number 20 out of 250 available markers to the DAR, is one of, if not, the first in Massachusetts, and honors Colonel Jonah Goulding, Privates Daniel Dodge, Robert Fitts, and Abel Partridge as the Patriots of Ward. Colonel Goulding, Robert Fitts and Daniel Dodge answered the call in Lexington on April 19, 1775.

A dedication ceremony where the marker was unveiled was held on Tuesday, June 17th at the burial ground.

Thanks to all who helped to make the dedication happen including, Sari Bitticks, president, and Zach Washburn of the Auburn Historical Society and Museum, and Keith Vezeau, Massachusetts Military Archivist, who help obtain the written documentation need to prove ownership of land, military records, and vital records of the patriots. Ray Robichaud and the Auburn Cemetery Department, Massachusetts State DAR Regent, Carolyn Nutt, State Historian, Charlene Goddard Lyle. Also, Kathryn Toomey and Margaret Freeman of the Worcester Registry of Deeds, the Auburn Board of Selectmen and former town manager, Edward Kazanovicz for the support of the project, when originally proposed. Also, the Oxford Jr. ROTC color guard, Auburn CERT, and Auburn Sportsmen’s Club who helped on that day.