Fall River’s Friends Cemetery

Lizzie Borden’s burial site at Oak Grove Cemetery is the most visited gravesite on the entire grounds.

Lizzie’s headstone center, right

But Fall River has many other cemeteries.  Seldom visited is the Friends Cemetery at the foot of Hood Street.  Lizzie Borden descended from a line of Quakers.

The Quakers buried here are vitually unknown for not many of the headstones (of those that *did* have headstones), remain today.

Quakers, known for their modesty, believed having headstones was a sign of vanity.

Residential structures were built right over the graves so this cemetery was actually larger than it appears.

This is one of the very few markers that has legible writing on it.

This view shows part of the original stone wall.  Hardly a space getting respect and reverence, the Friends Cemetery is often used as a “relieving” area for those walking their dogs.

From the Fall River Library website, here is a listing of all the cemeteries in Fall River.

Cemeteries in Fall River

Agudath Achim Jewish Cemetery Newhall Street Contact: Adas Israel Synagogue 508-674-9761	Beth El Cemetery N. Main St. Fall River, Mass. 02722 Contact: Temple Beth El (508) 674-3529
Hebrew Cemetery McMahon St. Contact: Adas Israel Synagogue 508-674-9761	North Burial Ground 1360 N. Main St. Fall River, Mass. 02722 (508) 672-3041 Established 1810
Notre Dame Cemetery 1540 Stafford Rd. Fall River, Mass. 02721 (508) 673-1561 Established 1883	Oak Grove Cemetery 765 Prospect St. Fall River MA 02720 508-324-2750 Established c. 1873 Historical Note: burial place of Lizzie Borden (1860-1927), acquitted of murdering her father and stepmother in 1892.
Our Lady of Light Cemetery Fall River, Mass. 02722 (508) 672-1207 Contact: Notre Dame Cemetery	St. John’s Cemetery 258 Brightman St. Fall River, Mass. 02722 (508) 679-2535 Burials: 1858-1891
St. Mary’s Cemetery Amity St. Fall River, Mass. 02722 (508) 679-2535 Burials: 1875-1891	St. Patrick’s Cemetery 2233 Robeson St. Fall River, Mass. 02720 (508) 679-2535 Established 1876