The oldest gravestone in the town is that of the children of Jonathan and Rebecca Dickerman, Hezekiah and Joel, aged one and three years, a double red sandstone marker dated 1751. A stone beside it is dated a few months later for one-year-old Rebecca.

Most of the old stones are slabs of granite, slate, or red sandstone, decorated with either the face and wings or with the weeping willow and urn. Married women were designated as "relics" or "consorts" of their husbands- adjuncts, not yet considered equals or for themselves recognizable. Nevertheless, there were compensations, as many an epitaph bears witness.

Women of that day concentrated their attention upon home and church; they bore joint hardships with their husbands, taking their heavy share of the toil and privations endured in the earliest days of the settlement, instilling in their well taught children those high standards of bravery and character which many and ultimately successful man remembered to have been taught him by his mother. Many of the stones erected to the memory of departed wives bore sentiments which testified how greatly they were loved. In the Mount Carmel Cemetery is the grave of Mrs. Kezia Munson whose stone reads:

"Mrs. Kezia Munson, the excellent wife of Basil Munson. She was industrious, she looked well to the ways of her own household. The heart of her husband safely trusted in her. Her children may rise up and bless the memory of a most affectionate parent. She trusted the righteousness of Christ for pardon and eternal life."

On the slate stone of Samuel Bellamy, Sr., is written "Nathaniel Tuttle died in 1786." His stone bears 2 sentiments:

"He was a loving husband and a tender parent and a good member of society."

"Behold and see as you pass by, as you are now, so once was I, as I am now, so you must be, prepare for death and follow me."

One wonders how some verses came to be chosen for a permanent association with the departed one, many are so impersonal and so lugubrious. Probably no Hamden graves bear sentiments penned by Lydia Sigourney, so ineptly called "the Sweet Singer of Hartford," but she wrote such quantities of pious verse and tombstone epitaphs that she was accused of having added a new terror to death.

Abigail Sperry's stone says:

"The clouds of the valley here cover the remains of the just whose works shall follow her."

Mary Bradley, who died in 1808, seems to have been an invalid.

"Afflictions sore long time I bore, physician's art was vain, till God did please to give me ease and free me from my pain. Ye living friends behold me past where death will bring you all at last."

Jonathan Dickerman, who died in 1821, and Isaac Dickerman, 1822, were among the founders of the Mount Carmel Parish. The lines on Jonathan stone- "Praises on tombs are trifles vainly spent, a man's good nature is his best monument." Are indeed true of him and of many of his family, whose good name will live as long as the town is remembered.

This old burying ground, with spruce trees providing occasional shade, has directed behind it the head of the Sleeping Giant, who was the first sleeper, and who may be symbolized as a lasting and fitting monument to those who rest in his shadow. They were giants too- in courage, strength and wisdom, as they staunchly built their part of the foundation of the town.

- Hartley, R. M. (1943). The hisory of Hamden Connecicit 1786-1936. New Haven, CT: Quinnipiack Press.