First Grave

Martin Whitney and the Orne Family. 1850 ~ the first burial in Mount Hope tells a story and a capsule of history that connects the name of Paul Revere to North Attleborough.  Martin Whitney married Nancy Orne in North Attleborough in 1810.  Nancy was the daughter of Lt. James Orne.  Lt. Orne was born in Boston in 1734 and came to Attleboro (now North Attleboro) in 1759.  He purchased a farm for 300 pounds sterling and erected the Orne House on High street.  The farm covered both sides of Washington street from the corner of Elm Street to Fisher Street.  James Orne’s sister, Sara Orne was married to Paul Revere the famed Revolutionary War hero.

The Lt. Orne homestead stood for over 200 years on High Street and coincidentally, the last owner before the homestead was removed was Warren Allen, a past fifty year Board of Trustees member. We like to think that Martin Whitney and Nancy Orne shown here with typical expressions  captured in early photographs, seem to be holding back a big smile!