| Notes |
- Capt. Jonathan Alden was the youngest son of the Pilgrim,
John Alden, and was born about 1627. He lived on the
paternal domain, and was much employed in the civil atfairs
of the town, and a selectman for several years He was much
respected and honored by his townsmen, and inherited the
virtues of his father. He was admitted a freeman in 1657,
and chosen ensign of the company in 167i, afterwards lieutenant,
and then captain, and continued in this capacity until
his death, which occurred in February, 1697. He was buried
under arms on the 17th, when an Address was delivered at
the grave by Rev. Mr. VViswall, from which these passages
are selected, - Alden' s Epitaphs.
" .Neighbours and friends, we are assembled this day in a
posture of mourning, to solemnize the funeral of the present
deceased, to pay our last tribute of respect to a person well
known among us. I need not enlarge upon his character, but,
in brief, am bold to say thus much. He stepped over his
youth, without the usual stains of vanity. In his riper years
he approved himself a good Commonwealth's man ; and, which
is the crown of all, a sincere Christian, one whose heart was
in the house of God, even when his body was barred hence by
the restraints of many difficulties, which confined him at home.
He could say, in truth. Lord, I have loved the habitation of
thy house. He earnestly desired the enlargement of Jerusalem,
and inwardly lamented that the ways to Zion did mourn,
because so few did flock to her solemn feasts ; but is now
united to that general assembly, where is no more cause of
sorrow on that account.
" As to his quality in our militia, he was a leader, and I
dare say rather loved than feared of his company.
'• Fellow Soldiers, you are come to lay your leader in the
dust, to lodge him in his quiet and solemn repose. You are
no more to follow him in the field. No sound of rallying drum,
nor shrillest trumpet will awaken him, till the general muster,
when the Son of God will cause that trumpet to be blown,
whose echoes shall shake the foundations of the heavens and
the earth, and raise the dead.
" Fellow Soldiers, you have followed him into the field, appeared
in your arms, stood your ground, marched, countermarched,
made ready, advanced, fired, and retreated ; and all
at his command. You have been conformable to his millpdc
tary commands and postures, and it is to your credit. But,
let me tell you, this day he has acted one posture before your
eyes, and your are all at a stand! No man stirs a foot after
him ! But the day is hastening, wherein you must all conform
to his present posture,- I mean, be laid in the dust."
Mr. Wiswall, after olfering various solemn exhortations,
with scriptural quotations, concluded his address thus :-
" Fellow !:5oldiers ; Oh ! consider how dreadful it will prove,
if, after you have with a matchless bravery of spirit acted the
part of soldiers on earth, you should in the mean time forget
your Christian armor and discipline, and bo numbered among
those mentioned in Ezek. xxxii. 2(), 27, who, having been the
terror of the mighty in the land of the living, yet went down
to hell with their weapons of war, their iniquities remaining
upon their bones! which that you may all escape, follow your
deceased leader, as he followed Christ; and then though death
may for a short space of time tyrannize over your frail bodies
in the grave, yet you shall rise with him in triumph, when
the great trumpet shall sound, and appear listed in the nmster
roll of tlie Prince of the earth, the Captain of our eternal salvation."ommons@
hotmail.com.
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Abt 1633 - 1697 (64 years)
Set As Default Person 
[1, 2, 3] 
