The Rock in pine grove

In Hampton, New Hampshire's Pine Grove Cemetery stands a large boulder, with a plaque attached, honoring THOMAS LEAVITT.  It reads:

​IN MEMORY
OF
THOMAS LEAVITT
1616 - 1696
THE FIRST LEAVITT TO SETTLE
IN NEW HAMPSHIRE
1639
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
LEAVITT FAMILIES

Frank E. Leavitt of Hampton, NH, one of the founding members of this organization, was chosen at the 1937 Reunion in Hingham to represent the Thomas line in laying a wreath on the grave site of Thomas Leavitt every Memorial Day. It was also agreed upon that two permanent markers, one for Thomas and the other for John Leavitt of Hingham, would be purchased to mark their graves. 

There was no known burial place for Thomas Leavitt, however. At the following annual reunion, Frank was authorized  "to provide a suitable place and foundation for a marker to be placed in the cemetery most likely to be the burial place of Thomas Leavitt" [1938 Reunion Minutes]. With Pine Grove Cemetery being the first burial place of the original settlers, this was the spot chosen for a future memorial.

For almost a year, Frank went looking for a boulder well suited to display the plaque for Thomas Leavitt. In time for the 1939 Reunion at Hampton in June, a stone was found, and the two and 1/2 ton rock was moved to the Pine Grove Cemetery. The Newburyport Daily News, which carried news from Hampton, ran an article about the reunion on the 26th.

As mentioned in the Leavitt Leaves newsletter in May 2020, the original 1930's plaque was stolen (date unknown), and the one now on the stone is a replacement.

For those interested in visiting this cemetery, it is located on Winnacunnet Road (Rt 101E) in Hampton, NH. GPS: ​42.935235, -70.829727