I always assumed that Boston had hauntings and ghost sightings like other older cities, but, until now, the only one I knew in the immediate area was the "Lady in Black" associated with Ft. Warren on George's Island. After some research, I have found out some other stories. This one is about Boston Common.
Boston Common was public land since the 1600s. The common is vastly changed from the early colonial times. Near the State House, where the high point of the Common is today, Beacon Hill once crested about 60 feet higher. Roughly where Charles Street is today, was the western edge of the Shawmut Penninsula (the Back Bay Fens started where the Public Garden is today).
In addition to being a common pasture land for cows, it was also used as a military drilling area and, somewhere in the western part was the 'hanging tree,' either a sturdy elm or oak tree, on the western side (the low point of the common). This was later replaced by the gallows, which were used until they were removed in 1817. It was said that during the witchcraft furvor, there were only two people hanged for witchcraft. However, it was said that several people were hanged for religious heresy, including Quakers like Mary Dyer. More information about this can be found here (
visit link) . However, according to an article on the web site of the Massachusetts Historical Society, claims of Quakers being executed cannot be proven -http://www.massmoments.org/forum_topicview.cfm?frmtopicID=118 .
Many of the people hanged were buried in unmarked graves along the gravely beaches on the western side of the Common. Other paupers and foreigners were buried in today's Central Burying Ground, near the corner of Boylston and Tremont Street. Many of these graves were found when they dug beside the old cemetery to build the new subway tunnel along Tremont Street.
There have been several tales told about encounters on the common. The most common one referenced is a simple one of two women, sisters perhaps, who are dressed in 'tea dresses' in the 1830s. They are found either walking arm-in-arm along a path or sitting at a park bench. Yet, when you approach them, they vanish.
So, as you walk along a dimly lit path and pass two women in period clothing walking arm-in-arm, perhaps who you had passed were not among the living.
The waymark itself is not a particular location, except to mark generally the 'western part' of Boston Common and near the Central Burying Ground. Near this location is the grave of Gilbert Stuart (no paranormal activity is known to be associated with this grave).