This stone is featured in the books: "Weird New England" and "Weird Massachusetts"

It's a sad story about him, and what he went through, he was a farmer, and some people attacked him because of his beard, and he fought them off, then went to jail because he fended off the two by beating the shit out of them, once in there he was held down by fellow inmates while the guards laughed and they attempted to shave his beard off against his will... WTF. Sad story, but the old farmer lived a long life, and never shaved his beard.

The front side of the stone reads: {Persecuted For Wearing The Beard} PALMER
The left side of the stone reads:
Joseph Palmer, Died Oct. 30th, 1873, At the age of 84 years and 5 months,
Nancy Palmer, Wife of Joseph Palmer, Died July 25th, 1859 at the age of 75 Years.

The right:
Nancy Holman, Daughter of Joseph and Nancy Palmer, Died Mar. 13th, 1893 at the age of 73 Years and 9 Months.

http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/9448

http://www.dyers.org/blog/archives/.....ing-the-beard/

http://alterdestiny.blogspot.com/20.....rd-martyr.html

http://books.google.com/books?id=GOIrCpHNR7sC&pg=PA147&lpg=PA147&dq=Palmer+prosecuted+for+wearing+the+beard&source=bl&ots=A3tr9_W2IS&sig=kmhi7NcBvvXWRiCcjOyR-OsTzsM&hl=en&ei=VF3uSrOjD9P8lAfavoGnAg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CA0Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Palmer%20prosecuted%20for%20wearing%20the%20beard&f=false