The land that comprises this cemetery dates to June 1702 as Norton’s original town common, a tract of about five acres and the first land set apart for common use in the town. Located on the Main Road to George Leonard’s iron works called Chartley, it served many purposes. During the early eighteenth century, part of the common was designated as a burying place, believed to be the first burying ground formally set apart for that purpose in Norton. As early as 1708, the land was also used as a militia training field, and many militia drills, regimental musters, and military parades took place there. The nearby home of original proprietor Sylvanus Cambell overlooks the land. Its overlapping use as public common, militia field, and burying place created problems, and in 1802 loose animals were said to have trampled the sod over graves until the exact resting places of many were obliterated. In 1825, Norton voted to appropriate money for fencing to establish the burial ground’s boundaries, and from then on the common was used for that purpose.