cole's hill is the site of the first cemetery used by the pilgrims in plymouth colony. this is where they buried those who died in the winter of 1620-1621. many were buried in secret and at night and corn was planted over their graves. this was to prevent the native americans from knowing how many of them had died. the hill is named after john cole who built a house there in 1697. during the american revolutionary war and again during the war of 1812 cannon were placed there behind earthworks to protect the town.