From the following extract, taken from these letters, it is evident that
these children's "Last Words" followed the prevailing fashion:

_A Receipt_ to make a _New England_
Funeral _Elegy_.

_For the title of your Elegy_. Of these you may have enough ready
made at your Hands: But if you should chuse to make it yourself you
must be sure not to omit the Words _Aetatis Suae_, which will
beautify it exceedingly.

_For the subject of your Elegy_. Take one of your neighbors who has
lately departed this life; it is no great matter at what age the
Party Dy'd, but it will be best if he went away suddenly, being
_Kill'd_, _Drown'd_ or _Froze to Death_.

Having chosen the Person, take all his Virtues, Excellencies, &c.
and if he have not enough, you may borrow some to make up a
sufficient Quantity: To these add his last Words, dying Expressions,
&c. if they are to be had: mix all these together, and be sure you
strain them well. Then season all with a Handful or two of
Melancholy Expressions, such as _Dreadful, Dreadly, cruel, cold,
Death, unhappy, Fate, weeping Eyes_, &c. Having mixed all these
Ingredients well, put them in an empty Scull of some _young
Harvard_; (but in case you have ne'er a One at Hand, you may use
your _own_,) then let them Ferment for the Space of a Fortnight, and
by that Time they will be incorporated into a Body, which take out
and having prepared a sufficient Quantity of double Rhimes, such as
_Power, Flower; Quiver, Shiver; Grieve us, Leave us; tell you, excel
you; Expeditions, Physicians; Fatigue him, Intrigue him_; &c. you