On April 17, 1837, Colonel Jotham Bush conveyed to the Boylston Inhabitants, 2 acres about 400 feet off Scar Hill Road for $5.00 "and especially in consideration of the regard I have for said town", to be used "as a public burying place or grave yard"; the transaction recorded in the County of Worcester Registry, Bk 374 pg 377.

On March 28, 1855, Colonel Jotham Bush's son, Deacon Jotham Bush, for the sum of $400, sold the town the land between Scar hill road and the previous acquisition; this transaction recorded in the County of Worcester Registry in Bk 543 pg 358. This last transaction, consisting of about 8 acres, brought the total area to about 10 acres in 1855.

Originally there was an avenue of pine trees planted by Deacon Bush between 1837 and 1850, hence the cemetery's name of Pine Grove. The pines lining that avenue, as well as most of the others in the area, were devastated by the hurricane of 1937. This original avenue through the pines is now the easterly cemetery lane, passing from Scar Hill Road to the back (northeasterly) corner of the cemetery. At one time there was a wooden gate at the road; by which entry was obtained to the pine lined avenue, passing by later acquired sections 3 and 2 to the original acquisition, now Section 1 at the far end. The early burials were along the front of these sections facing the avenue.

Today, in Section 1 of Pine Grove Cemetery, there exists an enigma in the Ruggles' family plot. There are 4 graves predating the original acquisition of the cemetery property in 1837, the earliest grave being that Albert H. Ruggles, who died January 2, 1818, with his mother joining him March 19, 1837.

Today Pine Grove is an active cemetery, managed by the town of Boylston, well and neatly kept. Every section is numbered and has a sign stating the section number.

A concerted effort in the fall of 2010 and spring/summer of 2011, culminated in the 100% photo coverage of the then existing stones in the cemetery, and inclusion of those photos into the findagrave.com system.