Remnant: Grand Trunk Cemetery Reclamation Project
Saturday, March 16, 2024
MARCH DEATHS/BURIALS AT THE GRAND TRUNK CEMETERY REMEMBERED
Tuesday, February 20, 2024
FEBRUARY DEATHS REMEMBERED OF THOSE INTERRED AT THE PRESUMPSCOT/GRAND TRUNK CEMETERY
Author's Note: I want to begin this post with a happy acknowledgement
of a donation made to the Maine Old Cemetery Association by Michael and Doreen Chapman on behalf of the restoration work done on behalf of the Presumpscot/Grand Trunk Cemetery. The project begun some 14 years ago by two highschool Senior Girl Scouts, Samantha Allshouse and Kayla Theriault, continues through the support of Portland Girl Scout Troops, and members of the Friends of the Grand Trunk Cemetery to this day.
The donation will contribute to the MOCA Memorial Fund and further the Association's goals in preserving Maine's old cemeteries.
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We acknowledge and remember four deaths and burials in the month of February:
SUSANNA BARTON SAWYER, born in 1765, and died aet. 40 years
on February 6, 1805.
SAMUEL BLAKE, born August 3, 1793, and died aet. 52 years on
February 14, 1846.
ANN AMBLER MOSELEY,born c. 1799 in England, and died aet. 57 years
on February 24, 1856.
ISAAC SAWYER, SR.,born February 14, 1684 in Gloucester, Massachusetts, and died one day before his 88th birthday, on
February 13, 1772. Isaac Sawyer, referred to as Father Sawyer in the journal of the Rev. Dean who attended his funeral and burial on February 15, 1772.
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Followers of this blog will find a post about Isaac Sawyer dated February 13, 2019, and which contains information about the Sawyer brothers who settled in what is now Portland and South Portland, having migrated up the coast from Gloucester between 1719 and 1725.
Please find and read previous posts published about the other deceased mentioned if you wish to know more about each of them. My hope is that this is a way of keeping their memory alive.
Tuesday, January 23, 2024
January Deaths Remembered
am re-posting this piece in remembrance of Eva Ella Boothby, age 27 months old and Irish School Master, Timothy Galvin who died in this month of January, and are interred at the Presumpscot/ Grand Trunk Cemetery. Readers may wish to follow up with articles published in The Remnnant.
Saturday, December 16, 2023
Christmas Wreaths at the Presumpscot/Grand Trunk Cemetery 2023 /Remembering December Deaths and Burials
It has been our custom to place wreaths in four locations at the GTC to honor the dead of long ago. It occured to me, as it may have to followers of this blog, that the earliest residents of this cemetery probably did not celebrate Christmas; at least those who were born of Puritan stock, in the early 18th century.
However, the wreath is a symbol of hope and unending connection, and so we choose to remember those men and women who lived and died in this East Deering area of Portland, and remain connected to us who live here and now.
Monday, October 30, 2023
Remembering MaryAnn Barbour's Death
There is only one recorded death and burial at the Presumpscot/Grand Trunk Cemetery in the month of October. Mary Ann Barbour died on October 7th, 1855, at the age of 27 years, 11 months, one month before her 28th birthday in November.
Mary Ann Barbour was the oldest daughter, one of twelve children born to JohnBarbour, (1801 - 1869) and Jane Moses Morse Barbour, (1806 - 1881).
Her paternal grandparents were: John M. Barbour, (1773 - 1850) and Anna Huston Wilson Barbour, (1774 - 1881). Her maternal grandparents were: Capt. Ephraim Morse, (1764 - 1843) and Rachel Noyes, (1771 - 1849.)
Unfortunately, I could not find an obituary for Mary Ann, nor does the early death record indicate the cause of her death. The actual location of her grave is unknown. We do know that her father John Barbour was probably buried near his young daughter.
The Barbour family has a long history in the city of Portland dating back to 1718. The first were James and John Barbour listed among the 15 soldiers who were charged with re-settling the town after the French and Indian Wars.
We commit to keeping the memory of these early inhabitants alive despite of how little we are able to glean from sparse records.
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Sunday, October 29, 2023 was the date chosen for our Annual Fall Cleanup and Planting Party at the Grand Trunk Cemetery. It was re-scheduled because of bad weather from the previous week, which probably limited the number of people who could participate.
We were hoping for a bright, sunny day. This was not the case! It was raining at noon, drizzling still at 1 PM when the first participants walked across the wet soccerfield.
None-the-less, eight stalwart ladies arrived ready for the task at hand. A lot of bags were filled with leaves, and well over two hundred bulbs were planted at the Presumpscot/Grand Trunk Cemetery.
One of the intentions of this blog is to publish a record of the continued attention paid to, and care of, the Presumpscot/Grand Trunk Cemetery and those who provide it. Here are pictures from the event.
Joel and I, and the city of Portland are grateful to Sarah Sweeney, Leader of Girl Scouts of Maine Troop 1061 and Abby S., Abby A., Halina O, Emma S.., Ava C., and Page S. Also, thank you to Monique Prevost, Leader Troop 1423. Your service today honored those people who lived long ago and are interred at this historic burial site.
Wednesday, September 27, 2023
September Deaths and Burials at the Grand Trunk Cemetery
WEAVING THE THREADS OF MEMORY
There were eight deaths and burials during this month of September of residents of 'Back Cove' or East Deering over the course of 89 years from 1804 to 1893. Although this may seem a small number, it is but a reminder that these few names that have survived in record, are among 47 out of the nearly two hundred people who were interred at this cemetery.
Three of the deceased are very young children: two toddler boys, and a five year old girl, the daughter of the Irish school master who once lived in a small house with a shop on what is now, Veranda Street in Portland.
*Harriot Galvin was the second oldest child to be born to Timothy (1766 - 1836/8), and Joanna Illsley Galvin (1769 - 1840) in July of 1800. She died on September 21, 1805. The original monument erected in her memory read: "Of such is the Kingdom of Heaven."
Wednesday, August 30, 2023
August Deaths Remembered
A year ago, when I published a piece on the three citizens of East Deering who are interred at the Presumpscot/Grand Trunk Cemetery, I was recuperating from back surgery. The reconstruction project for the Presumpscot School prevented easy access to the cemetery. I am pleased to report that accept for work to replant the grass on the soccer field before the children and staff return to a new school year, the cemetery is more easily accessible, and available to visit. On the weekend, parking is available.
At least once or twice a month, Joel and I go to the site to check on the cemetery's condition and fo a bit of cleanup of garden waste. Once in a while, we have picked up other items which may be a sign that someone camped out nearby. I am pleased to report that there has been no visible damage in general.
With Fall just around the corner, I am hoping to schedule our annual Cleanup and Planting Party with the help of our Friends of the Grand Trunk Cemetery and the Portland Machigonne Service Unit. We generally shoot for October when we can celebrate the birthday of Juliette Gordan Low, the founder of Girl Scouts with a service project at the cemetery and Hallloween activities.
I will keep followers of this blog posted about any upcoming plans for the Cleanup Party.
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Please check this blog for articles about Benjamin Sawyer, Crispus Sawyer and John Barbour who died during August.