Samuel Blake and the Blake Family - Part I

Samuel Blake

DIED

 February 14, 1846  

AEt.  52 years, 5 months

"Long shall his memory be revered,

     by those who knew his worth;

By those to whom he was endeared

     By strongest ties to earth."

An inscription from the Maine Historical and Genealogical Recorder, vol.4 (1887)  Contributed by Isaac Cobb:  Cemetery Inscriptions at East Deering Cemetery.

     Samuel Blake was born c. 1794, later, he married a woman named Martha H. (possibly, Hutchings).  A census record from 1850 indicates she was probably born around 1803.  Samuel served in the Militia during the War of 1812.  In August, 2012,  the Friends of the Grand Trunk Cemetery dedicated his replacement gravestone, along with five others of his contemporaries.

     The Maine Genealogical Recorder shows another inscription for Samuel and Martha Blake's

daughter Emeline, who was a month short of her twentieth birthday when she died.

The inscription is quite lovely and I'm pleased that it survived for us to appreciate.  It reads:

EMELINE,

dau. of Saml.  &

Martha  H.  Blake,

DIED

May  15,  1847

AE.  19  yr's,  11  mos.

Weep not; she has gone to a heaven of rest~ ~

The land of her Father~ ~ the home of the blest;

In the book of the ransomed, her name is enroll'd

In that city whose walks are silver and gold.

     It appears that Samuel and Martha Blake had another child, a boy, who died on September, 26, 1825 at the age of 3 years, 1 month, who is also buried in the family plot with his father and sister.  The city list, which I published in my post of August 8, 2013, indicates his name was Samuel G. Blake.  However, in another record published in Theodore Sawyer's book, "From Back Cove to Quaker Lane," also in the collection held by the Maine Historical Society, the child's name is listed as John G.

     Two other members of the Blake family were also buried at the East Deering/Grand Trunk Cemetery.  Lucy Blake, born c. 1769, died May 26, 1807 at the age of 38 years, and Sarah Blake, born c. 1776, died June 18, 1843 at the age of 67 years.  Both women were married to a William Blake.

     Hoping to learn more about the Blake's, I set out to search  through archival records on microfilm in the library and on Ancestry.com.  What I found, made me feel a bit like Alice who fell down the proverbial rabbit hole:  "Curious'r and curious'r!"  More questions than answers!

     Note:  Many of the oldest death records have limited information, and in fact, were recorded from tombstones.  In the case of our Grand Trunk Cemetery where there was so much damage to the original stones,  I assume this was problematic.  I believe this is the case with Samuel Blake's death record, and perhaps, William Blake's as well.  To complicate matters further, the use of the same first and last names during the 18th and 19th centuries,  makes looking for one person a challenge unless their descendants provided information regarding family lineage.

     Here is the first curious finding;  Samuel Blake's date of death is recorded as February 11, 1818.  His age, month and day of death are what we have in our burial records; but not the year.  I surmise this may have been recorded inaccurately. 

     Two other death records are for Emeline Blake and her brother, John.  There was no record for a Samuel G. Blake.  You'll note that Emeline's year of death is recorded as 1842.  This does not agree with my records from both the city list and Maine Historical Society  list with the date of 1847.  A census record (not included) from 1840 does not include Emeline at all.  I would not expect to see the little boy at this time, since he would already have died.  Why  wasn't Emeline listed with the other children?  

     John Blake's death record, you will note, indicates his age as we have listed as 3 years, 1 month, but his date of death on the record says'  September 25(not 26) and the year, 1827 (not 1825).  Mistake in the record; or were there two boys, Samuel G. and John G., born two years apart?

     You will also notice that the cemetery is listed as Presumpscot; yet another title for our East Deering/Grand Trunk Cemetery.  The cemetery was referred to as the Presumpscot Street Cemetery at Back Cove during this period of history. 

     The final record I'd like to include is the 1850 United States Federal Census of 1850.  Martha H. Blake is the head - of - household, Samuel Blake's name is absent, as is Emeline Blake.  I think this indicates that Samuel Blake did die in 1846.  You'll also note the other children listed and the place of residence as Westbrook, Maine.

     Before I continue with the remaining members of the Blake family:   Lucy, Sarah and William in my next post, I have a request?   I hope that readers of this blog who may have ancestral connections to the Blake's will contribute any insights and information about the Blake family. This will help us all to know more about 'Who's Buried at the Grand Trunk Cemetery?' 

Although, we may have many more questions than answers, you never know what little piece of history will be revealed, and thus preserved.

     On a final note:  another discovery, William Blake was  buried at the Grand Trunk Cemetery from his death record.  Of course,  that leads to lots more questions: 

 "Is he the brother of Samuel Blake?"  "Is his date of death correct?" 

 "Was he really 18 years older than Lucy, wife #1?"  "~~and 

25 years older than Sarah, wife #2?"

   Note:

 I have added four names to the list of "Who's Buried at the Grand Trunk Cemetery gleaned from records I've found and  corroborated through contact with family genealogists of the Sawyer and Frank families.

New Year! New Discoveries at the Grand Trunk Cemetery

The Grand Trunk Cemetery is but a remnant of what it once was....

a final resting place, a burial grand for pioneers and patriots who settled in Ancient Falmouth and resided in East Deering Village. 

Here is an opportunity to share a bit of history; incomplete, and much of it is, lost to the ravages of time, still, what does remain is worth preserving. 

The purpose of this blog -

To pass on what research and tenacious curiosity reveals to interested readers and advocates of history, 

and, 

To gather what readers wish to pass on so that the remnant can be preserved. 

A New Year Begins..the work continues!

     It seems appropriate to re-state the reason for writing this blog, and to invite those who take the time to read it, to leave comments, share insights and contribute any relevant information which will aid in the preservation of the history of the Grand Trunk Cemetery and its inhabitants

     In November, when gathering information about the Sawyers, I came across the website: 'Find A Grave.com' with a listing for the cemetery.  I was amazed to find a listing of 134 burials with most of the stones destroyed without names of the interred, save for the extant list of the forty two names at the Portland Cemeteries office;  those which I previously posted in this blog. 

     Yet another surprise; a new name I didn't recognize (at first); that of Isaiah L. Frank, date of death May 27, 1894.  I contacted the individual who added his name and this led to a wonderful discovery of a new contact: Thomas W. Frank, a military officer stationed over-seas  who would contribute some valuable additions to our knowledge of 'Who's buried' at the Grand Trunk Cemetery?  Tom provided me with information and a direction to pursue some genealogical detective work.  I found out that Isaiah Frank was married to Elizabeth Ann Sawyer and that she had a brother, Benjamin Sawyer who lived with the Franks until his death in 1878.

The Sawyer Connection

     The light dawns!  

    I remembered I had seen a reference to Isaiah and Elizabeth Frank in Theodore Sawyer's book; 'From Back Cove to Quaker Lane' in his discussion about the three Benjamin's.  "Thank you Ted!  Your work continues to be so valuable."

The underlined sections refer to Benjamin Sawyer, his sister Elizabeth Ann Sawyer, wife of Isaiah Frank.
 (side notes are my own.) 

   Of course this raised a number of questions as to "Who was Zebulon Sawyer?" " How might he be related to our Sawyers buried at the GTC?"   "Is it possible that these three people might also have been buried here and are among the unknown?"

    

     I was on a quest to find answers to this new mystery so I consulted my source for all things related to the Sawyers, Michael Sawyer.  I was sure he's set me off in the right direction.  I also connected Mike with Tom Frank and this proved a good connection for all of us.  Mike sent me information from Eleanor Grace Sawyer's work, "The Sawyers of New England."  Here is what I found:

     Zebulon Sawyer was the son of Benjamin Sawyer, the brother of our Anthony, Zachariah and Thomas Sawyer, sons of Isaac Sawyer, Jr.  Zebulon and his wife, Rebecca Ford Sawyer had a number of children; among then Benjamin, the ship's carpenter, born c. 1805 and his sister, Elizabeth Ann Sawyer, born c. 1820 on Mackaey Island; today, Mackworth Island.  Apparently, Benjamin was not in good health and sold his property to his brother-in-law, Isaiah Frank.  Benjamin resided with Isaiah and his sister's family until his death on August 22, 1878.

     Elizabeth Ann Sawyer married Isaiah Frank on November 15, 1840.  The couple produced four children:  Seward, Albert H., Orin, and Mary E.  Isaiah was a farmer and the family appears to have lived in East Deering on Lunt's Corner from records we have found.

     

You'll note there was another family living with the Franks at this time.  East Deering, and the town of Deering were considered part of Westbrook during this period of history.

     It appears that the Franks lived all their married life in East Deering. It seems likely they would have been buried in the East Deering/Grand Trunk Cemetery.

     Benjamin Sawyer resided with the Franks until his death on August 22, 1878.  His death certificate seems to indicate he was buried at the East Deering/Grand Trunk Cemetery.  I am also including the death certificates for Isaiah and Elizabeth.  There was some indication that Elizabeth may have been buried at Eastern Cemetery.  However, there are no records of any Franks having been buried there.  It seems unlikely that husband and wife would have been separated, and it's more probable that Elizabeth Ann (Sawyer) Frank and her husband, Isaiah Frank are among those interred in the Grand Trunk Cemetery.

You will note the clerk's signature from the town of Deering, and a signature of the attending doctor.

   

You will note that the reverse page lists the cemetery as Eastern.  However, there are no Franks buried there and could have been a mistake in transcription from an old document.

 Although so much of the Grand Trunk Cemetery was lost over time and through poor treatment at the hands of vandals, we are always amazed at how the little strings of the past can be woven together and connected.  When I took on this writing to keep the reclamation project of two Girl Scouts alive, I had no idea where it would lead and what discoveries could be shared.  I'm glad for the challenge!

A Final Note

In the spring, we hope to have a new fencing project begun at the GTC.  A group of Junior Girl Scouts is interested in taking on a project at the cemetery.  For the last three years, they have been faithfully participating in our annual bulb planting party.  Good for you girls!

We have requested historical street signs and an engraved marker dedicated to all those buried at the Grand Trunk Cemetery.  So, the work continues to preserve the Remnant!