FOR YOUR INFORMATION

GIRL SCOUT BRONZE AWARD CANDIDATE, MISS EMMA BRACKETT
PRESENTS THE BOOK OF RECORDS TO CEMETERIES DIRECTOR, JOSEPH DUMAIS

     The Book of Records is a compilation of material which Emma organized from my research and previous records.  It contains:  1.  Alphabetical list of the names (47 to date), 2.  A record by date of death, 3. A record by age groupings, 4.  A record by burial site containing  family relationships, 5. Death records (will add to this as we find them, 6.  Miscellaneous Records;
surveyor's maps, Inscriptions, Military Records.  

     The purpose was to put together,  in one place, a binder that others who are interested and doing family research, could access easily.  It is a beginning; not a complete record of the remnant that is the Grand Trunk Cemetery.  In time, copies of my blog posts will be kept in this book as another resource.  Joe Dumais has offered to print these; a gift from the city.  How wonderful!

     It has been my honor and pleasure to work with Emma and her sister Girl Scouts Megan Cunningham and Ella Pillsbury over the last several months to continue the legacy begun by my two former (now adult) Girl Scouts, Samantha Allshouse and Kayla Theriault.  These young ladies continued the important mission to preserve,to care for, and to beautify the small, historical gem, known as the Grand Trunk Cemetery. 

      On June 16, 2014, at a special Girl Scout Ceremony, the three girls and 17 other Junior Girl Scouts who have designed and executed other projects, will be awarded the Junior Girl Scout Bronze Award.  Samantha and Kayla will be present, and fittingly, will present Emma, Megan and Ella the well deserved award.  Kudos to the Girl Scouts and their families!

     Enjoy the photos!

     

JOHN SAWYER, PART II

REFLECTIONS ON THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION:  THE ROLE OF THE MILITIA

by Dan McLaughlin  http://www.redstate.com/2013/02/01/refecltions-on-the-american-revolution-the-militia.

     "How did thirteen colonies, with a barely functioning central government

      and a thrown-together, underfunded and poorly supplied army of constantly

      fluctuating size and composition, win the Revolutionary War?  One reason

      was the colonies' ability to rely on their common citizens to supplement

      the Continental Army with the local militia.

      

      While it was the Continental Army that had to do the bulk of the work to win

      the war for Independence, the story of the American victory cannot be told 

      without the militia;

      - - - -a bulwark against tyranny, and a line of national defense- - - - called up

      during the Revolution, as needed, to suppress insurrections and repel invasions."

THE PENOBSCOT EXPEDITION 1779

This is Dan  McLaughlin's account:

     A force comprised mainly of Massachusetts and Maine Militia supported by a small detachment of Marines was to make an amphibious landing in Maine and assault a British Fort, was, he contends, ( a complex operation, unsuited to militia,) despite superior numbers compared to the enemy and some initial momentum, the unwieldy joint command co-ordinated poorly with its Continental Navy support, the Maine Militia turned out in smaller numbers than expected (1500 called, 875 engaged), and the Miliitia maintained an ineffective siege and cut and ran when counter-attacked.  The commanders of the expedition, including Paul Revere, ended up being hauled before a court-martial, and Maine remained in British hands for the rest of the war.

     There is an excellent article in Wikipedia for those of you who are interested in knowing more.  The Penobscot Expedition is deemed the largest American Naval expedition of the American Revolution and the United States worst Naval defeat prior to Pearl Harbor.  It was one of the greatest British victories of the war.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penobscot_Expedition.

      Into this scene, we find young John Sawyer, his brother Thomas, who was a private in the Continental line,a separate unit,  and a number of other young men from Old Falmouth.  Later, I will include some of these men who gave testimony to John's service when he was applying for a military pension.  

     My understanding is that an Act of of Congress issued sometime around 1830, allowed Revolutionary War veterans to apply for benefits.  According to Rodney Sawyer, John Sawyer's statement was taken on July 25, 1832 when he was then,  71 years old.  I'm including some, but certainly not all, of the documents that did result in the pension being issued to Abigail Graves Sawyer, John's widow. I chose these because they appealed to my curiosity to know something of the people who were neighbors and friends of the Sawyers and because they have visible signatures.   

Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War

    The following are documents pertaining to the pension application process.  It appears that there needed to be at least three persons to give testimony to John Sawyer's service and that each of the statements had to be witnessed and verified by the Court.

I was particularly interested in this because the witness is Joseph Pride; same name as one of the Captains, John served under in two of his enlistments during the Revolution, and again, in the War of 1812.  Could this be a son of Capt. Pride?

     

Note the amount to be paid.

You will also note the outlined names of John, his brother and cousin.

      John Sawyer served three enlistments periods during the Revolutionary War.  Twice his service was centered around defense of Falmouth (Portland) and under the command of Capt. Joseph Pride.  When a much older man, he again took up arms to defend the port of Portland during the War of 1812.  He must have had great respect for his commanding officer, Capt. Pride, because John enlisted in the same company.

      Now it's true John Sawyer would have been around 52 years old during the War of 1812, and I'm sure there were younger, more able young men available for service.  However, according to friend and Portland historian, Herb Adams:

            "Older men of Falmouth  DID proudly march as a unit to dig the Forts 

              up on Munjoy Hill (today's Fort Allen is still there---the Old Fort Lawrence

              below it on the shore, is gone now.)  They were called "The Exempts" (that

              is officially exempt, from military service) and did..."Fatigue Duty" (digging

              forts and gun emplacements, or standing guard duty), and were very much

              cheered and applauded for it.  I have some photographs of news items

              about this from the Portland papers of the day."

    I hope Herb will share some of these photos for our interest.  Undoubtedly, these older men were well respected for their patriotism and experience, both by their communities, and the Officers of the Militia units they served.  I am happy that the reclamation project:' Unearthing the Roots of the Back Cove and East Deering Communities' has brought out their stories.  Of course, as I have said so many times before; along with these discoveries, come more questions.

 

 

          I have included John Sawyer's family sheet from Ancestry to call attention to the children.  It appears that John and Abigail Sawyer had five children; four of who died very young.  Since no record seems to exist of where these young ones were buried, I wondered what were the customs for interring babies and young children.  We are acutely aware that there well over 100 burials at the East Deering/Grand Trunk Cemetery.  Would the Sawyer children  be among the missing and unidentified field stones or memorials?

       I contacted my friend and President of Maine Old Cemetery Association, Cheryl Willis Patten for some guidance here.  Cheryl indicated that all families during the 18th and 19th century would have been very caring for their deceased children and would have marked their graves with field stones until they could afford an engraved stone.  In many cases, the children's names might be added to the parent's stone as I have often seen in any number of the well cared for cemeteries in the state. 

 More and more, I realize just how much we have lost of these families' stories and their contribution to Portland's history because of the damage and ravages of vandalism.  Makes it all the more important to preserve what little remains!

*******************

     As is our custom since the reclamation project began, and,  with the addition of the Grand Trunk Veterans Memorial in 2012, a few friends gather to lay flags and a wreath for Memorial Day.  This year, Samantha Allshouse (back from college; soon to start her Senior year at U Maine Farm.!),and  her Mom, Lynda, Megan Cunningham (Junior Girl Scout Bronze Award Candidate) and her Mom Julie and yours truly had the honor, and even sang 'Taps.'  Hope you enjoy the photos!

JOHN SAWYER, PRESUMPSCOT VETERAN OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR

Righting the Historical Record

Acknowledgement:  Thanks to Rodney Sawyer for adding to our story of John Sawyer through his contribution to our information base regarding John's service during the War of Independence. While, we were able to honor John Sawyer, militiaman, with a government issued memorial for his service during the War of 1812, it is important that we recognize his much longer and more involved service during the Revolution. 

Thanks, also, to Sharon Lee Quincannon, whose yearly gift of $25.00, given in the name of her 'adopted Veteran', Lieut. Crispus Graves, Revolutionary War, was used to purchase a flag standard for John Sawyer.  This marker, embossed with the image of a 'Minute Man' is used to mark the graves of Revolutionary War Veterans.

John Sawyer was born on November 13, 1760 to Anthony and Susannah Sawyer.  When he was eighteen years old, he answered the call of the governor of the colony to join the militia and march from his home in Falmouth (Portland) to where troops would be taken to the area of what we now know as Castine, Maine to participate in the ill-fated Penobscot Expedition.  While 1500 militia were called up, only 875 ground forces showed up.  

John Sawyer enlisted on July 1, 1779 and served a term of three months in Capt. William Cobb's Company, a detachment of Col. Jonathan Mitchel.  His record of service is contained in Vol. 17 of Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War, page 874.  He was discharged on September 25,1779.

   On October 1, 1779 until late December 1779, John served another enlistment in Col.

 Mc Lellan's Militia Company under the command of Capt. Joseph Pride for service to  Falmouth.  Again in the spring of 1780, John Sawyer enlisted for a third time.  He served for eight months from April 25, 1780 until December 6, 1780 in Col. Joseph Prime's Cumberland Regiment, in Capt. Joseph Pride's Company for the defense of eastern Massachusetts.

     In total, John Sawyer served a thirteen month period of three enlistments during the Revolutionary War. I am so pleased we have found this information and can honor him for his service and patriotism.

The 3rd New England Flag adopted for use by the Militia.

On April 20, 1790, John Sawyer married Abigail Graves, daughter of Lieut.Crispus and Susannah Graves.  They lived in East Deering until their deaths and are interred in the East Deering/Grand Trunk Cemetery.

The Maine Historical and Genealogical Recorder, Vol. 4 1887 list their inscriptions as follows:

               JOHN SAWYER                                                              ABIGAIL

                       Died                                                                            Wife of

                Dec. 6, 1842                                                                    John Sawyer

                      AEt. 82                                                                      died  March 10

                  ________                                                                           1848

                                                                                                        AEt. 82 yrs, 6 mo.

                                                                                                                27 d's.

I am going to include several documents I hope will interest readers who want to know more about John Sawyer and his service during the Revolution, including some testimonies recorded to verify his service in order for his wife to obtain his pension benefit.

More about this later.  At present, I am working with one of our young Junior Girls Scouts to put together records for the Grand Trunk Cemetery to be kept in the Office at Evergreen Cemetery.  We hope people looking for information about the GTC will find it useful.  So, for now, I need to sign off.  Remember our Patriots on Memorial Day!

MEMORIAL DAY MUSINGS

 The Grand Trunk Cemetery Veterans Memorial
May 22, 2014

     Four years ago, during this week, on a Wednesday, I believe, my Junior Girl Scout Troop from Presumpscot School were invited to lay the flags for the Veterans interred at Eastern Cemetery. Samantha Allshouse, then a Junior at Cheverus High School,  was my Troop assistant.  Holly Dogget from the Spirits Alive group met us and guided the young Girl Scouts throughout the cemetery for the placement of the flags.  Most of the girls had never visited Eastern Cemetery and enjoyed the experience.  I remember we conducted our own brief Flag Ceremony to honor the Veterans.  But perhaps,  the most amazing part of that afternoon was the revelation Sam and I received from Holly with her question:

  "Do you know about the cemetery right behind Presumpscot School where there is a soldier of the Revolutionary War buried?"

     This was the question which ultimately led to Samantha Allshouse and Kayla Theriault deciding to reclaim the East Deering/Grand Trunk Cemetery as their Girl Scout Gold Award project and to many revelations to follow.

     Somehow, it seems appropriate to speak of this since Sam, her Mom, Lynda, and Megan Cunningham, one of our Junior Girl Scout Bronze Award Candidates following in Sam and Kayla's footsteps, Megan's Mom, Julie and I just returned from laying flags for our eight Veterans at the GTC.  We conducted our own mini ceremony complete with the singing of 'Taps.'

     I shared a bit of what we have learned about our Veterans over the last four years, especially about how there is a father, Lieut. Crispus Graves, Revolutionary War and his son, Andrew Graves, War of 1812, and two brothers, John and William Sawyer (War of 1812).  These two brothers are also sons - in - law of Lieut. Graves.  A new revelation, and one I will write about in detail later, is that John Sawyer also served over a thirteen month period during the Revolutionary War. 

      Sam and Kayla's project was so appropriately titled:  'Unearthing the Roots of the East Deering and Back Cove Communities.'  Over these last four years, we have come to appreciate the little facts and stories of these people,  who's final resting place is this small, but significant Grand Trunk Cemetery.

     Without delving into the theological or metaphysical, I have always felt that the veil between the living and the dead is thin;  exploring our history makes it thinner.  Historical and genealogical detective work is tough when you have so little to go by and you don't have the benefit of even the 'stone records' that other cherished cemeteries provide.  That said, I feel we know a great deal more now because we were willing and able to do the work, and it's exciting to be able to share with others who have taken an interest in the GTC and its 'residents.'

  I'm going to sign off for now with the promise of adding to the story of John Sawyer.  I will share photos from today, as well as the new gardens, thanks to our Junior Girl Scout Bronze Award Candidates.

     

The Grand Trunk Cemetery - Final Resting for Civil War Veteran, James Moseley and his mother, Ann Moseley from Rhode Island

James Moseley served in the 2nd Rhode Island Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Co. D

Unfolding the mystery

     Who was James Moseley, and how did he come to live and die in East Deering, Maine?  Who was his mother, Ann(a) Moseley?  What brought them here from Rhode Island?

     James Moseley's death record, more complete than most I've read, gives a glimpse into his life and his family, and so we'll begin here.

     James Moseley was born in 1836 to Anna Ambler and Thomas Moseley in Manayunk, Pennsylvania.  His parents emigrated from England.  His father, Thomas was employed in manufacturing.  Manayunk, once part of Roxborough Township, Philadelphia County,and  is situated near the Schuylkill River. The name comes from the language of the Lenape Indians (Delaware) and refers to the river; their word for "a place to drink".  William Penn first purchased this land from the Lenape in 1686.

    In the 18th and 19th century, many people emigrated from England, Scotland, Germany, Poland and Ireland.  Apparently, the construction of the dam, canal and locks by the Schuylkill Navigation Company in 1818, brought about the construction of mills and factories.  Perhaps, this is what brought the Moseley's to Pennsylvania?

  Four children were born to Thomas and Ann:  Thomas, Jr, born c. 1830, Albert, born c. 1834, James, born c. 1836, and Sarah Ann, born c. 1838. Sometime between 1838 and 1850, the family later moved to Providence, Rhode Island,  The following Census of 1850, seems to indicate that the senior Thomas Moseley died, although I have been unable to find any further information.

     Shortly after this Census, it seems that,  at least Ann and her daughter,  moved to Maine.  Ann Moseley, would only live a short while in the state, dying at the age of 57.  Whether the young men remained behind, or moved back to Rhode Island after their mother's death, remains a mystery.  However, we do know that both James and his brother, Albert  would later enlist in the Rhode Island Volunteers during the ensuing Civil War.

     What brought Ann Moseley to East Deering?  Did she have relatives?  The answer came through her daughter, Sarah Ann, who I discovered,  married into the Blake family in 1857, a year after her mother's death. Ann Moseley was interred in the middle section of the East Deering/Grand Trunk Cemetery, according to the old burial site map; only a remnant of, what I assume is her stone, remains.

 
      Sarah Ann Moseley Blake would go on to live a long life with her husband, John H. Blake.  She appears along with her husband in the Census of 1900.  I have no further information about her oldest brother Thomas Moseley, Jr.

The Civil War and James Moseley

     In May of 1861, it became apparent to the War Department that 90 day volunteers would not be sufficient to deal with the increasing crisis.  President Lincoln called for 3 year enlistments of federal troops.  Governor William Sprague of Rhode Island issued an order on May 30 to form the first regiment for three year duty in compliance with the President's request. The 1st R. I. Detached Militia Regiment under the command of Col. Ambrose E. Burnside was already deployed to Washington, DC.  Major John Slocum, serving with Burnside, was called back by Governor Sprague and  promoted to the rank of  Colonel with orders to form and command the 2nd Rhode Island Volunteer Infantry Regiment, the state's first 3 year unit. 

"Slocum began organizing his new regiment at Camp Burnside on the Dexter Parade and Fair Grounds, located on the corner of Dexter and Cranston Streets in Providence(which today is the site a R.I. National Guard Armory built in 1900 by Elisha Dyer, Jr.) " 

Taken from 2nd R.I. Volunteer Infantry, Co. D, Unit History:http://www.angelfire.com/ri2/GARvets/2ndRIhistory.html

     It was in this unit that the Moseley brothers would valiantly serve from June 5, 1861 until June 17, 1864.  What follows is a brief battle record of the 2nd RI Volunteers, and the service records for James and Albert Moseley.

1st recruits to answer the call!

Flags of the Regiment

     The following is taken from this wonderful website which is set to music from the Civil War and contains more information for those who wish to follow up with their own research.

    James and Albert Moseley, among the first enlisted recruits, left the front on June 11, 1864 to be mustered out on June 17, 1864.  The new recruits and those that had enlisted last remained on to fight the last battles of the war until 1865.

    Here are photographs of the Farewell Address of Colonel Elisha Hunt Rhodes, and the monument to the 2nd Rhode Island Regiment at Gettysburg.  You will note that there is a photograph taken at the monument of survivors of the 2nd.

After the War

    What became of Albert Moseley?  Did he remain in Rhode Island or did he move to Maine?  I have no information.  James Moseley ultimately moved to Maine, perhaps to be closer to his sister Sarah Ann and her family.  He appears in the Census of 1870 where he lived with the Woodman family and was employed as an iron maker in a forge company.  Apparently, he never married.

          The United States City Directories, 1821 - 1989, shows James Moseley lived on Ocean Avenue, N, Presumpscot, East Deering, in Portland, Maine. He was employed as a 'Hammersman' at the Eastern Forge Company. 

      James Moseley worked here,  until his death on December 10, 1892.  He was 56 years and 5 months old.  

     

     

James Moseley's  monument stands in the Grand Trunk Veterans Memorial site to honor him for his service to his State of Rhode Island, and to the Nation, for his commitment and  bravery during the Civil War.