Patriots Day 2015

Patriots Day

    Although we celebrated the holiday, yesterday, I could not let the week go by without raising to memory those veterans of the Revolutionary War interred at the East Deering/Grand Trunk Cemetery.  The holiday, once a solemn occasion, has lost some of its poignancy until the events of two years ago.

  However, I was reminded of how significant this day is when I realized that another state, besides Massachusetts and Maine, Wisconsin,  appropriately remembers the patriots who participated in the war for our independence as a nation.  I found this quote rather appropriate to share:

          "The American Revolution was brought about by many men

             and women working together in a common cause.  History

             remembers the great and near great, the Washington's, the

             Franklin's, and the Jefferson's.  History also records the stories

             of those who are made to play the villains, the Hutchinson's,

             the Arnold's, and the Butler's; what history does not often reveal

             are the stories of the ordinary people who brought, by hard labor

             and great personal sacrifice, this nation into being.  The real hero

             of the American Revolution is the common soldier; had he not

             been convinced of the rightness of the cause for which his leaders

             asked him to fight, the Revolution would never have succeeded."

             R.C. Carroon    Wisconsin Society Sons of the American Revolution

     Recently, this plaque was dedicated

     And so, we raise to memory:

     Lieut. Crispus Graves, Private Simon Davis, Massachusetts Militiaman, John Sawyer, Jr., and Private Joseph Lunt.  We remember and we are grateful for their service to our city of Portland, out state of Maine and to our nation.

Joseph Lunt Answers The Call

The Year 1778

      "when patriotism was at its lowest ebb, Reinforcements were ordered for Washington's army in March, and Old Falmouth raised Capt. 

Jesse Partridge's company of fifty men by voluntary enlistment.

They joined the army on the Hudson River, were assigned to Col.

John Greaton's Third Massachusetts regiment and served until

November 1.

The General Court, June 23rd, voted " that the town of  Falmouth

having raised fifty men by volunteer enlistment, are exempt from

furnishing men, as per the resolve April, 2, 1778."

        

                             FALMOUTH NECK IN THE REVOLUTION:  

                        ONE OF THOSE OLD TOWNS WITH A HISTORY,

                                                     by NATHAN GOOLD      

Nathan Goold was born in Portland in 1846.  He is best known for his extensive writing on the history of Portland and the surrounding area, and for his genealogies of local families.  His early career was a machinist at the Portland Company, and as a clothing and fabric salesman.  Goold was best known as the librarian at Maine Historical Society.  He was also an active member of many local civic and historic groups such as the Portland Fraternity Club, the Maine Genealogical Society, and the Maine Sons of the American Revolution.  When Nathan Goold died in 1914, his funeral was held at the Maine Historical Society Library, with his casket placed near his desk.

Nathan Goold records:

      " In the winter of 1777- 78, the people of  Old Falmouth felt the anguish of her sons, who half-clothed and half-starved, were recording their  devotion to liberty with blood from their feet on the white snow of
Valley Forge.  The sufferings of those patriots we cannot describe, but
their names will go down through generations to come, among the 
noblest heroes of our country."

     "In February, Col. Waite issued the following advertisement:--

          Whereas a subscription is opened for soldiers who enlisted from this town into the Continental army and are now in camp destitute of shoes, stockings and shirts, I make no doubt but every person who does not  (like the Israelites of  old) wish to return to bondage again, will  contribute either shoes, stockings, shirts, or cash to be sent by Lieut. (Daniel) Lunt for immediate relief Of said soldiers.  Any of the above articles will be received by the subscribers' humble servant."

                                                                                                                       Jon Waite

JOSEPH LUNT

     on April 1, 1778, just two days before his 21st birthday, (April 3, 1757)  along with forty nine others from the town of Falmouth,  answered General Washington's  call to arms.  Joseph would  follow in the footsteps of his older brothers, Benjamin, Amos and James Lunt who were already   engaged in the effort to secure freedom and liberty as patriots of the Revolution, stalwart men of Old Falmouth.

Benjamin Lunt, born August 15, 1747 served in Capt. James Merrill's company, Col. Jonathan Mitchel's Cumberland Company fortifying Falmouth.

James Lunt, born in 1750 served in various units of the Continental army from 1777 until 1781 with the rank of Lieutenant.  His was a long and notable record.

Amos Lunt, born February 29, 1751 received the rank of Ensign having served from December 31, 1775 until his discharge December 1, 1781. He also has a notable service record.

These records can be found in volumes of  the 
Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in the War of the Revolution housed at the Maine Historical Society.

     Over the last several months,  since writing about Joseph and Jane Lunt, I was determined to find out if Joseph was indeed a veteran of the Revolution.  It seemed inconceivable, given his family's history and that of his relatives on the Noyes side of the family,  that he would not have served in some capacity. Finally,  with persistent historical sleuthing,  and finding Nathan Goold's wonderful account, I was able to obtain his military records from the National Archives .  

The Continental army endured many set backs and hardships in 1777 and 1778, but  in the spring of 1778,  France openly acknowledged the right of the Colonies to seek  independence from the British crown,  and joined the cause and promised their support  and expertise.  Thus, the Revolutionary War became a World War.  The third Massachusetts regiment and other regiments were reorganized.  

The third Mass. regiment, established in 1775 under the command of  Col.William Heath, later appointed as Brigadier by Washington, came to be under the command of Col. John Greaton.  The following documents give information about this regiments history and involvements during the war for independence.

REENACTORS IN  COLONIAL UNIFORMS

I am including the following for your interest showing the battles for independence in which the 3rd Massachusetts Regiment was engaged covering the period of Joseph Lunt's service in 1778.

According to Nathan Goold:

Jedediah Preble wrote from Cambridge:

     "The province of Maine and town of Falmouth, in particular, are highly applauded by the General Court for being foremost of any part of the state (Massachusetts) in furnishing their quota for the army."  April 1778:  the government mentioned the conduct of Falmouth as highly       commendable, manly and patriotic in their glorious exertions to raise     volunteers to reinforce the Continental army."

I have searched for a list of the fifty men who joined the Continental army in Capt. Jesse Partridge's Company , but have yet to find one in existence.  None-the-less, I am delighted that we are able to recognize Joseph Lunt's service and am in the process of petitioning for a government issued replacement stone to be dedicated in his honor. 

 The forms and supporting documentation are nearly complete.  The government requirement for a 'next of kin' or letter from a NOK  giving permission for another, to act on their behalf to request the replacement still holds true.  Nicholas Noyes who is a descendant of Joseph Lunt has graciously agreed to provide the necessary letter so that we can proceed.

Over the last several years, the work of continuing to 'Unearth the Roots of the Back Cove and East Deering Communities', has resulted in obtaining memorials for seven veterans:  Joseph Lunt will be the eighth.  

I am convinced that this is an important and worthwhile endeavor that continues to contribute to a history of the East Deering village which was all but lost.  Although, we have yet to determine exactly where Jane and Joseph Lunt were interred within the boundary lines  of the East Deering/Grand Trunk Cemetery, we will, none-the-less, finally  be able to restore honor and dignity to one of East Deering's patriots and citizens and to his family's history.