Weaving the Threads of Memory

     In the fall of 2010, A Girl Scout Junior Troop  met to conduct the first  Cleanup project at the Presumpscot/ East Deering Cemetery behind Presumpscot School.  These girls were lead by Senior Girl Scouts, Kayla Theriault and Samantha Allshouse who endeavored, through this Girl Scout Gold Award project, to recover the ancient and neglected cemetery,  and to restore elements of dignity to this sacred burial ground dating back to the 1740's and is a final resting place of nearly 200 souls.

    

    Over the course of twelve years, Portland Girl Scouts of the Machigonne Service Unit have continued the legacy of Kayla and Samantha by adopting the Presumpscot/ Grand Trunk Cemetery as an annual service project. They do this by holding Cleanup/Planting Parties in the Fall and Spring.  The Girl Scouts, their friends and families, together with the informal, 'Friends of the Grand Trunk Cemetery' have gathered, to rake leaves, and plant daffodil bulbs, or flowers in the spring.  The cemetery has also been, and continues to be,  a place of gathering for other activities to celebrate Girl Scout events like their Founder, Juliette Gordon Low's Halloween birthday.

    The large school construction project and the Covid pandemic made it impossible to hold large gatherings for almost three years.  I am thrilled to announce that on Sunday, October 23rd, the tradition continues.

This flyer was designed specifically for the Girl Scouts and their Families

        Portland Cemeteries Department  will provide rakes and equipment we need to spruce up the burial site and ready it for winter, and, we will plant new bulbs, promising added color and beauty in the spring.  

    "Thank you!", to our friends, Ron Romano and Nancy and Steve Sawyer for their generosity allowing Joel and I  to purchase about two hundred bulbs for planting.  Any friends who may wish to join in the fun of this event, are welcome to bring additional bulbs for planting.  

    The Girl Scouts and their families and friends will conduct fun activities after the work of raking and planting to celebrate Mrs. Low's Halloween birthday.  What better place than in a 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."

    *John Gould/Goold Blake was the son of Samuel (1793 - 1846) and Martha Gould/Goold Blake (1783 -1857).  John was born in August 1824, and died on September 25. 1827 at the age of 3 years and one month old.

    *Joseph Merrill Sawyer, Jr.  was born on October 10, 1832 to Joseph M. (1795- 1875) and Dorcus Whittam Sawyer (1801 - 1856.)  The little boy died on September 27th, 1835, 13 days prior to his 3rd birthday.

    Unfortuately,  there isn't any recorded information about the cause of these children's deaths.

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    A husband and wife, married by the Rev. Samuel Deane on February 22nd, 1785, died in the same month of September but thirty years apart.  She, Jane Lunt, never remarried.

    *Joseph Lunt, a veteran of the Revoultionary War, owner of merchant sailing vessels, including one named for his wife, "The Jane", was born on April 3, 1757, the youngest  son of James (1718 -1799) and Hannah Noyes Lunt (1720 - 1761.)  He was described as a 'charitable friend to anyone in need ',who died at the age of 48 on September 15, 1804.

    *Jane Noyes Lunt, was born in 1764 to Col. Peter Noyes (1731 - 1796) and Hannah Merrill Noyes (1728 - 1803.)   The couple had one son, Peter Lunt.

    The Lunt and the Noyes families resided on farms along what is now Ocean Avenue but their property boundary lines extended down to, and including land where the Presumpscot/Grand Trunk  Cemetery is today.  The division of property was drawn up by Timothy Galvin around 1831.

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    The last three deaths are those of three women, wives, mothers and grandmothers who died between 1849 and 1893.

   *Elizabeth Webb Sawyer was born on September 3, 1782 the daughter of John (1754 - 1846) and Sarah Leighton (1758 - 1830).   Elizabeth  was the wife of Brackett Sawyer (1775 - 1851).  The couple were married by the Rev. Caleb Bradley on January 10, 1805.  During their 46 years of marriage, five children were born to the couple.  Elizabeth outlived her husband by 13 years.

   *Tabitha Cutter Graves, was born c. 1782 , a daughter of Ebenezer and Tabitha Cutter who records show,  lived in North Yarmouth and Falmouth.  On May 1, 1808, the Rev. Caleb Bradley married  Tabitha Cutter and Andrew Graves (1774 - 1860.)   Five children were born to the couple.  In their older years, Tabitha and Andrew sold property to their son, Crispus Graves who agreed to care for them until their deaths.

    *Frances Baker Boothby, was born on March 23rd, 1815, the daughter of John and Mariam Sawyer Baker (1783 - 1869).  On April 3, 1839, Frances married  Silas Boothby (1815 - 1867.)   Frances and Silas  brought six children into the world during their 28 years of marriage.  Frances Boothby outlived her husband by 26 years, dying on September 20th, 1893 at the age of 78 years.  When Maine finally achieved statehood in 1820, Frances Baker  was five years old.

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    I have heard it said, that repeating the names of those who died long ago, assures that their memory will not be lost.  I hope by sharing a little bit about these people, that they will not be forgotten, at least by readers of this post.

    Finally, I  want to extend the invitation to people who live in the Portland area to join the Girl Scouts and our Friends on Sunday, March 23rd for an hour or two at the Presumpscot/Grand Trunk Cemetery beginning at 1 PM.    Park at the Department of Motor Vehicles and follow the signs into the cemetery.