February Deaths Remembered

    On this last very snowy, February 28th, we will remember four deaths that took place in this shortest month of the year.   Three are individuals whose names have survived in record, but the other, is the patriarch of the Sawyer family, believed by surviving descendants to be interred at the back cove burial site, the Grand Trunk Cemetery.

    Susanna (Hanna) Barton Sawyer was born  in 1765 to Robert, (1735 - ?) and Ruth Small Barton, (1737 - 1803).  She married Thomas Sawyer, a mariner and ship's captain, and veteran of the Revolutionary War,  on January 31st, 1784 at the age of nineteen.  Susanna was the mother of four children:  Thomas, Jr., Dorcas, George and Daniel.

    Susanna Barton Sawyer died at the relatively young age of 40 years old on February 6, 1805.  She is buried near her young son, Thomas, Jr. who died  at the age of 22 in 1807, and perhaps, her daughter Dorcas Sawyer, who died at 20 years old on June 23, 1803.

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    Samuel Blake, son of Thomas, (1765 - 1832) and Sarah Libby Blake , (1771 - 1801) was born on August 3, 1793.  Samuel Blake married Martha H. Goold on September 27, 1821.  Samuel was a "Joiner", a specialty carpenter.  

The joiner executes the more minute parts of the wood-work of edifices, comprehending, among many things, the floors, window frames, sashes, doors, mantles &c.

    Samuel Blake was a Veteran  of the War of 1812, serving for the defence of Portland in Capt. Pride's Company of Volunteers.  During his marriage, he and Martha had six children.  Two of his children:  Emeline, (1823- 1842) and John Goold Blake, (1824 - 1827) died and are buried in graves no longer bearing their monuments.

    Samuel Blake died  on February 14, 1846 aet. 52 years old.

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    Ann Ambler Moseley, was born in England about 1799 and died on February 24, 1856 at the age of 57.  We know she, and her daughter came to Portland sometime after her husband's  Thomas Moseley's death.  They lived in Pennsylvania, and then moved to Rhode Island.    Ann had four children, at least two sons, we know ,served in the American Civil War.

    Ann Moseley came to Portland where her daughter, Sarah Ann married John H. Blake.  Her son James, a Veteran of the Civil War also came to Portland where he was employed as an Iron Worker.

    Ann Moseley and her son, James are both interred at the East Deering/Grand Trunk Cemetery.  

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    Isaac Sawyer, Sr. was born on February 14, 1684 To James, (1640 - 1703) and Sarah Bray Sawyer, (1651 - 1727)  in Gloucester, Massachusetts, then an English Colony.  Isaac was one of many children born to the couple, many are interred at the 1st Parish Cemetery in Gloucester. 

    On March 19, 1705, Isaac married Martha Bond Haskell, (August 25, 1686 - ?).    The couple produced seven children all born in Gloucester.

    In 1725, Isaac Sawyer traveled up the coast to settle in the Maine territory.  He would join his brothers John and Jacob and nephew, Job to venture into Maine, but Isaac would settle in Falmouth, now Portland, while his brothers and nephew settled in Purpoodock, now South Portland.

    All of the Sawyer family members interred at the Presumpscot/East Deering burial site can trace their lineage to this pioneer.

    Isaac Sawyer, Sr, died a day before his 88th birthday on February 13, 1772.