SPRING CLEANUP AND PLANTING AT THE GRAND TRUNK CEMETERY-MAY 17, 2015

A SERVICE RENDERED

     The day was perfect.  The sun was shining and the temperature was warm and welcoming.  About thirty of us gathered to rake and pick up fallen branches, weed the gardens and plant donated perennials and pansies.  The tradition begun five years ago, was carried on by Portland Girl Scouts, their Leaders and parents and faithful Friends of the Grand Trunk Cemetery.  

     Although this ancient cemetery is not like so many here in the state of Maine,  where there still remain well worn, but in tact memorials bespeaking a history of those long gone; this is not the case here.  Anyone lucky enough to find and visit the East Deering/Grand Trunk Cemetery will be impressed with how few of the 197 burials are marked by mere stumps of stones, save for 7 original survivors.  

     However, in the last five years, thanks to those courageous and committed young women, Samantha Allshouse (who by the way, just graduated with honors from the University of Maine, Farmngton with her teaching degree! Congratulations Sam!) and Kayla Theriault (mother of two beautiful children), we can boast of The Grand Trunk Veterans Memorial with eight government issued stones honoring men who served in the Revolution and the War of 1812, and also bearing a stone honoring Civil War veteran, James Mosley.  We can also be proud that last fall we were able to dedicate a memorial honoring all 197 of the early settlers of East Deering Village.

  So days like, Sunday, are important because they allow us to honor, in some small way, people who came before us and on whose shoulders we stand to build our own histories and share their stories.

I found this poem which seemed appropriate,

  Here then, are some photos to share of the day.  Please stop by for a quite moment of peace and reflection.

Emma Brackett and her Mom Beth.  Emma and two of her other Girl Scout sisters followed the legacy by designing their own Bronze award project for the beautification of the Grand Trunk Cemetery last Spring.

Ben and Norma Sawyer with Lynda Allshouse at Zoe's Bench.

Emma Brackett, Ella Pillsbury and Megan Cunningham 's Perennial Gardens 

Add caption

Ella with her Grandma

Janet Christopher turns the soil.

Ben Sawyer, Anthony Sawyer's descendant.

     A ceremony with the laying of flags for our Veterans completes the day with the singing of three verses of 'Taps.'

Two new markers have been placed to honor Simon Davis, Revolutionary War
 and Francis Smith, War of 1812

I received an unexpected gift and my 35th year Membership pin as a Girl Scout member.

  The cemetery is ready for Memorial Day!

     Thank you to all of the wonderful Girl Scouts, their Leaders and parents and the faithful Friends of the Grand Trunk Cemetery for your service to the Grand Trunk Cemetery and the city of Portland.

     

SPRING COMES TO THE GRAND TRUNK CEMETERY

SPRING HAS FINALLY ARRIVED IN MAINE

     Since beginning the project to recover the remnant that is the East Deering/Grand Trunk Cemetery in Portland, Maine, a great deal of effort by local Girl Scout Troops, school children and their families and supportive friends and neighbors has resulted in the beautification of a once desolate and neglected final resting place for the early settlers of the East Deering Village. 

     From 2011 to the present, on a crisp autumn Sunday, the faithful gather to plant daffodils bulbs  hoping, that in the spring, the dormant bulbs  would bring forth their marvelous color and vibrancy to the cemetery.  Here are some of the early bloomers of Spring 2015:

Blooms near Thomas Sawyer's stone

Note the beer bottle under the bench, a place for reflection.  It was removed!

Hyacinths and tulips.

Perennials are just beginning to awaken in the three gardens planted last year.

AN INVITATION  TO THOSE OF YOU WHO LIVE LOCALLY

     We hope to see as many of you who wish to visit the cemetery,  and, spend and hour or so helping us to continue the work of beautifying this sacred space in time for Memorial Day. Hopefully the weather will be kind.  All are welcome! 

    I just received a wonderful donation of delphiniums and pinks to plant in our gardens from Jean Koster, a Friend of the Grand Trunk Cemetery.  'Thanks' Jean!  We will have extra tools, summer bulbs, and refreshments.  Please join us!

        

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.

FRANCIS SMITH: 1791 - JUNE 1, 1840 CORDWAINER

 A "Cordwainer" is a shoemaker who makes fine, soft leather shoes and other luxury footwear articles.  The word is derived from "cordwain", or "cordovan", the leather product produced in Cordoba, Spain.  The term "cordwainer" (also "Conviser" was used as early as 1100 in England.

     I found this definition through Google since I was unsure of its full meaning.  The difference between a shoemaker, as I remembered from my childhood, and a Cordwainer is vastly different.  Whenever we needed new heels on our shoes, or shoes worn, but needing to last for the school year,or taps on our dancing shoes,  we walked down to Mondello's, the cobbler.  Mr. Mondello, an old man, even then,  was in business with his son.  I loved the smell of leather, glue and grease for the machines.  When we picked up the shoes a few days later,(or maybe a week!)  they were always polished and spiffy.   Today, I suspect this is a lost art.  Now, old Mr. Mondello who emigrated from Sicily, may indeed have been capable of creating shoes from fine leather, but he was more practical and needed to provide for his large Italian family. Today, in our throw-away society, we seldom think about repairing our shoes; we just get a new pair. I think we do have one 'shoemaker - cobbler' in Portland.

      I have learned that Francis Smith was a "Cordwainer" according to a Probate Notice published upon his death, in which he is named such.  After searching further, I may have found the establishment where he was actually employed in 1825.  

     However, recovering Francis Smith's history has been a challenging task, leading to many questions and partial answers.  Most of what I've learned has come from a biography of his son, Joseph F. Smith contained in the book, "History of Laclede, Camden, Dallas, Webster, Wright,Texas,Pulaski, Phelps and Dent Counties, Missouri: from the Earliest times to the Present": (Google eBook)

http://books.google.com/books/about/History_of_Laclede_Camden_Dallas_Webster html

   I will include the entire biography not only because it contains specific information regarding our Francis, but because his son, Joseph was, in his own right, a remarkable man who contributed to the fabric of our nation.

Joseph F. Smith Portrait, Mayor of  Lebanon, Missouri

     According to the biographical information, we learn that Joseph was one of six children born to Francis and Martha Mitchell Smith.  Francis was born c. 1791 in New Market, Rockingham County, New Hampshire and his wife, Martha, was born about the same time in Kittery, Maine.  I searched through early records of both of these areas, but was unable to find any information about their respective lineages.  

     It has been even more difficult to determine where the couple married and when they came to live in Portland, Maine.  Census records from 1830 and 1840 do indicate they resided in the Portland area.  More problematic is the determination of where, in fact, the children were born.  I'll return to this later!

    The biography describes Francis's occupation as a 'shoemaker' and a cutter employed  for many years by a large establishment. While the biography does not use the term "Cordwainer", the inclusion here of the Probate Notice after his death does.  I am also sharing the advertisement from The Portland  Weekly Advertiser of the business to which his son may have referred.

Death Notice

I learned that later, Peter Lunt, an attorney, and son of Joseph Lunt would handle the legalities
included in the requirements of probating the estate of Francis Smith.

      According to Joseph, his father, Francis was a veteran of the War of 1812.  Another problem!  While I found records on Fold3 for a Francis Smith, they were inconclusive.  Two were Militia rolls of  units called-up for service in Wiscasset and the Mid-coast region of the state.  I searched through New Hampshire militia records, as well as records from surrounding townships; even rolls of Marines named Francis Smith, but none were definitive.  I'm hoping that someone reading this post might lend some insight and direction.  We have, I believe an obligation to our veterans to honor their service, no matter how long ago.  This has been an important part of our work to recover the Grand Trunk Cemetery.  It continues to be a goal!

     Joseph Smith's biography indicates he was born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire and moved to Portland with his family, probably sometime after the War of 1812, and that he spent his early years here where he was educated.  One other child's name is mentioned, a brother Samuel who lived, as an adult, in Kansas.   Searching through a number of genealogical resources, I did come across these records on "Family Search.com".  However, they do compound the dilemma of 'when the Smith's came to Portland' ? and 'where the children were born'?  You will note the names and birth dates:

Record with names of Milton Smith's wife, Martha Blake and his son Frederick.

A City Directory indicates Milton followed in his father's footsteps, and was himself a 'shoemaker.'

     The information I was able to gather about Milton Smith also shows that he self-reports having been born in New Hampshire.  The City Directory for 1844, contains some other mysteries:  Who was Amos Smith, the hack driver?  Why did Martha Smith and her daughter, Martha live at Amos Smith's residence?  How was he connected or related to the widow and her daughter?

     I'll include the Federal Census records here from 1830 and 1840.  In the 1840 record, it seemed clear that only two children resided with the couple. I believe them to be Milton and his sister Martha. By that time, Samuel and Joseph had moved away.  There are no records for Rufus or Mary F. Smith.  Perhaps they were no longer living?

     I 'd like to share the Ancestry material about Joseph F. Smith that readers might find as interesting.  I also want to share other tid -bits I found about Francis Smith, including an article demonstrating his political leanings at a crucial time in American history.  I found it fascinating; hope you do as well.

There are a number of photos attached, including an extensive obituary.

 I was surprised and excited to find as much as I did regarding Francis Smith.  When I set out, I had no idea where it would lead.  I will continue with this piece at a later date.  We are expecting the birth of a new Grandson any day, so I will need to put any further pieces on hold for now

Finally, in an endeavor to get a photograph of what remains of Francis Smith's headstone, I managed to trek across the soccer field on that lovely 50 degree day in two feet of snow.  Those of you who have access to my Facebook page know the whole story.  For now, I'll just share the photos with the snow as backdrop.