A Father, Daughter and Niece: The Barbour's Buried At The Grand Trunk Cemetery

     The existing city records for burials at the East Deering/Grand Trunk Cemetery are sparse and only show that three members of the Barbour family were buried here:  Frances Jane Barbour, in 1846 at the age of 15 years, Mary Ann Barbour, in 1855, age 27 years, and John Barbour, in 1869, age 67.  Before sharing what I have learned about these individuals, I'd like to share a bit of the history of the Barbour family and how they came to be part of the foundation of the city we know as Portland, Maine.

Resettlement 

     "In July, 1716, the inhabitants who had already gathered upon the Neck, being probably the disbanded soldiers, were fifteen men, besides women and children."

    taken from The History of Portland by William Willis (A New Edition of the 1865 History)

  William Willis was a passionate writer of history; particularly about the history of the city he loved.  He was an active participant in city government and business and continued writing and contributing to 'the daily press and scholarly journals until the day he died' on February 17, 1870.   His History of Portland  continues to be an important historical resource to researchers and history buffs alike.

  The following order was passed by the General Council, July 20, 1716, allowing "Capt. Samuel Moody, late Commander of His Majesty's fort at Casco Bay to build a small fortification, with stockades, at the town of Falmouth, commonly called Old Casco, about his own house, on his own land...... that he might furnish arms and ammunition at his own charge for himself and the inhabitants being in number, fifteen men, besides women and children."

     "Among the men listed are John Barbour, father and son":  the father came a year later with his son James, his daughter, and her children.  John Barbour, the elder was drowned at sea in January 1719.

     Willis explains that the Barbour's were from the "Scotch/Irish emigration."  New transplants to the northern territory of Maine were expected to establish their families within a home and on land that might eventually be granted to them.  The earliest land proprietors had been driven off and expelled from the region by the natives who saw the English as intruders.  In the early, 1700's, after the 1st of the Indian Wars, some of the old proprietors and new immigrants came to resettle the area.  William Willis focuses on John Barbour, the son, because he apparently built a house on Middle Street, on land which was eventually granted to him and passed on to succeeding generations for many years.

  

The family crest shows the Scottish and northern Irish occupational name from Old French barbeor 'barber'.  The possible meaning of the surname is 'one who cuts beards'.

     It appears that all of the Barbour's and Barber' http://www.genealogy.com/users/b/a/r/Don-Barber/FILE/0301page.htmls can trace their lineage to the first John Barbour, born c. 1645 in Ireland who arrived in Old Falmouth in 1718 with his wife and children.  Our John Barbour and his family members are descended from the son, James Barbour.  I am grateful to Mike Sawyer who passed on the genealogical history of the Barbour's of Maine.  This proved to be a tremendous help to me in my research and what I hope readers will find interesting.

Genealogical Path

James Barbour (2 ), born 1690, married Mary Nelson of York and resided in Westbrook, to John (Cap)Jr. (3), born 1737, married Mary Noyes in Falmouth, to John M. (4) born 1773,  married (1) Anna Wilson, died 1850, married (2) Sarah Hamlin, to John Barbour(5), born October 12, 1801, married Jane Moses Morse, and brother George Barbour (5), born 1804, married Emma Knight, both resided in Deering/ Westbrook, Maine.

An Interesting Side Note

     John M. Barbour, our John and George Barbour's father served in the militia for the defense of Portland during the War of 1812 as seen in the pension record to follow.

     While rooting through family trees and records, I happened on a rare photograph of a John Barbour, a cousin no doubt, who was born around 1804 and lived in Portland.  Perhaps there is a family resemblance to our John.  I thought it was worth including.

     The union of John Barbour and Jane Morse Barbour produced twelve children.  Mary Ann Barbour is not listed here.  You will also note that this record indicates he was born in Scotland.  Several family trees show Scotland as his birthplace, however, I have not find any supporting evidence to verify this fact.   You will also note that he died in Lycoming, PA.  His death record indicates that he was removed to the Presumpscot (East Deering cemetery.  This record also lists the cause of his death.

 Census records also show John's occupation as a carpenter.  Jane M. Barbour lived for nearly 20 years after John's death.  Although, her year of death is recorded as 1881, she appears in a later census.  It also appears she lived in Portland on Munjoy Street after her husband's death with some of her children and their spouses and children.

      Mary Ann Barbour, daughter of John and Jane, was born c. 1827 and died on October 7, 1855.  No cause of death was indicated for this young woman of 27.  She was unmarried and lived with her parents until her death.

     Another very young woman, Frances Jane Barbour, cousin to Mary Ann, niece of John and Jane Barbour and beloved daughter of George and Emma Knight Barbour died at the age of fifteen in 1846.  Frances Jane was the second of four children born; a sister Emily was born in 1825, married Osgood Knight and had four children.  Two other children followed; brother, George Edward in 1834 who later married Sarah G. Pennell, and Amanda Ellen, born in 1840 who later married Moses G. Woodman. 

     George Barbour, younger brother of John Barbour,  worked as a freight conductor on the Maine Central Railroad.  Although George and Emma Barbour and other family members are interred in Evergreen Cemetery, I thought I might include some of the information I found interesting to help to create an image of these folks who were part of the fabric of early Portland. 

 Here is the death record for Frances Jane Barbour

     An old record of burials at the East Deering Cemetery mistakenly list her name as Frances Jane Boothby, but here is proof that she was the daughter of George Barbour.

     I found this interesting that George and Emma were married by Elder Samuel Rand, pastor of the First Free Baptist Church in Portland.

     The original, handwritten records always reveal so much more than you expect.  I've enjoyed searching in order to create a picture of these people who lived and are a part of our history that should be remembered and cherished.

     On a final note:  Mike Sawyer shared a connection to the Sawyer family.

Anticipating your next dive into the Barbour's I looked into my family tree, but my Barbour's are much earlier.  Adam Barbour (1748-1826) -> Rebecca Barbour(1776-1852)m. Benj Sawyer(179-1825) -> Lewis Bean Sawyer(1798-1858) -> Sophia Knight Sawyer(1823-1910) -> Eugene Sawyer(1855-1926) -> Ted Sawyer (1919-2002)

     I hope that others who follow this blog might share their connections and information.  I also want to express my excitement that three Junior Girl Scouts want to carry on the legacy begun by Samantha Allshouse and Kayla Theriault who undertook the reclamation of the Grand Trunk Cemetery.  The girls have asked me to be their mentor as they undertake a Girl Scout Bronze Award project at the cemetery.  This Wednesday, they and their parents will meet Joseph Dumais, cemeteries coordinator to discuss some of their ideas.  And so the work continues!

The Illusive Blake's Part II

     While I have spent many hours attempting to learn more about Samuel and William Blake, and I have found some documentation through existing census records, unhappily I have yet to find their familial connection.  I also  spent a great deal of time looking at Blake family trees, early Massachusetts records and any other sources that might give more clues about our Samuel and William.  What I came up with are more questions than answers.

     In Theodore Sawyer's work, I found a reference to Jasper Blake, his son John H. Blake and a Thomas Blake engaged in the deeding and sale of land.  Apparently, Jasper Blake had a homestead near Lunt's Corner, our present Morse Street in the East Deering neighborhood.  While there is some information about Jasper and his descendants, I have yet to find out who Samuel and William's parents were.  I'm not able to determine if the two men were brothers or cousins.  I even toyed with the idea that William, if in fact he were born in 1751, might have been Samuel's father, and Sarah Blake his mother.  I decided this is probably not so, although I can neither prove or deny the idea.  I was able to come up with early census records for William from 1810 which I will share.

     You'll notice that this document has very limited information.  However it does reveal that William was between the age of 26 and forty-four, and he resided with a female, who was also between 26 and forty-four years of age.  This disputes his date of birth in 1751 since he would have been 59 years old.  I assume that the female probably would have been wife number II, Sarah Blake,  since his first wife died in 1807.  Sarah Blake was born about 1769 and would have been 41 in 1810.

     Other census records call into question William's date of death of 1818 and make me wonder about the accuracy of this date.  I found two census records for a William Blake for 1820 and again in 1840.  I'll share these in the hope that some living family members, or avid Maine genealogist,  might be able to lend some clarity to the mysterious William Blake.

     This record is far more revealing, although at this period, names of other occupants of the property are not listed;  only the head-of-household, William Blake.  Here you will note, William, a male is 45 years, or older, a female, probably, Sarah Blake was also 45 or older.  There appear to be two children; under the age of 10, a boy and a girl.  William's occupation is listed as engaged in agriculture; a farmer.  I would have included the original image of the document, but it is barely legible.

     The census record of 1840 for William Blake also contains more revelations.  I will include a copy of the original image which shows other names.  Many of the names are people you may recognize from some of my earlier posts, including Samuel Blake.

     Here we see two males listed:  one between the age of 50 and 59, a second, between 20 and 29 years old.  Two females are also noted:  one age 40 through 49 years of age, and a second, between 60 and 69.  The two men are engaged in agriculture.

     In the second image I have outlined both Samuel and William's names.  Again, this calls into question the validity of the death record for William Blake.  It seems evident that the two men resided in East Deering which at that time was part of Westbrook, and they are probably related.

     I had raised the question in my last post regarding Emeline Blake, Samuel's daughter, and why she wasn't included in the 1840 census.  On closer examination, I think she was although names were not listed, ages were.  I will include this document for your interest.

     As you will note,  there is a female child listed as between the age of 15 and 19.  This is Emeline Blake.  

     Although I had hoped for more information to share about the Blake family, I continue to believe that even a little keeps the stories of these first residents alive, and the remnant that is the Grand Trunk Cemetery precious and valuable to understanding the history of the city of Portland and the state of Maine.

      Finally, I am hopeful that readers of this blog will share in the process and add their comments, research and thoughts.  My next post will be about the Barbour's at the Grand Trunk Cemetery.

Samuel Blake and the Blake Family - Part I

Samuel Blake

DIED

 February 14, 1846  

AEt.  52 years, 5 months

"Long shall his memory be revered,

     by those who knew his worth;

By those to whom he was endeared

     By strongest ties to earth."

An inscription from the Maine Historical and Genealogical Recorder, vol.4 (1887)  Contributed by Isaac Cobb:  Cemetery Inscriptions at East Deering Cemetery.

     Samuel Blake was born c. 1794, later, he married a woman named Martha H. (possibly, Hutchings).  A census record from 1850 indicates she was probably born around 1803.  Samuel served in the Militia during the War of 1812.  In August, 2012,  the Friends of the Grand Trunk Cemetery dedicated his replacement gravestone, along with five others of his contemporaries.

     The Maine Genealogical Recorder shows another inscription for Samuel and Martha Blake's

daughter Emeline, who was a month short of her twentieth birthday when she died.

The inscription is quite lovely and I'm pleased that it survived for us to appreciate.  It reads:

EMELINE,

dau. of Saml.  &

Martha  H.  Blake,

DIED

May  15,  1847

AE.  19  yr's,  11  mos.

Weep not; she has gone to a heaven of rest~ ~

The land of her Father~ ~ the home of the blest;

In the book of the ransomed, her name is enroll'd

In that city whose walks are silver and gold.

     It appears that Samuel and Martha Blake had another child, a boy, who died on September, 26, 1825 at the age of 3 years, 1 month, who is also buried in the family plot with his father and sister.  The city list, which I published in my post of August 8, 2013, indicates his name was Samuel G. Blake.  However, in another record published in Theodore Sawyer's book, "From Back Cove to Quaker Lane," also in the collection held by the Maine Historical Society, the child's name is listed as John G.

     Two other members of the Blake family were also buried at the East Deering/Grand Trunk Cemetery.  Lucy Blake, born c. 1769, died May 26, 1807 at the age of 38 years, and Sarah Blake, born c. 1776, died June 18, 1843 at the age of 67 years.  Both women were married to a William Blake.

     Hoping to learn more about the Blake's, I set out to search  through archival records on microfilm in the library and on Ancestry.com.  What I found, made me feel a bit like Alice who fell down the proverbial rabbit hole:  "Curious'r and curious'r!"  More questions than answers!

     Note:  Many of the oldest death records have limited information, and in fact, were recorded from tombstones.  In the case of our Grand Trunk Cemetery where there was so much damage to the original stones,  I assume this was problematic.  I believe this is the case with Samuel Blake's death record, and perhaps, William Blake's as well.  To complicate matters further, the use of the same first and last names during the 18th and 19th centuries,  makes looking for one person a challenge unless their descendants provided information regarding family lineage.

     Here is the first curious finding;  Samuel Blake's date of death is recorded as February 11, 1818.  His age, month and day of death are what we have in our burial records; but not the year.  I surmise this may have been recorded inaccurately. 

     Two other death records are for Emeline Blake and her brother, John.  There was no record for a Samuel G. Blake.  You'll note that Emeline's year of death is recorded as 1842.  This does not agree with my records from both the city list and Maine Historical Society  list with the date of 1847.  A census record (not included) from 1840 does not include Emeline at all.  I would not expect to see the little boy at this time, since he would already have died.  Why  wasn't Emeline listed with the other children?  

     John Blake's death record, you will note, indicates his age as we have listed as 3 years, 1 month, but his date of death on the record says'  September 25(not 26) and the year, 1827 (not 1825).  Mistake in the record; or were there two boys, Samuel G. and John G., born two years apart?

     You will also notice that the cemetery is listed as Presumpscot; yet another title for our East Deering/Grand Trunk Cemetery.  The cemetery was referred to as the Presumpscot Street Cemetery at Back Cove during this period of history. 

     The final record I'd like to include is the 1850 United States Federal Census of 1850.  Martha H. Blake is the head - of - household, Samuel Blake's name is absent, as is Emeline Blake.  I think this indicates that Samuel Blake did die in 1846.  You'll also note the other children listed and the place of residence as Westbrook, Maine.

     Before I continue with the remaining members of the Blake family:   Lucy, Sarah and William in my next post, I have a request?   I hope that readers of this blog who may have ancestral connections to the Blake's will contribute any insights and information about the Blake family. This will help us all to know more about 'Who's Buried at the Grand Trunk Cemetery?' 

Although, we may have many more questions than answers, you never know what little piece of history will be revealed, and thus preserved.

     On a final note:  another discovery, William Blake was  buried at the Grand Trunk Cemetery from his death record.  Of course,  that leads to lots more questions: 

 "Is he the brother of Samuel Blake?"  "Is his date of death correct?" 

 "Was he really 18 years older than Lucy, wife #1?"  "~~and 

25 years older than Sarah, wife #2?"

   Note:

 I have added four names to the list of "Who's Buried at the Grand Trunk Cemetery gleaned from records I've found and  corroborated through contact with family genealogists of the Sawyer and Frank families.

New Year! New Discoveries at the Grand Trunk Cemetery

The Grand Trunk Cemetery is but a remnant of what it once was....

a final resting place, a burial grand for pioneers and patriots who settled in Ancient Falmouth and resided in East Deering Village. 

Here is an opportunity to share a bit of history; incomplete, and much of it is, lost to the ravages of time, still, what does remain is worth preserving. 

The purpose of this blog -

To pass on what research and tenacious curiosity reveals to interested readers and advocates of history, 

and, 

To gather what readers wish to pass on so that the remnant can be preserved. 

A New Year Begins..the work continues!

     It seems appropriate to re-state the reason for writing this blog, and to invite those who take the time to read it, to leave comments, share insights and contribute any relevant information which will aid in the preservation of the history of the Grand Trunk Cemetery and its inhabitants

     In November, when gathering information about the Sawyers, I came across the website: 'Find A Grave.com' with a listing for the cemetery.  I was amazed to find a listing of 134 burials with most of the stones destroyed without names of the interred, save for the extant list of the forty two names at the Portland Cemeteries office;  those which I previously posted in this blog. 

     Yet another surprise; a new name I didn't recognize (at first); that of Isaiah L. Frank, date of death May 27, 1894.  I contacted the individual who added his name and this led to a wonderful discovery of a new contact: Thomas W. Frank, a military officer stationed over-seas  who would contribute some valuable additions to our knowledge of 'Who's buried' at the Grand Trunk Cemetery?  Tom provided me with information and a direction to pursue some genealogical detective work.  I found out that Isaiah Frank was married to Elizabeth Ann Sawyer and that she had a brother, Benjamin Sawyer who lived with the Franks until his death in 1878.

The Sawyer Connection

     The light dawns!  

    I remembered I had seen a reference to Isaiah and Elizabeth Frank in Theodore Sawyer's book; 'From Back Cove to Quaker Lane' in his discussion about the three Benjamin's.  "Thank you Ted!  Your work continues to be so valuable."

The underlined sections refer to Benjamin Sawyer, his sister Elizabeth Ann Sawyer, wife of Isaiah Frank.
 (side notes are my own.) 

   Of course this raised a number of questions as to "Who was Zebulon Sawyer?" " How might he be related to our Sawyers buried at the GTC?"   "Is it possible that these three people might also have been buried here and are among the unknown?"

    

     I was on a quest to find answers to this new mystery so I consulted my source for all things related to the Sawyers, Michael Sawyer.  I was sure he's set me off in the right direction.  I also connected Mike with Tom Frank and this proved a good connection for all of us.  Mike sent me information from Eleanor Grace Sawyer's work, "The Sawyers of New England."  Here is what I found:

     Zebulon Sawyer was the son of Benjamin Sawyer, the brother of our Anthony, Zachariah and Thomas Sawyer, sons of Isaac Sawyer, Jr.  Zebulon and his wife, Rebecca Ford Sawyer had a number of children; among then Benjamin, the ship's carpenter, born c. 1805 and his sister, Elizabeth Ann Sawyer, born c. 1820 on Mackaey Island; today, Mackworth Island.  Apparently, Benjamin was not in good health and sold his property to his brother-in-law, Isaiah Frank.  Benjamin resided with Isaiah and his sister's family until his death on August 22, 1878.

     Elizabeth Ann Sawyer married Isaiah Frank on November 15, 1840.  The couple produced four children:  Seward, Albert H., Orin, and Mary E.  Isaiah was a farmer and the family appears to have lived in East Deering on Lunt's Corner from records we have found.

     

You'll note there was another family living with the Franks at this time.  East Deering, and the town of Deering were considered part of Westbrook during this period of history.

     It appears that the Franks lived all their married life in East Deering. It seems likely they would have been buried in the East Deering/Grand Trunk Cemetery.

     Benjamin Sawyer resided with the Franks until his death on August 22, 1878.  His death certificate seems to indicate he was buried at the East Deering/Grand Trunk Cemetery.  I am also including the death certificates for Isaiah and Elizabeth.  There was some indication that Elizabeth may have been buried at Eastern Cemetery.  However, there are no records of any Franks having been buried there.  It seems unlikely that husband and wife would have been separated, and it's more probable that Elizabeth Ann (Sawyer) Frank and her husband, Isaiah Frank are among those interred in the Grand Trunk Cemetery.

You will note the clerk's signature from the town of Deering, and a signature of the attending doctor.

   

You will note that the reverse page lists the cemetery as Eastern.  However, there are no Franks buried there and could have been a mistake in transcription from an old document.

 Although so much of the Grand Trunk Cemetery was lost over time and through poor treatment at the hands of vandals, we are always amazed at how the little strings of the past can be woven together and connected.  When I took on this writing to keep the reclamation project of two Girl Scouts alive, I had no idea where it would lead and what discoveries could be shared.  I'm glad for the challenge!

A Final Note

In the spring, we hope to have a new fencing project begun at the GTC.  A group of Junior Girl Scouts is interested in taking on a project at the cemetery.  For the last three years, they have been faithfully participating in our annual bulb planting party.  Good for you girls!

We have requested historical street signs and an engraved marker dedicated to all those buried at the Grand Trunk Cemetery.  So, the work continues to preserve the Remnant!

     

Anthony Sawyer's Legacy

Prelude

     If has taken me much longer than I anticipated to compete this final section on the Sawyers of East Deering Village, perhaps because mysteries and new revelations abound.  It is clear that Anthony Sawyer can be claimed by a large number of people as a fore-father.  It's been my privilege to meet some of them, either in person,  or through the internet,  because of this reclamation project.  That has been such a big help in trying to create a picture, albeit, a fuzzy one, of people who lived in the 18th and 19th century, and to commemorate  their lives,  here at the Grand Trunk Cemetery; their final resting place.

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     Anthony Sawyer, was the second oldest son of Isaac Sawyer Jr., born on January 21, 1734/5.  The mysterious date is due to the fact that the United Kingdom and the Colonies used the Julian calendar until 1752 when it switched to the Gregorian calendar.  So most genealogies show a date of 1735 today. Anthony married Susanna(h) Marston on November 7, 1755 at the 1st Church of Falmouth.  His grandfather, Isaac Sawyer, Sr. is noted to be the founder of the church, and as you may recall, membership in the church assured citizenship in Old Falmouth and a right to property ownership.

     Anthony and Susanna produced eleven children; nine  boys and  two girls.  Some genealogies list another child who may have died at birth or early on.  When Anthony died on December 21, 1804, at the age of 69,  his wife and his off-spring, along with their spouses sold his farm to one Simon Davis, a trader from Boston on December 31, 1804.  In my last post,  I printed out  that document for its value in showing all of the familial relationships, and,  because it also shows the occupation of Anthony's sons. 

     One mystery still exists for me: Who or which Isaac Sawyer, merchant, and his wife Susanna was present and participated in this transaction?  I'm assuming that it may be a cousin, the son of Zachariah Sawyer, Anthony's brother.  This Isaac would also figure in a later transaction involving the sale of a vessel.  More of this to come!

     What happened to Susanna Marston Sawyer after her husband's death?  Did she go to live with a relative; one of Anthony's brothers' families, or  with one of her daughters or sons?  She died fifteen years after Anthony's death, on August 31st, 1819, but there is no listing of where she was buried, with her husband or in another location?  Another mystery!

    

Here are the obituary notices printed for both Anthony and Susanna Sawyer.

     You'll note that Susanna Marston Sawyer died in Westbrook.  I believe at the time of her death, that East Deering,  part of what we have previously referenced as Old Falmouth, may have then become part of Westbrook (Sacarappa), adding to the mystery.  

     The Maine Historical and Genealogical Recorder, Volume 4 (1887) contains a list of cemetery inscriptions recorded by Isaac Cobb.  This is only a partial list accounting for a few of the over one hundred burials at the Grand Trunk Cemetery.( I have made a few handwritten notes on the page.)

You will note that the man we know as Lieut. Crispus Graves is referred to as

 Christopher and his wife, as Hannah Graves.

    Thomas Sawyer was the first born son of Anthony and Susanna Sawyer, born July 14, 1758 and died in Westbrook on April 11, 1833. On January 31st, 1784, he married Susanna Barton at the 1st Church of Falmouth.  Susanna Barton was born in 1765 and died on February 6, 1805 at the age of 40.  You'll notice that her inscription reads:  wife of Captain Thomas Sawyer.  Thomas Sawyer married a second wife, Mary David, on May 31st, 1806.  After his death, Mary David applied for a pension since Thomas served in the Revolutionary War.  

     Thomas and Susanna gave birth to four children:  Dorcas, born 1783 and died June 23, 1803, Thomas Jr, born December 15, 1785 and died on April 21, 1807 at the age of 22 years, George, born in 1790 and died on June 13, 1808 and Daniel, born in 1798 and died on October 17, 1820.

     Thomas and his second wife, Mary David produced two other children:  Susan M. born in 1807.  No date of death is listed for Susan.  Another child, Aaron G. was born in 1812 and died in 1895.

     Susanna Barton Sawyer and her son, Thomas Sawyer Jr. are interred in the Grand Trunk Cemetery.  Captain Thomas Sawyer is buried in Westbrook.  His widow, Mary David Sawyer married a second time to  Moses Roberts.  On examining the pension record, provided by our friend, Mike sawyer, we discovered that Thomas's widow received payments for his rank as a private during the Revolutionary War.

     Another mystery to solve?  Where did the title Captain come from?  Clearly, it was not a military rank in Thomas's case.  Taking a look at the document from the sale of Anthony Sawyer's property, I noticed that both Thomas and his brother, Ephraim bear the title mariner after their names.  An 'Ah  ha! moment.  Could Thomas have been a sailor or even a ship's master?  With the persistence of Mike Sawyer, we made a discovery that would lend light.  Mike discovered a document for the sale of a sloop, called the Cyrus to Harvard College dated February 2, 1793 by Thomas Sawyer, Mariner in partnership with Isaac Sawyer, Merchant and Jacob Adams Cordwainer.  The document clearly list Thomas Sawyer as the Master of the Cyrus; thus, the title, Captain Thomas Sawyer.

     I wrote about two of Anthony Sawyer's other sons, John and William in my post regarding the connection between the Graves family and the Sawyers.  Both brothers married daughters of Lieut. Crispus Graves, Abigail and Tabitha.  Both brothers served in the militia during the War of 1812. John was 54 and William 51 when they served as militiamen.  Here is a bit more about them.

     John Sawyer was born on November 13, 1760 in Falmouth and died on December 6, 1842 in Westbrook at the age of 82.  He married Abigail Graves at the 1st Church of Falmouth on April 22, 1790.  John and Abigail has five children:  Susannah, born in 1794, but who died at the age of six years on January 16, 1800; a second daughter, Nabby, was born in 1796, also appeared to have died on January 25, in the same year, at the age of four.  A son, John was born in August, 1801, but died  at the age of 14 months on October 2nd, 1802.  Another daughter is named Dorcas, but there is no other information.  Only one son, Joel, born in 1805, lived a long life, and died at the age of 69 in 1874.  Abigail Graves, born on August 13, 1765, died on March 10, 1848 at the age of 82, is interred with her husband at the Grand Trunk Cemetery. 

     William Sawyer was born in Falmouth in 1763, and died in East Deering on May 14, 1825.  He married Tabitha Graves at the 1st Church of Falmouth in 1793.  Their union produced four children.  A son,William was  born in 1794 and  is listed in the Westbrook census as a laborer.  There is no other information.  Joseph Merrill Sawyer was born in August 1795 and died on June 1st,1875 at the age of 79. Crispus Sawyer was born on March 28, 1804 in Falmouth and died on August 24, 1873 at the age of 69.

     William Sawyer and his son Joseph M. served in the militia during the War of 1812.  Joseph was 19 at the time.  Joseph M. married Dorcas Whittam on November 18, 1832.  Dorcas was born in 1801 and died at the age of 55, on December 15, 1856.  A little son, Joseph Merrill Sawyer, Jr. was born to the couple on October 10, 1832, but died just before his third birthday on September 27, 1835. 

     William Sawyer and his wife, Tabitha Graves Sawyer, their sons, Joseph Merrill Sawyer and Crispus Sawyer, along with their daughter-in-law, Dorcas Whittam Sawyer, and their grandson, Joseph M. Sawyer, Jr. are buried at the Grand Trunk Cemetery.

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     My attempt to create a picture of the Sawyers of East Deering Village has been an interesting and challenging adventure, and so worthwhile.  I have gained a great deal of knowledge and a bit of understanding about life during the 18th and early 19th centuries, and, a tremendous respect for those early settlers.  My picture will remain incomplete and fuzzy, but I hope that descendants of Anthony Sawyer and his brothers, children and grandchildren will find some of this valuable.  For the rest of you who read this blog, I hope it peaks your interest enough to inspire you to take a walk into the Grand Trunk Cemetery to remember those folks who are a part of our history and whose lives inform our present; Portland, Maine today.

     Happy Thanksgiving to all!  More discoveries yet to come, after the holidays!