DEDICATION CEREMONY OF THE MEMORIAL STONE OF JOSEPH LUNT, 3RD MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT, REVOLUTIONARY WAR

A PERSONAL REFLECTION

     Sunday, September 13, 2015, about forty individuals gathered at the Grand Trunk Cemetery for another ceremony to dedicate the recently acquired government marker for Joseph Lunt, a citizen-soldier of Back Cove in the East Deering Village.  Why did they come?  I surmise some came because of a familial relationship to the man, or to others interred at the ancient cemetery. Some came because they support the reclamation project begun five years ago. Some came because of a desire to connect to history. 

 I believe a dedication ceremony is an opportunity;  a sacred act, which beckons  us to pick up the threads of our past history, and to remember the people, places and events  which formed the rich tapestry of our nation.  The following pages contain photos and some of the highlights of the Dedication ceremony, along with the speeches .  I hope that readers of this blog will find the historical information regarding the role that Falmouth(Portland) and the district of Maine played in the Revolutionary War of interest.

THE WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION

Marianne Chapman represents Friends of the Grand Trunk Cemetery

The VFW Deering Memorial Post 6859 Honor Guard

Senior Vice Commander Derrick Stephens commanding..

CSM Joel W. Chapman (retired) Master of Ceremonies

Mrs. Elaine Falconer leads the singing of  '"My Country 'Tis Of Thee"

Rev. Christina Sillari, Minister of the 1st Parish in Portland, Unitarian Universalist delivers the Invocation.

Michael Bobinsky delivers the 'Greeting' from the City of Portland.
 Michael has been a supporter of the reclamation project and is a 'Friend of the Grand Trunk Cemetery.

MSG David Googins (retired), President of the Maine Military Historical Society

     David Googins is a retired Master Sergeant, having served in the United States Marines and full-time Army National Guard for 24 years.  David is the Chairman of the Maine Military Historical Society and the Maine Armed Forces Museum , located in Augusta, Maine.  David participated in the Dedication of the memorial for Joseph Merrill, War of 1812, another of our veterans interred at the Grand Trunk Cemetery in 2013.  He is also a listed member of the 'Friends of the Grand Trunk Cemetery.

This map helps to illustrate the historical references
 from David Googins' presentation.

David Manchester, President
Maine Society of the Sons of the American Revolution
Recognizes Patriots interred at the Grand Trunk Cemetery.

     David Manchester, is the President of the Maine Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.  David taught high school physics for many years, the last 27 years at Lake Region High School in the Naples - Bridgton area, until his retirement four years ago.  David has been President of the SAR for the last two years and devotes much time to promoting the organizations mission.  We were honored to have him speak at the ceremony.

Thanks to our Patriots

One reason for the greatness of our country, the United States of America, is the individual rights we citizens hold so passionately; rights that our founders believed were conveyed to us, not from some monarch, not from some parliament, not from a king such as George the 3^rd, but at birth, to us, directly from God.

          240 years ago our forebears, including John Sawyer, Joseph Lunt, and Simon Davis, began an epic struggle to break free of a tyrant government and build one that would secure our rights to own property, to preserve life of self and family, and to enjoy personal liberty.

The rebellion was a vicious, brutal, bloody civil war--not THE Civil War--but truly a civil war, especially in Maine and North and South Carolina, with the rebels fighting the British soldiers as well as against many friends and neighbors who were staying loyal to the British government.

When reading the history you will quickly see that success was doubtful; defeat after defeat: Long Island, White Plains, Fort Washington, Quebec City.

However, after seven trying years testing their resolve, George Washington with thousands of determined men such as Maine’s own patriots John, Joseph, and Simon, and other ancestors of many in attendance today, the miracle of a new country emerged. 

Even thanking our patriots everyday is not enough for their struggles and pain, for without them our country would not be.

We Sons of the American Revolution make this pledge which we hope every American will enjoin.

“We descendants of the heroes of the American Revolution who, by their sacrifices, established the United States of America, reaffirm our faith in the principles of liberty and our Constitutional Republic, and solemnly pledge ourselves to defend them against every foe.”

Thank you John Sawyer, thank you Joseph Lunt, thank you Simon Davis.

God bless our country.

God bless us all.

John Sawyer was also a veteran of the Revolutionary War.
See the post in this blog regarding his service.  This photo
was taken when his marker was placed in 2012.

Simon Davis was but eighteen years of age when he served
in the Revolutionary War.
See his story in an earlier post in this blog.

     Sometime around 2010, but not enacted until 2012 or 2013, Congress passed a resolution requiring that only 'NOK' or next of kin, or those given permission from a living relative, could apply for a government issued replacement marker for any veteran in an unmarked grave.  In the case of veterans of the Revolution and the Civil War, this has often created an impediment to being able to honor these patriots.  There is movement, particularly in this state to change that requirement.

     Fortunately, Nicholas Noyes, a distant relative of both Joseph Lunt and his wife, Jane Noyes Lunt, agreed to write the letter giving us the required permission, and we gathered on September 13, to dedicate the stone in his memory.

Nicholas Noyes is a descendant of several, old Portland families,
 including Joseph Lunt.

     Nicholas Noyes was born in Portland, attended Hebron Academy, Portland High School and Dickinson College.  After 20 years in the hotel field in Kennebunkport, Nick received his Master's in Library Services from Columbia University in 1983.  Since returning to Portland, Nicholas has been associated with the Maine Historical Society as a volunteer, Reference Librarian, Head of Library Services, and currently, Curator of Library Collections.  His principal hobby is genealogy which he combines with " a fair knowledge of history." 

Kayla Theriault and Samantha Allshouse unveil the stone.

Five years ago, their Girl Scout Gold Award project,
,'Unearthing the Roots of the Back Cove and East Deering Communities'
launched the reclamation of the Grand Trunk Cemetery and the lost threads of history enabling us to honor our veterans and their families.

Nicholas and Edward (Ted) Noyes present the wreath honoring Joseph Lunt.

        http://portlandphoenix.me/2015/09/16/news/revolutionary-memorial-war-for-independence-veteran-honored-at-reclaimed-cemetery/ 

We are most grateful to David Carkhuff, News Editor from the Portland Phoenix for attending this ceremony and for his excellent article and photos.  I'm including the link for those of you who may wish to read David's account.

     Here are some additional photos in no particular order of the Dedication.

When your children ask in time to come,

"What do these stones mean to you?" 

then you shall tell them that.....

"These stones shall be

a memorial forever....."

Joshua 4: 6a - 7.

Upcoming Event

 Personal Note

 I'm taking a brief hiatus from my continuing research into the stories of the 'residents' of the Grand Trunk Cemetery to re-group and look at the many remaining threads.  In the meanwhile, I want to share with faithful followers and inquisitors an invitation to the upcoming ceremony of Dedication, hopeful that those of you who wish to, and are able, will join us to celebrate another small milestone by recognizing another of our patriots.  

Here is a copy of my notes for the news outlets which Jessica Grondin, Director of Communications for the city of Portland will edit and send out.

I have been intrigued by the references to Joseph Lunt's kindness to others.
He must have been a special man.

Hope to meet many of you on September 13th.

Preserving The Broken Threads

History often involves picking up broken or dangling threads of the past.

     Only two names of early residents of the East Deering Village remain on the extant list of 42, at Portland City Hall.  Over the last five years, four more names have been discovered and added to the list, leaving another  151 souls interred at the East Deering/Grand Trunk Cemetery as dangling threads of a history lost. 

     Ever the optimist, I long for the day when someone finds those lost 347 grave forms compiled by the WPA survey team in 1936, somewhere in the vaults at City Hall.  For the present, we will continue to the work to weave together the broken threads, to tell the story of the early settlers of East Deering Village and to continue the legacy of Samantha Allshouse and Kayla Theriault's endeavor:  "Unearthing the Roots of the East Deering and Back Cove Communities."

A simple white marble stone records:
Agnes wife of George Wilcox
died: April 2, 1864 AEt. 44 years.

This stone is one of the few originals, but was defaced by vandals
when the recovery project began.

     Little is known about Agnes Wilcox, but I will try to weave together what I've learned to tell her story.  It appears that Agnes was  born in the British Isles, probably Scotland around 1820,  and before marrying George Wilcox in 1858, she was married to a Mr. Dixon; possibly John.  There is a record of a John Dixon from Great Britain who was naturalized in 1847 and settled in Maine.  Sometime after,  he died leaving his wife and two children:  Alexander and John J. Dixon.

     Early City Directories from 1856 and 1858 contain the names and residences of George Wilcox and Agnes Dickson(Dixon) living apart.

George Wilcox resided at 18 Mayo Street and his occupation: Mariner

Mrs. Agnes Dickson, note the spelling change, indicates she was probably widowed by this date.

     Sometime after her first husband's death, Agnes met George Wilcox and they were married by the Justice of the Peace, Joseph Reed Esq. in Portland on September 27, 1858.

     Most of what I've learned about Agnes Dixon Wilcox has come from the Federal Census of 1860, four years before her death at the fairly young age of 44 years.  The document reveals the names and ages of her children from her first marriage,  and a new baby, George W., just 6 months old.

You will note that there are several George Wilcox men who lived at this time, including a George W. Wilcox.
  Is this the baby now grown?
     For now, the history of Agnes Wilcox remains just a thread of the past.  It is always my hope that readers of this blog who may have other bits of thread to add, will do so.  Agnes Wilcox story is incomplete;  but what we've learned, still needs to be told. She lived and remains a part of the historic record of East Deering and the city of Portland

A Poetic Break

     I found this poem I thought readers and genealogical detectives would enjoy.

     So much of the work to put together the story of the lives of these folks depends upon sifting through records, some accurate, some baffling; none-the-less, always an adventure.  This rings true as I record here what I've learned about Jonas Johnson.

     Jonas Johnson was born on February 3, 1783 in Pelham, New Hampshire to Amos and Bettey Pollard Johnson.  Jonas  appears to have been the only child of the couple. 

      In 1816, he married Charlotte Blake in Westbrook (Deering).  He was a Cordwainer, according to a city directory.  You will remember from my post about Francis Smith, that a cordwainer was a master shoemaker of fine boots and shoes.  Here's a photo to remind you.

      Jonas and Charlotte may have had a daughter, although the only evidence is from an 1830 federal census that lists a female child under the age of five years.  Prior to his death, it appears he was engaged in manufacturing and, even employed a seemingly, disgruntled apprentice, named Edward Sawyer,  who probably lived with the couple at their home.  There is an indication of this from the federal census of 1820.

     Jonas Johnson was also a man engaged in the community and in the politics of the day.  I found evidence of this in newspaper articles that I will include.  When he died on December 2, 1837, his wife Charlotte,  as administrator of his estate, offered his property for sale consisting of:

two acres of land, with a house and barn thereon;  five acres and a half of pinewood land, and a pew in the Universal meeting house, excepting the widow's dower, in the same; all situated in Westbrook in said county.

     Charlotte was seeking $180.  for all of this. What became of her after her husband's death?  I found a record of a widow named Charlotte Johnson in New Hampshire,  but it's inconclusive.  Again, more broken threads.

     I offer some of the pieces I found in the story of Jonas Johnson for your interest and curiosity.

Birth Record

The record list the mother as Bettey.  A search revealed her maiden name as Pollard.

I have not been able to trace Charlotte Blake's lineage to date.

I found this record to be confusing, but I do think that the young man listed may have been the apprentice, Edward Sawyer.

Apparently, Edward was not happy in his situation as apprentice!

I haven't been able to determine which bridge is being proposed here at this time.

It appears Jonas Johnson;s age is recorded as fifty-three.

      

     Jonas Johnson was an interesting man  whose life contributed to the fabric of of the East Deering community and the part it played in the growth of Portland and the state of Maine.  Again, if any followers of 'The Remnant" have threads to add to his story or to any of the other stories I've shared, please do so.

 Finally, please keep this date in mind:  Sunday, September 13, 2015 at or about 2 PM at the Grand Trunk Cemetery in Portland.  We have received a government issued replacement stone for Joseph Lunt, veteran of the Revolutionary War,  and will hold the ceremony of Dedication on that day.  

A formal invitation will be issued in August.  Look for details then.

Dear Ancestor, the place you filled

So many years ago 

Spreads out among the ones you left

Who would have loved you so. 

I wonder if you lived and loved,

I wonder if you knew 

Thant someday I would find this spot,

And come to visit you.