OLd Eastern Cemetery in Portland, Maine Sprague's Journal of Maine History No. II Vol. VII AUG. SEPT. OCT 1919 pages 79-80 The Old Eastern Cemetery in Portland, Maine At a meeting of the Maine Genealogical Society, (1885), John T. Hull in a paper read by him, said: For nearly two hundred years the Eastern Cemetery has been the only common burying place of the territory now comprised within the limits of Portland. From the time of the first settlements made on this peninsula, it has been a place of sepulture. Here undoubtedly, after his troubled life, lies the dust of George Cleeve, the first permanent occupant of Machigonne (now Portland). His grave is surrounded by others, this contemporaries in the establishment of civilization in this former wilderness. Unhonored and unknown are the graves of our rude forefathers. Here are also the monuments and tombs of many of the distinguished and eminent of the town, who have been prominent in its affairs during two centuries of history. This venerable cemetery is well worth of the study of our historians and antiquarians, for in " this hallowed spot were our departed friends repose" the fathers of our hamlet are buried. Some of them have had their names immortalized in the history of our country, as its defenders on land and sea; and of others their lives and characters are unknown or forgotten by the present generation. Among the most ancient gravestones that has any legible inscription thereon is the following: "Here lyes ye body of Mrs. Mary Green, ye Daur of Capt. Nathanel and Mrs. Mary Green of Boston, aged 54 years. Decd May ye 23d 1717." The earliest maps in existence, of the territory now Portland, show this place designated as the "burying ground." It was thus probably appropriated by George Cleeve, as it joined his homestead lot on the north side, although no title of it was ever given the town. After the re-settlement on the town in 1719, and the coming of Parson Smith to Falmouth, he by some means obtained a title to the land on the south side of Smith (now Congress) street, which included the School House lot, and the present Eastern Cemetery. This was undoubtedly one of the titles, which caused him great vexation of spirit, for although a portion of it was in use as the common burying ground, the town had a doubtful claim to it. They laid out a street or passage way to the yard from Congress street over the land owned by Mr. Smith, which was called "Funeral Lane." The people and authorities were urging the Parson to give them a good deed to this burying ground, ye he held on this old graveyard with its mouldering remains of our forefathers, with a tenacious grasp. At length when on his death bed, and when he had become unable to sign his name, he made a conveyance to the town of the land which now comprises the School House lot and the Eastern Cemetery. A clause in his deed is as follows, viz.: "Meaning to convey all the land I now own, possess or claim, on the southeast side of Smith (now Congress) street, between the stone wall of the neck; the fence that separates the burying ground from the land of the late Gov. Hancock (John Hancock) and others, and the land in the possession of the heirs of the late Moses Pearson and others, and said Smith street; whether included in the above described or not." The sum paid by the town for this lot was ,71 5s. The witnesses to the deed were Peter T. Smith and John Frothingham. The deed was executed May 6, 1795. Mr. Smith died on the 25th. The burying ground at that time, and for twenty-five years later, was that portion of the present cemetery south of the main avenue. The entrance to it was by the Funeral Lane, previously mentioned, now included Mountfort streets, was unfenced and used as a public common. On Fourth of July and muster days it was the place for shows, venders of eggnog, beer, gingerbread, &c., which place and booths are well remembered by our older citizens as kept by some of the prominent characters, among the colored population. One of Portland's poets has written the following: "About Marm Shepard's booth they hang, As scores of children come and buy, While some rude boy pours out his slang, And 'beer! eggs! pies! a dozen cry.'" (c) 1998 Courtesy of the Androscoggin Historical Society ************************************************* * * * * NOTICE: Printing the files within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. * * * * The USGenWeb Project makes no claims or estimates of the validity of the information submitted and reminds you that each new piece of information must be researched and proved or disproved by weight of evidence. It is always best to consult the original material for verification.