York County ME Archives Cemeteries.....Burial Inscriptions And other Data of Burials in Berwick ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/me/mefiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Harry Tasker htasker@concentric.net Feb. 1998 EDITORS NOTES From the book "BURIAL INSCRIPTIONS And other Data of Burials in Berwick, York County, Maine To the Year 1922" by Wilbur D. Spencer Clerk of the Town Mr. Spencer has, in some cases, included information from the Town Records and it is so noted. INTRO The Intro is of course the introduction from the book and includes some notes on Berwick's early settlers. It also has a list of some of resident's who participated in "the great struggle for American independence". DESCRIBE The section Describe is Mr. Spenser's list of 107 burial lots and cemeteries. He includes locations and descriptions of each. In some cases he gives surnames of families buried in these cemetaries. Some of these are cemeteries that do not have any markings on the stones. INTRO: BURIAL INSCRIPTIONS And other Data of Burials in Berwick, York County, Maine To the Year 1922 WILBUR D. SPENCER Clerk of the Town. THE AVERILL PRESS, PRINTERS, SANFORD, MAINE 1822 INTRODUCTION An attempt to preserve burial records is a serious and far from satisfactory undertaking. Such data are often wrong or incomplete. In some cases, where there are no markers, the cemetery or town records furnished the facts required. This was only possible, with accuracy, since 1892, when the law made imperative the registration of vital statistics, and when the situation of the grave was still known. Many burial grounds are entirely lost. Ancient burial inscriptions, for a period of many years in the town's history, provide the only information of many early residents. The names of some of them will never be found hereafter except in these lists, as they were transcribed long ago and the tablets themselves are defaced or entirely gone. The most interesting, perhaps, and at least one of the oldest inscriptions in the town, is that of Captain Roger Plaisted. It has been copied and published many times. This memorial was erected about the year 1731, after the death of Captain Samuel Plaisted, his grandson. The inscription on this monument was recut several years ago by a patriotic society of South Berwick. In renewing it the old lettering was changed in form and some words were omitted. There are two mistakes in the dates as now shown. Roger Plaisted died October 17, 1675, according to historians of the period, and Samuel Plaisted, his grandson, died in 1731. The original wording was as follows: Near this place lies Buried the body of Roger Plaisted who was killed by the Indians Oct. 16, 1675, aged 48 Also the body of his son Roger Plaisted who was killed at the same time. Here lies interred the body of Samuel Plaisted, Esq., who departed this life March 20,1721, ae. 36 The graves of the Plaisteds lie in the southwestern corner of Berwick; in the northeastern corner of the town is that of Captain William Gerrish. A slate stone marked "W. G." is all that indicates the spot. Yet William Gerrish commanded Berwick companies in 1755, 1756 and 1757, which were engaged in active scouting service on the Indian frontier; he was a man of great influence during the Revolution and represented the town in the colonial legislature of that uncertain period. Of the many hundreds who participated in the great struggle for American independence, only the final resting places of a few can now be ascertained as follows: Samuel Brackett, who died in 1801, and his wife, Mehitable. Aaron Chick, who died in 1812, and his wife, Mary. Eleazer Clark, who died in 1831, and his wife, Sarah. Joshua Downs, who died in 1802. John Dunnells, or (Donnell), who died in 1836. Sarah, wife of Adam Goodwin. Joshua Grant, who died in 1831, and his wife, Juda. Nathaniel Guptill, who died in 1841, and his wives, Mary and Sarah. William Guptill, who died in 1812, and his wife, Dorcas. David Hersom, who died in 1839, and his wife, Lydia, Jonathan Hersom, who died in 1844, and his wife, Martha. Moses Hodsdon, Jr., who died in 1810, and his wife, Dorcas. Thomas Hodsdon, who died in 1818, and his wife, Margaret. William Hooper, who died in 1809, and his wife, Elizabeth. Joseph Hubbard, who died in 1830, and his wives, Honour and Mary. Jonathan Knox, who died in 1840, and his wife, Elizabeth. Elizabeth, wife of Jeremiah Libby. Samuel Lord, who died in 18.55 and his wife, Mary. Samuel Roberts, who died in 1821, and his wife, Lydia. John Scates, who died in 1822, and his wife, Sarah. Benjamin Sullivan, who died in 1846, and his wife, Priscilla. Ebenezer Tibbetts, who died in 1798, and his wife, Sarah I. Ephraim Tibbetts, who died in 1850. Timothy Wentworth, who died in 1842, and his wife, Amy. Sarah, wife of Samuel Worster. Undoubtedly, as much of the ashes of the Sullivans will always remain in the original lot on Winslow Street, as was removed to Durham, N. H. where the original inscription still reads as follows: Here are buried the Bodies of John Sullivan & Margery his wife. He was born in Limeric in Ireland in the year 1692, & died in the year 1796. She was born in Cork in Ireland in the year 1714 & died in 1801. This marble is placed to their memory by their son James Sullivan. As James Sullivan died in 1808, while serving as governor of Massachusetts, which then included Maine, this stone must have been set in the yard at Berwick before that date. Some local patriotic society, in conjunction with the Berwick schools, should endeavor to perpetuate these locations. The scheme of the four alphabetical lists which follow is simple. The first section includes outlying burial grounds. The numbers in parentheses give the situations of the graves. The other three sections cover the other three public cemeteries. The whole is complete to the year 1923. W. D. S. DESCRIBE: A DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF BURIAL LOTS AND CEMETERIES IN BERWICK, MAINE. BEAVER DAM ROAD 1 On the west side, in the field of Mayna B. Andrews, near the highway; partly enclosed; some removals. 2 On the west side, in the field of Frank J. Nute, near the highway and adjoining the above mentioned lot, enclosed with a stone wall; some removals. 3 On the east side, in the field of Samuel E. Guptill, near the highway; enclosed with a stone and iron fence. 4 On the west side, in the field of Samuel E. Guptill, near the highway. 5 On the west side, in the mill-yard of Samuel B. Abbott and Horace F. Gowen; no lettered stones. 6 On the west side, in the field of John H. Emery, near the highway; Kenniston burials; no lettered stones. 7 On the east side, in the field of Truman F. Andrews, near the highway. 8 On the west side, in the field of Lena P. Whitehouse. 9 On the east side, in the field of the heirs of James N. Murray, beside the highway; in North Berwick; enclosed. BERWICK STREET 10 On the south side, known as Lord's Cemetery; walled on the street and partly fenced on the other sides; first recorded interment in 1763. 11 On the south side, in the field of Grace E. Toothaker, by the street; enclosed with a cemented stone wall. BLACKBERRY HILL ROAD 12 On the cast side, in the field of John Doran; no lettered stones. 13 On the east side, in the pasture of Hartley L. Emery, near the brook;enclosed with a stone and iron fence. 14 On the east side, in the field of Fay C. Tibbetts. 15 On the east side, in the field of Hartley L. Emery; no lettered stones. 16 On the west side, in the field of Frank Hooper, near the highway; this is the old NORTH PARISH CEMETERY, anciently established and never alienated, but encroached upon; contains many unlettered stones and obliterated graves; Humphrey Spencer, an early officer of this parish, died Dec. 14, 1808, and was buried here. 17 On the east side, in the field of Ulysses S. G. 0sgood; enclosed. 18 On the east side, in the field of Lewis G. Guptill beside the highway. BLAISDELL'S CORNER ROAD 19 On the north side, in the field of Hattie M. Cilley, near the highway; enclosed. 20 On the south side, in the field of George E. Tebbetts, above Little River and between the highway and Salmon Falls River. 21 On the south side, in the pasture of Joseph E. Webster, far from the highway and on the east bank of Keay's Brook; enclosed. 22 On the south side, in the woodland of Harry L. Webster; far from the highway. 23 On the north side, in the field of Joseph E. Webster, near the highway; enclosed. 24 On the north side, in the pasture of Lulu Knox, near the highway; enclosed. 25 On the south side, in the woodland of Herbert L. Whitehouse; no lettered stones. BUTLER ROAD 26 On the north side, in the field of Frances E. Butler, beside the highway; enclosed with a banked stone wall. 27 On the south side, in the woodland of Frances E. Butler, beside the highway;no lettered stones; Appleby interments. CEMETERY ROAD 28 On the west side, known as Evergreen Cemetery, instituted in 1876; the first burial was that of Franklin G. Spencer, who died September 9,1877. 29 On the west side, in the woodland of Ossian C. Brown; no lettered stones. 30 On the east side, in the field of Mary Georgina Durant; enclosed with a banked stone wall. CRANBERRY MEADOW ROAD 31 On the south side, by the highway, known as Clark's Cemetery; fenced; an enlargement of the Tebbetts burial lot. 32 On the south side, in the field of Abbie F. Perkins; enclosed with a stone and iron fence. 33 On the north side, in the field of John Hall; enclosed with a stone and iron fence. 33a On the north side, in the field of Frank J. Clark. 34 On the north side, in the woodland of Woodbury H. Butler; no lettered stones. 35 On the south side, in the pasture of Harry N. Mathews, near the highway; enclosed with a stone wall; many unlettered stones. 36 On the north side, in the field of Arthur Berube beside the highway; many unlettered graves. Lord interments. 37 On the north side, in the field of Frank E. Andrews, near the highway; enclosed with a banked stone wall. 38 On the south side; in the pasture of Roger L. Clement, near the highway and easterly of a little pond; no lettered stones. 39 On the north side, in a field belonging to the town of Berwick; beside the highway; enclosed with a stone wall. 40 On the south side, in the woodland of Pierre Roy, near the brick schoolhouse; enclosed with a stone wall; no lettered stones; some removals. 41 On the south side, in the field of Frank E. Wetherbee, beside the highway; no lettered stones; Clement interments. 42 On the south side,, in the field of Olin J. Worster, by the highway; enclosed; some removals. 43 On the north side, in the woodland of Alexander Pelletier, about one-half mile northeast of the highway; Worster interments; some removals. 44 On the south side, in the field of Edgar T. Rice; no lettered stones; Fisher interments. 45 On the north side, in the field of John M. Blaisdell, beside the highway above Little River. 46 On the north side, on the remote edge of the field of John L. Goodwin; no lettered stones. 47 On the south side, in the woodland of Oscar E. Fall and Herbert L. Whitehouse; contains the grave of Paul Goodrich, the pioneer in this part of the town. 48 On the north side, in the woodland of John L. Goodwin; no lettered stones. HORNE'S MILL ROAD 49 On the east side, in the woodland of Hattie M. Cilley, beside the highway; enclosed with a fence. KNOX STREET 50 On the south side, in the field of Samuel S. Mathews, near the street on a little hill. 51 On the south side, in the pasture of Albert W. Marston, near the street; enclosed with a stone and iron fence. LITTLE RIVER FALLS ROAD 52 On the east side, in the field of John G. Lord, beside the highway; no lettered stones. 53 On the east side, in the woodland of Hollis Guptill and Frank H. Stillings, below Little River. 54 On the north side, in the field of George A. Goodrich, by the highway; no lettered stones save that of William Gerrish, which simply bears his initials; he was a captain in the Indian war and representative to Colonial Legislature. 55 On the south side, in the field of Lizzie G. Huntress; some removals. 56 On the south side, in 'the field of Samuel T. Goodrich, near the highway, enclosed. 57 On the north side, in the woodland of Alpheus A. Gerrish, beside the highway; Indian interments. 58 On the north side, in the woodland of Alpheus A. Gerrish, near the highway and North Berwick line; enclosed. PINE HILL ROAD 59 On the east side, on the line between the fields of Frank P. Henshaw and Charles T. Ferguson; no lettered stones. 60 On the south side, in the field of Walter M. C. Lord, near the highway; enclosed with an iron fence. 61 On the north side, in the field of Daniel E. Knox, by the highway; nearly obliterated. 62 On the north side, in the field of Charles W. Fall, by the highway. 63 On the north side, in the field of Charles A. Fall, by the highway; no lettered stones; Ricker interments. 64 On the south side, in the, woodland .of James H. Downs, far from the highway; many unlettered stones, ancient Downs interments. 65 On the south side, in the field of Frank A. Coffin, near the highway; all graves but one obliterated. 66 On the south side, in the northeast corner of woodland of Daniel E. Knox, by the highway; no lettered stones. 67 On the south side, in the woodland of Eugene T. Ridlon, near the top of a little hill, by the highway; no lettered stones; the wife of John Roberts, the hermit of the plains, was buried here. 68 On the north side, in the woodland of Jason A. Tebbetts, near the highway;enclosed with a stonewall. 69 On the north side, in the woodland of David H. Horne, on the plains above Little River; no lettered stones; Grant and Guptill interments. 70 On the north side, in the woodland of Joseph D. Wallingford, beside the highway;enclosed with a stone and iron fence. SALMON FALLS ROAD 71 On the north side, in the field of Freeborn W. Bell, near the highway; enclosed with a stone and iron fence. 72 On the north side, on the westerly edge of the field of George A. Mathews; no lettered stones; nearly obliterated. 73 On the north side, in the field of Charles N. and John D. Worster; partly enclosed with a stone and iron fence and partly in a thicket by the highway; some Indian graves. 74 On the south side, in a thicket in the field of Ernest Breton; somewhat improved by descendants. 75 On the south side, in the east edge of the field of Ovide Thibault; enclosed with a stone and iron fence. 76 On the south side, in a thicket in the field of Frederick L. Keays. 77 On the south side, in the eastern edge of the field of Mary J. Place; enclosed with a stone and iron fence. 78 On the north side in the field-of Woodbury L. Smith, by the highway; partly enclosed with stone and iron fences; believed to be the most ancient burial lot in town. 79 On the south side, in the field of George S. Goodwin, on a hill near the highway;enclosed with a stone and iron fence. SCHOOL STREET 80 On the east side on the southerly edge of the field of Charles H. Coffin; enclosed. 81 On the east side, in a pasture lane of Charles H. Coffin, about one-half mile from the street; no lettered stones; probably Foye interments, as it is situated near the cellar of the ancient Foye house. 82 On the east side, in the pasture of Charles H. Coffin, about three-quarters of a mile from the street, beside a stone wall; no lettered stones. 83 On the east side, in a thicket in the field of Horace A. Hurd. 84 On the east side, beside a lane in the field of Alfred Boucher. 85 On the east side, in the field of Leon Benoit, beside the street; enclosed. 86 On the west side, in the field of Frank A. Mulloy) beside the schoolhouse; enclosed. 87 On the east side, in the field of Maud Baker Durant, beside the street; no lettered stones. SOUTH BERWICK TURNPIKE 88 On the east side, in the field of Isaac Hobbs, near the highway. 88a On the east side, in the pasture of Henry F. Dagan, near the highway to Knight's Pond. 89 On the east side, in the field of Fred D. Bassett, beside the highway; enclosed with a stone wall. STACY ROAD 90 On the north side, in the field of Clarence L. Hussey; no lettered stones. 91 On the south side, in the field of Edgar Wentworth; enclosed with a stone and iron fence. 92 On the north side, in the field of Edgar Wentworth, near North Berwick line; enclosed with a stone and iron fence. 93 On the north side, in the pasture of Fred D. Bassett; no lettered stones; negro interments; slaves of Joseph Ricker. 94 On the north side, in the field of Fred D. Bassett; a single grave, said to be that of Tristram Ricker. TEARSHIRT ROAD 95 On the south side, in the field of Mina Q. Hurd, near the highway. 96 On the north side, in the field of John H. Grant, near the highway, but in North Berwick; enclosed with a stone and iron fence. 97 On the north side, in the pasture of Andrew J. Guptill, in North Berwick; enclosed with a stone wall; no lettered stones; Goodrich interments. 98 On the north side, in the pasture of Georgia Goodrich, beside the highway; no lettered stones; Frost and Stillings interments. 99 On the north side, in the woodland of Addie B. Brown; enclosed with a stone wall. 100 On the south side, in the field of Andrew J. Guptill; enclosed. 101 On the north side, in the pasture of Andrew J. Guptill; near the highway. 102 On the north side of the field of Benjamin Wilson; enclosed with a stone wall; no lettered stones; Stone interments. 103 On the south side, in the woodland of Frank H. Stillings, near the highway. 104 On the north side, in the woodland of Mary Georgina Durant. UPPER CROSS ROAD 105 On the west side, on the westerly edge of a back field of Mark Worcester, by the woods. 106 On the east side, in the field of Olin J. Worster, by the highway. WINSLOW STREET 107 On the south side, in the field of Frederick S. Ricker, by a cherry tree; John Sullivan and members of his family were originally buried here, but were removed to Durham, N. H., about fifty years ago.