Enemies in Life, Partners in Death

William Burrows, Samuel Blyth, and Kervin Waters

Eastern Cemetery - Portland, Maine

 

 

As winter is quickly setting in here in Maine, my days of cemetery exploration will be forced into a hibernation of there own. Still, I have stored up some posts for the winter months for any interested readers. Yet, this past weekend while returning from a trip to New Hampshire, I stole a little time to visit a cemetery that has been on my mind for some time now in what may well be my last exploration until Spring.  Eastern Cemetery in Portland, Maine is certainly in the running for the most interesting cemetery in the state, but today, my mission was not simply to explore (although I did a little of that). I had set out to see for myself three stones associated with one of the most interesting burials in Maine history and I would even say the history of the United States. Side by side in three almost identical graves lie the bodies of William Burrows, Samuel Blyth, and Kervin Waters.

 

 

What did these three men have in common? Burrows and Blythe would cross paths and meet their fate on the same day, September 5, 1813 off the coast of Portland, Maine. Blythe was the commander of the HMS Boxer, a Royal Navy brig and Burrows was the commander of the USS Enterprise a US Navy brig. In the midst of the fighting now known as the War of 1812 these two ships encountered each other in battle. They were pretty evenly matched in size and number of guns. However, the USS Enterprise had a slight advantage mostly due to a larger number of crew members. Both Captains nailed their flags to the mast and entered into a fight for the finish. However, both men were to meet their fates very quickly. Blythe was killed by the first cannon volley from the Enterprise and Burrows was killed shortly after from small arms fire from the Boxer. However, in the end it would be the Americans that would take the day, capturing the HMS Boxer. The third man of the three was a young officer from the Enterprise by the name of Kervin Waters. He was mortally wounded during the battle and died a few days after.

 

 

 

Following the battle the two dead Captains and the wounded Kervin were taken to the nearby harbor town of Portland, Maine. Here all three men were ceremoniously buried in Eastern Cemetery, the oldest cemetery in Portland, Maine. The famous poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, also a native of Portland mentions the event in his famous poem "My Lost Youth".

 

 

I remember the sea fight far away,

How it thundered o'er the tide!

And the dead captains, as they lay

In their grave, o'er looking the tranquil bay,

Where they in battle died.

 

 

What makes this so intriguing is not simply the history itself, but the idea that these two men are buried side by side. A short time before, they had been unwaveringly set on the other's defeat and destruction, but in death they found themselves being laid to rest as neighbors and morbid partners. What a fascinating picture and thing it is to consider. The applications and morals are seemingly endless. It is not as common as you might think to find enemies so joined in death and buried next to each other. The story here is so rare, I doubt that you will find another one like it, and I count myself privileged that I had the opportunity to visit the graves of these three men and witness the image for myself.

 

 

Captain Burrows' stone

 

 

Captain Blyth's stone

 

 

 

Kervin Water's stone

 

 

It is likely in the future, that I will write more about Eastern Cemetery. It is in its own right a fascinating place. I also plan to return at some point and explore further. Should you desire to visit and witness this for yourself, you will find the cemetery entrance along Mountfort Street in Portland's historic harbor area. The cemetery is surrounded almost entirely with an iron fence, but the main gate is supposed to be opened Monday - Saturday. If you should find yourself there on a Sunday there is a possibility that you may be able to slip through some areas where there is a chain link fence. Not that I would know for sure (nervous laugh). However, you enter at your own risk, so please be careful. There is also clear signage that the persons are not allowed in the cemetery after sundown. All that said, I recommend making a day trip and not on Sunday. As always please be respectful. Many of the stones are in bad disrepair, and it would be a shame to see any further damage come to this beautiful, historic cemetery at human hands. 





More to Buck Cemetery Than the Legend?

Buck Cemetery

Bucksport, Maine

 

Since I was a child, I have heard the legend of Jonathan Buck. As a child I attended school in Bucksport and often passed by the stone that is supposed to be cursed. I will share the legend briefly here for those unfamiliar with it. However, the purpose of this post is to rather explore Buck Cemetery in Bucksport, ME. While most know the stone and the legend, most also ignore the rest of the cemetery. The untold truth of Buck Cemetery is that is a fascinating place full of much more than legends. I recently set out on a rainy day to explore cemeteries and had a little adventure of my own exploring this one.

 

 

Jonathan Buck is often given credit for the founding of Bucksport. In 1762 it was Jonathan Buck who explored the area and in 1764 it was also Buck who began settling and building what is now known as Bucksport. The truth about Jonathan Buck is that he was both a pioneer and a war hero. Buck took part in the disaster that was the Castine Expedition. There can be little doubt that he was both a brave man and a hard man. After the defeat at Castine he took his family to safety in Brewer, and suffering from gout walked from Bucksport to Haverhill, Massachusetts. After the war Buck returned to the town he had founded and rebuilt it, as the British had destroyed it. He became a prominent leader in the town and died in 1795 at the age of 77. In fact his real tombstone reads, "He was a worthy citizen." Most people who stop to see his monument fail to realize that it is not his real grave stone. In fact the stone now known as the Buck Monument was erected by his descendents some years later.

 

 

 

It is here that the legends began. The legends surrounding Jonathan Buck have to do with a strange shape that has appeared on the monument erected by his descendents. The shape on the stone takes the form of a leg and foot. While the details of the legend have varied in different tellings, the main characters are Jonathan Buck and an unnamed woman. Interestingly enough the earliest recorded legend dates back to 1899. Still we should note this was over one hundred years after he died. In some stories the woman is mistress and in others she is just a local woman. She is accused and convicted of witchcraft by Buck and finally executed. In most of the legends she curses Buck and tells him that a sign will appear so that all will know he had wrongly accused her. Supposedly the form of the leg and foot on the monument is the fulfillment of her curse. The form appeared after the stone was placed, and it is said that several attempts have been made to remove it, but it always returns. Those skilled in the area of geology have attributed it to a permanent deformity in the stone, possibly caused by an iron vein.

 

 

Most have concluded that there is little truth to the legends surrounding Jonathan Buck. Perhaps the saddest part of all of this is the fact that a cemetery full of many interesting things of historical significance has been overlooked. Realizing this I set out in hopes of exploring this wonderful cemetery. Unfortunately this is not as easy as it probably should be. Surrounding the cemetery is an iron fence erected to keep people out. This is likely for fear that they will mess with the Buck monument. A path takes you close to the monument with the iron fence still separating you. What if your main purpose is not to see the monument? Most of the oldest stones cannot be viewed easily from the fence line. The original stones of Jonathan Buck and his wife cannot be viewed at all as the front of the stones faces away from the fence. Fortunately for me the iron fence did not extend around the entire cemetery. The back part of the cemetery uses a much lower chain link fence. In one place it was in such disrepair I could step right over it, which I did not hesitate doing.

What I found was very interesting. Although the cemetery is small it boasts a few persons of great interest and some beautiful stones. Perhaps most interesting are the original stones of Jonathan Buck and his wife. They are slate and bear the image of the winged angelic face. Buck's stone not only bears the statement about him being a worthy citizen, but also cites that he is the founder of Buckstown. This is out of character for burial markers of that time as they seldom include biographical information. This makes it a very unique specimen in it's own right. His wife's stone is also interesting as it simple calls her a "comfort" of Jonathan Buck. The reasons for the use of this term instead of saying she was his wife is both intriguing and unclear.

If you dare to "jump" the fence you will be greeted by the stones of many interesting people. Most are members of the Buck family, but several are not. One stone lists the names of multiple young men who seem to have died during the War of 1812. Buck is also not the only founder and Revolutionary War hero memorialized here. In the back corner of the cemetery is the stone of Jonathan Frye. It bears traditional Masonic symbols and informs readers that Frye served as a Lieutenant in the Continental Army and was one of the founders of Bucksport. It also notes that Frye drowned in the Penobscot River at the age of 51. I was not able to find further details surrounding his death. I was also interested to find out that he is not buried there. According to what I have read Frye is buried in a small family cemetery also located in Bucksport (something I plan to explore in the future). At the bottom of the stone it says it was erected by relatives. One cannot help but wonder about the origins of this memorial. Could it be that Frye's family, jealous of him being overshadowed by Buck erected the stone? We can only wonder. Yet it does seem ironic that no legend exists about Frye who died tragically and a legend does exist about Buck who died in his old age.

Should you choose to explore the Buck Cemetery, do so at your own risk and with caution. While I am not aware of specific rules concerning entrance, it is obvious the fence was meant to keep people out. Still should you enter I believe it will be worth your while, and you will discover that much more than a legend rests here. As you cross the bridge into Bucksport, turn right. The cemetery will be a short distance down on your left across from the Hannaford.



 

WWII German and Italian Soldiers Buried in Massachusetts

Fort Devens Cemetery

Fort Devens, Massachusetts

 

 

The story for today's post is one I stumbled upon quite accidentally. As an Army Reserve Chaplain in Maine, I at times need to go down to Fort Devens, MA for training. This weekend was one of those weekends. As you might imagine, I had no prospects of exploring cemeteries while there. So what I am about to tell you presented itself unexpectedly. A fellow Chaplain had been asked to give the invocation and benediction for a memorial ceremony held in the Fort Devens Cemetery. I of course asked to tag along. What I discovered was that this was no regular ceremony. We had not gathered together to honor American soldiers, but rather twenty Germans and two Italians who had fought during WWII.

 

 

 

Now you may not know, and I did not know, that during WWII Fort Devens contained a POW camp. German and Italian prisoners captured over seas where sent here to wait out the rest of the war. From what I heard during the ceremony, nearly 5,000 were held here at one time or another. However, not all of them were fortunate enough to make it home. Twenty two died during there imprisonment and were buried here at Devens. Interestingly enough they were buried right along with the American soldiers and their families also buried in this cemetery. On a regular basis family, friends, and persons of Italian and German heritage gather here to pay homage to these men. Their  countries, once enemies of the United States, are now allies.

 

 

While attending the ceremony and viewing the graves, I discovered a few interesting things. One is a simple observation, and the other is an interesting story about one of these men told to me by one of the gentlemen present at the ceremony. The observation is that many of the men seemed to have died within a short time period. Conditions within a United States POW camp were likely pretty decent. It would seem that the men died of some sort of sickness or epidemic. Perhaps it was even the common flu. Part of my suspicion that this is the case is that one of the men buried there was a doctor. Perhaps as a German medical officer he had attempted to save the sick men only to find himself also debilitated. While I have not confirmed this it seems like a plausible scenario and adds interest to the story.

 

 

The second story told to me by one of the gentlemen present for the ceremony concerns one of the deceased men named Friedrich Steinhoff. According to the man Steinhoff was a U-boat (German submarine) captain. Knowing the war had been lost, he surrendered his boat off the coast of New York. While much of the equipment was destroyed to keep it out of U.S. hands one device escaped destruction. That device was something designed to launch a rocket from the submarine. This was technology the U.S. had not yet developed, and there is speculation that part of Steinhoff's mission was to launch a rocket at New York. The story he told me was that because of this Steinhoff was interrogated and placed in a prison near Boston. That is where he died of what has been deemed to be suicide. Supposedly, Steinhoff slit his wrist. However, the plot thickens since it is claimed that the slit wrist was that of his dominate hand. If he had done it to himself it is more likely he would have used the dominate hand to cut the wrist of the non-dominant hand. Apparently this has made some wonder if he was murdered, and of course if this is true who committed the crime. Was it the U.S. or Germans who viewed him as a traitor?

 

 

You will find Fort Devens Cemetery along Patton Road, just outside of the base area. It is a typical military cemetery with the stone looking pretty identical. However, in light of this discovery I hope to explore it more in the future. 







 

Belfast's Forgotten Cemetery

 

East Belfast Cemetery

Belfast, Maine



 

 

Recently I stumbled across a gem that was hidden in what is practically my backyard. For sometime now, I have called Waldo County home and more specifically the Belfast/ Searsport area. I assumed there were no new discoveries to be made. I was wrong. Hidden along the coast and down a driveway may be what is the oldest cemetery in the area. If you ask the locals (myself previously included) about cemeteries in Belfast they would likely point you in the direction of Grove Cemetery. Grove Cemetery is certainly the largest one in the area with expansive grounds and many interesting stones in it's own right. However, its oldest burials go back little further than 1830. Belfast on the other hand has a rich history dating back to the late 1700's. This is where East Belfast Cemetery comes in.

 

 

A view of Belfast today reveals that much of the town is on the south side of the Passagassawakeag River. This is where you will find the historic downtown. However, in its earliest days most of the people who called the area now known as Belfast home seem to have resided on the north side of the river. So it makes perfect sense that we would find the oldest burying ground here.

 

I first heard rumors of the East Belfast Cemetery from a coworker of mine. She informed me that she lives in one of the oldest houses in Belfast. The said house had at one time been a tavern and was even occupied by British troops when they burned Belfast during the Revolutionary War. She mentioned the cemetery as the resting place of the home's original owner. Obviously this peaked my interest. However, in her description it was hidden out in the woods. While this may have been the case at one time it seems to be better marked and cared for today. I discovered the cemetery's exact location through a book I have been reading recently about coastal Maine cemeteries. I could not wait to see it first hand, and with it being so close there was little to keep me away. I was not disappointed.

 

 

East Belfast Cemetery is unique in that it is primarily filled with stones that show the stone cutting art of the late 1700's and early 1800's. This is almost unheard of in Waldo County. As you enter the cemetery you will find the newer stones. Moving past them there seems to be a considerable open space (probably unmarked graves). Then, as you near the water, you will see rows of slate stones. Many of these slate stones hold wonderful examples of the winged death head so common at the time. Other's display the urn, and one stone has a wonderful example of a weeping willow. Inscriptions can be difficult to read due to wear, but many stones have been marked with flags indicating they are believed to be the resting place of Veterans of the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. This is not a large cemetery so it won't take you long to explore everything. However, take note of the very interesting inscription written on a stone belonging to a woman by the name of Ruth Brown. It reads, "Also her infant encircled in her right arm."  The specific nature of this inscription is of great interest and a rare find for the period.

 

 

To get to East Belfast Cemetery simply take Route 1 and head in the direction of Searsport. The cemetery will be on your right about a mile after crossing the bridge. After you pass Jerry's Hardware look for the very tall airmail mailbox. You will want to take the unmarked driveway before the driveway with the airmail mailbox. About ten feet down the driveway you will see a path on the left leading into the cemetery. I highly recommend this exploration, especially if you are a local and have never been.

 

The Mass Murder Mystery of Augusta

The Purrington Family

Augusta, Maine

 

Augusta is the capital city of the state of Maine. Even today it is far from being a bustling metropolis and is smaller than Portland, which is Maine's largest city. Travelers to Augusta will find it to be a quaint historic town, whose skyline is dominated by the Maine State house, but Augusta wasn't always like this. During the late 1700's and early 1800's Augusta was little more than an up and coming community. It would likely have been overlooked by many if it was not for the presence of Fort Western, a small military outpost along the Kennebec River. Despite all this in 1809, Augusta found itself the site of what is probably the most gruesome murder in the city's entire history. The murders centered around the Purrington family who lived out on the Old Belgrade Road.

 

 

On the night of July 9, 1809, Capt James Purrington killed most of his family to include his wife and seven of his eight children. He is said to have entered his house on that night and using a combination of an axe and a razor committed the murders. His eldest son James was the only one to escape, but not without receiving a blow to the back from his axe wielding father. One of the daughters who sustained significant injuries managed to survive for about three weeks before she also perished. Upon completion of the deed, Capt Purrington took the razor and slit his own throat. The eldest son after escaping ran to a nearby neighbors house and informed them of the mayhem which had just recently occurred. The neighbor accompanied by a few other men arrived to find the gruesome scene. I will spare you the specific details of what they found, except to say that the razor was used to kill many of the younger children and the axe the rest of the family. If you should be the type of person curious as to the specific gruesome details (as I was), if you do your research a newspaper of the time recorded the first hand account of the scene which greeted those who ran to investigate.

 

 

So what does this have to do with cemeteries, stones, and burials?  Some interesting things surround the burial of both the victims and the perpetrator. Due to some beliefs about suicide, the funeral and burial were done differently. Mrs. Purrington and the seven children were buried in a mass grave at the corner of what was to become the Mt. Vernon Cemetery in Augusta. In more recent years the grave which was before rumor and conjecture has been discovered and a stone marker with a brass plate telling the story now marks its location. I had the interesting fortune to see it for myself and comprehend that below my feet were the remains of eight persons who had been brutally murdered.

You will note that the Capt Purrington was not interred in the mass grave. The story of his burial is much more mysterious and intriguing. It is said that during the funeral his coffin was forced to stay on the porch due to his death being a suicide and was displayed with the axe and razor which he had used to commit the murders. Later it is reported that Capt Purrington was buried outside the cemetery grounds. The most detailed reports say his remains were placed at the corner of Winthrop and High Streets. I was able to find this intersection just down the street from the cemetery. Today it is a regular urban housing area. Several rumors abound about Capt Purrington's body. One conspiracy says that persons associated with Bowdoin College secretly exhumed the body for research. Another story I read says that at one point an owner of the property using a metal detector found an axe head which dates to the period of the murders. This however, has not been substantiated.

This was my first visit to Mt. Vernon Cemetery, but I am already intrigued by it. I am sure that the Purrington grave is only the beginning of interesting discoveries to be made here. If you should desire to have a look for yourself, you will find the cemetery located on the corner of Winthrop and Granite Street. The entrance is just up past this intersection. There are several cemeteries that make up this area collectively known as Mt. Hope Cemetery, but Mt. Vernon is the oldest. If you desire to see the Purrington grave simply travel a short distance down Granite Street and you will see the monument clearly in the bottom corner of the cemetery. You also may be interested in the location of the Purrington farm where the murders occurred. Although the house no longer exists, it is believed to be the location of the Greyhound Clinic on Old Belgrade Road just across from the Veteran's Cemetery. 

Riverside Cemetery

Lewiston, Maine

 

Due to my work, I visit the Lewiston / Auburn area about once a month. I recently decided to see what kind of unique cemeteries or burial areas I could find in the area. After a little research I discovered a few, but the largest is know as Riverside Cemetery. As its name suggested, this cemetery is located along the banks of the Androscoggin River in Lewiston, Maine and offers beautiful views of the river.

Riverside is so large, I have only begun to explore it, and will likely have more to share later on, but I found it to be a peaceful place with a lot of history. Even in my initial exploration I discovered a few gems. You will also find some beautiful stones and even a few mausoleums with interesting architecture. What little research I could dig up on the cemetery was people claiming it is haunted. It turns out that the cemetery has a bad history of vandalism. It has over the years gained some reputation as a hang out for vandals, vagrants, and thrill seekers. This is upsetting as such persons are simply desecrating and destroying historical markers. I will admit that I took some interest in the tales of haunting. Most of them center around the Libbey Mausoleum. I was determined to catch a glimpse of this place to appease my own curiosity. Even though it is a huge mausoleum it is not necessarily easy to find. It sits nestled in the back right corner of the cemetery. As soon as I saw it, it was easy to see why some have attributed it to paranormal activity. It is a large mausoleum, almost big enough to be a small house. Interestingly enough it sits so that the entrance is in the woods. As you approach through the cemetery you will come upon the back. You then need to follow a small path into the woods and around the side to get a glimpse of the front. As you peer up at the large structure you are completely surrounded by trees. Even though I think such paranormal stories when it comes to cemeteries are based in one's own imagination, I will admit that it created an uneasy feeling and as something dropped from a tree in the woods nearby I just about jumped out of my skin.  This monument though should be viewed for it's architectural beauty. I was not able to learn much about the Libbey family except that they seem to have been factory owners in Lewiston.

 

 

Below I have included a few of the interesting stones I discovered in my short whirlwind visit.

This young man was 21 when he was drowned in the Fraser River in British Columbia. One cannot help but wonder about the circumstances surrounding his death. Did he leave Maine as a pioneer set on making his fortune?  One cannot also help but wonder if he is really buried here. After all, Maine and British Columbia are on opposite ends of the continent.

 

 

Notice the "Custer 7" marker. I can only assume this means Custer's 7th Cavalry, yet the stone clearly states "5TR ME INF". INF means infantry. Still working on this one.

 

 

This man was a member of the 10th Maine Band during the Civil War. Interestingly enough this band was from Portland and known as Chandler's Band. They are still in existence today and you can go to one of their concerts. Do your research and you will see what I mean.

 

Should you desire to visit this interesting cemetery you will find it located a short distance from downtown Lewiston. The easiest way to get to it is via Riverside Street. You won't miss it.....just look for the stone pillars and cast iron gate. 







 

The Resting Place of a Conquistador

Juan Ponce de Leon

San Juan, Puerto Rico

 

 

If you should find this blog of interest in any way, you will discover that most of my posts will concern cemeteries found in Maine. However, on occasion it has been my privilege to venture elsewhere. When doing so it has been of great excitement to me to explore cemeteries and places of interment. One such place has been the tropical island of Puerto Rico. It has been called the gateway to the Caribbean and sits east of the Dominican Republic. Should you ever get to go to Puerto Rico you will discover that it is a place not only of great beauty, but also of great historical significance. I am sure I have only begun to scratch the surface of the many stories the island has to tell, but one is that of Ponce de Leon, who you will find buried in the capital city of San Juan.

 

 

 

If you are not readily familiar with him, you need do little more than pick up any history book which chronicles the early Spanish exploration of the New World. Perhaps the mention of the mythical fountain of youth will jog your memory. Ponce de Leon was one of the first Spanish explorers to set foot in the new world. His tale should you choose to research it is one of adventure and also cruelty. I will endeavor to tell the short version here. Ponce de Leon probably came to the New World for the first time with Christopher Columbus on one of his later voyages. His journey would begin on the island then known as Hispanola. Here he became wealthy through the oppression of the native population in agricultural endeavors. Eventually he would move on to what is now Puerto Rico and build a settlement there. Once again he would rely on the oppression of the native population. Despite his cruelty, Ponce de Leon can be accredited with much of the exploration of Puerto Rico. In fact the modern day city of Ponce bears his name. However, his time in Puerto Rico was not to last. Due primarily to claims of Columbus' son Ponce de Leon lost control of the island. This was one of the driving forces that sent him to explore and settle Florida. In fact it was Ponce de Leon that gave Florida its name.

 

 

Many stories have arisen over the centuries about Ponce de Leon and his search for the fountain of youth. While these are probably mostly based in myth, they have captured the attention of many. The truth is that Ponce de Leon's interest in Florida was probably for his own monetary gain and that of Spain. Still it is fascinating and sobering that the man who is most associated with pursuing youthfulness now lies dead and buried. You can find the resting place of Juan Ponce de Leon in the Cathedral of San Juan Bautista. This church is located right in the middle of the Old San Juan district. It should be noted that this has only been his resting place since 1836. Before this he was buried in the crypt of another church in San Juan. Unfortunately, I have never been able to get in to see his former resting place, but who knows, maybe on my next trip to Puerto Rico.

As you enter the Cathedral you need simply to look to your left along the wall to find the tomb of Ponce de Leon. If you are like me you may also enjoy exploring this old Catholic Church.