Died March 1829 & August 1831
Nearly 200 years ago, 2 babies were buried at Eastern Cemetery. William Leonard Billings lived from June to August 1829 and his brother Albus Rea lived from November 1830 to March 1831.
Their parents, Leonard and Ann J. (Knight), married in Portland in 1828. Leonard worked in the maritime industry and was associated with the Portland Steam-packet Company. They lived at Franklin Street and Cumberland Avenue and had 2 more boys who survived to adulthood: William Leonard (born 1832) and George W. (born 1836). They are all buried at Portland’s Evergreen Cemetery.
The question is: at some point, did Leonard and Ann disinter their infant sons and rebury them across town, leaving their markers behind? It’s possible that they’re still with us, their stones vandalized and forgotten.
William Leonard
son of
Leonard & Ann J.
Billings.
died Aug. 13, 1829
ALBUS REA,
son of
Leonard & Ann J.
Billings.
died Mar. 10, 1831.
aged 4 mos.
Their simple slate headstones, carved by Francis Ilsley and complete with an urn and willow design, were recently unearthed near the front gates. Neither child is listed in the cemetery burial book, nor were there any death records found.
We may never know if the infants were with us for a short time or still remain, but we have added them to our list of interred. And now we can protect their gravestones, ensuring they’re not lost from history again.
Many thanks to Ron Romano who researched the brothers for us!
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