Died: November 20, 1861
It's almost always challenging to research women who are buried in Eastern Cemetery. Women who were related to famous men are usually easier, and Elizabeth was married to a state treasurer and congressman.
"Betsey" was born to Major David and Abiah Bradish in Portland in 1783, and she married William Goodwin Capen when she was 20 years old in 1803. They had at least 6 children, most who lived into their 80s. Unfortunately, William G. died at age 46 in 1823. Three years later, Betsey married Mark Harris who had 6 children of his own with his first wife Ruth. She had died 4 months prior.
Mark and Betsey went on to have a child of their own, Martha Ripley in 1828. We aren't sure what the circumstances were that caused Mark to move to New York and resume his merchant business after his time in the government (he had originally moved to Portland from Ipswich in 1800 with his brother and opened a store), but he died in Manhattan in 1843. All references found say he was likely buried in Eastern Cemetery, but there is no burial record nor marker for him. Betsey, on the other hand, has a lovely marble marker that was conserved in 2016 after it had fallen over. Her name is in relief (including her first married name) and pretty flourishes grace the sides of the word "DIED" in the middle of her inscription.
ELIZABETH B. CAPEN,
Wife of the late
Hon. Mark Harris,
DIED
Nov. 20, 1861,
Aged 78 Yrs.
Why didn't Mark have a marker (see what I did there?) in Eastern Cemetery? Why did he go to New York? Did Betsey go with him and return after his death? Records say he died of a "short, but painful illness." What does that mean? Sometimes research yields more questions than answers. If you have any information on these subterranean celebrities, please let us know.
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