Cemetery Papers

Among the growing list of resources surrounding the Eastern Cemetery in Portland, Maine, is a series of papers that author Ron Romano has written. Listed below are links to these papers that encompass a range of topics. Please keep in mind that although you may download these files as PDFs, they are copyrighted, and use of the information therein is prohibited without approval. Contact Ron Romano for more information.

The Life and Times of Ira Gray: A Portland Barber Who Was Charged with Manslaughter in 1825

Thirteenth in a series about Eastern Cemetery by Ron Romano

The full life story of Portland resident Ira Gray is simply not known. Many of the genealogical records that are readily available for the white citizens of the town were not created—or were vaguely reported—for Portland’s people of color in the early 1800s. This reality wasn’t limited to Portland, or Maine, or even New England, but existed throughout the United States. Ira Gray was not famous, but as a men’s barber and women’s hairdresser he was likely quite well known in town. His paper trail ended in 1826. Two hundred years later this paper puts him in the spotlight and allows a glimpse at his life’s journey, including an indictment for manslaughter! Where and when he died isn’t known, so we are left to only wonder if he was laid to rest at Eastern Cemetery. At least three of his children ended up there in the 1820s and it is the single surviving gravestone for his son George that begins to unfold the life story of Ira Gray.

Hidden Figures: Below-Ground Carvings on Gravestones from the Early 1800s

Twelfth in a series about Eastern Cemetery by Ron Romano

When gravestones are freed from the ground in order to straighten or repair them, we sometimes find crudely carved markings on the below-ground portion of the stone. Often referred to as “carver practice marks,” an increasing number of stones are discovered with marks that actually appear to have served a purpose. More than 40 are at Eastern Cemetery, but others are found at 7 other area cemeteries. This paper examines these hidden figures—most of which are on stones produced from 1800 to 1830—and shines a light on 3 stonecutting brothers who are connected to the majority of them.

Empty Graves: A Roster of Cenotaphs at Eastern Cemetery

Eleventh in a series about Eastern Cemetery by Ron Romano

A cenotaph is a monument that memorializes someone who is buried elsewhere. This paper describes the research undertaken to create a roster of these “empty graves” at Eastern Cemetery and to tell the stories of many Portlanders whose remains never made it home for burial. From shipwrecks and accidental deaths at sea to disease, battlefield deaths and perhaps even a suicide, the stories of those who lost their lives up to 10,000 miles from home are told, and the list of Eastern Cemetery’s cenotaphs—exceeding 100—is presented.

The Desecration of Judge Potter's Grave and the Lads Who Committed the Crime

Tenth in a series about Eastern Cemetery by Ron Romano

In September 1866, four teenaged boys were arrested for vandalizing the Eastern Cemetery grave of a celebrated Portland man, the Honorable Barrett Potter, who had died less than a year before. The four teenagers linked to the 1866 event were ultimately punished for their actions and Judge Potter was later removed from Eastern Cemetery and reinterred across town at Evergreen Cemetery. Newspapers from the fall of 1866 provide the basic story of the event and its aftermath, but this paper takes a deeper dive, detailing the crime, its victim, and some troubling backstories of the four young vandals. With ties to the Longfellows, anti-Irish sentiment of the mid-1800s, and even a grisly murder, the full story unfolds here....

Dr. John Perkins Briggs (1791-1837): A Surgeon in the War of 1812

Ninth in a series about Eastern Cemetery by Ron Romano

Dr. John Perkins Briggs was the surgeon aboard the Saratoga on Lake Champlain during the War of 1812. Though the U.S. was victorious in the Battle of Champlain on September 11, 1814, there were many casualties. Dr. Briggs himself was severely injured but continued to attend to the others aboard the ship for the duration of the battle. Back home in Cornish, Maine, and later Portland, he continued his medical practice and built a large family with his wife Dolly. But the story of this remarkable family didn’t end with his death in 1837 and burial at Eastern Cemetery. Rich with photographs and documents supplied by a modern-day direct-line descendent, this paper shines a light on Dr. Briggs and his family and celebrates his life and service 200 years ago.

Dr. John Perkins Briggs (1791-1837): A Surgeon in the War of 1812 (PDF)

Mortality and Memorialization in Portland at the Time of Statehood

Eighth in a series about Eastern Cemetery by Ron Romano

Many are celebrating Maine’s bicentennial in 2020 by offering details about what life was like in 1820 Maine. Find out what death was like in 1820—specifically in Portland and at its sole public burying ground, Eastern Cemetery. The number of deaths in Portland at the time of statehood, broken down into a variety of categories are featured. Also included are gravestone makers of the time, examples of their work, causes of death in the population, and common burial practices. Compelling stories about the local people who died the year that Maine separated from Massachusetts to become the 23rd state are also presented.

Mortality and Memorialization in Portland at the Time of Statehood (PDF)

The Moodys at Eastern Cemetery

Seventh in a series about Eastern Cemetery by Ron Romano

Among the many contributors to the settlement, development, and character of Portland we find the names of Major Samuel Moodey and Captain Lemuel Moody. Though of different generations, with different spellings of their family name, and with burials in different sections of Eastern Cemetery, they were related — and at least 70 of their relatives rest near them. But their familial relationship was not defined in the published works by Portland’s classic historians (Goold, Moulton, Willis, and others). This paper confirms their relationship and provides details about some of their relatives who rest with them within the historic landscape of Eastern Cemetery.

The Moodys at Eastern Cemetery (PDF)

Henry Hanson: A Marble Worker Leaves His Mark

Sixth in a series about Eastern Cemetery by Ron Romano

The Spirits Alive conservation crew has cleaned, straightened or repaired nearly 400 grave markers in five seasons, and has begun to address more challenging gravestones, such as those broken in multiple pieces or ones recovered from under the sod.  In 2018, three marble markers were recovered that held carver signatures.  In all, ten gravestones are now known to be signed; six of those are from one man, marble worker Henry Hanson.  This paper looks at the life and work of this nineteenth century stonecutter.

Henry Hanson: A Marble Worker Leaves His Mark (PDF)

The Asa Clapp Monuments

Fifth in a series about Eastern Cemetery by Ron Romano

A volunteer working at Maine Historical Society in 2017 discovered a receipt in the Asa Clapp papers for a monument to decorate Clapp’s family tomb at Eastern Cemetery.  The receipt, in the handwriting of Portland’s first resident stonecutter, Bartlett Adams, was dated 1810. Few business records from the Adams shop have survived, so the receipt became an important “new” piece. The author conducted an investigation of the receipt and the monument currently over the Clapp tomb.  This paper summarizes the findings of that research, including some new discoveries about Adams’ business.

The Asa Clapp Monuments (PDF)

The Tombs: A 2017 Update to the 1978 “Record of Interments” with New Historical Notes

Fourth in a series about Eastern Cemetery by Ron Romano

In 1978, William B. Jordan, Jr., complied a “Record of Interments with Historical Notes” for Eastern Cemetery.  That document contains a sequential (by section, row, & plot) list of about 4000 burials.  Included are the names of 672 people who were buried in the 95 private family tombs at the historic burial ground.  But the 1978 list of tomb burials is inexplicably incomplete.  This paper provides an update to the Record of Interments, more than doubling the list of entombed from 672 to 1387, and gives new historical notes about tomb owners, removals to other cemeteries, and more.

The Wreck of the Schooner Charles

Third in a series about Eastern Cemetery by Ron Romano

In the summer of 1807, during a routine journey from Boston to Portland, the schooner Charles crashed off Cape Elizabeth just after midnight.  The ship was carrying 22 people and cargo valued at $25,000.  Sixteen people lost their lives.  The task of creating grave markers for the victims fell to the area’s resident stonecutter, Bartlett Adams (1776-1828).  Bartlett’s shop made at least four gravestones honoring six of the victims.  A full accounting of the tragedy is found in the author’s book, “Early Gravestones in Southern Maine…” (History Press, 2016).  This paper follows the author’s research and provides additional information about the crew and passengers aboard the doomed ship.

The Wreck of the Schooner Charles (PDF)

The Catholic Plots

Second in a series about Eastern Cemetery by Ron Romano

Eastern Cemetery’s designated patches for African Americans and Quakers have been known to exist for more than two centuries.  In 2016, examination of a small cluster of Catholic grave markers gave rise to a new possibility:  a designated patch for Catholics.  The author analyzed burial records, plot maps, and gravestones in order to answer the question, “Were Catholics segregated from the general population at Eastern Cemetery?” This paper details the analysis that led to the designation of the Catholic plots at the historic burial ground.

The Catholic Plots (PDF)

How Many People Are Buried Here?

First in a series about Eastern Cemetery by Ron Romano

We will never know the exact number of people who claim Eastern Cemetery as their final resting place.  Estimates vary greatly, from 4,000 to 7,000.  In an effort to zero-in on a more exact number, the author analyzed population and mortality rates for Portland during years the cemetery was the sole burying ground and manually re-populated the cemetery using the plot map first drawn by City Engineer William Goodwin in 1890. This paper provides a current reliable estimate of burials.

How Many People Are Buried Here? (PDF)