Ephraim Spaulding, Builder of many buildings of Anson and Madison, Maine

One of my visits to Madison, Maine revealed more about my ancestor, Ephraim Spaulding of North Anson, Maine.  He was a carpenter or a framer as he was sometimes called.  It was recently I realized that some of his buildings as a carpenter still exist today.

Ephraim Spaulding was born on June 3, 1794 in Westminster, Massachusetts.  According to his granddaughter, Hattie (Spaulding) Rand, "Ephraim Spaulding who as a youth came from Westminster, Mass., to the Providence of Maine seeking employment as a carpenter.  He had heard that frame houses where being built in Embden so he came up the valley to what is now Madison, Maine and crossed the Kennebec river in a ferry boat.  On the trail to Embden he became weary and paused for a rest on a hill side overlooking the river.  He was impressed with the amount of cleared land and decided to someday build on the spot, which he did in a few years."

                                                              Ephraim Spaulding colorized

Ephraim became acquainted with the Weston Family across the river in Madison, Maine, boarding with the family while finding work building or framing houses. Benjamin Weston had received a large amount of property from his step-father, John Moor, who had married Benjanmin's mother, Eunice (Farnsworth) Weston, after his father's death and raised Benjamin with a promise to his mother to give him land once he reached the age of 21.  Benjamin settled on the land in Madison which at the time consisted of 200 acres.  A log cabin had been where the family lived and Benajmin hired Ephraim to build his frame house.

                                                
                                                    Benjamin Weston farm in Madison, Maine

The house was finished in 1817 and as with many of the homes Ephraim, Ephraim would build, were based on plans of his grandfather, Ephraim Heald's home in Temple, New Hampshire.  During this time, Ephraim became acquainted with Benjamin's daughter, Mary Weston who he wed in her parent's home in 1820.  Eventually Ephraim bought the land he had discovered several years before and began building his own home which he completed in 1828.  The granite foundations, huge timbers rugged construction and generous dimentions indicate that he thought in terms of large buildings.  The wide planed boards, handmade wood finish, double chritian doors, inside window shutters, were evidence of his accurate work, though most of it with tools that he made himself with handmade nails.  The house had a brick oven and five fireplaces.

                             Undated old photo of Ephraim Sapulding house in North Anson, Maine

                                            The same house in 2011

Another somewhat famous landmark, Ephraim Spaulding is credited to building is the Patterson covered bridge bridge that spanned the Kennebec River between North Anson and Madison, Maine.

                                            Patterson Bridge

The Patterson Toll Bridge as it was called was built by Ephraim Spaulding between 1839 and 1840 and remained in existance until it burned in 1926.

Several other home in Madison and Anson area are credited built by Ephraim Spaulding according to the Madison Historical Society and most are in similar shape to his own home and his father-in-law's.

Ephraim is also credited to building the Union Church in North Anson.

Ephraim left his mark on many homes and buildings of the area.  He died on November 25, 1851 in North Anson, Maine at age 57.

"In Anson, Nov. 25th, Mr. Ephraim Spaulding, aged 57.  An esteemed citizen, a faithful and exemplary Christian, a liberal supporter of the Gospel, the church, of which he was a member; and the community in which he lived, with his deeply affliected family, sustain, in his death, a more than ordinary loss.  But to him, the event is gain.  He honored his Savior in life and in death.  And the Savior honored him.  Favored with reason to the last, and almost to thwe last with the power of speech, he gave to each of his family present, and to numbers of his friends, his parting words of affection and advice.  He repeatedly said, with an aspect of serenity and delight, "I am going to be with Jesus."  A sermon was preached on the occasion, from Pslams 12:1 - "Help, Lord, for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men." [Christian Mirror, issue of December 23, 1851]

He was buried in Sunset Cemetery in North Anson, Maine with his wife and two sons.

The death of 3rd Great Uncle, George F. Skinner

My cousin Teresa Lagrange makes yearly calendars combining her artistic talents of artwork and adding lines and quotes from family diaries and letters. This year she used a line from a letter from our 3rd great-uncle, George F. Skinner from 1863 for the month of March. 

I wanted to add to his story and recently discovered his death was covered in a Medical Journal of the time which had been unknown to me. Sadly, I learned more about his death than his life.  His passing Hopefully provided a benefit to medical science for future doctors' knowledge if they came across the same wound.

George F. Skinner was born on November 10, 1833, in Raymond, Maine as the eighth child of Peter Skinner and Sarah Meserve.  He was raised in that part of Raymond that was set off to form the town of Casco, Maine.   He was living at home on the 1850 census of Casco at age 15 and listed as attended school during the year.  

At some point George left home and moved to Dexter, Maine before 1860.  His older brother, Andrew Skinner was also living in Dexter as a wheelwright with his wife, and son and his wife's sister and her family. George, age 25, was also a wheelwright, living with the family of Hannah Luce probably as a boarder.  Hannah was a widow with 6 children and appears to have rented rooms out from her home to make an income. It was likely that Andrew and George worked together as wheelwrights for the same person or in their own business.  Andrew named his first-born son, George which shows they must have been close as brothers.

The following year the Civil War would break out and despite being the youngest son in his family, he was the first to enlist.  His older brothers, John and Andrew Skinner would enlist in 1862 while his other brothers, Elias, Joseph and Frederick would appear on the draft records, but they never volunteered to serve or were called to serve.

George F. Skinner, age 27, enlisted on May 28,1861 as a private in Company H, 6th Maine Infantry; mustered in at Portland, Maine on July 15, 1861, for 3 years.  He was single with a fair complexion; gray eyes; brown hair; and stood 5ft 8in tall.  He listed his occupation as farmer despite being listed as wheelwright on the census the year before.  Born in Casco, but a resident of Dexter, Maine when he enlisted.  

The 6th Maine was involved in many big military battles.  George must have seen a lot by March of 1863.  George had been promoted to Corporal like his older brother, Andrew who entered the War in 1862. However, it was by his own request to that he be made a private from Corporal.  George may have found being a Corporal did not suit him.  He had survived both several battles and disease until this time.  The letter was likely written by George to his sister-in-law, Mary (Brown) Skinner, wife of his brother Andrew.  He may have been close to her as they had all lived in Dexter for him to refer to her as "sister Mary."  He mentions Andrew in his letter who at the time was in Louisiana during the War. The letter had been in the possession of Alice Skinner, his grandniece until her death in 1987 and was passed to her grandniece, Rosie (Walsh) Russell, until it was donated to the Dexter Historical Society August 22, 1991.  The letter being written to Andrew's wife, Mary explains how our family line came into possession of the letter.  There was no punctuation in his letter.

March the 13, 1863, Camp near bell plains [Virginia]

Dear Sister Mary, it is with plisure that I seat myself to rite a few lines to let you no that i am well at present and i hope that these few lines will find you in joying the same blessing  the last time that i hurd from home and that was yestersay the folks was all well at present  i haint hurd from andrew since you rote him after   all is quiet a long the rappahant to day  i don't hear of any movement yet i dont hear of any  i had my minature taken yesterday and i will send it to you to morrow it haint taken vary well it is hard getting a good one out hear  it is a vary fine hear to day and warm  i am going on gard to morrow  i wish that i was down to dexter to day  i don't no of much to rite to you that will interest you  i send my love to you and george and give my my love to An and mary,  An where is Ema Brown now I had a letter from vestia hill the other day, she red that you and she were going up to dexter and she was going to gat a chance to work in the mill.  This is all yours    G. F. Skinner.

No one in the family has ever seen the "miniature picture" of George.  He sent his love to "you and George" which would be Mary (Brown) Skinner and his nephew George Skinner.   His love to "An and Mary" were Mary's sister, Sarah Ann and her daughter Mary, both who were living with Mary in 1860 in Dexter, Maine and Emma Brown was Mary's niece.  

Just two months later, George was wounded at the Battle of Chancellorsville.  His wound and eventual death were recorded in The Medical and Surgical History of the War of the Rebellion. Part III, Volume II. [1883]  (3rd Surgical volume) by U.S. Army Surgeon General's Office.

He died on May 17, 1863, in Washington, D.C.   He was buried in Washington, District of Columbia in the Military Asylum Cemetery.  His Company of 207 men would lose 21 to disease and wounds, 35 killed in battle.  

Although no photo of George has been found in the family.  The diagram of his fractured leg bone will continue on.

Eleanor Smith, wife, step-mother, mother, widow and divorcee

Eleanor B. Smith was born aboiy 1814 in Loudon, New Hampshire, the daughter of Jonathan and Hannah (Sleeper) Smith.  Little is known of her childhood in Loudon.  Her father died in 1832, when she was 18 years old.  The entire family appears to left Loudon for Hallowell, Maine by 1838. Several relatives on the Smith side of the family had previosuly settled in Hallowell, Whether it had been the plan for the family to move to Hallowell or parts of Maine, Eleanor arrived with her mother and siblings at that time.

She married 1) John Buswell, November 3, 1839 in Hallowell, Maine as his second wife.  He was born  February 23, 1812 in Hallowell, Maine, the son of Ebenezer and Abigail (Merrick) Buswell.  He was a distant cousin to Eleanor through her great-grandmother, Mehitable (Buswell) Smith.  John Buswell married 1) Mary Tapley, who died in 1839 and they had 5 children with only three living at the time of his marriage to Eleanor.  They would have 5 more children together.  She was now a step-mother and a mother.

In 1850. John Buzzell, age 38, laborer, with a real estate value of $1600 [$63,000 in 2024], was living in Hallowell, Maine with Eleanor Buzzell, age 36; Clara Buzzell, age 9; Albert Buzzell, age 6; Angeline Buzzell, age 4; Elenaor Buzzell, age 2; Laura Buzzell, age 2/12; Hannah Smith, age 63; Olive Blake age 18; Augustus Taylor, age 22, laborer; Charles Runnells, age 19, laborer (USC, p. 203).

John Buswell drowned on November 28, 1850, leaving her a widow.

                                    Kennebec Journal, issue of December 5, 1850

John had accumulated some debts.  Inventory of his estate was taken February 21, 1851.  Guardians were awarded for the four youngest children (Kennebec County Probate).  The Probate of the estate shows that house was sold at public auction, December 2, 1851.  Kennebec County deeds reveal that Eleanor B. Buswell of Hallowell, administrator of the estate of John Buswell, late of Hallowell, deceased, sold for $200 paid by Hannah Smith [her mother] of Loudon, New Hampshire, widow on December 2, 1851 (Kennebec County Deeds vol. 178, p. 267).  Eleanor also sold for $80 paid by Abigail Smith, wife of her brother, Ezra Smith, a lot of land in Hallowell (ibid. vol. 178, p. 373).

Eleanor married 2) Thomas Paine, February 17, 1852 in Hallowell, Maine.  He was born about 1814, son of Joseph and Love Paine.  Ot is not know if she was really in love or if this was a marriage of coveinence.  She was a widow with 5 children under the age of 10 years and 3 step-children and with selling off property to cover herr husband's and family debts, may not have been enough to live a comfortable wife a widow.  

Eleanor B. Paine petitioned for a divorce from Thomas Paine stating that they were married February 18, 1852, but on June 16, 1852, he deserted her and has lived separately from her for more than 5 years, libel dated July 10, 1857.  In the August 1857 term of Court, the divorce was granted (Kennebec County Supreme Judicial Court, vol. 19, p. 569, docket #1250).  She was now a divorcee.

Eleanor B. Paine also petitioned to have her name changed legally by the Maine Legislature to Eleanor B. Buswell on March 18, 1858 (Maine Genealogist vol. 20, [1998] p. 89).

Eleanor died March 13, 1860 in Hallowell, Maine.  The 1860 mortality schedule gives that she died in March 1860 at age 46yrs of consumption.

John and Eleanor are buried in the Village cemetery, Hallowell, Maine.  There are only stones for John Buswell and his daughter Eleanor Buswell in the lot and her mother, Hannah Smith, but burial records show that four people are buried in the lot with Eleanor being there as well.

Andrew Jackson Skinner, a year in the Civil War

 

So often when we are writing about our ancestors beyond our grandparents and no family stories are passed down, we must rely on records to piece together their lives.  Modern technology has helped with so much information being put on line and to easily access records.   These records are only part of the process in creating the stories of ancestors.

I recently received the pension records of my 2^nd great grandfather, Andrew Jackson Skinner and his service during the Civil War.  It provided me with some new information of the various places he lived as well as his health issues later in his life.  The pension and other sources showed me details for almost a year in his life.

Andrew Jackson Skinner was born on March 25, 1828 in Raymond, Maine, the son of Peter and Sarah (Meserve) Skinner.  He remained at home until after 1850.  He removed to Atkinson, Maine where he eventually would become acquainted with his wife, Mary Elizabeth Brown of Exeter, Maine.  They married April 30, 1855 in Bradford, Maine and the birth of their first son, George Washington Skinner followed in 1857 in Stetson, Maine.   By 1860, Andrew was living in Dexter, Maine with his family where he was listed as a carriage maker.  Within a year the Civil War would begin and Andrew would join the cause for the Union.

                                          Bangor Daily Whig, 1862 advertising for volunteers

Andrew enlisted September 10, 1862 as a Corporal in the 22^nd Maine Infantry, Company K.  The duties of corporal were simple and depended on their successful performance mainly on their capacity to control and direct soldiers in the performance of their duty. They took charge of the smaller details for fatigue and police duty in camp and garrison duty; their most important duty was that of "Corporal of the Guard." They frequently succeeded in the responsibilities of sergeants in their absence and should therefore be familiar with their duties.  Andrew must had shown he was able to be a leader before enlistment.  His company consisted of 134 soldiers of various ages; the majority were younger than Andrew’s 34 years of age. Among these young soldiers was an 18-year-old private, John Lawson Pease from Exeter, Maine who was probably familiar with Andrew’s wife’s family, and would play a role in Andrew’s family later in his life.  Andrew would leave his wife and 5 year old son in Exeter and go to War, not knowing if he would return home alive.  

Andrew was mustered in October 18, 1862 for service of 9 months at Camp John Pope in Bangor, Maine under Colonel Simon G. Jerrard.  They left for Washington, D.C on October 21^st and arrived on the 24^th.  They remained at Arlington Heights, Virginia until November 3, 1862.  The 22^nd was ordered to Fortress Monroe in Hampton, Virginia to form part of the expedition to New Orleans.  Andrew who probably never left Maine was now in a part of the country different from New England and going to an area vastly different.   His infantry embarked by boat from Newport News, Virginia on December 4^th to New Orleans. They arrived  on the 15^th at Ship Island and then occupied Baton Rouge, Louisiana by the 17^th.   Andrew remained in Baton Rouge through Christmas on 1862 and well into the new year of 1863.

                                        Harper's Weekly drawing of Ship Island from 1862

His infantry participated in the reconnaissance in the rear of Port Hudson March 13th to 16th, and on March 26th formed a part of the expedition up the Atchafalaya to attack the enemy's works in the rear where they moved to Donaldsville, Louisiana, then moved on to Brashear City, Louisiana (now Morgan City).  His infantry took part in the first Bayou Teche campaign to drive back the Confederate forces from Western Louisiana. 

Andrew’s first fighting experience came on April 14th at the Battle of Irish Bend, Louisiana.  The Union side had overwhelming numbers and the Confederate side retreated, the result was 400 men on the Union side dead or wounded.  They defeated the enemy in a sharp engagement at Irish bend and then were garrisoned at Franklin, Loiusiana until the 25th, when they went on to New Iberia, Louisiana. 

                                    Battle of Irish Bend, drawing of  the 22nd Maine Infantry

On May 6th, the infantry moved toward Port Hudson, where it arrived on June 1st, having marched over 500 miles during the campaign. Over the next month, Andrew would see the most fighting and loss of men. The Battle of Port Hudson began May 22nd and lasted until July 9^th.  His infantry arrived on May 28^th and remained engaged until the surrender of the Port on July 8^th.  They participated in two assaults on the works at Port Hudson, June 9 and 14, and after the surrender of that place was quartered inside the works until July 24th.  The Confederates began with 7500 men with 750 of them being killed during the siege and 250 dying of disease.  The Union side with 30,000-40,000 men had 707 men killed, 3,336 men wounded, 319 men went missing and about 5000 men dying from disease.   The 22^nd lost 180 men with only 9 being killed and 171 dying from disease.  If Andrew didn't witnesses soldiers being killed, he certainly was aware of the desease strking soldiers down.

                                    Port Hudson Battery photo

Andrew’s Col. Simon G. Jerrard disobeyed a command during the attack on Port Hudson when he would not order his men over a wall in battle.  His letter of dishonorable discharge of June 22, 1863 stated they Col. Jerrard in the presence of officers and enlisted men had stated to the effect “rather than attempt to lead or put his command over that parapet (wall), he would relinquish his command and go to the rear.”  It is unclear if Andrew and his company felt the Colonel was being brave to stand up and protect his men or cowardice in a time of battle. 

The 22^nd Infantry was ordered home on July 24, 1863.  They took a boat from Louisiana to Cairo, Illinois.  From Cairo they went by train to Bangor, Maine arriving on August 6^th.  

                            Photo of the river and railroad at Cairo, Illinois 1861

The Company was mustered out on August 15, 1863 at Camp John Pope where they had began almost a year earlier.  Andrew’s company lost 11 men in battle, 9 from disease and only 2 were wounded from 134 who started originally.

No stories were passed down about Andrew’s service in the Civil War.  We can only wonder what he thought about the cause, the parts of the country he saw and was stationed at.  The Battles and loss of life from fighting or from disease he witnessed.  How much did it affect him?  We will never know.

Andrew’s pension does mention the many places he had lived from Casco, Biddeford, Saco, Bangor, Dexter to Exeter, Maine.  In 1870, Andrew was living in Casco, Maine as a wheel maker, where his parents and siblings were living. He had had one more son, Myron Leslie Skinner in 1868. By 1880, Andrew had finally settled in Exeter, Maine where he and his wife, Mary inherited her parent’s farm. 

                                      Andrew Skinner and granddaughter Velma, 1905

His neighbor was John Lawson Pease, the teenager from Exeter, Maine who enlisted with him.  John and his wife Mary adopted a girl, Edna Estelle Pease as a child.  She would marry Andrew's son Myron Skinner in 1891 and have four granddaughters for Andrew.

                                                    Mary and John Lawson Pease

Andrew belonged to the G.A.R. [Grand Army of the Republic] from his receipt of paying his dues to the J. Knowles Post in Corinna, Maine in 1889.  

Andrew applied for a pension on  November 14, 1890 claiming disability due to kidney trouble, rheumatism and heart disease.  He was granted $12 a month pension.  He applied again in March 1907 and was granted a pension of $20 a month.   His wife Mary died August 15, 1907.  Andrew died August 23, 1910 in Exeter, Maine and buried in Chamberlain Cemetery. [For more on his gravesite, see blog  Who is buried in the family lot?]

Who's buried in the Family Cemetery lot?

For the past several years I have been wotking with the Gardiner, Maine Library to document Oak Grove Cemetery.  It the largest cemetery in the city, but the only documentation of the cemetery was from the 1940s when the WPA sent people around to collect data on any American War Veterans buried within each town.  MOCA (Maine Old Cemetery Association never documented the cemetery).  Sadly many mistakes were made by the WPA.  Gravestones that had the title "Captain" were often credited as military titles and not sea captains.  Also if cemetery lot contained a known veteran's burial, the name of the person on the gravestone was listed as the veteran.  This was a case in Gardner were a Civil War soldier was recorded buried in a lot, but the gravestone on the lot was for his son and daughter-in-law.  The soldier's son was listed as the Civil War soldier and would have been four years old when he enlisted.  However, military records matched the father's service and no record of the 4 year old was ever found serving in the war.  

It reminded me of the cemetery lot of my great-grandparents in Exeter, Maine.  The Skinner family lot in Chamberlain Cemetery has 5 gravestones and 1 metal marker on the lot and yet there are more than 8 people in the family lot.  

   Who is actually in the Cemetery Lot?

1. Andrew Jackson Skinner born 23 March 1828 in Raymond, Maine, son of Peter and Sally (Meserve) Skinner.  Andrew served as a Corporal in Company K, 22nd regiment of the Maine Infantry during the Civil War.  He died 23 August 1910 in Exeter, Maine of heart disease. Andrew and his son, Myron purchased the lot in 1903 after Myron's wife's death.  He was the 3rd person to be buried in the lot.

2. Mary Elizabeth (Brown) Skinner, wife of Andrew Skinner and daughter of James and Sarah (Robinson) Brown.  She was born on 30 September 1834 in Exeter, Maine.  She married Andrew Skinner on 30 April 1855 in Bradford, Maine.  She had two sons, George and Myron.  She died on 15 August 1907 in Exeter, Maine of breast cancer.  Her parents are also buried near by in this cemetery.  She was the 2nd person to be buried in the lot.

3. Myron Leslie Skinner, son of Andrew and Mary (Brown) Skinner.  He was born 23 May 1868 in Raymond, Maine.  He purchased the lot with his father after his wife's death on 1903.  Myron died on 23 November 1951 in Dexter, Maine.  He was a saleman in Portland, Maine and then a farmer in Exeter.  He was known to be reclusive later in his life, leading to rumors about him as many did not know he had been married and had 4 daughters who grew up adoring their "Papa."  He was the 5th person to be buried in the Skinner lot.

4. Edna Estelle [Southard] (Pease) Skinner, daughter of Omar and Georgetta (Moore) Southard, was born on 26 April 1872 in Corinna, Maine.  She was adopted by John and Christina (Tibbetts) Pease of Exeter, Maine.  John Pease lived next door Andrew Skinner and served in the same Civil War Comapny as Andrew.  Edna married Myron Skinner on 14 March 1891 in Corinna, Maine.  They had four daughters and her husband moved the family to Portland, Maine in 1893.  Edna died on 30 April 1903 in Portland, Maine from blood poisoning after the birth of her 4th daughter.  Edna was the first person to be buried in the lot.  Her adopted parents have the adjoinung lot.  

5. George Washington Skinner, son of Andrew and Mary (Brown) Skinner, was born on 4 May 1857 in Stetson, Maine.  He moved to Biddeford, Maine a young man and married Clara W. Brown on 20 March 1878 in Saco, Maine.  They moved to Hyde Park, Massachusetts.  George died on 18 September 1936 in Boston, Massachusetts.  For many years, it was not known that George was buried in the lot until 2020 when a newspaper article detailed his burial was discovered.  There is no gravestone for him and it does not appear that neither his brother, Myron or his sons could afford a gravestone for him.  He was the 4th person to be buried in the lot. His wife who survived is said to have been buried with her mother in Biddeford, Maine. 

"Corinna- Roy J. Buxton, funeral director, went to Newport Tuesday to take the body of George Skinner, a former Exeter resident, who died in Massachusetts, to the Chamberlain yard for burial."  [Bangor Daily News, issue of September 28, 1936]

6. Harold Ernest Skinner, the son of George and Clara (Brown) Skinner, was born on 29 April 1883 in Biddeford, Maine.  Although he was raised in Massachusetts, he returned to Exeter, Maine where he was a farmer.  He died on 5 August 1948 in Exeter, Maine.  He was the 5th person to be buried in the lot, but like his father has no gravestone and his death certificate lists his burial in Chamberlain.

7. Inez May (Bragg) Skinner, the daughter of Emanual and Mary (Goss) Bragg, was born on 22 April 1877 in Levant, Maine.  She married Harold Skinner on 3 October 1900 in Exeter, Maine.  They were several stories in regards to her mental health later in life.  After Harold's death, her family placed in the Bangor Mental Hospital where she died on 21 December 1957.  The story goes that same night Inez died, the farm house where she and Harold lived burned to the ground.  Recently, in 2020, stories on facebook surfaced that there was Skinner ghost that roamed the road near the cemetery.  The ghost was blamed on Myron, but in interviews with neighbors from year earlier, claimed it was the ghost of crazy Inez who caused trouble in the area and roamed the road.   Inez was the 7th person to be buried in the lot and does have a metal marker.

8 The last know person buried in the lot in Edward "Eddie" Clark Russell.He was born on 12 July 1911 in Bangor, Maine, son of Henry and Lettie (Clark) Russell.  Eddie was a barber in Bangor, Maine where he met late in life, Velma (Skinner) Burton-Hickson, daughter of Myron and Edna (Southard) Skinner.  Velma's grandchildren feel she was really in love with Eddie as they enjoyed so many things in common.  Eddie was a World Watt II veteran and his gravstone was paid by the government.  

He was the 8th person buried in the Skinner lot. The idea was that there was room in the lot for Eddie and eventually Velma.  Sadly this did noit happen as Velma who died 10 years later 1987 was buried in Bangor, Maine with her sister.  This burial is cited by some in the family as an example to be sure to let your family know your final wishes for burial as it is often looked on sadly that Eddie is buried with his wife's family and not his wife or with his own family.  The comfort is that Eddie and Velma often visited the Chamberlain Cemetery and it may have been his wish as well to be buried there.

So when exploring family lots.  Always try to research the lot with the town to see what records they have for burials if records are kept. Was the lot purchased near the time of a family member's death.  If the lot has single stones, are there gaps where another person could be buried?  Use death records, obituaries and death notuces to track burials or does it make sense for this family member to be in this lot if there is no grave marker.  I have found several family lots with various children buried with their parents with no gravestone marker either because they couldn't afford a stone or they were the last person to to die in the family and no relatives covered the cost to engrave a family stone or buy one.

 

Mary (Perkins) Bradbury, and the Salem Witch Trials

Recently my niece was asking about the Bradbury family and if she was related to her friend whose surname was Bradbury.  I asked if he knew the story of Mary Bradbury who was accused of being a witch during the Salem witch trials.  He was aware that she was his ancestor.   My niece isn't always fond to hear that her parents, grandparents share ancestors and in this case, both of her parents are descendants of Mary Bradbury.

Mary Perkins was baptized on September 3, 1615 at Hillmorton, Warwickshire, England, the daughter of John and Judith (Gator) Perkins.  This is the same church her parents were married in 1608.

Mary's father for whatever reason from lack of property, or to join the puritans in the new world, set sail with family on the ship "Lyon" on October 9, 1830 from Bristol, England and arrived in Boston, Massachusetts on February  5, 1631.  The ship which contained some much needed supplies for colonly also had 20 passengers.  Of twenty passengers, there was John, age 48 and his wife, Judith, and at least 5 of their children including Mary. 

                                            replica of the ship "Lyon"

Mary's family settled in Ipswich, Massachusetts by 1633 and she married Thomas Bradbury of Salisbury, Massachusetts in 1636, who was the land agent for his great-uncle, Sir Fernando Gorges, the colonial proprietor of the State of Maine and backer of the failed colony at Popham in Phippsburg, Maine.  Thomas was considered one town's more distinquished citizens and one of it's earliest settlers.   Thomas and Mary had eleven children together.  

Through the years there had been some disagreements with another early family, the Carr family.  Some of the complaints against Mary were nearly 20 years old or older.  One story was that George Carr had asked for Mary's hand in marriage which she declined in favor of Thomas Bradbury and that had begun a long standing family fued.  As most of Mary's accusers of witchcarft were the Carr family member, namely Ann (Carr) Putnam and their friends, the Endicotts.

On May 26, 1692, Mary Bradbury, who was in her mid 70s, was accused of tormenting Mary Marshall of Reading, and Mary Walcott, Mercy Lewis and Ann Putnam Jr of Salem.  On June 23, 1692, Timothy Swan of Andover fell sick and claimed it was from being attcked by witches who flew into his father's house in Haverhill, Massachusetts and Mary's specter was specifically named as his attacker.  Mary Bradbury was arrested on June 28th and taken to the Salem jail.

Trabscription

Essex in the province of the Massachusetts Bay in New EnglandAnno R R's & Reginae Gulielmi & Mariae Angliae &c Quarto Annoq'e Domini 1692/Ss/ The Juriors for our Sov'r Lord and Lady the King and Queen doe present That Mary Bradbury Wife of Capt Thomas Bradbury of Salisbury -- In the County of Essex Gent upon the Twenty=Sixth day of July

In the yeare aforesaid and divers other dayes and times as well before as after Certaine Detestable arts called Witchcraft & Sorceries Wickedly Mallitiously and felloniously hath used practiced and Ex- ercised At and in the Township of Andivor in the County of Essex aforesaid in upon & against one Timothy Swann of Andivor In the County [#aforesaid] Aforesaid Husbandman -- by which said Wicked Acts the said Timothy Swann upon the 26th day of July Aforesaid and divers other days & times both before and after was and is Tortured Afflic- ted Consumed Pined Wasted and Tormented, and also for Sundry other Acts of Witchcraft by the said Mary Bardbury Comitted and done before and since that time against the peace of our Sov'r Lord & Lady the King and Queen theire Crowne and dignity And the forme Of the Statute In that case made and Provided.
Wittness
Mary Walcott
Ann: Puttnam

( Essex County Court Archives, Salem - Witchcraft vol. 2, no. 69. Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, Judicial Archives, Massachusetts State Archives, Boston, MA)

Mary tried to defend herslef in response to the accusations of witchcraft

Transcription:

The Answer of Mary Bradbury in the charge of Witchcraft or familliarity with the Divell I doe plead not guilty.

I am wholly inocent of any such wickedness through the goodness of god that have kept mee hitherto) I am the servant of Jesus Christ & Have given my self up to him as my only lord & saviour: and to the dilligent attendance upon him in all his holy ordinances, in utter contempt & defiance of the divell, and all his works as horid & detestible; and accordingly have endevo'red to frame my life; & conversation according to the rules of his holy word, & in that faith & practise resolve by the help and assistance of god to contineu to my lifes end: for the truth of what I say as to matter of practiss I humbly refer my self, #[my selfe,] to my brethren & neighbors that know mee and unto the searcher of all hearts for the truth & uprightness of my heart therein: (human frailties, & unavoydable infirmities excepted) of which i bitterly complayne every day:/
Mary Bradbury

( Essex County Court Archives, Salem - Witchcraft vol. 2, no. 72, Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, Judicial Archives, Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, Judicial Archives, Massachusetts State Archives, Boston, MA )

At the same time 115 residents of Salisbury signed a petition stating her good character and reputation and long standing love of the gospel.  Her husband also testified on her behalf.  At her trail on July 2nd, her accusers were namely the Carr family, the sons of George Carr: Richard, James and their sister Ann (Carr) Putnam.  Her husband, Thomas Putnam recorded all the depositions in his own handwriting.  Mary was accused of everything from making butter turn rancid, causing sickness, tormententing Ann Putnam, to causing the death of her former suitor, George Carr and his son, John Carr, who had been in love her daughter, Jane Bradbury and was  spurned by her love and marriage to Henry True.  Only William Carr gave testimony in favor of Mary's innocence.

                                            Engraving of the witch trials

On September 10, 1692, Mary Bradbury and 5 other women were convicted of being wicthes and sentenced to hang.  On September 22, 1692, four of the women were hung at gallow's hill (now a park).  One woman confessed the night before and was granted another month to her things in order and by then the hangings were over.

                                            Gallows Hill now a park where people were hung

Mary Bradbury with the help of her husband managed to escape the hangman's rope.  With help from her friendsand her husband's connection woth Phipps' family, she escaped from jail, but was foreced to live as a fugitive for another year.  She returned to her family in May 1693.

Mary lived several more years dying on December 20, 1700 in Salisbury, Massachusetts and likly buried with her husband in the old Burying ground with their stones lost to time.

In September 1710, Mary's daughter Jane and her husband Henry True petitioned the court for a reversal of the conviction of Mary and restitution. On October 17, 1711, "An Act to Reverse the attainders of George Burroughs et al. for witchcraft was passed.  Mary's name was cleared the family received 20 pounds.

Mary's descendants include many Presidents, authors, actors and actresses, all of whom can be found on the website Famous Kin.

Our family line is

                                            1. Mary (Perkins) Bradbury

                                            2.Jane Bradbury m. Henry True

3. William True                                                                    3. Jabez True

4. Samuel True                                                                     4. Jabez True

5. Dudley True                                                                     5. Sarah (True) Stinchfield

6. David True                                                                       6. Sarah (Stinchfield) Hicks

7.Samuel Trew                                                                     7. Sarah (Hicks) Southard

8. Isabel (Trew) Akerley                                                      8. William Southard

9. Charlotte (Akerley) Corcoran                                          9. Omar Southard

10. Bruce Cororan                                                               10. Edna (Southard) Skinner

11. Carolyn (Cororan) McMann                                         11. Ethelyn (Skinner) Smith

12. Colleen (McMann) Smith                                             12. Glenn Smith

                                                                                            13. Michael Smith

When a Father is a Father and not the Father

Many of you know that in 2017, we had found my mother was a half-sister to her sibling and her biological father was a neighbor to her parents in Charleston, Maine.  It was during our meeting with her half sister, Carol and her daughters that I learned Carol's husband was the son of a Berdina Skinner.  My grandmother was Ethelyn Skinner of Exeter, Maine.  They told me that an uncle had traced their Skinner line back to a John Skinner of Lewiston, Maine which made me realize that I had another connection to these cousins as I am also a descendant of the same John Skinner.  Tracing our lines, we found our grandmothers were 2nd cousins.

I began to trace some of the other lines of descent from John Skinner as well.  I came across two of his grandchildren had married each other (Yes they were 1st cousins).  My interest was drawn to the Civil War pension of George Skinner of Weld, Maine on behalf of his son, John Francis Skinner's military service.  It was interesting that his pension request was denied twice. So I requested copies of the pension from the National Archives.  Upon receiving the pension records I discovered a tragic story of a pension being denied because George was not John's biological father.  Despite testimony from friends and neighbors that George had always been known as John's father and no one knew anything different.  Also John had helped George by sending money to help him before his death in the war.  By the late 1870s, George Skinner was in poor health and in need of financial support.  He petitioned twice because a commission asked the case be re-opened on the grounds that if John had supported George before his death as his known father, then it should be considered.

Here is what is known about the family:

George Skinner was born 27 March 1812 in Danville [now Auburn], Maine, the son of Andrew and Wealthy (Green) Skinner, grandson of John and Catherine (Jordan) Skinner.  He married Susan M. Skinner on 18 May 1833 in Topsham, Maine.  Susan was born about 1811 in Topsham, Maine, daughter of David and Lucy (Graves) Skinner, granddaughter of John and Catherine (Jordan) Skinner.  The Vital Records of Topsham, Maine show two marriage intentions for Susan.

Her parents marriage intentions are recorded as well.  Susan and a John Latchford of Bath, Maine intentions in 1830, but no record of marriage.  Then the intentions between Susan and George Skinner in 1833.  The pension of George Skinner contained the marriage date for him and Susan of 18 May 1833 in Topsham, Maine.  A John Luchford was living in Bath, Maine on the 1830 census, but does not appear again or in any other records in Bath or Topsham, Maine.

Susan gave birth to John Francis Skinner in 1831 in Topsham, Maine, but no record of his birth has been found in records and births of single mothers were rarily recorded nor is there any court records showing that Susan or her family petitioned for any legal consequences for John Latchford being the father of her child.  However, Susan married her cousin George Skinner and they removed to Carthage, Maine as well as Susan's parents.  

In 1850, Susan Skinner was living in the household of her parents with her son, John Skinner, but George was not recorded with them, but appears living in Harpswell, Maine working and living alone as it appears he had to find work that year away from his family to support them.

Susan Skinner died 15 April 1857 in Carthage, Maine was buried with her parents there.  George remarried on 27 November 1858 in Weld, Maine.  He was living with Harriet on the 1860 census of Carthage, Maine and from testimony from George's neighbors, John Skinner had moved to Massachusetts to find work at this time.

John Francis Skinner enlisted on 2 April 1864 as a private in Company E, 32nd Maine Infantry regiment of volunteers. This regiment was involved in many major battles of that year from the Battle of the Wilderness, Spotsyvania, and seige of Petersburg to name a few.  The regiment took aprt of the Battle of the Crater as it was known.  Union troops besieging Petersburg, Virginia used a mine to blow a hole in the Confederate defenses. However the troops could not advance further and many were slaughtered at the bottom of the "Crater" in what one officer later described as a "turkey shoot". Rather than retreat, General Burnside sent in a division of the U. S. Colored Troops who were also trapped. Many were killed even after surrendering. As a result of this debacle, Burnside never commanded troops again. 

John was captured on 30 July 1864 and taken to the Danville Prisons, Virginia.

Here is where John Skinner died on 25 August 1864 from disease.  

 George Skinner appears on the 1870 and 1880 census records of Weld, Maine residing with another people in the area.  George appied for a pension on behalf of his son' service 15 October 1875.  Tesitmony was collected from neighbors to his poor health and poor circimstances of himself anf his wife.  However a leter received from the pastmaster of Topsham contained a letter written to Daviod Skinner, dated 20 January 1846 from White Oak Bottom, Maryland in regards to being the father of John Skinner.  This letter write to David Skinner, being Susan's father.  This resulted in his pension being rejected on the grounds the claimant was not the legitmate father of John Skinner.  This mist a have been a disappointment to George who stated he ahd alays considerred John his natural son.

A commsion in 1887 sent the pension back for consideration to deteremine if it could be proven that before John's death, his father George was dependant on money from him, and what money George had earned before John F. Skinner joined the war.  Letters were written again of George's poor health from rheumatism and other health issues limiting his ability to work and that he had no property. It was implied that it was a lie that George was not the father of John Skinner as the number of neighbors who knew George knew nothing different as to George not being John's natural father. 

George' pension request was again rejected on the grounds that George had been able to work before his son went to War and had been earning some money.  Although John Skinner had contributed money to the family, John was not the sole contributor to the family's income therefor it did not negate the orginal rejection.  Nothing else appears to have come his pension application afterwards.  No record of George's death or burial has been found.  Being a pauper at the time of his death, no gravestone would have paid for him by town and with no other close relatives to pay for his final expenses, nothing more is learned of George Skinner.   

George Skinner was a father to John Skinner, but not the father of John Skinner and in the eyes of the government pension office, this meant that George was not the father of John, even if John Skinner knew of no other father.