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THE
PORTLAND
BURYING GROUND
ASSOCIATION
AND ITS
CEMETERY.
PORTLAND, CONN. : MIDDLESEX COUNTY PRINTERY. 1897.
THE
PORTLAND
BURYING GROUND
ASSOCIATION
AND ITS
CEMETERY.
PORTLAND, CONN. : MIDDLESEX COUNTY PRINTERY. 1897.
This book is compiled from the records, maps and papers of The Portland Burying Ground Association, with the exception of the names and time of service of the Sextons, which are given as hercin indicated, no complete record having been kept.
The dates of the deaths of former officers were mostly obtained from monuments and gravestones.
It is hoped that it will prove interesting and useful to members and friends of the Association and to the general public.
Gildersleeve, Conn., July, 1897. F. G.
" : 1 €
These grounds are consecrated to a sacred purpose. They do not belong to the living. In the highest, the fullest, the noblest sense, they belong to God and to the dead. Consecrated and hallowed as thus they are may they thus remain. May they be kept inviolate : may they be free from desecrations forever.
-REV. FREDERICK J. GOODWIN, AT THE DEDI- CATION OF INDIAN HILL CEMETERY, MIDDLETOWN, CONN.
ORIGINAL OFFICERS
OF THE
Portland Burying Ground Association, A. D. 1845-6.
President, DAVID CORNWALL.
Directors, ENOCH SAGE,
WILLIAM H. BARTLETT.
Treasurer, DAVID WILLIAMS.
Clerk,
CHARLES L. SAGE.
OFFICERS FOR 1896=7=8.
President,
HOBART DAVIS.
Directors,
HENRY KILBY,
EDWARD S. HALE.
Clerk or Secretary, FERDINAND GILDERSLEEVE.
Treasurer, FERDINAND GILDERSLEEVE.
Superintendent, HENRY KILBY.
Sexton, JOHN STRICKLAND.
The Portland Burying Ground Association
was formed by the Articles of Association found upon sub- sequent pages and was organized at the first meeting held, on Monday the 15th day of December, A. I). 1845.
THE PORTLAND Burying Ground Association.
ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION.
The undersigned inhabitants of the town of Portland in the county of Middlesex do hereby associate for the purpose of procur- ing and establishing a burying ground or place of sepulchre adjoin- ing the present burying ground near the dwelling house of widow Anna Strickland in said Portland.
ARTICLE I. Said Association shall be known and called by the name of "The Portland Burying Ground Association."
ARTICLE II. The officers of said Association shall consist of a President, two Directors, Treasurer, Clerk and such other officers as said Association shall direct.
ARTICLE III. The first meeting of said Association shall be called by Wm. H. Bartlett, on the 15th of December A. D. 1845, at six o'clock P. M. at the Methodist meeting house in said Portland by setting notices of said meeting on the school houses in Districts Nos. 1, 3, 4, and 5 in said Portland five days before said 15th of Dec., and when so met shall proceed to choose by ballot the officers pro- vided for by the 2d Article aforesaid.
ARTICLE IV. Said Association shall have power to make from time to time such By-Laws as they shall deem proper for the regulation and government of said Association not inconsistent with the Laws of this State.
ARTICLE V. Said Association shall have power to raise the necessary funds to carry out the objects of said Association by a tax or otherwise as said Association shall direct.
Signed : David Cornwall. Amos Cornwall, Andrew Cornwall, David Williams,
Hatsel Penfield,
Alexander Hale,
Horace B. Buck,
Robert U. Richmond,
8
THE PORTLAND BURYING GROUND ASSOCIATION
Seth J. Davis,
Sylvester Stocking,
Asahel Penfield,
Joel Strickland, Joel Strickland, Jr., Charles L. Sage, Enoch Sage,
Asa Strickland, R. P. Norcott,
John Ingraham,
Daniel B. Strickland,
Ralph Pelton,
Erastus Strong,
Alanson Hurlbut,
Henry S. Conckling,
David Hurlbut,
Barnard B. Buck,
Joseph Goodrich, 2d,
Erus Bell,
Erasmus Gladwin,
Sam'l S. Buckingham,
Agift Pease,
Samuel B. Reeve,
S. Gildersleeve,
David Shepard,
Kellogg Strong,
Daniel Cheney,
Jeremiah Haling,
George J. White.
Chauncy Shepard,
Charles Dewolf,
Thomas J. Hubbard,
George Bell,
Jonathan Shepard,
Wm. C. Ranney,
Roswell Brooks,
Augustin Overton,
W'm. H. Bartlett,
Wm. Lewis,
Benjamin Abbey,
E. B. White,
Abner Hall,
S. C. Spalding,
Hiram A. Penfield,
Edward Lewis,
Horace Penfield,
Jeremiah Button,
Abel Penfield,
James Giddings,
Alfred A. Payne,
Samuel Brown,
Daniel Shepard, Jr.,
George Strickland,
Elisha Brown,
Frederick Miller,
William Pelton,
Alfred Payne,
Moses F. Alexander,
Henry E. Cook,
Thomas Fessenden,
Edward A. Penfield,
Wm. L. Dixon,
Hector Stewart,
J. E. Goodrich,
Chester S. Hurlbut, Brackett West,
Selden Cook,
Wm. C. Lewis, Elijah Norcott,
Wm. W. Campbell,
Stephen H. White,
Wm. G. Savage,
Egburt O. Button,
George M. Brown,
AND ITS CEMETERY.
Seymur Hurlbut,
Roswell Wells.
Ralph S. Stewart,
Isaac Stevens,
Russel Hopkins,
Henry H. Wells,
Russell Brainard,
Nelson Shepard,
Russel Penfield,
Edward Shepard,
Renselaer Rathbone,
David Crittenden,
David Sage,
Orren Hale,
H. E. Sage,
Horace B. Wilcox,
Alanson Strickland,
Jonathan Wetherill,
John Reeves, Job H. Payne.
CERTIFICATE OF SECRETARY OF STATE.
STATE OF CONNECTICUT SS
OFFICE OF SECRETARY OF STATE, / HARTFORD, Aug. 22, 1848. , I hereby certify that the articles of Association of "The Portland Burying Ground Association" are on file in this office; and as appears from the endorsement thereupon were received 19th December, 1845, by Daniel P. Tyler, then Secretary of State. Attest, J. H. TRUMBULL, Clerk, for JOHN B. ROBERTSON, Secy. of State.
TOWN CLERK'S CERTIFICATE.
Recd. Dec. 15, 1845, and registered in Lib. 3, page 164, in the records of Portland. Test. SYLVESTER STOCKING Register.
Names Signed on the Original Articles of Association after the Record was made upon the Town of Portland Records.
Evelyn White,
John C. Russel,
Edmund Hubbard,
Chester Goodrich,
-
IO
THE PORTLAND BURYING GROUND ASSOCIATION
James A. Hale,
Francis Hale,
David Hale,
Sarah Hale,
Levantia Overton,
Mrs. Elizabeth Buck,
Nelson Pelton,
Francis A. Pelton,
Turner Moulton,
Noah B. Strickland,
Ralph Northam,
Mrs. Betsey Stewart,
Lucius P. Stewart,
Chauncey Taylor,
Philip H. Sellew,
Joseph Côles,
Asher N. Rowley,
Hezekiah G. Pelton,
Sam'l C. Spalding,
Joseph Williams,
Charles Ames,
J. L. Thompson, Wm. S. White.
Noah Shepard,
Hervey Talcott.
NAMES SIGNED TO ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION IN RECORD BOOK.
Elizur Goodrich, Jr.,
Edwin G. Dunham,
Luther Wilcox,
Mrs. Anna Strickland,
Elijah Colton,
Henry Gildersleeve,
Nancy Shepard,
Hobart Davis,
Alfred C. Penfield,
F. Gildersleeve,
Amial Strickland,
Chas. H. White,
Sanford Stewart,
John R. Ames,
Chester Brown,
Geo. W. Concklin,
John I. Worthington,
John Strickland,
Mrs. Rebecca R. Arthur.
Joseph C. Gladwin,
George W. Bell,
Oliver Gildersleeve,
Sally Ward,
Henry Gildersleeve, Jr.,
Elizur Abby,
Henry Kilby.
Lucy Brainerd,
II
AND ITS CEMETERY.
GILDERSLEEVE, CONN., Feb. 22, 1896.
HON. SECRETARY OF STATE, Hartford, Conn.
Dear Sir :- The Articles of Association of The Portland Burying Ground Association are on file in your office as appears from the Ctf. thereto attached of which enclosed is a copy. They are also recorded upon the Portland Town Records.
I understand that this makes it a legal corporation. If not will you kindly inform me what further action is necessary to give full corporate powers to sue, and be sued, give deeds of burial lots, etc. Yours truly,
F. GILDERSLEEVE.
STATE OF CONNECTICUT. SECRETARY'S OFFICE.
Hartford, Feb. 24, 1896. F. GILDERSLEEVE, Esq.
Dear Sir :- I do not understand that anything more is required to make The Portland Burying Ground Association a corporation under Connecticut law.
I assume that a certified copy of your original certificate of or- ganization would be received in court as evidence of the corporate existence of the Association.
Yours truly, W. C. MOWRY, Secy. R. S. H.
I2
THE PORTLAND BURYING GROUND ASSOCIATION
BY-LAWS AND REGULATIONS
As amended and adopted October 13th. A. D. 1894.
SECTION 1. The annual meeting of the Association shall be held on the second Saturday of September in each year at such time and place as shall be designated by the managers. In the event of a failure to hold the annual meeting on the second Saturday of Sep- tember all officers will hold over and their acts shall be lawful until others are elected in their stead.
SEC. 2. Notices of annual and special meetings of the members shall be signed by the President or Clerk and be given by posting a copy upon the public signpost and advertising in a newspaper published in Middlesex County and in such other ways as deemed best by the Board of Managers, at least five days previous to such meetings, and meetings shall be called upon written request to the Managers by not less than five members.
SEC. 3. Notices of meetings of Directors and Managers shall be given by mailing a written notice to each Manager at least five days before such meetings, or in any other manner in the discretion of the Board of Managers, such notice to be signed by the President or Clerk.
SEC. 4. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Association and at all meetings of the Directors, of which board he shall be a member ex-officio; and in his absence the senior Director or such other person as the meeting shall direct.
SEC. 5. The President, Clerk. Treasurer and Directors shall constitute a Board of Managers to manage the concerns of the As- sociation and make a report of their doings at the annual meeting of the Association.
SEC. 6. The Treasurer shall have charge of all the moneys of the Association and shall pay out the same under the direction of the Board of Managers. He shall annually, or oftener if required, present a report to the Board of Managers.
SEC. 7. The Clerk shall keep a faithful record of all the acts and proceedings of the Association and also of the Board of Man- agers and perform such other functions incident to his office.
SEC. 8. There shall be a Superintendent of the Cemetery ap-
13
AND ITS CEMETERY.
pointed by the Managers who shall have the general direction and control under the Board of Managers of the grounds and all im- provements thereon. Also of all property belonging to the Associa- tion and keep an account of the same.
SEC. 9. There shall be a Sexton or Sextons appointed by the Board of Managers who shall be an assistant to and under the direc- tion of the Superintendent.
SEC. 10. All graves shall be opened by the Sexton or some person approved by the Superintendent and no interment or dis- interment will be allowed without a written permit from the Super- intendent.
SEC. 11. The Superintendent shall be allowed a reasonable compensation for time spent in laying out lots and the placing of monuments, grave marks and other stones and for any other service rendered for the benefit of the Association. He shall render his account to the Treasurer for whom special services were performed and the Treasurer shall collect pay for the same.
SEC. 12. No hedges, stone or brick wall or any kind of wooden enclosure of lots or graves will be allowed. If any en- closures are allowed to go to decay and ruin so as to be unsightly and in the judgment of the Managers a blemish upon the grounds they must either be put in order or removed by the lot owner or by the Superintendent at the expense of the lot owner after due notice.
SEC. 13. No owner, agent or guardian of a lot or lots will be permitted to raise the earth, form terraces or to place or set any foundation, monument, head or foot stones or corner stones except it be done under the supervision of the Superintendent.
SEC. 14. Owners of lots or those having charge of them will not be allowed to leave heaps of earth or rubbish of any kind on or about their own or the lots of others or in the Cemetery. If so left it will be removed by the Superintendent at the expense of the lot owner.
SEC. 15. Proprietors of lots may plant and cultivate shrubs and plants upon their lots under the advice and control of the Superintendent, but as they are often neglected the Association re- serves to themselves the right to remove, at any and all times, any tree, shrub or plant that is in any way objectionable and in case of
14
THE PORTLAND BURYING GROUND ASSOCIATION
failure of the owners to remove them after due notice they will be removed at the expense of the lot owner.
SEC. 16. All graves must be covered to a level with the ground in the lot, or if a single grave not in a lot, to a level with the surrounding ground. No mounds to exceed four inches in height to be made over graves; after grave marks are placed the grave to be leveled. When a grave sinks or caves in it must be filled to a level with the adjacent ground and all graves so kept at the ex- pense of the lot owner or friends of person interred therein. Graves sinking below the level of surrounding ground within six months after filling shall be refilled by the Sexton without pay.
SEC. 17. It is desirable that a permanent grave mark be placed at each grave with a suitable inscription thereon, the mark to be of some durable material subject to the approval of the Super- intendent.
SEC. IS. It shall be the duty of proprietors of lots to place and keep in repair permanent mere-stones or land marks at the corners of their lots under the direction of the Superintendent. No corner stone or mark and no enclosure, monument or grave mark shall encroach upon the public drives or pathways.
SEC. 19. All persons employed in the construction of vaults, tombs, erection of monuments or grave marks or work of any kind will be subject to the control and direction of the Superintendent. Any person failing to conform to this rule will not be permitted to work in the Cemetery.
SEC. 20. Vaults or tombs, monuments and grave marks shall be of durable material subject to the approval of the Superintend- ent.
SEC. 21. In the prosecution of any work in the Cemetery a place will be designated by the Superintendent for the deposit of all refuse material and rubbish which shall not remain longer on the grounds than is actually necessary for the finishing of the work and the work shall be forwarded without unnecessary delay.
SEC. 22. No person shall have use of or title to a lot or grave nor hold it by selection against other purchasers until the same is paid for at the price set by the Managers.
SEC. 23. In each case of interment or disinterment astatement giving the name, date of birth and death, residence, and if possible
15
AND ITS CEMETERY.
place of nativity and such remarks as may be desired to be placed on record of the person to be interred or disinterred must be given to the Superintendent and recorded by him in a book kept for that purpose. Whenever interments or disinterments are to be made at least one day's previous notice thereof shall be given to the Superintendent and a permit obtained therefor.
SEC. 24. Drivers of carriages must remain on their seats or stand by their horses during funeral services. No horse or team of any kind shall be left in the grounds unhitched. And any creat- ure found running at large in the grounds will be impounded and the owner held for any damage.
SEC. 25. The Superintendent is fully empowered as special constable to arrest all who violate any reasonable rule of the Asso- ciation or State Law touching Cemeteries.
SEC. 26. The interment of the remains of any stranger or poor person not otherwise provided for may be at such place as the Man- agers direct and the Superintendent shall record the names of such person and their place of burial with such other remarks as may be desired and are obtainable and a properly inscribed grave mark should be placed at such grave.
SEC. 27. Lots may be assigned and transferred from one owner to another provided the consent of the Managers is first obtained and such transfer giving the names of the parties be recorded upon the record books of the Association. Transfers without such con- sent and record will not be valid.
SEC. 28. All deeds of lots, conveyances and contracts shall each be signed by the President and Clerk, who are hereby created the agents of the Association for this purpose and such instruments shall be registered by the Clerk before delivery.
I6
THE PORTLAND BURYING GROUND ASSOCIATION
SEC. 29. The Clerk shall keep a register or record of all sales and transfers of lots for burial purposes within the grounds of the Cemetery which shall show the number of both lot and section and size of the lot, the name of the purchaser, the price paid, the date of sale and such other matters as the Managers shall require. A map or maps of the Cemetery property showing accurately the loca- tion and size of each lot shall always remain in the office of each, the Clerk and Superintendent, and at such other places as may be fixed upon by the Managers.
SEC. 30. All deeds of lots must be recorded upon the record book of the Association and the title does not vest until such record is made.
SEC. 31. Any person may become a member of the Association by signing the articles and becomes a member by owning a lot with deed properly recorded. Each member is entitled to one vote at all meetings of the Association.
SEC. 32. Not less than five members shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Association, and two Managers and the Clerk a quorum at any meeting of the Managers.
SEC. 33. The Managers may at any time fill any vacancy which may occur among the officers or in their own number.
SEC. 34. This Association wi." accept donations and bequests from any person and the Treasurer or any other officer of the Asso- ciation is authorized to receive the same. The gift or bequest may be on condition that certain lots or graves are properly cared for.
SEC. 35. The President and senior Director shall be with the Treasurer a committee to have charge of donations and bequests to the Association, the Association to accept the same by vote.
SEC. 36. The Clerk shall report to the Registrar of the town the names of the Superintendent and Sexton in charge of the Ceme- tery and any change thereafter immediately after appointment or change. (Sec. 110, Statutes 1888.)
SEC. 37. The seal of the Asso- ciation shall contain the words "The Portland Burying Ground Association, Portland, Conn., 1845" and shall be used by the Clerk or such other per- sons as the Managers direct.
17
AND ITS CEMETERY.
SEC. 38. There shall be a Secretary of the Association chosen by ballot at the same time the other officers are chosen, whose duties and powers shall be those usually incident to that office. The Secretary and Clerk may be one and the same person and may be voted for on the same ballot. The words Clerk and Secretary may be synonymous terms for the same officer at the pleasure of the Association.
SEC. 39. These by-laws and regulations may be altered and amended and repealed at any annual or special meeting of the Asso- ciation, the purpose of so doing being specified in the call.
SEC. 40. All by-laws, rules and regulations heretofore adopted that conflict with the foregoing are hereby repealed.
The members of the Association, their families and friends and the public shall be allowed at all times access to the grounds, ob- serving the by-laws and regulations adopted, all gates and other entrances to be closed when leaving the Cemetery at night.
As it is the object of these by-laws and regulations and the. earnest desire of the officers and managers of this Association to make and keep this last earthly resting place of our beloved dead in as sacred, beautiful and becoming a condition as possible, it is re- quested that every person co-operate with the Managers in every possible way "To accomplish this consummation most devoutly to be wished."
18
THE PORTLAND BURYING GROUND ASSOCIATION
FORM OF DEED.
BE IT KNOWN THAT
No.
S. . . . . The Portland Burying Ground Association
Of the Town of Portland, County of Middlesex, and State of Connecticut,
In consideration of
Dollars, received from
do give, grant,
bargain, sell, and confirm unto the said
LOT No. SECTION No. in the Burying Ground of said Association, situated in said Town of Portland, said. feet long in a Northerly
and Southerly direction, and feet wide in an Easterly and Westerly direction, and contains . square feet.
TO HAVE AND to HOLD to h and h heirs and assigns forever as a burial place for the dead, and for no other purpose whatever, sub- ject to the Articles of Association and the By-Laws, Rules and Regulations of said Association now existing, and such as may hereafter be adopted. It is expressly agreed that the said lot shall not be transferred without the consent of the Board of Managers, certified upon the instrument of transfer, by the clerk of said Association.
Witness the Corporate seal of said Association, and the signatures of its President and Clerk this. . day of . ... .A. D.,
THE PORTLAND BURYING GROUND ASSOCIATION,
President. Clerk.
Signed, Sealed and Delivered in the Presence of
STATE OF CONNECTICUT, SS. COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX,
PORTLAND, A. D.,
Personally appeared. President, and. Clerk of the
Portland Burying Ground Association, and acknowledged the same to be their free act and deed.
Before me, Notary Public.
19
AND ITS CEMETERY.
The Managers have had printed for sending out the following circular :
"The attention of the managers has often been called to the condition of lots and graves which were wholly neglected. In many cases these lots and graves belong to families once prominent in our town who have left no kin to care for them.
As the income from the general fund can be used to good ad- vantage in beautifying and caring for the whole cemetery, the surest way to provide against an individual lot or grave being neg- lected and to have it kept as neat and beautiful as possible for all time, is to give or leave a sum of money to the Association as a per- manent fund on the condition that the income, only, be used by the Association to keep such lot or grave, and the monuments and grave marks thereon, in good condition.
Families often become extinct, move away, have so many cares or other good reasons that it is impossible to give the needed at- tention to these matters. But an Association of this kind never dies or becomes extinct, and money set apart or left in this way insures permanent care of a lot and graves.
There are so many advantages in the money being given in one's life time, in addition to the satisfaction of seeing the work done, that it is needless to call attention to them.
The income from One Hundred Dollars safely invested would be sufficient to take good care of the lawn of one lot. To include the cleaning and care of monuments and grave marks would require income from a larger sum. A less sum would yield enough to care for a single grave.
Any officer of the Association will be glad to give any in- formation on this subject.
Inclosed is a form of gift or bequest."
FORM OF GIFT OR BEQUEST.
I hereby give and bequeath to THE PORTLAND BURYING GROUND ASSOCIATION, of Portland, Connecticut, Dollars to be and remain a permanent fund, the income only therefrom to be used by said Association to keep Lot No .... . Section No.
20
THE PORTLAND BURYING GROUND ASSOCIATION
or the graves of in the cemetery of said Association in good condition and to do whatever is necessary to keep clean, repair, preserve and renew any tomb, monument or grave mark thereon.
[If this special fund is set apart during lifetime erase the words "and bequeath," if a bequest in a will, leave it as it is.]
Whenever any lot or grave is neglected the Mana- gers usually call the owner's attention to it by sending the following circular :
"Your lot in the cemetery needs putting in better condition. Please give it your early attention.
It is desirable that our cemetery should be made and kept as beautiful as possible, and we ask you to aid us by promptly attend- ing to the above request."
2I
AND ITS CEMETERY.
HISTORY OF THE CEMETERY.
The land now occupied by and under the control of The Portland Burying Ground Association and enclosed within the present stone wall was obtained in the following manner. The first purchase was one and one-half acres more or less adjoining the old burying ground on the South, being the north side of the Cheney lot, so called. This purchase was from Mrs. Anna Strickland and her warranty deed is dated February 9th, A. D. 1846. It is to The Portland Burying Ground Association and the consideration was one hundred and fifty dollars. This deed was recorded March 16, 1846, in the Port- land Land Records, in Volume 1, page 301. The land was laid out in lots with provision for single graves.
The next and largest addition of land to the cemetery was by gift from Mr. Sylvester Gildersleeve. It contains five acres and is the present southerly part. Mr. Gildersleeve gave, in 1860, six hun- dred dollars for its purchase of the Strickland sisters. The warranty deed is dated October 29, A. D. 1861, and is from the four sisters Asenath, Martha, Amy and Vienna Strickland, and is made direct to The Portland Burying Ground Association. It was recorded Oc- tober 29, 1861, in the Portland Land Records in Volume 7, page 427.
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