An Angel at Saccarappa Cemetery
Posted by Suzan Norton at 6/8/2009 10:44 PM 
Categories: Saccarappa Cemetery Voices from Beyond the Grave
Tags: Westbrook genealogy Hatch old cemeteries Merrill Maine history vandalism Roberts
Categories: Saccarappa Cemetery Voices from Beyond the Grave
Tags: Westbrook genealogy Hatch old cemeteries Merrill Maine history vandalism Roberts
Eddie Roberts 1853-1858 photo from P.Carmichael collection
Eddie's grave
My ancestors lie at Saccarappa Cemetery and I have been stopping by to visit maybe once a month. I go because I am checking on anything unusual especially damage to the stones. Recently, I was at a nursery and was looking for stone figures for gardens. I happened to find a small statue which appeared to be an angel. I bought it and delivered it to Saccarappa Cemetery to watch over my father’s brother’s grave. My grandparents and one of their sons are buried at the small circle near the entrance to the cemetery. A small footstone with the name DAVID is level with the ground. David lived from 1933-1943.
The more I thought about this angel, it seemed to make me happy just knowing it would be there. I have even thought about if it were to be stolen one day. My thoughts are that the thief may need an angel more than we did. I hope this is not the case. Maybe if there was a sign that more people had family there and left flowers, then there would be less trouble there. I don’t know what the solution would be. I have decided to put up a few angels on my ancestors graves, even those which are all broken. Once I heard a story about Mother Theresa. She was asked if she would attend an anti war protest. She replied NO, but she would attend a peace rally. Maybe my approach will be the same. If there are angels present in the cemetery, maybe goodness will come from it.
I am familiar with every stone there, and have over 400 pictures of the cemetery over the past few years, some from the seventies. When I was attending art school, I even took black and white photos of some of the gravestones. I hope to share many stories about the cemetery. It is full of fascinating people, all part of Westbrook’s history. Wandering around the cemetery today, I took photos of some of the children’s stones. One stone inscribed EDDIE was a brother to my gr. Gr. grandfather. Eddie Roberts lived from 1853-1858. I have a picture I think may be him, which came from a family album. I also saw some tiny stones of some Merrill children. The next story will be about the Hatch family of Saco Street. There are more stories to come.
Merrill Children
I happen to live at the westbrook gardens, and have taken several walks up to that cemetary. Its one of my favorite places to go. Its very peaceful, and hardly any one in it. I caught a glimps of your angel, and almost took a picture with my cell phone. It is a very nice piece. I also take notice of damaged stones, and when Im there make an effort to pick up trash when I see it around. A tree had fallen in the middle of the cemetary over the winter, but it has since been removed and looks a lot better.
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Adam, Thank you for your thoughtful comment and a big thank you for checking out the cemetery from time to time.It is a lovely cemetery. I have posted two stories on David in this blog, which was something I had been thinking about for a long time. Anyhow, I am soon going to be posting more stories of people who are buried there. Thank you again so much. Regards, Suzan Norton
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Very good story as always Sue.It is sad the way some people can desacrate cemetarys though
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I wondered who left the angel. Now I know and I know who is burried there. I hope you don't mind, but I started the cemetery on the find a grave web site, and have put in a few people including some of the Roberts family. And for what it's worth, I did complain about the condition of it earlier this spring. They did clean it up some. It a beautiful place and full of history.
Thanks for the great reading.
Jim,
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Thanks for your comments Jim. I am glad to write about some of the people buried there. I have a collection of stories I will be posting on various people. Of course if you have family there and are willing to share info/photos, I am always glad to write about anyone buried there.I think we need to bring awareness that they were real people once with stories, many of them rather interesting.Thanks for checking on the cemetery. It is nice to know that people care. I thank you for my family and for my ancestors and their neighbors.
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Yesterday I discovered Saccarrapa Cemetery online, and later I found this blog about your cemetery angels. Two of my husband’s Cary family are buried at this cemetery:
CARY Corrilla P. Dau of Benj W & Mary Ann Cary d. May 28, 1845 Age 10 mos
CARY MARY ANN Wife of Benjamin W. Cary d. Nov 27, 1837
As the mother would have died 8 years before her 10-month old daughter, this transcription (www.westbrookhistoricalsociety.org) appears in error…unless Corrilla was actually 10 years old when she died. If you happen to come across these two gravesites, would you please confirm these dates of death? If possible, I would also greatly appreciate a photograph.
Having only two photographs to start with—one of Phebe S Jones and another labeled “Will’s father”, it took several years to learn the name of my husband’s gg-grandfather, William R Cary (b 1831-1832), which led to his father, Benjamin W. In 1840, Benjamin W lived in Baldwin. By 1850, he was in Westbrook with his second wife, Mary Jane Hatch (1808, Hingham, MA-1884) and ran a hotel. Is Mary Jane any connection to your Hatch family on Saco Street?
Now I’m on a quest to learn what happened to William R and Phebe. Their marriage was recorded in Norridgewock, Aug 9, 1858, which is the last record of Phebe. William R last appeared with his medical discharge from the Maine 19th Infantry in October 1862. According to the family Bible, their son, William Thomas, was born in July 1862. The 1870 Census lists “William T Cary, grandson, age 10”, living with Phebe’s parents Thomas C & Mary L Jones in Norridgewock. As both William Thomas and his son (my husband’s grandfather) were only children, it’s taking awhile to find the pieces of the puzzle.
Thank you for your efforts in preserving this bit of your local history.
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Hello Linda, Thanks for your thoughtful letter. I will let Donna Conley know about the possible transcription error and we can check it out and make corrections where needed. I am on vaction this week and will check on it when I get back.. I will do my best to get some pictures for you as I am there often. I am curious.. is your husband's family any relation to the world renowned famous opera singer Ann Louise Cary? I do know she lived in Westbrook at one time-was born in the 1800's-and had a fascinating career in opera. Should also prove interesting to see if there is a Hatch connection. Thanks again-will be in touch. Suzan
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Hi Suzan, I appreciate your follow-up. Annie Louise Cary has come up several times in my research. Her ancestry has been traced to John Cary of Bridgewater, whose lineage has been documented back to the Domesday book and to Adam de Kari, b. 1170.
"The History of Gorham, Coos County, NH" includes a biography of Virgil Twitchell (b.Bethel, ME). "Mr. Twitchell married, September 18, 1866, Georgie E., daughter of Benjamin W. Cary, of Portland, Me. a lineal descent of the John Cary who was one of the pioneer proprietors and settlers of Bridgewater, Mass." Georgianna E. Cary (b.Saccarappa, ME) was the youngest half-sister of William R., our ggg-grandfather. Therefore, I am assuming a link between these Cary families.
Researching backward from Benjamin W and also forward from John Cary of Bridgewater, I am still hunting for the link between this Benjamin W Cary and John Cary of Bridgewater...one baby-step at a time! I'm most grateful for any leads you might come across. Thanks, Linda
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Linda, I was just informed by a descendant that Ann Louise Cary never lived in Westbrook...my mistake. She lived in Gorham, Maine at one time and lived in a few other towns as well. You have done some very interesting work.I will see what I can do about finding those graves of your husbands ancestors ad taking a snapshot. I am busy until after Labor Day. Will be in touch-Regards, Suzan
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Susan, our nephew returned from a vacation in Maine with photos of Mary Ann Cary's headstone and of Corilla P Cary's, which has the answer to our dilemma: Corilla P is the daughter of Benjamin W and Mary *JANE* Cary. Now the dates make sense--Mary Jane is Benjamin's second wife. Which, in turn, makes me curious how his second wife's daughter was buried beside his first wife. Perhaps Benjamin and Mary Jane are also buried there at unmarked sites?
Thanks, Linda
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So good to have found a Maine blog! And you have lots of links..thank you. I live up in Bangor, speaking of Stephen King. I am excited to read your paranormal content too.
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I've been going through this cemetery for years for fishing and such. I have a great-great Uncle who was not too far in from the entrance (Simon Cutter a Mason), though they just recently changed it to control who goes in I think so you have to go up the street to get in now. I also have a great grandmother and great grandfather also buried with the Elwells further in. You should check on findagrave.com and upload any stones that haven't already been done. Someone did hundreds of them but all the Cutter's were missing so I know it isn't complete.
The place is so destroyed now that many stones have been broken or are missing altogether now. I can remember back to the 50's and how wonderful and interesting it looked, but now it's just a shadow of itself. What a shame!!!
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I just came upon your blog page. My G Grandfather and Grandmother are buried there. Amos Lunt Field and his wife, Marcena. Also his son and his wife, James Edwin Field and wife Laura. Amos was a veteran of the Civil War 25th Maine Regiment Co B. His wife, Marcena Boody Libby was from Windham. I also have one aunt buried there, Verlie Graffam. Thanks for being such a good caretaker at the cemetery.
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