Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-08-13

Ing removed Oy tue Srodt-STdnuSous, VI
whom seven were present. 1t is plain
stone, marked:
ISAAC THAYER
% MASS. MIL.
REV. WAR.
The quartette, "To Thee, o Country"
was sung by Miss Flora Ritner Harlow
of Bridgeport, Conn.,, Miss Mary Maxim
of Cambridge, Mass, Mrs. Flora E. liar
low Barry of Boston, and Miss Martha
Maxim of Cambridge. Miss Harlow is
a Observation-Disclosures of Isaac
Thayer, the others are great-granddaugh-
tiers. All of them are we'll known for
their natural and well-cultivated gifts in
musical lines, and no one who knows them
needs to be told that this and all the
other musical numbers on the pro-
gramme, in which they participated,
were of the highest order.
The next part of the programme was
to have been remarks by Hon. John D.
Long, but he was unable to be present
by reason of serious illness which at
tackled him while on his way to Maine.
This fact was stated by the chairman,
with an expression of hope for his speedy
recovery. Governor Long had assisted
Mrs. Barry materially in the preparation
for this event, and much pleasure had
been anticipated in hearing him. AS
| part of his remarks he was to have read
the following letter, written by Lieut..
Thayer to his wife while in the service.
The letter was read by Chairman Max
i'm:
TIvERToN June 18th 1779
Loving and Affectionate Wife. | take
this opportunity to let you know my
welfare. Through the Blessings and
Goodness of God enjoy my health at
present as hope these will find you and
our Dear Children. would inform you
| that have sent you two Letters before
this) have Nothing New to write to
you. We are CHARTERED in sight of the
enemy Near Rhode Island. There has
been Some Talk Of our going on the
| Island if the French Fleet comes in that's
expected but l don't know that we shall
AS to our Provision it is short but what
we have is good. We buy milk at three
& four Shillings quart.
Our Duty is hard and will be until our
Time is out. want to hear from You
|
have not time to write much now. Re-
member my Duty to Father d Mother
and my respects to Eliphalet and also to
Lieut. Niles & Mr. Hunting & wife, and
tell Father l would be glad if he would
Take good care of my things. l would
not have you worry yourself to your
hurt about things and tell Sarah for her
fathers sake to be kind to her mother
and tell my Vashti Shed'c & Eunice that
their Daddy will come home and see
them in little while.
| would not have you forget me in your
prayers as I hope shall remember you.
Samuel Belcher Desires to be Remem-
bered to his Parents. Braintree People
are all we'll, so no more at present But
remain your Loving Husband until
Death,
ISAAC THAYER
"The Sword of Bunker Hill" was sung
by request by Mrs. Barry, who is men,
Der of Old South Chapter, Daughters of
the American Revolution, of Boston.
Rev. DR.. Mann was then asked to
speak, and responded briefly. DR.. Mann,
although he did not publicly mention the
fact, is a descendant of noted figure of
the Revolution, Gen. Schuyler. He COM
mended the work of the patriotic socie-
ties in preserving the early history of
our country, especially by such cere-
monies as this.
Capt. Charles n. Prince of Buckfield
was the next speaker. He paid tribute
to the scene which was spread out be-
fore him, and then took up consideration
of the Revolutionary War. Although his
remarks were somewhat as he said, Sat
random" yet he displayed an intimate
knowledge of the events of that war,
which he declared to be one of the great
est wars, in it's results to the race, that
the world has ever seen.
| The dedication hymn, the words of
which were written by Miss Martha
Maxim and the music by Miss Mary
Maxim, was sung by them:
IT'S holy ground whereon we tread,
| Where sleepeth our illustrious dead,
With reverence now we shed tear
| Der dust of him who resteth here.
| Tho marble marks this resting place,
| Centuries cannot efface
| The sacrifice to worthy foe,
| OF heroes Of the Long Agol
The glorious birthright to our land,
We owe to this immortal band,
Through ages still shall shine their light
For Freedom, Country, Truth and Right
To-day fond kindred gather here,
To honor one to memory dear.
With praise we lift our voices free
For lives that gave us-Libertyl
| Charles F. Whitman, Esq, now OF
Norway, but a native of Buckfield and
co-laborer in the preparation of its his
tory, great-grandson of another Revo'
lutionary soldier, next responded to the
call for remarks. In the course of his
. stirring address be called attention to
the large part which Revolutionary
soldiers have taken in the history OF
Buckfield-a remarkable record. Over
one hundred soldiers of the Revolution
,, were among the early settlers of Buck
field. Sixty-five died in town, and thu
graves of many of them are unmarked
and some of them even unknown. III
urged that this occasion should be onl!
0 the beginning of an endeavor to find ant
3 mark these graves.
A poem, written for the occasion b.
William Wallace Maxim, great-grand
. son, was read by Mrs. Barry:
OUR HoNoRED DEAD.
!, Patriots here and men Of valor,
}. All who wished our land to save,
q We have come this day to hallow
This dear spot where sleeps the brave.
l.. We who prize our Independence,