MarlowHistoricalSociety.org

[tpeters]

I read that there are 3 cemetaries in Marlow. Am interested in contact(s) that might have listing of folks in each. Specifically looking for any/all with last name Raymond. Abner Raymond born 03 Feb 1798 Marlow Township and appeared to stay in Marlow/Stoddard entire life. Would welcome any clues/direction. thank you

[Loisanne Foster]

We do have three Marlow cemeteries. The oldest is The Old Settlers Cemetery which is on private land, although I could arrange to have someone visit it. It is a bit of a walk into the woods from the road, and we are in bear country! Sadly the there graves are unmarked except for a few rough stones without writing (except for Hepsibeth (Tubbs) Beckwith, wife of Sylvanius Beckwith). In 1886 a fence was put around it and a monument to our early settlers erected by the town.

We have The West Burying Ground, also known as Baker's Corners Burial Ground or Jay Allen Cemetery which is rather well-populated and the graves well-marked. It is not far beyond the pond of Gustin Pond Road on the right just at a corner (easy to miss with all the brush and small trees between it and Gustin Pond Road). The first burial there was 1779. I was recently given the DAR record of who is buried there, and I cannot find anyone named Raymond listed.

That leaves the Village Cemetery which is, of course, in the village, the entry being on Church St. (one street east of Route 123. Actually, the only street in town east of 123.) The first burial there was in 1818. Probably Abner Raymond will be found there. I think I know where I can find a list of the "residents" of that place, and, if I can't, whom to ask. Or I could take a stroll over there myself. I'll see what I can do.

Glancing through our History of Marlow, New Hampshire, I note that a John Raymond from Marlow fought in The War of 1812. I know that the soldiers from Marlow who participated in that conflict went across the state to defend Portsmouth which was a great shipping center at the time.

I hope this helps at least a little.

[tpeters]

My sincere thanks on locations! According to my info Abner's father was Jonathan - there was a Jonathan in the info on rootsweb that was killed in 1798 from a fallen tree, I did see John mentioned too. Am grateful for your willingness to assist.

[Loisanne Foster]

A quote from History of Marlow, New Hampshire by Elgin Jones and edited by Betty Batchelder, p. 59: "In 1798 Jonathan Raymond, who lived in the extreme southeast corner of town, was killed by a falling tree while he was chopping."

One of my "someday projects" is to index that town history. As it is, it's difficult to use as a reference. However, your clue that Jonathan Raymond was killed by a falling tree led me to look under the chapter called "Casualties and Accidents."

I am not finding Abner, but I find a George S. Raymond who held property in District 1 (Lot 75, 127 on maps in town history, p. 135) from 1853 to 1869 when George S. Reed became the owner. This would be fairly close to Baker Corner and Gustin Pond, not far from the Old West Burying Ground.

I also find on p. 153 in District 9 (Formerly 5) the Raymond of lot 177. This is not far from the Gilsum line. It shows Jonathan Raymond, 1788. "He settled and built a log house. He was killed by a falling tree in 1798." John Raymond is shown to be the owner in 1826. "The new house was built at this time." George Raymond, 1844. John Raymond, 1846. The property was bought by Collester Rugg and Co. in 1857 about the time Marlow was at the height of becoming a booming industrial town, a point from which it has certainly retreated into rural tranquility! Perhaps Abner was a second son who was never listed as an owner. Maybe he made his home in Stoddard. Maybe he did own the property from the time of his father's death in 1798 to John Raymond's appearance as owner in 1826 and it was never so recorded. Clearly someone in the Raymond family held the property during that time.

It appears from the map on page 198 that Downing Brook ran through the Raymond property which lay on the west side of the Ashuelot River, bordering it.

What can you tell us about the Marlow Raymond family? We'd love to have the information in our archives.

You are welcome. I enjoy doing this.

[tpeters]

Not much I can tell you about the Marlow Raymonds (yet anyway) - am just starting my search. I can provide that the 1860 USCensus shows following: George S. Raymond age 38, head of household, a farmer, real estate valued at $1,100 and personal estate valued at $600 lived in Marlow with wife Eliza D. age 35, son George E. age 14, son Herbert R. age 10 and son Elmer W. age 4. Haven't come up with anything earlier. It appears 20 years later (1880 census) he and his wife lived in Keene in Ward 2 with no children listed. He was then a gardner then. I'm waiting on some birth certificates from Keene - they may (I hope) provide more clues and I'll be sure to share.

[Loisanne Foster]

I studied the Vital Statistics of the Marlow town reports from 1889 to 1944 today, and I located only one Raymond. Cyrus M. Raymond died here July 4 1936 at age 38, 2 mos., and 23 days. He was born in Springfield, VT. He was married. His father was Marshall Raymond of Bethel, VT and his mother was Minnie Ducharme of Canada. It doesn't sound as if he is one of your Raymonds, but I pass along the information in case.

[tpeters]

You have found a Raymond I have not come across before. Thank you so much -this may prove helpful. Because I have found details that cover Marlow, Stoddard and Gilsum I thought the Cheshire Historical Society might have some resources but unfortunately their website is down. Does your library or Historical Society have any History of Cheshire County book(s) that I can purchase? I've ordered the history of Marlow last week by mail and can't wait for its arrival. Thanks again for your passion for history.

[Loisanne Foster]

Hello,

I found George S. Raymond's grave in the lower SE corner of the village cemetery. After his name, it reads 1821 - 1900. Eliza D. his wife 1824 - 1913. Sidney E. 1848 - 1850. I found no other Raymonds. I guess George, Herbert, and Elmer must have moved on.

The only book we sell at MHS is Marlow's history. I don't know how local or far away you are. I know that most local libraries have their own town histories in them and the larger historical societies such as on Main St. in Keene and the one near the capital building at Concord, NH have great archives open to the public, but do not sell or loan out histories. If you are in or near NH, I would recommend trying visits to such places if it is practical. I know the Keene Public Library on West Street has a collection of books on local history in its reference collection. Other that that, I can only suggest web sources such as the ones I have listed under resources for genealogy. I'll keep an eye out. Don't give up! If one searches, sometimes information shows up in the least expected ways. Good luck!

[tpeters]

my sincere thanks for all your efforts. I plan to go to Keene in near future and will schedule during library hours, am grateful for this lead. Very kind of you to tour the cemetary - I'll get there soon as well. Should I find any more details connected with Marlow I will be sure to share them!
again, thank you

[tpeters]

I found an interesting book at the Keene Public Library titled "This Silent Marble Weeps, The Cemeteries of Stoddard, New Hampshire" by Alan F. Rumrill c1990. With Marlow/Stoddard/Gilsum being so close in the early days (the discrepant boundries) this might prove useful to folks looking for burials of people from any of these towns. I found a few of mine! It has a handy index by last names, descriptions of the location of the various cemetaries, as well as map/plan of the cemetaries, and names and dates on stones. A good resource in my opinion!

[Loisanne Foster]

Hello,

Thank you so much for this information! Too often I have been stymied by questions about families who range between/among those towns. I have only one piece of the puzzle, the Marlow piece, and not even all of that.

Yes, indeed, the border between Marlow and Stoddard changed several times. Sometimes certain folks were taxed by one town, sometimes by the other, and sometimes by both! I appreciate your sharing this resource!

Loisanne

PS

I just answered Brian Fletcher (case in point) as best I could. There might be some additional tidbits of information for you in what I wrote to him. I hope so.

[tpeters]

thanks so much! You have given me a clue with the Lempster location. Thanks for all your efforts - like you said, ya never know where the pieces of info will come from!

[Loisanne Foster]

Thanks to the help of Jim Strickland, we have been able to post all of the known burials of Veterans in Marlow including the locations of the graves and some information on each one. To access these listings, look under "Marlow at War" in the main Forum listing.

[Loisanne Foster]

We have discovered that there is yet another cemetery in Marlow with marked graves, 20 +/-, we are told, deep in the woods in the south part of town close to the Stoddard border, accessible only to bear, moose, and tough hikers. The access from Marlow is rough, but it may be more accessible from Stoddard. It is called the Jefts Cemetery. Apparently where there used to be roads, there are no more.

Yet another Marlow cemetery, somewhat smaller, lies to the west, near to the South Acworth border and Gates Mountain. It appears that a road once linked Baker's Corner and South Acworth.

If anyone stumbles upon these cemeteries, we would much appreciate it if he/she would record the information on the grave stones and share it with us. This could be an important piece of our history. It could provide clues to several Marlow mysteries we are working on.

As New England hikers know, cleared or wooded cemeteries hidden deep in the woods are not unusual. (And be sure to watch out for cellar holes and wells!) Another cemetery just outside Marlow is on Gates Mountain in South Acworth, a sad, lone grave in a small well-built stone walled enclosure not far from Gates Mountain Rd. The single grave is that of Lois (Poole) Alexander, wife of Jabez Alexander. Lois died in 1821. Before the year was out, Jabez had remarried and moved to Lempster, leaving Lois to her cold fate. You can find Jabez, Lois, and their children on various genealogical sites. Jabez is not far removed genealogically from the Minuteman, Jonas Parker, the first to be killed at Lexington and whose statue stands in front of the Massachusetts State House. Jabez was born Aug. 22, 1755 in Marlborough, MA and died Feb. 18, 1845 in Lempster, N. H. His parents were Thomas Alexander and Phoebe Parker. Lois Pool (or Poole) was also born in Marlborough, MA. She and Jabez married in 1777. On December 13, 1821, Jabez married Betsey (Mrs. Way) Marston, also of Marlborough, MA. While this burial of Lois (Poole) Alexander seems to have no direct connection with Marlow, it illustrates the point, and besides, some of Lois Alexander's descendants might be looking for her, and who would think to look there? It's not a location one passes on the way to a supermarket! (Believe me!)

If you find such a gravesite or small cemetery in the Marlow - Gilsum -Acworth - Alstead area, please do record the information and share it here. It would be much appreciated!

[tpeters]

this is great info and will be very exciting to see what is found, hoping some brave souls get out there soon!