In the 1700s, naming children after family members (grandparents, parents) was the dominant tradition, but, by the early 1800s naming children after powerful figures, heroes, or even local leaders became more commonplace. In Old Parish Cemetery, there are three who were named for very famous figures: Benjamin Franklin, William Henry Harrison, and Isaac Newton. Lot 115 Benjamin Franklin Fairbanks (1806-1874) Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) was an American polymath: a writer, scientist,...

Oliver Ellis (1745-1821) Mary Colburn Ellis (1754-1826) Hannah Ellis Rhoads (1784-1854) Oliver Ellis Jr. (1787-1823) Oliver Ellis was born on May 10, 1745. He was the son of Aaron Ellis and Zipporah Lewis Ellis. He was a Corporal in Capt. David Fairbanks’s militia company which marched on the alarm of April 19, 1775. On December 16, 1779, Oliver Ellis married Mary Colburn. Her parents were Samuel Colburn and Mercy Dean Colburn. Oliver and Mary ran a farm and raised four children: Paul...

Lot 13 Sarah A. Godfrey Webster (1801-1889) Sarah A. Godfrey was born on February 20, 1801 in Nova Scotia, Canada. She was the daughter of Elisha and Elizabeth Godfrey. In June of 1821, Sarah Godfrey married Daniel Webster who was also born in Nova Scotia. The couple had eleven children: Elisha, Edwin, Daniel, Mary, Matthew, John, Lawson, Godfrey, Mary Elizabeth, Henry and Clara, all born in Canada. Typical ship list of passengers Halifax to Boston. At some point, Sarah Webster made her...