A local history researcher is shining a light on Revolutionary War patriots who are buried in Raymond and Casco.
 |
| Raymond-Casco Historical Society member Sue Pride will present 'Patriots of the Revolutionary War Who Settled in Raymond and Casco' at 4 p.m. Thursday, April 30 at the Raymond Village Library. The presentation details the stories of Revolutionary War soldiers from Raymond and Casco. COURTESY PHOTO |
The idea for the presentation was a midnight inspiration for Pride, the Collections Manager for the Raymond Casco Historical Society Museum, and she came upon the idea while sorting through the organization’s collections to organize them. It prompted her to research how Revolutionary War veterans ended their journeys in Raymond and Casco.
“It came to me in the middle of the night last year,” she said. “This year is the 250th birthday of the United States, and the museum should do something to bring Raymond and Casco into it. I thought we must have some veterans.”
“This year, with the 250th birthday, they should be celebrated and honored,” Pride said.
After extensive research and writing, including digging into family genealogies and reaching out to the local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Pride developed a presentation that she could “take on the road.”
“I said to myself, ‘This ought to be good. What can I do with it?” she said, noting that her first presentation at the Casco Inn resulted in enthusiastic participation and some attendees even noted their own familial ties to the Revolutionary War.
When war broke out, Raymondtown (now Raymond; Casco and Raymond split in 1841) was part of the Cumberland County Militia, with its members serving under local figurehead Captain Joseph Dingley. That membership roll was used as a recruitment aid for soldiers to join the Continental Army once it was founded and placed under the leadership of General George Washington in June 1775.
“Before the army, it was just the militias fighting,” Pride explained. “Lexington and Concord were fought by the militia.”
The area’s sparse population at the time meant that not many men from Raymond joined the war, as Pride found four who had traveled south to fight. However, she has discovered at least 28 Revolutionary War veterans are buried around Raymond and Casco, showing the influx of residents after the war ended.
“I found one veteran who only served three days and never served again, but he was at Lexington and Concord, so it was a pivotal three days,” she said. “I think there were four who were living in Massachusetts and marched to Lexington and Concord.”
There is also the story of one soldier who was captured by the British and held in the notorious prison ships afloat in the harbor of New York City, which were decommissioned or damaged ships that were used to hold prisoners in overcrowded conditions, where many died due to illness or malnutrition. He survived to be discharged from the army six months after his service was meant to have ended.
There are also two men buried locally that died while serving. One drowned after falling from a floating bridge, Pride explained, and another died of fever.
“There are some interesting stories,” she added.
An added challenge for Pride’s research was the change in town names as time has elapsed. Some areas that were considered Raymond originally are now part of other towns. Those changes mean that more veterans may be discovered in her research.
“There’s probably more but I couldn’t verify the documentation,” she said. “I had problems with Raymond and Casco being part of Gray, Otisfield, Naples. It was hard to tie some of those people in, so I ended up with 28.”
Pride’s presentation will also include details about the major battles and events of the Revolutionary War that tie to Maine, including the Battle of Machias, the first naval battle of the war where the Americans captured a British vessel, and the burning of Falmouth (now Portland), a potential act of revenge for the results of the sea battle.
“Portland is the only city that was totally ravaged by the war,” she said.
The presentation provides the opportunity to honor the veterans of the Revolutionary War and show how those resting in local burial grounds helped in the fight to create a nation.
“I wanted to bring attention that we had men who fought in the Revolutionary War that are laying in rest at cemeteries and private places,” Pride said. “And maybe it’ll help get people interested in history and in the museum and our events.”
The museum, located on Route 302 in Casco, will be participating in the Roosevelt Trail Maine History Tour in 2026 which gives visitors a chance to spend a day exploring eight historical sites and museums from Westbrook to Harrison for free. Last year’s tour, held on Sept. 6, 2025, brought over 70 visitors to the museum on the single day.
“We have people who come over the summer who have lived in Casco their entire lives and have never visited,” Pride said, adding that the museum is free for visitors and will re-open in June.
Pride will also be giving a presentation at the Casco Public Library at 1 p.m. on Sunday, April 26.
The Raymond Village Library is located at 3 Meadow Road in Raymond. <
No comments:
Post a Comment