When the Damariscotta River Association was given the Round Top Farm property, it received more than land and several buildings. It also acquired a small, forgotten piece of the region’s history: a graveyard containing the remains of Jesse Flint who served in the Revolutionary War.
The presence of a Revolutionary veteran brought the site to the attention of the DRA. American Legion members advocated for recent work done this summer and fall. A metal marker and flag that stands near Flint’s gravestone was recently repaired by Tom Stevens.
Prior to this restoration, the DRA was involved in improving the overall condition of the private cemetery. DRA volunteer Bill Schwanemann, who served four years in the Marines, spent considerable time painting the rusted chain fence that surrounds the plot, as well as fixing a severely damaged corner post.
In addition this fall, the DRA had some rotten trees within the cemetery cut down and also removed a tree that was encroaching on the Flint grave.
A portion of the funding for the tree removal was provided by an anonymous donor who had read about the need in a news article months earlier.
Although faded, the gravestone writing indicates Jesse Flint lived from Jan. 13, 1746 to Nov. 28, 1825, and includes an epitaph: My body slumbers here / And my soul’s at rest. / May my friends and children dear / In Christ the Lord be blest.
Over the past year or more, the DRA has pursued a refurbishing of this small cemetery, which also contains the remains of the Tufts family dating back to the early 1800s.
The organization takes its responsibility for this small piece of history seriously and will continue to maintain the graveyard.
It has also sent work crews to help maintain a small graveyard along Route 1, although it is not located on DRA-owned property. This plot contains the remains of another Revolutionary veteran, Major Jonathan Russ.
“We are grateful for the encouragement and partnership offered by the members of the Cemetery Committee,” said DRA Executive Director Steven Hufnagel. “We’d also like to thank Bill Schwanemann for his skilled volunteer service in so many areas of DRA stewardship. Finally, we owe a thanks to SB Nichols company for their expert tree work.”
