Hunnewell/Old Anderson Cemetery, Windham, Maine

One of my recent trips to search for small family cemeteries had come to an end, and I stopped at a farm stand to pick up some items for lunch. I took my snacks and headed down River Road in Windham to find a sunny spot for a picnic. I certainly didn’t expect to stumble upon another historical site – but as I headed west from the Windy Hill Farm Market, I happened upon an amazing spot: Hunnewell Cemetery. It sits in the middle of historical Windham and has some truly fascinating headstones. I pulled my car to the side of the road, braved the traffic and dashed across the road.

Bordering the cemetery is a long private drive, but don’t be fooled by the “No Trespassing” sign – it doesn’t apply to Hunnewell. The grounds are bordered by a small stone wall and the front is adorned by a simple, painted wooden sign. Hunnewell cemetery is fairly well cared for, and while the headstones are all quite old, the grass is kept tidy and the markers are mostly intact. This is remarkable considering the age of the place – the most recent interment was in 1875. Most of those in Hunnewell Cemetery lived in the late 18^th and early 19^th centuries, but there are fairly new looking faux flowers adorning one of the stones.

 

Hunnewell Cemetery has plots for just a few families: the Andersons, Cragues, Goodells, Hunnewells, and Paines. There are a mere 22 individuals at Hunnewell, and I suspect that those who weren’t directly related were good friends or neighbors. One of the most interesting individuals with an equally intriguing headstone is Zerubbabel Hunnewell. His marker is unlike any other I’ve seen – it’s got a glass from, brick backing, and wooden sides. Any engraving or writing that may once have been visible is long gone. A search on Ancestry.com tells me that Zerubbabel was a veteran of the Revolutionary War (1).  He was born in 1714 and married Hannah Haskell in Falmouth in 1754 (2). The two had one daughter, but I couldn’t conclusively determine what her name was. Given his interesting headstone and military history, I would love to know more about Zerubbabel, but information is scant.

I am amble to find a fair amount of data about the life of another person buried in Hunnewell Cemetery. According to the Windham Historical Society website, Hunnewell is also called Old Anderson Cemetery (3). The alternative name comes from Abraham and Anna Anderson, who are both interred at Hunnewell/Old Anderson. They had a home not far from the cemetery, Maplewood Farm. It’s a beautiful structure that sits on River Road and is still owned by descendants of the Andersons (4). Abraham was born in New Marblehead, which is now Windham, and Anna in Gorham (5). The two filed their wedding license on January 30, 1751 in Falmouth (6). Knowing that they owned a farm, it’s easy to draw conclusions about how they lived. Much like many residents of Windham, their livelihood would have been agriculturally based. I wonder if they were some of the inland rabblerousers, like their neighbors in Gorham who raided Portland after one of its fires, or perhaps the family merely wanted to live a peaceful farm life.

The current condition of Hunnewell/Old Anderson Cemetery is hopeful for all small local cemeteries. While time and nature have certainly worn down the stones, the grounds are well kept. I think that the central location along busy River Road probably helps keep the grounds in the minds of local residents. If you’re ever in historic section of River Road in Windham, I suggest a trip to Hunnewell Cemetery.

Notes

1. “U.S. Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications,” Ancestry.com.

2. “Family Tree,” Ancestry.com.

3. “Old Anderson Cemetery,” Windham Historical Society.

4. “Anderson/Lord House,” Windham Historical Society.

5. “Maine Marriage Records,” Ancestry.com.

6. “Maine Marriage Records,” Ancestry.com.