Cemetery Inscriptions and Revolutionary, War of 1812, and Civil War Veterans of Bowdoin, Maine

Settlers started moving into the area that is now Bowdoin in the 1750s. Bowdoin still has the earliest book of vital records, but all other vital records for the town were burned in 1872. For the next twenty years, vital records were apparently not kept, thus, these cemetery inscriptions are the most complete vital records available for Bowdoin. This collection is organized according to cemeteries and arranged in family plots. Extensive family history is included with each entry. Spouses, children, siblings, maiden names, death and birth dates are given when available. Over forty-five Bowdoin, Maine, cemeteries, plus burials in Potter Cemetery (once located in Bowdoin) are included. Some of the names and ages in this work were verified though the 1850 census for Bowdoin. Another helpful source was the Bowdoin Selectmen’s Records, which give the veteran’s name, service records, birth and death dates, and next of kin. Much of the information contained within this work is already lost due to illegible stones or missing markers. Epitaphs have been included if they were unusual of especially poignant.