Elias Norwood was born on September 13, 1814 in Cape Ann, Gloucester, Mass, the 8th child born to Abraham Norwood, born 12/4/1780 and Nancy Norwood Norwood (she was Abraham’s 1st cousin) born 9/1/1785, both born in Gloucester, Mass. (Abraham’s father was Jonathan Norwood and Nancy’s father was Abraham’s brother, Gustavus Norwood ).
Abraham and Nancy had 12 children, including Elias, before they settled at the mouth of the Saco River, establishing the Norwood homestead between 1821 and 1823. According to documents and loans which Elias signed with his father and brothers, he lived there until he was married.
Elias Norwood married Mary Jane Campbell, daughter of Rev. William and Hanna Thorn Campbell on June 14 1846 in Biddeford. They had 4 children: Chester, born 1846; Roscoe, born 1847, Harvey Elias, born 1853, and Louise Lucy, born 1861. Another daughter, Ella Abba, born 1851 apparently died at a very early age as no records of her can be found.
The 1851 Portland, Maine City Directory list Elias Norwood living in Portland at 8 Spruce Street, Portland and being a fisherman as he had previously done when living in Biddeford with his father.
All Portland City Directories beginning with 1858 until his death list his address as 31 Lowell St., Portland and his occupation as being a peddler. The 1871 City Directory list his occupation as “Room Paper and Fancy Goods”.
Elias and Mary Jane were divorced in 1865 and he married Sara Jane Bean of Foxborough, Mass in 1865.
Elias Norwood died in Portland on on May 13, 1895 and was buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Portland on a lot shared with his daughter, Louise Lucy Norwood Daicy.
His name is listed, as are all of Abraham’s children regardless if they were buried there or not, on a monument his father Abraham purchased and erected in “The Oaks Cemetery”, a small plot located on the Norwood Homestead overlooking the mouth of the Saco River.