How we got here, the story of this memorial for Mary Marshall Dyer.

I was always puzzled as to why no memorial existed on FindaGrave for Mary as she was a notable woman, community leader of her time and so after searching for several years I chose (2019) to place a memorial for her under; Burial Details Unknown, Specifically: Son Jerub Dyer buried her in a small tree-lined cemetery not far from her home above Mascoma Lake. This was in an effort to reunite Mary (in spirit) with her Dyer children and hoping someone would point me to a proper place. Thus began an intense search for Mary’s correct resting place and with the collaboration of several ladies and gentleman we now can say with a positive voice, here is our Mary. Special thank you to Shirley Mitchell of FindaGrave for the long hours and inspiration to keep going, Professor of History Elizabeth De Wolfe, Ph.D. for her wonderful books, Julie Couture of the Lebanon Library for the original Obituary of Mary, Mr. Thomas Hills long past for his book, Fran Hanchett of FindaGrave for taking a leap of faith, Nicole Vecchi of FindaGrave for her new updated photos at Purmort Cemetery and of course Mary herself.

Mary M Dyer did leave a will dated 17 May 1853 in Enfield, Grafton County, New Hampshire which her son Jerub Dyer presented 06 Feb 1867 to the Probate Court. In this she states “Also, I will and bequeath to my third son Jerub Dyer my place in the lower village in said Enfield commonly called Fish Market also my place in West Enfield, County and State aforesaid laying in Fox Hollow so called.” and that Jerub should “pay all my just debts and funeral charges and secure a safe burying place for my body and proper grave stones to my grave."

Following this clue I thought perhaps Mary was buried at the Old Mascoma Cemetery now called East Lebanon Cemetery just north of the lake after however searching there and reflection concluded that Jerub’s “above Mascoma Lake” was a reference to elevation rather than direction.

On line I found this old book; TWO COUNTRY CEMETERIES in NEW HAMPSHIRE NEAR JUNCTION BOUNDARY LINES OF: Enfield, Grantham, Lebanon and Plainfield, By THOMAS HILLS, Esq., OF BOSTON Life Member of the New England Historic Genealogical Society, President of the Hills Family Association. 1908

And there she was Mary M., wife of Joseph Dyer, died Jan. 13, 1867, AE. 89 (should be AE 86) Mary is listed as 89 years old as she was in her obituary. I think that is due to Jerub not really knowing all the information about his mother having been separated for so many years.

My correspondence with Professor Elizabeth De Wolfe later revealed that she had visited Mary during her research of a book noted below. “This is in the 1990s --- no internet, no GPS, no cell phones, no Google maps . . . just two historians in a big old car, armed with historic references and paper maps. And a spirit of adventure!” To me this makes the story of Mary much more alive, moving forward and might inspire many others in their research. Please see the original slide (slightly enhanced) taken at the time attached here.

Mary Marshall married Joseph Dyer 11 Oct 1799 in Coos County, New Hampshire [Declaration by Mary Marshall 06 Jun 1818] [Declaration by Moody Rich 07 Jun 1817]

The known children of Mary Marshall and Joseph Dyer:
Caleb Marshall Dyer {25 Aug 1800 – 21 Jul 1863} [New Hampshire, Birth Records, 1659-1900]
Betsey Dyer {06 Jan 1802 – 14 Jan 1824} [New Hampshire, Birth Records, 1659-1900]
Orville Dyer {15 Jun 1804 – 16 Jun 1882} [New Hampshire, Birth Records, 1659-1900]
Jerub Dyer {27 Mar 1806 – 27 Nov 1886} [New Hampshire, Birth Records, 1659-1900]
Joseph Dyer Jr. {09 Feb 1809 – 07 Feb 1840} [New Hampshire, Birth Records, 1659-1900]

Now once again reunited here in spirit which is the best result I could ask.

Something more about Mary that many people today are not aware of is she championed and battled for the rights of others in many various avenues of local and state government in New Hampshire. Please see the attached Obituary. She also fought very hard for her mother Zeruiah Harriman Marshall to obtain and keep a Revolutionary War pension on behalf of her father Caleb Marshall in the mothers declining years.

For more information about a fascinating woman that this cousin admires very much and feels I owe a great deal, due to her contributions even after 150 years to our family history, please see;

Shaking The Faith: Women, Family, and Mary Marshall Dyer's Anti-Shaker Campaign, 1815-1867 by Elizabeth A. De Wolfe PhD. © 2004

A Brief Statement of the Sufferings of Mary Dyer, Occasioned by the Society Called Shakers. Written by Herself. To Which is Added. Affidavits and Certificates also, a Declaration From Their Own Publication. 1818

The Rise and Progress of the Serpent from the Garden of Eden, to the Present Day: with a disclosure of Shakerism, exhibiting a view of their real character and conduct from the first appearance of Ann Lee. Also, the life and sufferings of the author, who was Mary M. Dyer, but now is Mary Marshall. 1847

Carry on fellow researchers, perhaps you will find and record the next lost one!
Biography © 2019 Ronnie Miller