Cyrus Cummlngs

4. REVERAND CYRUS CUMMINGS (1791–1859), son of Nathaniel Cummings and Mary Crawford

5. ELIZABETH CURTIS (1789–1868), daugher of Abner Curtis and Tamsin Atwood

Cyrus Cummings was born on 23 April 1791 in Bridgewater, New Hampshire. [1][2] He died on 9 September 1859, age 68, of typhus fever, in Portland, Maine, and was buried there in the Western Cemetery. [3][4][5] He married Elizabeth Curtis on 23 May 1816. [6][7]

Elizabeth Curtis was born on 1 November 1789 in Bucksport. [6][7] She died on 8 February 1868 of "conjestion of the lungs," age 78, in Portland, and was buried in the Western Cemetery. [8][9]

Cyrus was licensed to exhort on 23 February 1810. In June 1811 he joined the New England conference and was appointed on the Durham circuit in Maine. In June 1812 he was appointed on the Danville Circuit in Vermont. [2]

A large portion of the circuit was newly settled—people poor—many of them lived in log houses, very open and cold. A proportion of them had no glass. Not a board or shingle about them inside or out. No bricks were found in or about their chimneys. ... The body of the house was built with unhewed logs, the roof covered with bark and the floor of the house (if thay had any except the naked ground) was sometimes laid with hewed timbers some 6 inches think. Often times the logs were crooked leaving large spaces between them, and the bark which covered the roof would become curled up and sometimes broken through so that when it was fair weather I could see the stars shine through the roof and when stormy the snow would blow in and cover my bed some three or four inches deep during the night, and generally bedding very scant. Truly their accomodations were very cold. I was always highly pleased when they would permit me to take my lodgings on the floor before the fire. Ths was a luxury to me.

In 1813 there was an outbreak of disease: [2]

In the winter of 1813, the spotted fever, by some called the cold plague, broke out among the people and raged very violently attacking all ages from the gray headed down to children. Over one hunded persons died in a few months of this disease in my circuit.

Traveling was difficult and he struggled to find clothing: [2]

I set out to see what I could do. I commenced by begging wool. I called on the families I judged the best able to furnish me with the article I wanted for a suit of clothes. I collected in some families one fourth of a pound of wool at other places half a pound, and in one or two places one pound. This I continued until I collected some eight pounds. My next object was to find spinners and weavers. One female proposed to card and spin a certain number of skeins of yarn, another a given number. Another would weave a given number of yards of cloth and others would assist until I supposed I had a certain number engaged. The hardest part of the service was to obtain money to pay for dressing the cloth. I called on our brothers for aid. They gave me 10, 15 or 20¢ each until I supposed I had obtained enough to pay the bill. At length I got my suit made up. Found it very comfortable. My readers probably form some idea of the beauty and finish of the suit, cared and spun by eight or ten different persons, and made by a number of different persons. Of course, I cannot say much in favor, of its fineness or beauty of finish, but it answered a good purpose.

The distance around this circuit was something over two hundred miles, the distance between some of the appointments being some thirty miles. The people in some instances being very much opposed to Methodists and traveling very bad it required a strong effort to reach my appointments. This was accomplished by starting early in the morning and traveling all day without refreshments for myself or horse. After the performance of so hard a day's work I was sometimes furnished with a bowl of bean porridge for supper.

After riding various circuits, Cyrus's health deteriorated and he retired from the traveling convention in 1816. In 1817 he moved to West Cumberland and bought a small house and farm. He continued to preach on Sundays and worked on his farm. For sixteen years he was the only local preacher. At the first town meeting, held in the Congregational meeting house on 9 April 1821, Reverand Cyrus Cummings opened the meeting by prayer. [10]

In 1830 Cyrus headed a household in Cumberland that consisted of a male 30 to 39, a female 40 to 49, two males and one female 20 to 29, two males ten to 14, two males and one female five to nine and one male and two females under five. [11] A cholera epidemic probably claimed the lives of three of his children and June and July 1832.

In the spring of 1833 he moved to Westbrook where he continued to preach. [2] In 1840 Cyrus headed a household that consisted of one male 40 to 49, one female 50 to 59, two males 20 to 29, two males and one female age 15 to 19, one female age five to nine and one male under five. [12] He was a selectman in Westbrook in 1835 and 1847. [9]

In 1848 he moved to Portland, and preached there as well. [2] In 1850 he was living in Portland in a household headed by Phebe Deland, age 66. The household also included Elizabeth, age 60, Elizabeth E., age 17, and Andrew J., age 14. Cyrus was a surveyor of land with real estate worth 4,000 dollars. [13]

Reverend Cyrus Cummings was a mason; he was present as grand chaplain at the Annual Communication of the M. W. Grand Lodge of Maine on 5 May 1847, 2 May 1850 and 4 May 1854 in Portland. [14]

At the time of his death, Cyrus was described as a land surveyor. [4]

Transcription of his journal

Children of Cyrus Cummings and Elizabeth Curtis:

i. Reverand Joseph Cummings was born on 3 March 1817 in Cumberland. [6][7] He died on 7 May 1890. [6] He married Deborah S. Haskell on 15 August 1842. [6][7] She was born on 29 June 1816. [6]

Joseph graduated from Wesleyan University in Middletown, Middlesex, Connecticut in 1840. [6] He received his D.D. from there in 1854 and another one from Harvard in 1861. [6] He received his L.L.D. from Northwestern in 1866. [6] He was president of Wesleyen University from 1857 to 1875. [6] He was professor of mental philosophy and political economy at Wesleyen from 1875 to 1877. [6] He was pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church in Malden, Massachusetts from 1877 to 1879. [6] He was pastor of the Harvard Street Methodist Episcopal church in Cambridge, Massachusetts from 1880 to 1881. [6] He was president of Northwestern University from 1881 until his death. [6]

ii. Cyrus Curtis Cummings was born on 23 June 1818, probably in West Cumberland. [6][7] He died on 8 October 1884 in Wilmington, California. [6] He married Rebecca Ann Williams of Falmouth, Maine on 30 Jun 1846. [7] Rebecca was the daughter of Gustavus and Iza Williams. [6]

Cyrus was a teacher and a moral instructor in the California state prison at San Quentin. [6]

iii. Nathaniel Greanleaf Cummings was born on 3 June 1820. [6] He died on 4 July 1894, age 74, of "cerebral softening" and is buried in the Evergreen Cemetery in Portland, Maine. [15][16] He married Dorcas Ann Colley on 2 November 1847. [6] She was born on 6 March 1816 and died on 11 November 1883, age 67. She is buried in the Evergreen Cemetery. [17]

iv. Franklin Cummings was born on 18 September 1823 in West Cumberland. He died on 12 August 1874 in Brownsville, Texas. He married Ann Mildred Jones.

v. Mary Jane Cummings was born on 29 December 1821. [6] She died on 24 June 1891 in Falmouth, Cumberland County and is buried in the Pine Grove Cemetery in Falmouth. [6][18]. She marrried Curtis Colley of Falmouth on 1 December 1842. [6] He was born in 1814. He died in 1898 and is buried in the Pine Grove Cemetery. [19]

vi. William Harrison Cummings was born on 18 July 1825. [6] He died on 13 July 1832 and is buried in the Western Cemetery in Portland, Maine. [20]

vii. Elizabeth Ellen Cummings was born on 20 July 1827. [6] She died on 11 July 1832 and is buried in the Western Cemetery. [21]

viii. Julia Cummings was born on 28 February 1830. [6] She died on 25 June 1832 and is buried in the Western Cemetery. [22]

ix. Elizabeth Ellen Cummings was born on 18 December 1832. [6] She died on 11 June 1901 and is buried in the Evergreen Cemetery. She married Sewall Lang. Sewell was the son of Levi and Julia Lang. [6] He died on 25 February 1907 and is buried in the Evergreen Cemetery. [23]

x. Andrew Jackson Cummings was born on 10 March 1836 in Portland. [6][24] He died on 3 September 1918, age 88, of a cerebral hemorrhage and is buried in the Evergreen Cemetery. [24] He married Elizabeth Ellen Jones on 1 Jul 1858. [6] She was born in 1839. She died in 1907 and is buried in the Evergreen Cemetery. [25]

References

1. "New Hampshire, Births and Christening Index," database, Ancestry, entry for Cyrus Cumings [!], son Nathaniel.

2. Cyrus Cummings, "Sketch of Rev. Cyrus Cummings," 1850, transcript, author's copy.

3. "Maine Death Records, 1761–1922," database with images, Ancestry > Cumberland > 1859 > C, image 99. Cyrus Cummings died 9 Sept. 1859 of typhus fever, age 68 yr. & 5 m., Portland; 1868 > C, image 169. Elizabeth Cummings, widow Cyrus Cummings, died 8 Feb. 1868 of conjestion of the lungs, 78, Portland.

4. "U.S. Federal Mortality Schedules, 1850–1885," database with images, Ancestry > 1860 > Maine > Cumberland, image 41. Cyrus Cummings, age 68, b. N.H., d. Sept. 1859, typhoid [typhus?] fever.

5. "Reverand Cummings," webpage, Findagrave, no. 99590101. Death date in inscription.

6. George Mooar, The Cummings Memorial: A genealogical history of the descendants of Isaac Cummings, an Early Settler of Topsfield, Massachusetts (New York: B.F. Cummings, 1903), 320–1, 437–9.

7. Albert Oren Cummins, Cummings Genealogy: Isaac Cummings, 1601-1677, of Ipswich in 1638 and Some of His Descendants (Montpelier: A.O. Cummins, 1904), 405.

8. "Maine Death Records, 1761–1922" > Cumberland > 1868 > C, image 169. Elizabeth Cummings, widow Cyrus Cummings, died 8 Feb. 1868 of conjestion of the lungs, 78, Portland.

9. "Elizabeth Curtis Cummings," webpage, Findagrave, no. 9959054. Death date in inscription.

10. W.W. Clayton, History of Cumberland County, Maine (Philadelphia: Everts & Peck, 1880), 266, 387.

11. "1930 U.S. Federal Census," database with images, Ancestry > ME > Cumberland > Cumberland, image 1.

12. "1940 U.S. Federal Census," database with images, Ancestry > ME > Cumberland > Westbrook, image 7.

13. "1950 U.S. Federal Census," database with images, Ancestry > ME > Cumberland > Portland Ward 7, image 73.

14. Grand Lodge of Masons in Maine, Historical Documents of the Grand Lodge of Maine A.F. & A.M. (http://www.mainemasonrytoday.com/history/index.htm).

15. "Maine Deathe Records, 1761–1922," database with images, Ancestry > Cumberland > 1894 > C, image 307. Nathaniel Cummings, son of Cyrus Cummings and Elizabeth Curtis, father a clergyman, d. 4 July 1894, age 74, of "cerebral softening" in Portland, buried Evergreen Cemetery.

16. "Nathaniel G. Cummings," webpage, Findagrave, no. 117407865. Birth and death dates in inscription.

17. "Dorcas A. Cummings," webpage, Findagrave, no. 117400408. Birth and death dates in inscription.

18. "Mary J. Cummings Colley," webpage, Findagrave, no. 146106166. Birth and death years in inscription.

19. "Curtis Colley," webpage, Findagrave, no. 146106134. Birth and death years in inscription.

20. "Willliam Harrison Cummings," webpage, Findagrave, no. 99599946. Death date in inscription.

21. "Elizabeth Ellen Cummings," webpage, Findagrave, no. 99591951. Death date in inscription.

22. "Julia Cummings," webpage, Findagrave, no. 99598622. Death date in inscription.

23. "Elizabeth Ellen Cummings Lang," webpage, Findagrave, no. 118618640. Buried together; birth and death dates in inscription.

24. "Maine Deathe Records, 1761–1922," database with images, Ancestry > Cumberland > 1918 > C, image 395. Both parents' names and birthplaces.

25. "Andrew J. Cummings," webpage, Findagrave, no. 110883010. Buried together; birth and death yearss in inscription.

last revised 25-May-2020