dyarmemorial

Elizabeth Nichols Dyar Memorial History

Elizabeth Dyar's stone was erected by Elder Joseph Dyar, her oldest son, who emmigrated from Malden, MA, to the Province of Maine in 1806 and settled in Phillips, where he became the Leading Free Baptist Elder of that section. Elizabeth had made her home with him for some time prior to her death. Elizabeth Nichols Dyar was buried here at her own request. A tamarack tree was planted on the grave the same year. The simple white marble slab is inscribed: "My Mother, Mrs. Elizabeth, died June 4, 1818, Age 67" and "All Flesh Is As Grass"

dyar stone

In September 1923, the gravesite of Elizabeth Nichols Dyar, a Real Daughter, was restored by descendants, the Town of Freeman and the Colonel Asa Whitcomb Chapter DAR of Kingfield and declared an Historical Shrine. As the seventh State Marking, a tablet was dedicated in July 1924 as a Memorial by the MSODAR State Regent and presented to the Col. Asa Whitcomb Chapter DAR stating: "Today we are standing in a little country field, where this tall tree will shed its leaves softly over the grave."

The Tablet reads:

            "To Commemorate the Patriotism of
                 ELIZABETH NICHOLS DYAR
                One of Three Young Women
              Who Mixed and Applied the Paint
                To Disguise as Indians
              The Men of the Boston Tea Party
                December 16,1773
            With Her Children She was Smuggled
               Through the lines to Malden
             Passed Latter Part of Life Here
            With youngest son, John Nichols Dyar
dyar cemetery

On Prospect Farm
And was Buried on this spot.

Also her husband

JOSEPH DYAR

           Who was Nine Times captured by the British
                While Captain of Boat
              Carrying Supplies to American Army
            Died From Effect of Ill Treatment in 1783
              And was buried in Malden, Mass.
           This Grave Restored by Their Descendants,
      Town of Freeman, and Colonel Asa Whitcomb Chapter
             of Kingfield, September 1923.
        Tablet placed by the Maine State Council
          Daughters of the American Revolution
              July 1924."

Mr. Dodge explained that the rock on which the bronze tablet rests came from Freeman Center. His father, Benjamin Dodge,
found the rock and being a stone mason, cut the stone and fitted the tablet onto it. At the time in 1923, the tablet bore more inscription than any other tablet in Maine.
dyar rock and stone

It took a team of six horses to transport the rock from its location at Freeman Center to the location of the grave. River gravel was hauled from Strong in grain bags on a conveyance pulled by horses and the one truck available at the time in Strong. The gravel was used as a base for the rock.
Stone posts are at the corners of the Memorial lot and chains attached to the posts surrounding the area. Dodge said he made the forms and filled them with cement for the post caps.

When the Kingfield Chapter retired their chapter in 1964, the deed was passed on to Colonial Daughters Chapter DAR of Farmington.
At a DAR meeting in 1965, Warren Dodge spoke of planting a new Tamarack tree to replace the old one which stood nearly 150 years. He and Seward Marsh transplanted the tree from its home on Taylor Hill in New Vineyard. The stump of the old tree, even though taken off close to the ground, still remained in 1999.