Contributed by Maine Historical Society
Description
The pendant features a tombstone and details for the deaths of several members of the Wiswall family, Loyalists living at Falmouth Neck (Portland) during the Revolutionary War era.
John Wiswall, a protege of the Rev. Thomas Smith at First Parish Church, converted to an Episcopalian in 1764, and served at the earlier iteration of St. Paul's Episcopal Church on Falmouth Neck, and later became a chaplain in the Royal Navy.
Engraved on the back, using an alternate spelling for the last name is, "Mercy Wiswell/Ob. 26 July 1775 Aet. 43./Bradstreet Ob. 30 Jan 1773 Aet. 4./Robert Ob. 10 June 1773 Aet. 2./Elizabeth Ob. 23 July/1775 Aet. 9." The ob. stands for "obitus", Latin for "a departure."
The locket commemorates the death of both Mercy Wiswall and her daughter Elizabeth during a pneumonia epidemic in Boston.
The Rev. John Wiswall (1731-1812), originally from Boston, married Mercy Minot (1733-1775) in Brunswick on December 31, 1761.
About This Item
- Title: Wiswall mourning pendant, ca. 1775
- Creation Date: circa 1775
- Subject Date: circa 1775
- Location: USA
- Media: stone, glass
- Dimensions: 4 cm x 3 cm
- Local Code: 2005.085
- Object Type: Physical Object
Cross Reference Searches
Standardized Subject Headings
- Necklaces
- Wiswall family
- Wiswall, Bradstreet--Death & burial
- Wiswall, Elizabeth--Death & burial
- Wiswell, Mercy--Death & burial
People
For more information about this item, contact:
Maine Historical Society485 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101
(207) 774-1822 x230
Website
This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. No Permission is required to use the low-resolution watermarked image for educational use, or as allowed by the applicable copyright. For all other uses, permission is required.
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