NORWOOD - ALBERT - Bidderford

From a Biographical Review 1897: Albert Norwood was born in Biddeford on December 13, 1823, which he always called home, He was engaged as a fisherman or a sailor throughout most of his life until 1874 when he became the Wood Island Lighthouse keeper..

When his savings had increased sufficiently he bought a good farm which became The Norwood Homestead at 585 Pool Road, pictured at right, which his sons managed, and on which his widow and some of his children are now living.

The 1860 United States Federal Census for Biddeford list his real estate value as $100. By the 1870 Census his real estate value had increased to $400 and personal property as an additional $400.

The 1865 U.S. Civil War Draft Registrations listed Albert Norwood, age 39.

1845 Biddeford Book of Records #5; Marriage Intentions; September 27: Albert Norwood of Biddeford and Mary Mitchell of Saco have this day entered their intentions of marriage with me. William Smith, Town Clerk. They became the parents of eleven children, as follows: George, now a resident of Biddeford; Abbie, now deceased; Ida, the wife of John Wentworth, of Saco, Me.; Abraham, Lorenzo, who lives on the homestead in Biddeford; Nancy, also deceased; Estelle, who is the wife of Captain William Tuttle, of Cape Cod, Mass; Albert, who lives on the old homestead: James, living in Biddeford, who married Kate Tarbox: and Nelson, who married Stella Whitney, and resides in Biddeford. The mother (Nancy Norwood) also resides at the home farm.

Albert Norwood followed his father Abraham Norwood as the Wood Island Lighthouse keeper at the entrance of the Saco River in so-called Winter Harbor off Biddeford Pool from 1874 until his death earning $520.00 yearly as noted by US Registry of Civil, Military, and Navel Services, 1863-1959.

As was the practice in those days, settlers usually buried their deceased in a nearby plot with simple markings. The Norwood Homestead was on the Biddeford side of the Saco River. As it was about a mile in length with many families living on the Homestead or in the vicinity, they had a larger burial ground than most, called The Oaks Cemetery. It was comprised of several small plots with a number of field stone markers and fenced in. On April 21, 1874, Albert purchased a monument from A.A. Bacon Monuments, West Meriden, Conn. for $326.00. It stands about 14 feet tall and sits on a 6 by 6 foot granite base. It has a fancy scroll on the corner of the top 8 feet, 6 inch letters spelling the name “NORWOOD” on each side above the base, and a tablet above the Norwood name on each side with the inscriptions of the names Abraham and Nancy Norwood, most of their children, including his name..

Maine Death Records list the death of Albert Norwood on August 11, 1888 at age 64. He is survived by his wife Mary and many of his children. He is buried in The Oaks Cemetery.




Mary B. Mitchell Norwood

BIRTH 1828

Saco, York County, Maine

DEATH 23 Jul 1904 (aged 75–76)

Biddeford, York County, Maine

BURIAL

The Oaks Cemetery




Biddeford, York County, Maine