By Isabel Morse Maresh
September 10, 1992
Occasionally an item or series of items piques the curiosity enough to cause searching of records to find more. Sometimes enough can be found to put together an interesting article. Such are some tidbits used from time to time in Journal Files. Perhaps a reader will have more information to share with us on the family of Harvey S. Cunningham.
Harvey Cunningham was born July 2, 1854, in Belfast, son of William and Rache (Smalley) Cunningham. Harvey made his living as a carpenter and machinist. IN the 1907 Register, his occupation was listed as "pattern maker," residing on Knox road. He married on Dec. 24, 1880, Caroline (Carrie) A. Shuman, daughter of Elijah M. and Eliza (Robinson) Shuman. Carrie was born in Waldoborough Feb. 3, 1855.
Harvey and Carrie were apparently the parents of four children, Roscoe W. (or William R.), Ralph H., Roy E., and Rena. Several interesting articles from the Republican Journal follow:
1919: "BELFAST, Sept. 29 — Just 21 years ago there was something of a stir in Belfast, when the stork played a joke on Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Cunningham and left. not the usual one, or even a pair, but three little compliments, two boys and a girl, to make up a good assortment.
"At birth one boy weighed five pounds, the little daughter was next, a quarter of a pound less and the other boy, three and three-quarters pounds. The triplets were quite the wonder of the neighborhood and all the friends of the family crowded to see them often. Then folks from all around were attracted and the Cunningham triplets were known all through this region.
"Although some of the neighbors looked at the tiny babies and shook their heads in doubt about 'raising em,' the trio decided to all stay and grew and flourished and have been growing ever since.
"The boys are healthy and sturdy, young men and assist their father, who is the city street commissioner. Ralph, who started in life at five pounds, now weighs 142 pounds. Roy, who was a mite of three and three-quarter pounds, whose hands was so small that the nurse slipped her wedding ring over the fingers to the wrist, now weighs 135 pounds.
"Miss Rena weighed four and three-quarters pounds and now tips the scales at 139 pounds. She is a bright and attractive young lady, a graduate of Belfast High School and a musician of considerable talent. She is at present the bookkeeper in the local telephone exchange.
"The boys regret that their birthday didn't come a few weeks earlier as they wanted to cast their first vote for a Democratic governor. The triplets made no special observance of the day but received many congratulations and souvenirs of the day."
The next happy event recorded in The Republican Journal was in 1913: "BELFAST, Me., June 14 — Wednesday the nuptials of Miss Rena Cunningham, one of the Belfast's famous triplets, will be solemnized, the bridegroom being George Stewart Dobson of Pittsfield. The wedding will take place at 8 o'clock in the evening, and a reception will follow the ceremony. Miss Cunningham's triplet brothers, Ralph and Roy, will act as 'best men' at the wedding, and there will be no bridesmaids. The Rev. Arthur A. Blair of the Universalist Church will be the officiating clergyman. The Cunningham triplets are noted throughout the country as one of the few sets of triplets to attain maturity in perfect health."
The scenes of a happy household begin to turn tragic, as the records relate. After Miss Rena's joyous marriage, the "happily ever after" years did not come to pass. George Stewart Dobson, son of Alexander and Annie (Stuart) Dobson of Scotland, died July 5, 1914, just one short year later.
The tragedy continues. Ralph H. Cunningham, the huskiest of the triplets died in the influenza epidemic of 1919 at the age of 29 on Jan. 23. Further sorrow came to the family when his brother Roy died just one week later.
The father, Harvey S. Cunningham, died Jan. 19, 1929, at the age of 74 years. His wife Caroline Cunningham died March 5, 1937, on Cedar Street in Belfast, aged 82 years. The family is buried in the family plot of the cemetry at the Head of the Tide.
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