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| READ OUR MAIL June 2001 Mailbag SeacoastNH.com |
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June 30 MOM GAVE HER IRONSIDES Dear SeacoastNH, My mother left me a picture of OLD IRONSIDES. On the back, my mother wrote in her own handwriting that it is very old. It is in a very old picture frame. I am looking for information on this picture. Can you help? I have not taken it out of the frame to look at the back. Please advise me as to how I can get information on this picture. Sincerely, Christy E EDITOR'S REPLY: Almost all the mail we get on Old Ironsides relates to people who saw the ship during its 1930s tour of the USA. The renovated Ironsides was towed to a large number of ports and tons of souvenir images were sold. Chances are, unless you have old Currier & Ives, or something before the 20th century, that this item's value is totally personal. Check the web site of the US Constitution for more info on the 1930s tour. (see previous letter dated March 21, 2001 - scroll down for links) http://www.seacoastnh.com/mail/mail0301.html http://www.seacoastnh.com/ussconstitution/index.html June 29 EVEN MORE WHITTIER To whom it may concern, My Husband and i have found a poem by John Greenleaf Whittier, in a 1842 Bible published by P,canfield , It looks like it could be a original copy , it might contain his own signature Please let us know if you have any info on this. Debra in Springfiled, IL EDITOR'S REPLY: It sure would be exciting to find an original early Whittier poem in his own handwriting. But not much we can do on this end without seeing what you have. Why not send a .jpg of a scan? Our interest is totally poetical and we'd love to run a facsimile of the poem online for our readers. We can connect you with a few people who may have an idea on value, but the greatest value of such an item, is keeping it in the family or in a museum or archive where it can be enjoyed by others. We give all items contributed to SeacoastNH.com to the Portsmouth Historical society or Athenaeum. http://www.seacoastnh.com/poems/index.html June 29 SEEKING CAPTAIN SAUNDERS Good day! I am researching a Captain Saunders who commanded the schooner GLEANER (of Portsmouth, NH) in April, 1823. Can you guide me to any publications that may know about this or Capt Saunder's papers? G. Fretz, Ft Lauderdale, FL EDITOR'S REPLY: We skimmed through a dozen maritime books on the port of Portsmouth and could not find a ship by that name. Are you sure it is Portsmouth NEW HAMPSHIRE and Virginia or England? It is possible to skim newspaper from that era, but there is no central maritime record other than the paperwork in the archives of the Portsmouth Athenaeum. Author Richard Winslow, the top local maritime researcher, is available at the Portsmouth Public Library on Tuesdays and might be able to help track down a few general details. But deep study will likely require a paid researcher or a trip up to scenic Portsmouth. http://www.seacoastnh.com/navyyard/index.html June 27 JUST A LITTLE FAMILY INQUIRY Enjoy your newsletter. Look for time to spend in Portsmouth on my next visit. Attended the George Little Family Reunion last August. The 1882 Little Family descendants book (reprinted) carries a little story about Cambridge and Dinah (p524), "Negro servants" of a Little family at Turkey Hill. I wonder if you are familiar with this family genealogy book, and might Have some information on Cambridge and Dinah. One of your last newsletters dealt with the African heritage in Portsmouth. Richard Little EDITOR'S REPLY: Rich Little? Genealogy is a time-consuming job and we're not up to the task since we get hundreds of letters, but we have forwarded an email with the list of genealogy resources online. Someday, we hope, a central computer resource can be set up in the Seacoast for the thousands and thousands of area descendants of America's Smallest Seacoast. June 26 THE CHESAPEAKE FIGUREHEAD I have a keen interest in this period of history and I felt you should know that the figurehead is still in existence in the UK. But not on display to the general public, but in what is now a private commercial port, there was a plaque at its base giving its full history. As far as my memory goes it was thirty years ago, the sculpture was of a native Indian figure wearing a full feathered war bonnet. The port is where locally the ship was recorded as being broken up for scrap and that was not in Hampshire UK. But (Ex Naval) Sheerness Dockyard in Kent. d.s.farrow@btinternet.com EDITOR'S REPLY: Thanks for the info. We have only a teeny chip off the old ship Chesapeake that was presented last year to the John Paul Jones House. Built in 1800, it was a Virginia-built sister ship to the USS Congress built here at Portsmouth Harbor. Other famous sisters of that class were the USS Constitution (Old Ironsides), the Philadelphia and the Constellation. http://www.seacoastnh.com/jpj/chesapeake.html http://www.seacoastnh.com/arts/please050801.html June 26 THE AMAZING BENNING WENTWORTH My name is Kelly Wentworth. I am a descendant of Benning Wentworth. I was so delighted to see a story, however unpleasant, of one of my ancestors. I know little about them except what is told through a set of Wentworth genealogy books commissioned by John Wentworth, a former mayor of Chicago, IL. I never knew that a poem by Longfellow resulted from the interactions of my family. It may not be a particulary flattering story, but it is neat, nevertheless. I have one question. I was told that Vermont was formed as a result of things done by John Wentworth II. Is there any truth to this? I really like your site and the history it tells about the area. The Wentworths I know today are definitely more patriotic than those of the past! Kelly C. Wentworth EDITOR'S REPLY: Yup, your relatives pretty much created Vermont (ever heard of Benning, VT?) creating at least 200 towns in the area that became northern NH and VT. Benning and John made a tidy profit selling off the western province of New Hampshire that once extended all the way to New York city. Plenty of Wentworths became patriots to the new coutnry, including Sarah Wentworth Purcell who housed John Paul Jones during his two visits two Portsmouth. Benning Wentworth's home is still open to the public today, as is the Wentworth-Gardner Mansion. There is much, more to say about this powerful NH family. Stay tuned. http://www.seacoastnh.com/arts/please031397.html http://www.seacoastnh.com/houses/lilacfestival.html http://www.seacoastnh.com/brewster/17.html http://www.seacoastnh.com/history/rev/ladywent.html June 25 NEW FILM COMPANY IN NH I am based in Jefferson, NH and run an indie film production company. We focus on documentaries, and some publishing, but also just wrapped production on a fiction short film in Los Angeles. If you have any other questions, please let me know! Our web address is below. Colleen Sturtevant http://www.zenpictures.com June 22 MAKE MINE A SMUTTY (See You in July) Well gang, we’re off again for a week of desolation on Smuttynose Island. We won’t be able to read your mail, but we’ve put the web site on autopilot (actually it’s on Webmaster Tim) and you’ll see great new articles coming up just about every day until we return. If you’re wondering what it’s like at the Isles, here are the pictures from last year. The Editor http://www.seacoastnh.com/dct/smuttysunrise.html June 22 DISCOVERING NH SHIP WRECKS Hello my name is Leigh Gaddie and I am with Discover the Outdoors.com. I am doing research on ship wrecks off the coast of New Hampshire. I have several listed; Camilla May Page, Sagunto, Samuel J Goucher and William A Machen, and I was hoping you could tell me who would be considered the "point of contact" for anyone hoping to learn more about these wrecks. I am unsure if that is handled at by the state or by county, etc. I would greatly appreciate any help you can offer! If you have any questions please feel free to email me or visit our website. Leigh in Overland Park, KS http://www.dto.com EdITOR’S REPLY: There’s no one we know in charge of ocean wrecks and with such a tiny seacoast, you seem to have most of them. We’ll forward a name of a person who may hook you up with the Dive School on White Island. That may be a good place to start. http://www.seacoastnh.com/shoals/spanishgraves.html#topopage http://www.seacoastnh.com/poems/rivermouth.html http://www.seacoastnh.com/tji/ryewreck.html June 22 NH STATE CRATE RATES GREAT I have volunteered to gather information on New Hampshire for a "State Crate" for Currier Elementary School, West Chicago, IL. These students focus on individual states in their academic studies and can greatly benefit from the geographical and historical information we assemble. We are trying to make our states real to these children as most of them have never traveled outside of their city. These are 4th/5th grade students from an underprivileged school where 40% come from homes with an average family income of $11,000. Our objective is to expand these students world by assembling quality educational resources for them. These crates will be kept and used each year. Sample items include maps, stuffed animals, web sites, tourism brochures, historic sites, videos and more. If you have any information or items you can send me to include in the New Hampshire crate, I would very much appreciate it. Thank you for helping make New Hampshire real to these students. Pamela in Jefferson City, MO EDITOR’S REPLY: Great idea. We love hands-on education. Your Seacoast NH state crate contents are on their way via the US Postal service. All the best from “America’s Smallest Seacoast”. June 21 RENTING AND BIKING ON THE SEACOAST Me, my brother, and his wife would like to cycle around sea coast towns. Is there a place with few cars and ocean views that we can cycle? Is there a place we can rent a tandem? What is the best way to come up from Boston (assuming we don't have a car). If we do rent a car, what is the best place for a base? If we are interested in history as well, what is the best place to go? Gideon from New Haven, CT BIKER JONAH FERNALD REPLIES: I talked to my brother(another cycler) for the best way to bike from Boston, Ma. to Portsmouth, NH. We agreed that it wasn't the safest place to ride. It involves too many roads busy with tourist traffic that would ruin the sights along the way. In my opinion, it would be in your best interest to drive to Newburyport, Ma (right near the NH border) and then bike from there. You can follow Rte 1A from Newburyport to Portsmouth. Continue all the way up the coast from Portsmouth to Kittery, Me. to York and Ogunquit. There are plenty of places to eat and stay along the way. Most of Rte. 1A and Rte. 1 have shoulders to ride on. Newburyport is a fine base camp as long as you don't mind biking long distances. Portsmouth is also a great base because there are safer places to ride, lodging, great restaurants, and a lot of history. Unfortunately, I do not know of anywhere to rent a tandem bicycle. We are planning to get one get one in the near future. We do have other bicycles to offer. Please call with any other questions. (Portsmouth Rent & Ride 603-433-6777. http://www.seacoastsearch.com/feature56.htm http://www.seacoastnh.com/history/index.html June 18 MORE ON THE CASWELL CEMETERY ON STAR ISLAND Dear Terry: I did get to Star this last Saturday (see letter dated June 14 below - scroll down) and went to the cemetery. Didn't find a Jedediah Caswell gravestone - though a fair number of Caswells buried there. There was one slate headstone that had the name, date of birth, date of death, and age at death obliterated - the layer bearing them had flaked off. The footstone only showed the initials "J. C.". That could, of course, have stood for John, Jonathan, Judith, or Jane. I will check with Gayle Kadlik, who is the archivist out on Star this summer and see if she has any information.
I have a report that was done several years ago of people at the Shoals
during the 1700s and which was obtained from church records. The only
Caswells noted are Robert, Robert, Jr., and John. Robert was on Star from
1735 to 1753 and married Martha Down in 1735. They had several children -
Robert (Jr.), born 1736; Sarah, born 1737; Amy, born 1750; and Michael, born 1753. Robert, Jr. was there from 1736 to 1760 and married Elizabeth Muchmore in 1760. John Caswell was there in 1763 and married Joanna Muchmore. I'll let you know if I find anything else.
June 18 DISCOVERING JPJ IN AUSTRALIA Hello, I just have to say you have a very good site and I hope it continues to grow. John Paul Jones was always just a name to me but a recent trip to Scotland made me want to learn more about him. I bought the book of the Rangers log "John Paul Jones and the Ranger", Edited by Joseph G. Sawtelle, from Amazon.com. It was very good. And I've found a copy of "Fanning's Narrative" a very good book. And from the Project Gutenberg web site (see reader link below) I down loaded a free book called "The Old Merchant Marine, A Chronicle of American Ships and Sailors" By Ralph D. Paine (who lived 1871-1925). Paine had a few jibes at Captain Jones but also gave some interesting back ground information to the sailing tradition in America Do you have any other suggested readings? I prefer historical documents over historical fiction.
About me. I’m from Oregon originally but worked as a fisherman in Alaska, and
currently live in Australia where I work with computers.(I miss the US very
much) My wife is Scottish, and was familiar with John Paul Jones because her
family use to take holidays up to Kirkcudbright (John Paul's birth place)
where there is a pub with a big picture of John Paul Jones on the wall.
I love history, and since leaving school realized that most of what I was
taught was watered-down, politically corrected, bite size chunks of the real
story. I'm very interested to read and learn what the people of the times
actually wrote and said. Your site is very good because it presents well
researched facts and arguments and backs them up with historical documents.
I'd never realized what a complicated event the American Revolution was.
Having lived to see Australians completely blow their chance at independence
(in last year's referendum), I have come to realize what an achievement it
was for America to become independent as well as a republic in the age of
Kingdoms and Empires.
Please keep up the good work. Yours Truly
June 16 30 VENDORS LOOKING FOR A GOOD TIME Hi. I work for a company in Hampton, NH. Every year for the past five years, we have hosted an annual Vendor Day where we invite around 30 of our major vendors for a day of activities. One year we tried a whale watch out of Rye, one year we did a cruise down the Ipswich river to the mouth, one year we did the Isle of Shoals cruise and last year we did the Tall Ships out of Boston. I was wondering if you knew of any events or had any suggestions for our Vendor Day this year. We would like to stay in the Hampton-Portsmouth area. And it doesn't have to have a water and/or cruise theme. (Personally, I would like to stay on land, kind of getting sick of the cruises.) Anyway since I'm the Purchasing Mgr. I have to come up with an idea. It would be sometimes during late July or during August. I would appreciate any ideas or suggestions. Do they have an historical walking tour that would last awhile around Portsmouth? Let me know. Thanks for your help in advance. Mary B in Hampton EDITOR’S REPLY: We’ve sent Mary a lengthy list of places we recommend in the area for corporate get-a-ways. There are too many to list here, but readers will find some of our suggestions in the TOURING section of SeacoastNH and under ATTRACTIONS in SeacoastSearch.com. having visited 250 locations between Seabrook and Old Orchard personally, we can say from experience – there’s a LOT to do around here. http://www.seacoastnh.com/touring/index.html June 15 PAINTING A LIGHTHOUSE Hello, I need to paint a mailbox for a man that used to work at the Naval Shipyard. I am wondering if the lighthouse on your logo is real or only a 'picture'. Please let me know if it is an actual lighthouse. I think it would look nice on his mailbox. Thanks for any help you can give me. Mary Hoard www.countrymailboxes.com EDITOR’S REPLY: Cool. The image you see on our copyrighted logo is surprisingly similar to the only landbound lighthouse in Seacoast, New Hampshire. (There is another in the middle of the river and one at the Isles of Shoals.) Check the following photo below of New Castle Light (also called Fort Point Light) for a painting model. And you may want to check the many New England lighthouse web sites. We’ve listed two below. And we look forrward to seeing a picture of the final product. The final link shows images of the Naval Shipyard you might also consider. http://www.seacoastnh.com/arts/photosbook/ph11.html http://www.lighthouse.cc/ http://www.portimages.com/light.htm http://seacoastnh.com/postcards/yard1/index.html June 14 YES, WE HAVE MAPS Hi. I'm going to be visiting your area while my husband is on business and wonder if you have a printable map on line of where the trolley goes in NH? The Names don't mean anything...I'd like to see a map. Can you tell me where to look? Thanks for your help. VJ EDITOR’S REPLY: You must be looking for our Interactive Map section. We built the first one for the region back in 1997 and, with a few exceptions, it still works pretty well. The trolley schedule can be found by clicking through the various trolley companies via our special section. http://www.seacoastnh.com/101nh/maps.html http://www.seacoastnh.com/trolleys/index.html June 14 YES, WE HAVE MAPS Hi. I'm going to be visiting your area while my husband is on business and wonder if you have a printable map on line of where the trolley goes in NH? The Names don't mean anything...I'd like to see a map. Can you tell me where to look? Thanks for your help. VJ EDITOR’S REPLY: You must be looking for our Interactive Map section. We built the first one for the region back in 1997 and, with a few exceptions, it still works pretty well. The trolley schedule can be found by clicking through the various trolley companies via our special section. http://www.seacoastnh.com/101nh/maps.html http://www.seacoastnh.com/trolleys/index.html June 14 SEEKING JEDEDIAH CASWELL Dear Sir: If there is a Jedediah Caswell named in any of your info on the Caswell Cemetary, I will visit your area ASAP. Have a "brick wall" that I need to break. Terry Remington Caswell of St. Law.Co, NY Terry Caswell A MESSAGE FROM ISHRA: Sorry I took so long to reply to your inquiry that Dennis Robinson forwarded to me. I don't have any information at hand about people in the Caswell cemetery on Star Island. I do know that Robert and Mary Caswell were on Star in the early 1700s. They had 6 children. I shall be on Star this coming Saturday and will go to the cemetery and see if there is a Jedediah buried there. I'll let you know one way or the other. --- Bob Tuttle http://www.seacoastnh.com/arts/photosrandall/ph9.html http://www.seacoastnh.com/shoals/ishra.html June 14 THE BATTLE OF WAGON HILL I heard about a Bunker Hill day reenactment that will be taking place this Saturday in Durham (maybe Dover) just off route 4. Do you have any info on this? Tom Rossi EDITOR’S REPLY: We’ll have our award-winning photographer there with bells on. We covered this event months in advance and you can get all the details off the Newmarket Militia web site. http://www.seacoastsearch.com/feature45.htm http://www.seacoastnh.com/history/rev/bunker.html June 13 RECALLING THE COLD WAR AT PNSY Dear Mr. Robinson: Your articles on local marine history (THE SHIPYARD) are very interesting. I enjoy them very much. In turn, perhaps you’ll find the enclosed article of some interest to you. Regards, Roger L Fortier of Dover EDITOR’S REPLY: We had Mr Fortier’s hand written letter about his years at the PNSY transcribed by a volunteer and added his oral history to SeacoastNH.com permanently. Thanks. He writes about the Cold War era and remembers working on the TANG, the secret USSX-1 midget submarines and has a special insight on the sinking of the USS THRESHER. We learned that the X-1 is now on display at a naval museum in Connecticut and that there was a film about it produced in 1968. Other readers with recollections of the SHIPYARD can add their notes to this web page by writing to us. Include detailed facts and be descriptive! Mr. Fortier’s great letter is a good model for others. http://www.seacoastnh.com/20th/pnsyletter01.html June 12 LETTERS FROM GENERAL STARK My name is Lori G. Through the geneological work my father has been tirelessly pursuing, we have discovered that the General and Molly Stark were my 6th Great Grandpartents. My father has some copies of letters between the General and George Washington as well as some other rather notable figures from that time frame. I, however, would love to acquire as much information on Elizabeth (Molly) as possible. For one, I would love to see a picture of her if there are any. She has piqued my interest as I believe her spirit surely lives in me and my own daughter's blood. For someone to say that no man could handle her at the age of twelve...... well, let's just say her line has carried on very well in her tradition. :)
Anyway, any information you would be willing to forward to enable me to
better know my grandmother would be so greatly appreciated. If you are
interested, I can have my father forward all the information he has on the
Stark connections on down to our current ancestors, as well as any copies of documents we might have. I am eager to learn of my grandmother and how she managed to be the strong-willed woman she was during such trying times. Again, thank you for your time and willingness to assist in any way possible.s
Sincerely,
Lori G
June 08 HOORAY FOR MARILLA Thank you for the information about Marilla Ricker (Link Free or Die). She's one of the area's most fascinating people. I often have my fifth grade students do biographical research on interesting people of the seacoast area. They are intrigued by Marilla Ricker and all she accomplished. Janice Roberts http://www.seacoastsearch.com/nhlinks/people/marillaricker/index.html June 07 AWK, MORE LEACHES! Hi there, My ggrandfather's family has some history going back to The Isles of Shoals, (The Babb family) I am creating a Family Tree and therefore noted the name of John Scribner Jenness, the author. Do you know if my ggrandmother was related to him? I have no information on her family. Her name was Abbie Priscilla Jenness b/ 1864 in Berwick, York, ME. She married Frank Herbert Edgar Leach (b/ Berwick 1860)in 1879 and the 5 children were: erley(male),Marne,Hazel,Bernice(my gmother) and Frank Kenneth. The children were all born in ME,NH or RI, before Abbie divorced Frank and married a Carver. I have little info on the Leach children. The family finally moved to CA. Abbie died in 1936, Frank in 1942, both in CA. My family was invited to the reunion of the Leach family in ME, but my dau is coming from VA at the same time so we can't make it. Any info or suggestions would be greatly apprecia! ted. Two more questions. Do you know if there is a Leach Island founded by James Leach and are the Leach families of NH related to the King James? I recently saw an article about the Leach Crest of three crowns. Pat Morris EDITOR’S REPLY: As per our form note to all similar requests, we DON’T do genealogical research. It takes forever. We can refer readers to web sites and paid researchers. In your case, however, we’ve been getting lots of Leach info from one of your relatives who is already doing a lot of this research. There is a Leach Island, yes. As to researching who is related to King James -- we’ll pass. June 07 STRIKE! STRIKE! STRIKE! 1970 Where can I get a video copy of the film documentary “Mayflowers” by Gary Anderson? Harry on AOL EDITOR’S REPLY: After you read our article (“Forgetting Abbie Hoffman”: As I Please) about the 1970 UNH student protest, just click on the picture of the burning T-Hall. That will take you to the page about the video and the the name of the video producer is listed there with info on buying the film. For more on the irascible publisher William Loeb of the Manchester Union Leader, click the bottom link to our special page on our old nemesis. http://www.seacoastnh.com/arts/please042200.html http://www.seacoastnh.com/arts/hoffman.html http://www.seacoastsearch.com/nhlinks/people/williamloeb/index.html June 07 TO MARRY ON THE SHOALS My fiancee and myself have spent a great deal of time in Kittery Maine (where we became engaged), as well as Portsmouth, NH. From there, we have admired the scenic views of the Isles of Shoals, and they hold a great deal of significance and sentimentality for us. We are planning on being married in or around next May (2002), and wanted to receive some advice/information as to holding a wedding ceremony and reception (max 60 people) especially on Star Island, White Island or any other of the Isles that are most suitable for this type of event, even if this type of function has not been held there previously. We have reviewed the steamboat option already, but would like to do something less conventional and special. We are willing to do whatever amount of preparation, arrangements, etc. ourselves that would be necessary to make this the most memorable event possible for us and for our guests. Any information or reference on this matter would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance for your time, and feel free to reply to this e-mail address with our anxiously awaited reply. Sasha and Josh in NYC EDITOR’S REPLY: Congratulations! Married on the island in May? Brrr. Could be rainy too. Only Star Island allows disembarking and only via the Steamship Company ferry. We've seen marriages take place on Star in the past, but are not sure about the rules and regs. Guests can only stay on the island if they are registered with an ongoing conference. There is no public hotel, no catering function, or other accomodations. Everything comes out on the boat and goes back the same day. All the islands are privately owned, and all Star arrangements would have to be made through the Star Island Corporation that owns the island and runs the conferences through their nonprofit organization in Portsmouth. Their web site is listed below. Let us know what you find out. We’re heading out to join 4,000 pairs of nesting seagulls on Smuttynose later this month, but those marriages are all civil ceremonies. http://www.starisland.org/ http://www.seacoastnh.com/shoals/faq.html June 07 PARASAILING UP IN THE AIR AT HAMPTON? I would like more information about the cost and times of parasailing at Hampton Beach. David Stewart EDITOR’S REPLY: This one threw us for a loop. We did a video with New England Parasail years back. Their phone number was listed on the homepage of the Hampton Chamber of Commerce web site, but when we called to check, the number was out of service. We found another number, called that, left a message and got no response. Then we called the Hampton Chamber who said they are no longer a member there and no one, to their knowledge, was offering a similar service. If anyone out there knows otherwise, let us know so we can repair out listing. http://seacoastnh.com/hamptonbeach/ June 07 GERMAN VIDEO OF WINDJAMMER? Good Day: I searched your site and many others, to try to see how to go about finding a copy of Windjammer: The Story of the Christian Radich, in your newsletter you said it wasn't on video, and I found a web site in Norway who had it on VHS in German, is it possible just to get a print of the movie and transfer it to tape, if so how would you suggest doing this, I tried the UCLA firm archive, any suggestions ? The reason for this quest is that I was born in 1959 and my parents named me Christian after the title of this movie. Christian Griffin EDITOR’S REPLY: Interesting idea. We’ve seen that web site too. Assuming the video is in PAL, which is a European counterpart to our NTSC video signal, it is possible to buy the video and to have it translated into a format that works on a standard USA video. The problem is that each time you copy a low-end VHS video, the quality deteriorates, so you would have a copy of a copy. It might work well enough to see the film, but you have to pay for both the tape and the transfer. We’ve seen companies charging everywhere from $10/hour to $200/hour for the transfer, so you’ll have to shop around. Meanwhile you might do better to simply go to eBay and buy a copy of the book of the movie. It is almost always online and usually sells for $5 to $10. It’s a great little book with tons of information about how Louis de Rochemont produced the film. The book is called: “Windjammer: The Voyage of the Christian Radich” (1958). The director was his son Louis III who, we believe is still living in Norway where the Windjammer began and ended it’s world tour – including a key stop in Portsmouth, NH, the director’s home town. We spoke the other day with a woman from a Chicago who met the director in Spain and traveled on the windjammer to the USA where she lives to this day! http://seacoastnh.com/louis/filmography.html June 05 NH DON’T GET NO RESPECT I am a United States History major at Penn State. This summer I am doing an internship with the National Park Service and their Boston National Historic Sites. As part of my internship I am working on a presentation for the end of the summer. My presentation topic is the raid of Fort William and Mary in 1774. Though your website has been helpful, I was curious as to where I might find the book done by Mr. Copley or any other sources which have a great deal of content about the raid. I wish to spread the word among the visitor's to the Bunker Hill Monument that New Hampshire contributed more to the Battle of Bunker Hill then just 900 men. Any information you have will greatly help me in doing the fort and the patriots of New Hampshire justice. Liz Covart EDITOR’S REPLY: We have a copy of the Copley pamphlet, a bicentennial project, but you don’t need to look beyond the Web. It appears that much or all of it is reproduced online by the UNH Library Special Collections dept. It isn’t easy to find without the right search parameters, but it is excellently done and extensive. Our coverage is also linked below and you’ll find a lot of info on Peter Payette’s web site Portsmouth Forts. http://www.izaak.unh.edu/specoll/exhibits/1774.htm http://www.seacoastnh.com/history/rev/willmary.html http://www.seacoastsearch.com/feature3.htm June 05 TOBIAS LIZARD LANGDON LEAR? Is this J. Dennis Robinson and if not...how do I get in touch with him. I can't tell you how much I enjoyed reading his 'Tobias, We are hardly knew ye'. I want to know more and read more from this most talented and gifted writer. Also, do you happen to know if Tobias Lear is a descendent of Tobias Lizard Langdon? David Langdon EDITOR’S REPLY: That name is a new one on us. Lizard? Tobias Lear V, secretary to George Washington, was descended from Tobias Lear IV, Tobias Lear III, etc, although there is a connection to the Langdon family. You’d have to pick up a copy of “The Checkered Career of Tobias Lear” to get the genealogy. As to more writing by JDR, you will find about 90 archived columns – more than anyone can ever want – under “As I Please”. Robinson’s weekly web site column is linked below too where you will find over 50 archived reviews. And not only is there an entire section on Tobias Lear, but there's a lot on the site about the Langdon Family too. (Use the SeacoastNH.com search engine for more.) http://www.seacoastnh.com/arts/please.html http://www.seacoastsearch.com/feature.htm http://www.seacoastnh.com/tobiaslear/index.html http://www.seacoastnh.com/framers/jlangdon.html June 05 RAH-RAH RALEIGH! I have questions about the frigate "The Raleigh" which is on the state seal and was built in Portsmouth. The Raliegh participated in the American Revolution. Do you know of any online sites or anywhere else that I could find information on this ship? I am interested in it's participation in the war and it's crew. Thank you for your time. Donna of Hampstead, NH FROM THE RANGER FOUNDATION: There is a three page treatment of the Continental Frigate RALEIGH in Howard Chapelle's book The American Sailing Navy, W.W. Norton, 1949; later re-printed by Bonanza, and widely available. This also includes detailed plans of her, drafted by Chapelle from contemporary sources. There are also smatterings elsewhere.
The RALEIGH was one of 13 frigates authorized by the Continental Congress on Dec. 12, 1775, these assigned to be built in the various colonies with the hope of their being ready for sea by the last of March, 1776. The RALEIGH was assigned to Portsmouth, NH and was planned to mount 32 guns. Design plans for her did not reach her builders James Hackett, James Hill and Stephen Paul, however, until well after the contract. As a result, they had already started and completed their own plans, lofted the lines, made the moulds and started getting the timbers out before the official plans arrived; the actual detail plans therefore are attributed to William Hackett of Salisbury, MA. She was launched on May 21, 1776, having been "built" in sixty working days. After rigging and fitting out, she went to sea under Capt. Thomas Thompson (her inspector while building) and had a "rather inglorious" career under him and a later Captain John Barry. It's not clear how active she was, although many of the other new frigates were either never completed, were inadequately armed due to shortage of American-manufactured cannon, or simply suffered from poor officers with a lack of combat training. RALEIGH herself was elsewhere reported as languishing in Portsmouth harbor in mid-1777 due to
lack of proper cannon. RALEIGH was finally captured in September 1778, after being driven ashore by a superior British force. They pulled her off undamaged and she was taken into the Royal Navy as a 32-gun 12-pdr. frigate. Hence the contemporary Admiralty draughts of her, made soon after her capture. She was recorded then as measuring 131' 5" on the berth deck, 34' 5" beam, and 11' 0" depth of hold. She was condemned and sold out in July, 1783. That 5 year interval of service would indicate that she was a valued ship in the Royal Navy. -- Nathan Hazen, Ranger Foundation
June 04 POSTCARDS FROM NH My first grade classroom of 23 children has been involved in a 50 state post card project since returning to school winter break. We have yet to hear from 3 states: Delaware, New Hampshire, and Maine. Can you please send us something with 3 days? Our last day of school is June 7 . . . . even if it is just an e-mail. We want to know 2 things about your state. Mary Ann Rensch of Bloomington, MN EDITOR’S REPLY: Welcome students of Minnesota to sunny (in the summer) New Hampshire. Our state was founded in 1623, just three years after the Pilgrims arrived at our neighbor state of Massachusetts. Let’s see, our state flower is the purple lilac. The state is shaped like a triangle. We have the highest mountain (Mt. Washington) on the East coast which people say has “the worst weather in the USA”. We have a teeny seacoast of only 18 miles and only one port, Portsmouth, NH that is squeezed between Maine and Massachusetts. To see some postcards of New Hampshire and Maine, check out these pages: http://www.seacoastnh.com/postcards/pea/index.html http://www.seacoastnh.com/postcards/star/index.html http://www.seacoastnh.com/postcards/maine1/index.html June 03 OLD POSTCARD OF CANDIA I have an old, one cent, black & white photo postcard of the Candia Town Hall. The sky was colorized as well as the leaves on the trees. The photo has white borders, indicating the age, however it is unused so there is no postmark to accurately date it. My guess is between 1907 - 1915 since there is space on the address side for correspondence. The card is in very good condition. I am liquidating my philatelic collection, therefore it is for sale. If anyone is interested in this piece of early N.H. history, please contact me.
I really enjoyed your website. Someone did a lot of work and did a good job on it.
June 02 SEEKING SEACOAST WEDDING Dear Madame: We are planning to have our daughter's wedding in Southern Maine or Northern NH next summer and are looking for facilities that are available. Can you provide us with a list of facilities in your area that have wedding packages? Doreen in North Andover, MA EDITOR'S REPLY: We've assembled every single WEDDING-related web site we know onto SeacoastSearch.com. Just click on the Wedding link on the left hand margin and you'll know everything we know in seconds. http://www.seacoastsearch.com/ June 1 HAMPTON THEATER ALIVE ONLINE Have been unsuccessful at getting onto the Hampton Theater web site, is it just down or have they changed their links? Please advise, we are interested in their performances during June & July and are trying to schedule a vacation to coincide with the Playhouse offerings. Thanks! EDITOR'S REPLY: The Hampton Playhouse closed its doors for good last year and the old barn was recently torn down. But the NEW Hampton Summer Theater is alive and well at Winnacunnet with a summer series featuring Arlo Guthrie in concert and a ton of plays and music. We are just putting together a page of their events and here is a sneak preview of summer 2001. http://seacoastnh.com/actone/ |
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