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| READ OUR MAIL November 2001 Mailbag SeacoastNH.com |
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November 27 A FLOTILLA OF QUESTIONS, A ROWBOAT OF ANSWERS Hello. My name is Adam, and I am a student at Brandywine Heights High School. I am doing a report on Naval battles in the Revolutionary War, and I would like to ask you a couple of questions about Naval battles in the Revolutionary War. (1) Can you tell me where the battle of Yorktown was, what ships were involved in it, and why it marked the end of the Revolutionary War? (2) Can you tell me how many war ships the British had, and how many the 13 colonies had at the BEGINNING of the Revolutionary War? (3) Can you tell me how many war ships the British had, and how many the 13 colonies had at the END of the Revolutionary War? (4) Tell me what naval battle you think was the most important naval battle of the Revolutionary War, and why it was the most important? (5) Where did most of the naval battles in the Revolutionary War occur, in the 13 colonies or Europe? Adam of Brandywine EDITOR'S REPLY: Good letter, Adam. We get a lot of them, but our site is focused only on the seacoast region of New Hampshire where there have been no naval battles, ever. We do have a page with info on FOUR key US Naval battles that may interest you, and the link is below. The Web is an excellent place to get these answers, but most likely you'll have to draw the information out of existing web pages, or perhaps get personal answers from a "homework" site, though many of those charge a fee. Research takes a lot of pick-and-shovel work, and requires pulling together a lot of resources. We hope this one helps a little. http://www.seacoastnh.com/jpj/jpjcal.html http://www.seacoastnh.com/navyyard/index.html November 26 MEMORIES OF ODIORNE STONES My name is Tanya. I used to live in Porstmouth, NH When I was a little girl my mother brought me to a state park, I believe the name is Odien Point (please forgive the spelling). Anyway I saw a small cemetery in the middle of a bunch of trees. It was all fenced in. I was too young at the time to really be able to read the stones. I was wandering if there is anything recorded on it and if it was a family cemetery? I am looking forward to hearing from you. Tanya P of Clemont, Florida EDITOR’S REPLY: According to “Footprints in Time”, the walking guide to Odiorne State Park, there is an Odiorne family graveyard to the west of what was the farm house. The land, site of the first settlement in NH in 1623, was seized by the federal government in WW2 for a defensive base. It is now also the home of the Seacoast Science Center that has a great deal of history on the Odiorne family, including an ongoing display. The family still holds reunions there in what was their old stone cottage, now part of the museum. The book mentioned above is available from the gift shop there and on Amazon.com. We also have a number of related articles reprinted from Brewster’s Rambles online. SeacoastNH.com has about 50 references to the site and the family according to our on-site search engine. http://www.seacentr.org/ http://www.seacoastnh.com/brewster/2.html November 23 STUCK ON IRONSIDES RIGGING My research into the USS Constitution has brought me to our marvelous site and the old photographs of her. My question is, in all the photographs she is rigged to 'Royals' but I have a diagram of her rigged to 'Skysails' on all three masts. Was she so rigged at launch? Bryan Phillips of St. Ives, Cornwall, UK http://www.stivescornwall.fsnet.co.uk/ EDITOR'S REPLY: This one is really over our heads. We're just writers here. But here are the people to ask - the Ironsides Museum. http://www.ussconstitutionmuseum.org/ http://www.seacoastnh.com/ussconstitution November 23 PROVIDIENCE WANTS TO VISIT PORTSMOUTH Dear Folks at Portsmouth: The Providence Maritime Heritage Foundation, who are the operators of the Continental Sloop Providence, are planning a trip up the coast of New England this summer. We are looking at early July to begin and plan on being back in the Naragansette Bay by August. If your port is interested in hosting us please contact Adria at 401 274 7447. Also, please let me know of any festivals or events that we might be able to tap into. The Sloop Providence is a 110' fully rigged sailing reproduction
of Revolutionary War hero Captain John Paul John's first command and
among the first vessels of the United States Navy. During her
distinguished career, the 12-gun Providence sank or captured over 40
enemy ships. The best record in the young American navy! November 20 DEPOPULATING PORTSMOUTH I want to know roughly how many people live in the whole of Portsmouth. Sam of Southsea, Hants, UK EDITOR’S REPLY: We’ve only covered that story satirically, but if you dig though the following article, the stats are there. Remember, this is NH, not UK humor. Hope it works over there. http://www.seacoastnh.com/granitestatenose/01cat.html November 20 MORE ON PACIFIST ANDREW PEABODY Enjoyed your article about Andrew P. Peabody (As I Please: “Ain’t Gonna Study War”). Earlier this year my friend JDP gave me a copy of "A Memoir" of Andrew P. Peabody by Edward J. Young. In this memoir printed in 1896 is the same "mature" picture that is in your article. (He gave me the copy, as he is trying to preserve the original.) When I see JDP on Monday I will give him your web address so that he can read your article. I'm sure he will be interested. I look forward to every issue of your web site. Am really
interested in the early days of N. H. Especially since I am working
on my genealogy, but all history interests me. So many of the early
families moved to the area where I now live (Francestown.) I am
working on a project (that is slowly taking shape) with the
Historical Society here, to tie as many families together as we can.
Some people seem to think they are Really important, but if you
check the history, most of us come from the same stock.
November 18 PICTURING JPJ Are photographic reproductions available of the images in your John Paul Jones portrait gallery, in particular, #13. Please include price information if these images are purchasable. Thank you. Eric White of Pasadena, CA EDITOR'S REPLY: No, sorry. We have no prints for sale. Peter E. Randall (see BOOKS in SeacoastStore.com) has a very affordable collection of prints for sale on his web site, suitable for framing. And there are a couple of characters who sell a lot of JPJ reprints in Ebay if you simply type the words "John Paul Jones" into an exact word search there. The one you are looking for may have appeared in the MacKenzie biography in the mid 1800s, and that book is still available in old book sales on sites like Bibliofind.com, now owned by Amazon. If you have a spare $25, why not join the Portsmouth Historical Society's John Paul Jones House, and help preserve this Portsmouth landmark? http://seacoastnh.com/jpj http://www.seacoaststore.com November 18 IN SEARCH OF THE MORNING STAR While searching for my ancestors in New England, I came across a note describing an article that appeared in a Dover, New Hampshire newspaper on July 3, 1863 on a Mr. Amaziah Goodwin of Lyman, Maine who died on June 17 at the age or 100 years, 4 months & 1 day. I am wondering if this article may have appeared in The Morning
Star. Is there a local historical society who might be able to
research this for me? I have written to the state library, but have
not gotten a response. The Dover Library is missing the year 1863
from there microfilm collection. Any direction you may be able to
provide is greatly appreciated. November 15 NEW CHAMBER CHORUS EVENTS PAGE I would like to add the Seacoast Community Chamber Orchestra to your Hotlinks list.Our website is www.seacoastmusic.org. Please contact me if you need any more information. Thank you. Evelyn Laux, Concert Production Manager EDITOR'S REPLY: You're up an running. We're running this letter just to remind readers that this listing page, as well as SeacoastSearch.com, are FREE links for qualified web sites. All just part of the community service of SeacoastNH.com. You'll find the new Chorus link in the Events section and on our search engine. http://www.seacoastnh.com/events http://www.seacoastsearch.com November 14 SEACOASTNH KEEPS CT IN TOUCH I very much enjoyed your talk last night at ISHRA (See note below). I had to leave early to drive back to New Haven. As a former resident of Portsmouth, I find your site a great way to keepup and to enrich my understanding of this area. Richard T of New Haven, CT November 14 SAW YOU AT ISHRA! To editor J.Dennis Robinson: I just want to tell you that last night's ISHRA meeting was one the best I have attended in the 10 years of going to them! Your presentation (“Shoals TV: The Isles Meet the Modern Media”) was wonderful, captivating in so many ways… I am enjoying your web site. I was familiar with it before, but I am very limited with my computer skills. Linda Smith Hall http://www.seacoastnh.com/shoals/ishra.html November 13 ONA, THE BOOK? Is there a book by Evelyn Gerson about Ona? Fred P in Lake Wales, Florida EDITOR’S REPLY: We asked Evelyn who says there is currently nothing new on the manuscript – and she appreciates the inquiry. She is currently enrolled in the graduate program at UVA and says she barely has time to walk the dog. We’re hoping she will turn her attentions back to Ona and to publishing a book this summer. SeacoastNH.com is lucky enough to have a copy of the 267 page master’s degree thesis for extension studies at Harvard. The original title is: “Thirst for Complete Freedom: Why Fugitive Slave Ona Sudge Staines Never Returned to Her Master, President George Washington.” http://seacoastnh.com/blackhistory/ona.html http://seacoastnh.com/arts/ona.html November 13 LYNX ON THE WEST COAST? Will the Lynx be visiting Victoria and Vancouver on her journey up the West Coast. If so, approximate dates please. Thank you Ralph Smith of Victoria B.C. EDITOR’S REPLY: Good question. According to the Travel Log of the Lynx web site, they will be heading to “California and the West Coast of North America.” The details are still in the works, but you can certainly write to them via their web site and ask. Don’t forget to mention the coverage you saw in SeacoastNH.com! http://www.seacoastsearch.com/feature76.htm http://www.seacoastnh.com/navyyard/lynx2.html November 06 WHAT’S UP WITH OLD WENTWORTH? Hi, I am just checking on the Hotel to see if Ocean Properties have taken over the Hotel yet. I hope so, they are a good company. They have places here in Maine in Bar Harbor and take care of their investments. What is the problem anyway? I drove with a friend from Brewer Maine to see Wentworth by the Sea a few years ago. iIfell right in love with it. Of course I had a g-g-grandmother that was a Wentworth and have an interest in the family name. I know it was named after Gov. Bennington Wentworth. I guess being a family genealogist makes u appreciate history. Best regards, Brenda Hincks-M EDITOR’S REPLY: We’ve not been around the New Castle “loop” recently, but readers have sent us photos of the progress – the removal of The Ship and arrival of new materials. The new owners are now apparently moving ahead full steam with plans to rebuild the old hotel. We haven’t seen much in the papers and so have not often updated out WBS news page in the WBS history section, but rest assured construction is ongoing with, currently, a 2002 target date. It’s been a long 20 years here since the Smith Family closed the hotel and it began its deterioration. But the nonprofit group Friends of The Wentworth did their job by saving the hotel from the planned destruction of developers and by finding a company willing to carry on the traditions of this New Hampshire hotel. Yes, it is named for Benning, though there is no real Wentworth connection. But there is, still standing in Portsmouth – The Wentworth Coolidge Mansion and The Wentworth-Gardner mansion. Both are nonprofits that could use paying members. And there is the Mark Wentworth home, also an historic house, now a nursing home. http://www.seacoastnh.com/wentbysea/index.html http://www.seacoastnh.com/houses/index.html#1 November 06 ONE MORE WINNER I received a T-shirt and notice that I was one of your contest winners. Thank you so much. Love the shirt, and hope I can get to your area in the near future. Thank you for the contest and for choosing me as a winner. Joanne Stetka (jstet@hotmail.com) Joanne S in Yuba City, CA http://www.seacoastnh.com/contests/index.html November 06 MAKING UP COLONIAL BEDDING I have a few questions about colonial American bedding I was hoping you could answer: (1) Did wealthy colonial Americans have canopy beds with curtains around them? Why? (2) Why were the beds so far from the ground? Thank you VERY much for your time. ANY answers will be so appreciated!!!!! Ditzichic EDITOR’S REPLY: We’re going to “make up” an answer without even consulting our experts. Yes, draperies hanging around the beds of wealthy homeowners kept things warmer and more private. A superb example is on display at the Old York Historical Society in the Perkins House there on the second floor. Some beds, like the one at the Portsmouth Historical Society, were raised to allow for trundle beds below where children slept. The trundle bed could slide under the main bed during the day when not in use. Experts who know more, feel free to add data. http://www.seacoastnh.com/history/colonial/index.html November 05 MARRIAGE ON THE ROCKS, WE MEAN, BEACH I was curious to know if any of the New Hampshire Ocean Beaches allowed for weddings to be conducted on them? If so are there any sites I could have the names of for viewing of the options? Erica in Nashua, NH EDITOR’S REPLY: We don’t know of one, and have been planing to create something like that for ages. Hampton Beach is owned by the state of NH as is the little beach area at Odiorne State Park in Rye and Wallis Sands. We assume you have to wrestle with a state agency for permission here. The towns of Rye, Hampton, North Hampton, New Castle and Seabrook probably control the rest, but we’re unsure. Portsmouth has no beach, but we often see wedding parties in the park for photos. Best bet might be to contact some of the independent sites near the water like the Wentworth Coolidge Mansion in Portsmouth or the Cliff House in Cape Neddick. Check SeacoastSearch.com for our WEDDING links section as a starting point, and let us know what you learn. November 05 NOT CLAMBAKE, CRAM-BLAKE Seeking any information on the Cram, and Blake families in the Hampton Falls and Kensington areas also Charles Francis Wentworth born c.1855 died c.1905-10 architect first partner of Ralph Adams Cram. I am researching a book on Cram and would like to find out more about the Wentworth family. If you can help it would be most appreciated. Ethan of Hoyle Doran & Berry Inc, Boston (Formerly Cram, Goodhue & Ferguson) EDITOIR’S REPLY: We just can’t. We get a zillion genealogy requests and that work takes forever. We’ll send along our genealogy research email note, but for Hampton items, start with the Lane Library in Hampton. http://www.seacoastsearch.com/feature16.htm November 05 LOOKING FOR LINDBERGH We are visiting Portsmouth, NH this week end and would like a list of Restaurnats in Portsmouth. We have an old Harbor Guide but would like an update of Rest. We are told about a new restaurant called Lindbergh's Crossing. Would you e-mail me your updated list or fax it to me? Arlene G in CT EDITOR’S REPLY: We checked. Lingberg’s is listed on both our online DINING guide in SeacoastNH.com (under Fine Dining) and alphabetically in the dining section of SeacoastSearch.com, the largest online listing of seacoast eateries available anywhere. We’re told that the web site will be updated soon (since Ciento is no longer open), but the Lingberg link works and will give you all the info you need. We are totally an online list – open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. http://seacoastnh.com/dining http://www.seacoastsearch.com November 05 EXTREME SPORTS IN RYE? My name is Francis Broadbery and I am the webmaster for www.ryeairfield.com a new seacoast web site for an extream (sic) park that is under construction in Rye I would like to know how do we get listed with you guys.Thanks Francis Broadbery EDITOR’S REPLY: Links can be submitted to SeacoastSearch.com that now contains 2,100 local web sites. We would have added this link, but an address and/or phone in the seacoast area is required for free registration. We couldn’t find that info on the site. Good luck. http://www.seacoastsearch.com November 04 MORE ON APPLEDORE BUILDING Regarding reader letter of Nov 3 (scroll down) -- The Boat House in question was for Coast Guard Lifesaving Station on the island. It was not military. I do not have the date it was built, but it should be in one of the books on the Isles. It is correct that is was just like the one on White Island, and also several other places (Nubble, Boon, etc.). Pete Payette of PortsmouthForts.com November 03 OLD SHOALER REMEMBERS APPLEDORE I am an old shoaler who, years ago, spent alot of time on Appleore Island (and Star Island). This was before the Marine Lab was set up on Appledore. (Actually, as a Pelican working on Star Island in the early 70s I helped clear portions of Appledore for the building of the main hall where the food service is today). I am writing because I just found and reviewed your "TOUR OF APPLEDORE ISLAND" and noticed an interesting text beneath one image showing the area where the Appledore Hotel once stood. The text reads "We have no idea what this machine is, but it looks old." The machine in questions was once inside of a boat house that stood on that spot. As a teenager in the 60s, I used to play in that boat house. I believe the boat house was built in World War I by the military, but I am not sure of that. There are pictures of the Appledore House Hotel as it was burning down that can be found in books on the isles of shoals (i.e. ISLES OF SHOALS LEGEND AND LORE). The boat house is visible in some of those pictures. However, the boat house does not appear in older pre-World War I pictures of the hotel. The machine was used to pull a cable that was attached to the bow of boats being pulled out of the water and into the boat house. There used to be metal rails, much like railroad rails, that extended from the water into this boat house. The machine would pull on the cable and draw the boat along these rails into the boathouse. The White Island boat house (still standing, I think) had a
similar boat house and rails. Perhaps you don't care about such
information, but I thought amateur archeologists on the island might
find that tidbit of information interesting. Thank you for putting
such a wonderful website together. I really appreciated it. November 02 AIN'T WE QUAINT? We are looking for a town to walk around that is really quaint and a B & B that is cozy with a room with a fireplace and perhaps a person tub...Can you help us? Kymothee EDITOR’S REPLY: We’re not too fond of that word “quaint” since we live here in the same 21st century as the not-quaint people, but it may apply if you’re from a big city or a modern town. Portsmouth is a great walking town with plenty of walking tours and B&B’s but it is a city of 20,000 people. Is that still quaint? If not, try Exeter, even quainter and very walkable. York, Maine is a good choice, and of course, we just came back from Tamworth, which is really, really quaint. We suggest our LODGING guide, of course, but you can contact any of the local chambers for guides to their paying members. http://www.seacoastnh.com/touring/lodging.html http://www.seacoastnh.com/business/cofc.html http://www.seacoastnh.com/dct/tamworth.html http://www.seacoastsearch.com |
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