Dunbarton New Hampshire’s Statistician, Educator, Economist, U.S. Commissioner of Labor: Carroll Davidson Wright, A.M., Ph.D., LL.D. (1840-1909)

Posted on 22 March, 2007 by Janice Brown

Carroll Davidson Wright, was born in Dunbarton NH, in 1840, the son of a Universalist minister.

Massachusetts State Senator Carroll Davidson Wright (1840-1909) from the State Library of Massachusetts

Massachusetts State Senator Carroll Davidson Wright (1840-1909) from the State Library of Massachusetts

From lowly means he began his education studying law, leaving school to enlist in the army during the Civil War.  His continuing academic education included A.M., LL.D., Tufts University, Ph.D., Dartmouth College, and LL.D., Wesleyan and Clark universities. He was an honorary professor of social economics at Catholic University of America, and Professor of statistics and social economics, school of comparative jurisprudence and diplomacy, Columbia University 1900.

He was chief of the Massachusetts Bureau of Statistics of Labor (the first such bureau) from 1873 to 1888. Then he served as the first United State’s commissioner of the Bureau of Labor (from 1884 to 1902), the forerunner of the U.S. Department of Labor.

He was a renowned expert of “labor statistics,” a skill which he honed during his thirty-two

Photograph from Carroll Davidson Wright, A Memorial by Horace G. Wadlin, 1911

Photograph from Carroll Davidson Wright, A Memorial by Horace G. Wadlin, 1911

years of government service (1873-1905). He wrote several books about the industrial revolution in the United States and labor issues.  He was president of Clark College [now called Clark University] in Worcester MA from 1902 until his death in 1909.  President Theodore Roosevelt delivered the commencement address for the college’s first public commencement ceremony.

Janice

Carroll Davidson Wright, A Memorial by Horace G. Wadlin, 1911

–Wikipedia: Carroll Wright–

-Booklet: The Slums of Baltimore, Chicago, New York and Philadelphia-

–The Origin of the U.S. Department of Labor–

– Bibliography of the Writings of Hon. Carroll D. Wright, 1874-1908 (September 1, 1909)

– The Life and Work of Carroll Davidson Wright: Fifth President of the American Statistical Association (June 1, 1909)

Address of Carroll D. Wright, President of the American Statistical Association, at its Annual Meeting in Boston, Jan. 17, 1908 (March 1, 1908)

*********GENEALOGY OF CARROLL DAVIDSON WRIGHT*********

Dea. John Wright, b. abt 1601 in Suffolk, England. He d. 21 June 1688 in Woburn, Middlesex Co MA. He married abt 1630 in England to Priscilla Byfield. She b. 1613 in Suffolk, England and d. 10 Apr 1687. He was a first settler of Woburn MA, subscribed the “Town Orders” (at Charlestown) Dec. 18, 1640; selectman of Woburn 1645-47, 1649-58, 1660-64, 1670, 1680-81; commissioner of the rate 1646, 1671; deacon of Woburn Church from Nov 10, 1664 to his death [from Sewall’s Woburn]
Children of John & Priscilla (Byfield) Wright:
1. +John Wright, b. abt 1630 in England
2. Joseph Wright, b. abt 1631; m. Elizabeth Hassell
3. Priscilla Wright, b. abt 1640
4. Ruth Wright, b. 23 Apr 1646 in Woburn, Middlesex Co MA; m. Jonathan Knight
5. Deborah Wright, b. 21 Jan 1648/49 Charlestown, Middlesex Co MA
6. Sarah Wright, b. abt 1651-1653 Woburn, Middlesex Co MA; m. Joshua Sawyer

John Wright, son of John & Priscilla (Byfield) Wright, b. 1630 in England, and d. 30 Apr
1714 in Woburn, Middlesex CO MA. He with other members of the Woburn church was presented by the grand jury of Middlesex for refusing communion with that church in 1671. He was called “Senior.” He was a selectman of Woburn MA in 1690 and thithingman of the town for “Boggy Meadow End” in 1692. His will dated May 24, 1701 proved Nov 11, 1714 names wife Abigail, sons John Jr., Joseph and Ebenezer, and daughters Ruth Butterfield, Priscilla Wright, Deborah Wright and Lydia Wright.  He married 10 May 1661 in Woburn MA to Abigail Warren, daughter of Arthur & Mary Warren. She b. 27 Oct 1640 in Weymouth, Middlesex Co MA, and d. 6 Apr 1726 in Chelmsford MA.
Children of John & Abigail (Warren) Wright:
1. +John Wright, b. 10 June 1662 in Chelmsford, Middlesex Co. MA
2. Joseph Wright, b. 14 Oct 1663 Chelmsford MA; m. Elizabeth Hassell, had issue
3. Ebenezer Wright, b. 11 Nov 1665 Chelmsford MA
4. Jacob Wright, b. 2 July 1667 Chelmsford MA; d. 22 Jan 1746-47, aged 73
5. Abigail Wright, b. 23 June 1668 Chelmsford MA
6. Ruth Wright, b. 1670 Chelmsford MA; m. Jonathan Butterfield and d. 11 Jan 1754, aged 80.
7. Priscilla Wright, b. 3 Dec 1671 Chelmsford MA; m. Samuel Damon 7 May 1707.
8. Josiah Wright, b. 10 March 1672/73 Chelmsford MA; m. Ruth Carter 17 Sep 1700, had issue.
9. Deborah Wright, b. 21 Nov 1678 Chelmsford MA
10. Samuel Wright, b. 11 May 1683 Chelmsford MA
11. Lydia Wright, b. 23 Nov 1686 Chelmsford MA; m. Giles Roberts 11 Nov 1724.

John Wright, son of John & Abigail (Warren) Wright, was b. 10 June 1662 in Chelmsford, Middlesex Co MA and d. 13 Oct 1730 in Westford, Middlesex Co MA.  He m. 13 Apr 1692 in Chelmsford MA to Mary Stevens, daughter of John & Elizabeth Stevens. She b. 1672 in Chelmsford MA. He m. 2nd about 1702 in Middlesex Co. MA to Hannah Fletcher, daughter of Samuel & Margaret Fletcher. She b. 14 Sep 1666 in Chelmsford MA.
Children of John & Mary (Stevens) Wright:
1. Jacob Wright, b. 1692 Chelmsford MA
2. Ebenezer Wright, b. 17 Dec 1693 Chelmsford MA
3. Edward Wright, b. 13 May 1695 Chelmsford MA
4. +Jacob Wright, b. 21 Jan 1697/98 Chelmsford MA
5. Henry Wright, b. 10 Jan 1699/1700 Chelmsford MA
6. John Wright, b. 23 Oct 1701 Chelmsford MA
7. Mary Wright, b. 23 Oct 1701 Chelmsford MA
Children of John & Hannah (Fletcher) Wright:
8. Hannah Wright, b. 2 June 1704 in Westford MA
9. Thomas Wright, b. 27 Sep 1707 in Chelmsford MA
10. Simeon Wright, b. 1710 in Westford MA

Jacob Wright, son of John & Mary (Stevens) Wright, b. 21 Jan 1697/98 in Chelmsford,
Middlesex Co MA and d. 25 Nov 1761 in Westford MA. He married in Westford MA to Abigail Harwood. She b. in 1699, and d. 30 Nov 1761.
Children of Jacob & Abigail (Harwood) Wright:
1. Ruth Wright, b. 13 June 1721 Westford, Middlesex Co MA
2. John Wright, b. 7 Sep 1723 Westford MA
3. Ephraim Wright, b. abt 1724-1726 Westford MA
4. Mary Wright, b. 4 March 1726-27 in Westford MA
5. Sarah Wright, b. 3 Apr 1730 in Westford MA
6. +Jacob Wright, b. 20 Sep 1732 in Westford MA
7. Pelatiah Wright, b. 8 Sep 1734 in Westford MA
8. Joseph Wright, b. 25 Sep 1736 in Westford MA
9. Benjamin Wright, b. 31 Oct 1738 in Westford MA

Jacob Wright, son of Jacob & Abigail (Harwood) Wright, was b. 20 Sep 1732 in Westford, Middlesex Co MA and d. 22 Aug 1771 in Westford MA. He m. 11 Sep 1755 in Westford MA to Lucy “Luce” Butterfield, daughter of William & Bathsheba (Shepard) Butterfield. She b. 22 Aug 1731 in Westford MA.
Children of Jacob & Lucy (Butterfield) Wright:
1. Lucy “Luce” Wright, b. 7 Nov 1756 in Westford, Middlesex Co MA
2. +Col. Jacob Wright, b. 9 Dec 1758 in Westford MA
3. Abraham Butterfield Wright, b. 6 Dec 1760 Westford MA
4. Olive Wright, b. 9 Nov 1762 Westford MA
5. Lavisa Wright, b. 12 July 1764 Westford MA
6. Naomi “Naomy” Wright, b. 15 May 1766 Westford MA
7. Ziba Wright, b. 22 July 1770 in New Boston NH
8. William Wright, b. 25 Oct 1771 in Westford MA [born after his father’s death]

Colonel Jacob Wright, a son of Jacob & Lucy (Butterfield) Wright. He was born 9 Dec 1758 in Westford, Middlesex Co MA. The History of Washington, Sullivan Co NH indicated he was “a native of Westford MA in 1758.” He died 10 July 1844 in Washington NH. At the age of sixteen he entered the Revolutionary army as a substitute for the man for whom he was employed. After his term of service expired, he re-enlisted and, including his first term of service, was engaged five years fighting the battles of his country. In 1783 he removed to Washington NH, having resided a short time previously at Hancock NH. He settled on the high land in Washington NH south of Ashuelot Pond. He resided in Washington NH until he died in 1844. He was the father of four children. Many of his descendants fill position of eminence and responsibility. He married 10 March 1785 in Washington NH to Patty Reed. She b. 1756 and d. 22 April 1830 age 74. He married 1830 to Elizabeth Howard. She b. 1761 in Marlborough MA, and d. 2 March 1848 age 87 yrs. He married 2nd, Nov 1830 in Washington NH to Elizabeth Howard Davis. She b. in Fitzwilliam NH and d. 2 March 1848 in Washington NH. SEE listing of Washington NH graves in the “old cemetery.”
Children of Jacob & Patty (Reed) Wright:
1. +Dr. Nathan Wright, b. 18 Feb 1786; became a physician and practiced many years in Washington NH but finally removed to Cambridgeport MA where he died in 1853.
2. Jacob Wright, b. 16 March 1788 in NH, and d. 15 Apr 1873 age 85. He married Mary –. She b. 1783 and d. 15 Feb 1867 age 84. Both buried in Washington NH.
3. ?Peter Wright [father of Charles]
4. ?Reuben Wright

Dr. Nathan Wright, son of Col. Jacob & Patty (Reed) Wright, b. 18 Feb 1786; d. 17 July 1853 Cambridgeport MA; physician; he married 1806 to Betsey Lowell, ?dau of Simon & Betsey Lowell of Washington NH. She b. 1782 and d. 11 Oct 1863, age 81. Both buried in Old Cemetery, Washington NH.  They are both buried in the “Old Cemetery” in Washington NH.
Children of Nathan & Betsey (Lowell) Wright[may be more ch]:
1. Betsey Wright, b. Oct 1808 Washington, Sullivan Co NH; m. Hiram Chaffee
2. +Nathan Reed Wright, b. 1810 NH.
3. Martha Reed Wright, b. abt 1817 NH; living with her parents in Washington NH in 1850.

Rev. Nathan Reed Wright, son of Dr. Nathan & Betsey (Lowell) Wright, was born abt 1810 in NH and d.  1 March 1893 at Lynn, Essex Co. MA. He was a Universalist Minister. He preached in Dunbarton NH and Hooksett NH four years, and in 1843 became pastor of the Universalist Church at Washington NH where he remained some years. Although advanced in age he engaged in pastoral work at Lynn MA, being pastor of a parish containing four hundred and fifty families. He married by 1837 to Eliza Clark, daughter of Jonathan & Betsey (Davidson) Clark. She was b  1809 in Washington NH and d. May 2, 1881 in Lynn MA; buried with her husband in Pine Grove Cemetery, Lynn MA.
————
1850 United States Federal Census > New Hampshire > Sullivan > Washington
Nathan R. Wright 40 M Universalist Clergyman 1200 NH
Elisa C. Wright 41 F NH
Lucius B. Wright 13 M NH
Carroll D. Wright 9 M NH
Charlotte L. Wright 8 F NH
Wm. K. Wright 5 M NH
Wallace W. Wright 3 M NH
————
U.S. Census > 1860 United States Federal Census > New Hampshire > Cheshire > Swanzey
Nathan R. Wright 50 M Univ Clergyman 2000/600 NH
Eliza Wright 57 F NH
Carroll Wright 19 M NH
Charlotte Wright 18 F NH
William Wright 16 M NH
Wallace Wright 13 M NH
————
Children of Nathan R. & Eliza (Clark) Wright:
1. Lucius B. Wright, b. 25 November 1936 in Washington NH, died 30 Sep 1913 at Everett, MA; buried Wildwood Cemetery in Winchester MA; he married 18 Apr 1861 in Walpole, Cheshire Co. NH to Mary A. Watkins, daughter of William & Susan (Royce) Watkins.
2. +Carroll D. Wright, b. 25 July 1840 NH
3. Charlotte L. Wright, b. abt 1843 in Hooksett, NH and died 11 Apr 1904 in Woburn, Middlesex, Co. MA; she married 31 Oct 1877  in Woburn MA to Richard S. White, son of Richard & Sarah B. Wright, who survived her; buried 13 April 1904 at North Hampton NH.
4. William K. Wright, b abt 1845 NH
5. Wallace W. Wright, b. abt 1848 Washington NH; d. 18 January 1884, recorded at Lynn MA. He married 25 November 1873 at Chatham MA to Catherine D. Hall daughter of Hiram and Sally Hall.  She was born abt 1853 in Dennis MA. They both died during the ocean disaster to Steamer City of Columbia off Gay Head, MA.  The body of Wallace’s wife Catherine (Hall) Wright was not recovered.
6. Ella E. Wright, b. 30 Sep 1850; d. 11 June 1858, age 7 yr 3m 11 d.; buried Old Cemetery, Washington NH

Carroll Davidson Wright, son of Nathan R. & Eliza (Clark) Wright was born 25 July 1840 at Dunbarton, Hillsborough Co., NH and died 20 Feb 1909 in Worcester MA. He was the third of seven children and was educated in the local public schools.  He later studied law while working as a school teacher to pay his way.  In 1862 he left school and he enlisted as a Lieutenant 2nd Class on 15 September 1862 at the age of 22, commissioned in Company C, 14th Infantry Regiment New Hampshire on 9 October 1862. He was promoted to Full Lieutenant 1st Class on 20 September 1863 (1st Lieut & Adjutant), and promoted to Full Colonel on 06 December 1864. He received a disability discharge Company C, 14th Infantry Regiment New Hampshire on 18 March 1865. During Gen. Philip H. Sheridan’s Shenandoah Valley campaign, he served as the general’s adjutant. When the war ended, he returned to New Hampshire and finished his law studies. He then moved to Massachusetts, set up his law practice, and was elected to the Massachusetts Senate in 1872.  In 1873 he took charge of Massachusett’s Bureau of Statistics of Labor, and also headed the 1875 Massachusetts census. He was the first commissioner of the federal Bureau of Labor. He developed a bureau of economic research studying labor movements.  He was one of the members of the committee that investigated the Pullman Strike of 1894, and on a commission during the Anthracite Strike of 1902. He served as the president of the American Statistical Association. He taught and lectured at several universities including Harvard, John Hopkins, Dartmouth and Vassar. He published over 350 titles. He married 1 Jan 1867 in Reading MA to Caroline Elizabeth “Carrie” Harnden, dau of Sylvester & Mary E. (Sherman) Harnden.  She was b. 6 Nov 1841 in Reading, Middlesex Co MA. Carrie survived him.
————
1870 United States Federal Census > Massachusetts > Middlesex > Reading
Hamden, Sylvester 66 M W Cabinet Manufacturer 25000 2000 Mass
Hamden, Mary E. 58 F W Keeping House 12000 NH
Hamden, Mary F. 36 F W at home Mass
Wright, Carroll D. 29 M W Lawyer NH
Wright, Caroline E. 28 F W at home Mass
Hamden, Edward A. 13 M W at school Mass
Kelley, Hannah 30 F W Domestic Servant Ireland
————–
U.S. Census > 1880 United States Federal Census > Massachusetts > Middlesex > Reading > District 373
Wright, Carroll W M 39 lawyer NH NH NH
Wright, Caroline E. W F 38 wife keeping house MA MA NH
Wright, Cornelia W F 9 daughter MA NH MA
Wright, Grace D W F 5 daughter MA NH MA
Harnden, Mary E W F 68 mother-in-law NH NH NH
Harnden, Mary F. W F 46 sister-in-law MA MA NH
Campbell, Flora W F 26 servant Nova Scotia, Scotland, Scotland
———–
1900 United States Federal Census > District of Columbia > Washington > Washington >
District 59
Wright, Carroll D. Head W M July 1840 59 married 33 yrs NH NH NH
Wright, Caroline E wife W F Nov 1841 58 married 33 yrs 2 ch 2 living MA MA MA
Wright, Grace D. dau W F Dec 1874 25 single MA NH MA
Harnden, Mary F. sister-in-law W F Aug 1833 66 single MA MA NH
Christian, Octavia servant black F July 1872 27 single VA VA VA
————
Children of Carroll D. & Caroline E. (Harnden) Wright:
1. Cornelia Harnden Wright, b. 8 Dec 1870 in Reading MA; She m. 8 Sep 1897 at Marblehead MA to John Bruce McPherson, age 33 of Gettysburg PA. He was an attorney, b. in Washington DC, son of Edward & Anne D. (Crawford) McPherson. In 1910 they were living in Cambridge MA. That census shows 1 ch 1 next to her name, but no child mentioned by name. The 1910 census shows them living in Brookline MA, and includes a son, Carroll W. McPherson, age 19 single b. MA [making him born about 1891 in MA]. In 1930 Carroll was boarding in Buffalo, Erie Co PA, a newspaper editor. He is Carroll Wright McPherson b. 24 Aug 1900 in Brookline MA and d. 20 Oct 1989 in Buffalo NY.
2. Grace Duncan Wright, b. 1875 Reading MA; she married in 25 March 1908 in Worcester MA to Samuel Paul Capen, son of Elmer H. & Mary L. (Edwards) Capen.

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New Hampshire: When Bethlehem Met the Brazilian Beauty

Posted on 20 March, 2007 by Janice Brown

Back in 1954 Bethlehem New Hampshire held an event called the Sunfire Festival.  Someone had the brilliant idea to invite an attractive Brazilian lady named Maria Marta Hacker Rocha (who was runner up that year in the “Miss Universe” contest) to be queen of the festival.

She accepted, and arrived in New Hampshire. Her sister, Mrs. Lucy Bernard of Revere, Massachusetts acted as interpreter for Maria, who spoke little English.  George T. Noyes of Bethlehem (who was a member of the Governor's Council from 1951-1953) was using her appearance to promote the locations of Bethlehem, Grafton County, and New Hampshire.

She also attended a luncheon at the Eagle Hotel in Concord, New Hampshire where she was introduced to various state officials, and the press.  There she “got a big kiss from Atty. Gen. Louis C. Wyman, official greeter for the occasion,” and was crowned by Governor Hugh Gregg.

Miss Brazil had lost the Miss Universe contest to Miriam Stevenson of the USA. As Catalina was the major sponsor of the pageant in its early years, the tie-breaking judgment finally came down to who has the better body. One of the judges disclosed that it was Miss Brazil's “bulging hips” which cost her the crown although her face was said to have been “the most gorgeous in the contest”. 

At least Martha Rocha got something–a Queen of the Sunfire Festival Crown, a “Whooper Award, and the car that Stevenson won in her Miss USA prize package as a consolatory prize.

Janice

*Additional Reading*

–Bethlehem NH Events–

-Defining a “national type:” Brazilian beauty contests in the 1920s-

–Martha Rocha Photographs–

-Newspaper Photograph & Article Showing Gov. Hugh Gregg Crowing Maria Rocha-

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New Hampshire’s First State Park: Miller State Park

Posted on 18 March, 2007 by Janice Brown
Likeness of James Miller from "Makers of Arkansas," by John Hugh Reynolds, 1905

Likeness of Brig. General James Miller from “Makers of Arkansas,” by John Hugh Reynolds, 1905

New Hampshire’s first state park was created in 1891. In that year the New Hampshire state legislature enacted laws appropriating $3,000 to aid in the construction of a road to the summit of Pack Monadnock, on the condition that owners of property located on the summit dedicate their properties to the public, to be used as a public park and pleasure ground.

Charles F. Melendy (2 acres) and Austin A. Spofford (1 acre) deeded a total three-acre tract of land on the summit of South Pack Monadnock B.P. Cheney in trust, “to be forever kept as a public park or pleasure ground for public use, and to be known as the General James Miller Park, in memory of the late General James Miller.” The genealogies of both of these philanthropic men can be found below. Continue reading →

Posted in Genealogy, History, Irish in New Hampshire, New Hampshire Men, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Cow Hampshire: Celebrating One Year of Blogging About New Hampshire

Posted on 16 March, 2007 by Janice Brown

Yes, a year has really passed since I first started blogging. I’m celebrating this event by drinking an extra glass of milk today, heh, heh.

Although most of my blog visitors hail from locations within the territorial United States, I have noted guests from intriguing places such as Bons-Tasilly, Basse-Normandie France; Ulaanbaatar Mongolia; Bangalore, Karnataka India; Mordialloc, Victoria, Australia; Fung Wong Village, Hong Kong; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Nutts Corner, Antrim, United Kingdom, Seoul, Seoul-t’ukpyolsi Korea, and Whitehorse, Yukon Territory.

Even some of the home towns of my American visitors sound exotic, such as Ronkokoma, New York; Village of Nagog Woods, Massachusetts; and Flower Mound, Texas.

During the past six months, the most popular article has been “New Hampshire’s Native Americans: Hiding in Plain Sight,” with “Manchester New Hampshire’s Marine Corps Iwo Jima Flag Raiser, Rene Arthur Gagnon (1925-1979)” coming in  at a close second.  The most popular article about a woman was regarding Tasha Tudor.

I’ve pretty much resisted the urge to jump on the political bandwagon in order to raise my blog’s popularity–I include links to NH political blogs of various parties even if I don’t agree with them; I don’t normally mention politics or politicians (except for here,  here, and here), unless they are dead politicians.

I’ve stayed on topic (New Hampshire history or genealogy) except for a few side steps  into the realm of blonde bombshells (aka Anna Nicole Smith), and the World of Wii.

Reasons For Me to Celebrate Cow Hampshire’s Success:

1. The number of daily visitors has almost doubled in six months (and probably would have been higher if I hadn’t used naughty words).

2. I am not running out of topics to write about. Upcoming articles will include information about additional NH slanguage words (such as spiffy); glossary words (lithobolia, lamprey, and whetstone); missing places (Gosport and Pannaway); interesting New Hampshire people you’ve probably never heard of (Jack McQuesten, and Alice Ericson Cosgrove), and several surprising topics that will remain a mystery for now.

3. Google and other major search engines are regularly indexing my blog. When my blog topics are used as search keywords, the results often list my blog articles as one of their top ten resources.

My original goal for this blog was to make history interesting and fun for my readers.  I  believe I’ve accomplished this.  Perhaps the most unforeseen benefit of blogging has been the new friends I have made.   I am grateful to those who consistently support my blogging efforts by reading and posting here.

[Apologies… I appreciate everyone who has ever commented here, but for brevity’s sake I am limiting the “friends links” below to frequent, recent commenters (during the last 3 months), or those who often mention me on their own blogs. They are all  top-notch bloggers or writers, so I heartily encourage you to visit them.]

— Chris Dunham of The Genealogue, and All Things Maine.
— David Brooks of Granite Geek.
— Ernesto Burden of Ernesto Burden.
— Omnipotent Poobah of Omnipotent Poobah.
— Amy Kane of Atlantic Ave.
— Paul Sand of Pun Salad.
— Ken Young of Kenyo Of Pensacola.
— The blog owner of New Hampshire State of Mind.
— TJ of Better Living Through Chemistry.
— Ron Cillizza of seventwentythree, and Dujour Photographs.
— El Sherman of, well, B. Elwin Sherman.

I’m always looking for interesting topics to blog about, so if you have a burning question,  ask away.  If you are wondering about my choice of photographs, the one shown in this blog entry was taken in 1959.  I’m the skinny little girl on the right. My grandmother Addie stands behind me, and my twin sister Kathi is to my right.  We are standing in front of one of the “warping mirrors” as we are visiting Pine Island Park, a mainstay of Manchester NH entertainment at that time. Unfortunately this park is no longer in existence, nor are the two beloved people who appear in the photograph with me.

Best Wishes,
Janice

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New Hampshire St. Patrick’s Day 2007

Posted on 14 March, 2007 by Janice Brown

For those of you visiting here to learn about 2008 St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in New Hampshire….  First be aware that normally St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated on March 17th.  For this year (only) the Catholic church changed the date to March 15th so it would not conflict with Holy Week…. 1.

–Manchester NH St. Patrick’s Day Parade (March 30, 12 noon)–

-St. Patrick’s Day at Mt. Sunapee Resort (March 17th)–

-St. Patrick’s Day Parade in South Boston (MA) on March 16–

*******************************************
Story for St. Patrick’s Day 2007

Begorrah! This Saturday is St. Patrick’s Day. Although New Hampshire has a varied ethnic heritage, among the prominent groups who early settled here are the Irish. Massachusetts claims the largest concentration of people of Irish ancestry in the United States with 24 percent. 19.4% of New Hampshire citizens say Irish is their leading ancestry group (Those of French-Canadian origin lead the way in New Hampshire with 25.2%).


Photograph of my mother, Mary Manning & her grandfather,
Patrick J. Ryan taken about 1922. The house to the far right in the background is
where Marty Quirk grew up.

My maternal grandfathers were both of Irish origin.  Although Charles A. Manning was born in Manchester, his father Thomas Manning [spelled “Mannion” in Ireland] immigrated to Manchester in the mid 1800s from County Galway, and worked as a fireman while his wife Mary (Lyons) ran a boarding house on Lowell Street, below St. Joseph Cathedral.  Charles was a long-time chauffeur for a completely different Manning family of North Elm Street in Manchester. He started out driving horse-drawn carriages, and then drove one of the first automobiles in New Hampshire.  My other grandfather, Patrick J. Ryan, was born in Limerick County Ireland, and at the age of 14 immigrated with his parents to upstate Vermont. He was a Civil War veteran who later moved to Manchester NH. There are many in New Hampshire who can tell similar stories.


My grandparents, Charles A. Manning, his wife Addie C. (Ryan) Manning;
great-aunt Nellie Ryan, uncle Robert Manning, and cousin Maurice Cronin, in front of their house in southeast Manchester (NH) about 1928.

Parades and parties will be held throughout New England.  You don’t need to drive far, fight the traffic and go crazy looking for parking.  Right here on March 17th, is the Manchester NH St. Patrick’s Parade, which will start on Elm Street, at the intersection of Salmon, and continue down Elm to Auburn Street (near the Radisson Hotel aka Center of NH).  This event will begin at 12 noon.

The 2007 Manchester Parade’s Grand Marshal is none other than Marty Quirk, the famed NH Irish singer. (Oh, I hear his name is Martin, but no one I know ever called him that). I grew up in a house that stood a few yards away from Marty’s parent’s home (if you looked out our kitchen window, you couldn’t help but see his house). His older sister Eileen was closer to my age.  He was a nice kid, and not particularly “pesky” as younger brothers sometimes can be. Marty’s grandfather apparently left Castlebar, County Mayo, Ireland to pursue a career with the Manchester Police Department.

Back in the 1950s and 60s, the annual St. Patrick’s Day Concert was held in the Practical Arts Auditorium each year in Manchester. It was traditional for students from the Catholic schools to participate.  Being a twin, my sister and I were several times enticed to participate and sing duets.  I remember one year they wanted us to sing about an Irishman who got drunk and sat on his children.  My mom protested, bless her heart, and instead we ended up grouped with several other children singing a Candyland song and holding giant lollipops. We got to keep the pops, so it worked out for the best.

**Some Famous New Hampshire Irish**

1. Richard (Dick) and Maurice McDonald, born in Manchester NH; founders of McDonald’s (fast food) Restaurants
2. Matthew Thornton, born 1714 in Northern Ireland, he became a physician, and was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence from New Hampshire. He is buried in Merrimack NH.
3. Carroll Purinton Reed, born in Boston MA of Irish origin; resided Conway NH; started the Carroll Reed line of clothing; promoter of the skiing and the ski industry in New Hampshire.
4. Tasha Tudor aka. Starling (Burgess) McCready, illustrator, author; lived in Webster NH for 26 years, raising her family there.
5. Rose (Cushing) Labrie, Artist and Writer, born in Boston MA, resided in Rye NH.
6. Irish born, Augustus Saint-Gaudens, famous sculptor, lived and worked in Cornish NH from 1885 until 1907.
7. The potato–believed to have first been planted in the United States at Londonderry NH, on the common in 1719.

Erin Go Braugh! (And don’t forget to wear something green)

Janice

P.S. Also see “Raising Your Pint to St. Patrick”.

Posted in Current Events, History, Irish in New Hampshire | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment