Gilmanton New Hampshire Serial Killer: Herman Webster Mudgett (1861-1896)

Posted on 20 May, 2006 by Janice Brown

Herman Webster Mudgett, using the alias of “Dr. H.H. Holmes” was the first “identified” American serial killer.

mudgett-hermanwebster

Photograph of Herman Webster
Mudgett aka H. H. Holmes.
From “The Holmes-Pitezel case,
a history of the greatest crime of
the century and of the search for
the missing Pitezel children,” by
detective Frank P. Geyer;
Philadelphia 1896

Reportedly this serial killer trapped, then tortured and murdered possibly hundreds of guests at a hotel he owned in Chicago, Illinois, and opened for the 1893 Columbian Exposition (World’s Fair).  An early edition of the Guinness Book of World Records lists him as “the most prolific murderer known in recent criminal history.” The Daily Republican (Illinois newspaper) called him the “Wickedest Man.” The North Adams (Massachusetts newspaper) called him “one of the cruelest and most heartless demons ever clothed in human form.”

One newspaper report indicates he may have had an “evil eye” as “it is a strange fact that a sinister fate has befallen many of those connected with his case.” Reportedly Dr. William K. Mattern, the coroner’s physician, who made an autopsy on Benjamin Pitzel (one of Howard’s victims), suddenly dropped dead, and Linford T. Biles, who was foreman of the jury in the trial was shocked to death by a live wire.

He attended medical school, then ran a drugstore in Chicago, Illinois, at the corner of 63rd and Wallace streets (possibly killing the original owner to obtain same, as she suspiciously moved leaving no forwarding address).  He built a hotel across the street for the upcoming 1893 Columbian Expedition. The bizarre three-story building of turrets and towers, hidden rooms, concealed stairways, trap doors, false walls and ceilings. The decor included an acid bath, a wooden slide that descended from the second floor to an iron vault in the basement. The basement itself housed a dissection table, lime pits, and a 3,000-degree crematorium. One full story of the buildings comprised over 100 window-less rooms which were soundproof and were fitted with gas lines that allowed him to asphyxiate his victims at any time he pleased. This building later became known as

"Murder Castle" built and used by H.H. Holmes to murder during the Chicago Exposition; Photograph From "The Holmes-Pitezel case, a history of the greatest crime of the century and of the search for the missing Pitezel children," by detective Frank P. Geyer; Philadelphia 1896

“Murder Castle” built and used by H.H. Holmes
to murder during the Chicago Exposition;
Photograph From “The Holmes-Pitezel case, a
history of the greatest crime of the century and
of the search for the missing Pitezel children,”
by detective Frank P. Geyer; Philadelphia 1896

“Murder Castle,” and “The Castle of Horrors.” In 1894, after the house had been burned and boarded up, Chicago police entered the building and found the remains of more than 200 corpses in the basement.  Mudgett originally confessed to 27 murders in interviews with newsmen, but later said he was only responsible for two.

“No Respite For Holmes. The Devil is Going to Get His Due,” The Boston Globe announced May 2, 1896, five days before he was hanged.

“I was born with the devil in me. I could not help the fact that I was a murderer, no more than the poet can help the inspiration to sing…I was born with the Evil One standing as my sponsor beside the bed where I was ushered into the world, and he has been with me since.” Mudgett aka Holmes wrote as he awaited execution. He was executed on May 7, 1896, at age 35, for the murder of Benjamin Pitezel.

His body was placed in a coffin which, as Holmes requested, was filled with cement, to protect his corpse from grave robbers. He was buried 8 May 1896 at Holy Cross Cemetery, Yeadon, Delaware Co. Pennsylvania.

Janice

Additional Reading:

– Herman Webster Mudgett –
– Holmes Memorabilia –
– Wikipedia on Mudgett –
– The Holmes-Pitezel case; a history of the greatest crime of the century and of the search for the missing Pitezel children – Geyer, Frank P; Lawrence J. Gutter Collection of Chicagoana; 1896

*****ANCESTRY OF Herman Webster Mudgett*****

Thomas Mudgett, son of Henry Mudgett, b. 1614 in County Essex or Middlesex England, d. 1663 [one rec says 1685/86] in Salisbury MA; m. 1663/64 in Salisbury MA to Anna Woreton of Salisbury MA.
Children of Thomas & Anna (Woreton) Mudgett:
1. +Thomas Mudgett, b. abt 1635 in Salisbury MA

>>>>>Next Generation<<<<<

Thomas Mudgett, son of Thomas & Anna (Woreton) Mudgett, was b. abt 1635 in Salisbury MA, and was baptized about 1701 in Exeter NH. He married 1st) 8 Aug 1664 in Salisbury NH to Sarah Clements, dau of Robert & Lydia (Drummer Clements). She b. abt 1626 in Ansley, Warwickshire England and d. Aug 1694 in Salisbury MA. He married 2nd 1695/96 in Salisbury MA to Ann (French) Longe, daughter of Joseph & Susanna (Stacy) French, and widow of Richard Longe of Salisbury MA.  She b. 10 March 1659 in Salisbury MA. After his death, his widow Ann married 3rd) aft 1713  to Alexander Magoon, who died 1731 in Exeter NH. Her first husband Richard Longe was killed 4 Sep 1694 near Haverhill while on his way to Amesbury MA by Indians.
Children of Thomas & Sarah (Clements) Mudgett:
1. Mary Mudgett, b. 30 Apr 1667 in Salisbury, MA; m. John Quinby, had issue
2. Temperance Mudgett, b. 10 Oct 1670 in Salisbury MA
Children of Thomas & Ann (French) Mudgett:
3. William Mudgett, b. 16 Oct 1696 in Salisbury MA; m. Dinah Davis, had issue; One child, Ebenezer Mudgett was famous for his involvement in Weare New Hampshire’s “Pine Tree Riot”
4. Thomas Mudgett III, b. 3 Jan 1698 in Salisbury MA; m. Elizabeth Smith, had issue
5. +John Mudgett, b. 17 Dec 1700 in Salisbury MA

>>>>>Next Generation<<<<<

John Mudgett, son of Thomas & Ann (French) Mudgett), b. 17 Dec 1700 in Salisbury MA, baptized 16 march 1701 in Salisbury MA, and d. 28 May 1746 in Brentwood NH. He married 1725 in Brentwood NH to  Susanna Scribner, dau of John & Elizabeth (Clayes/Cloice) Scribner.  She b. abt 1700 in Exeter NH and d. after 1758 in Brentwood NH. He was an early settler of Brentwood NH (a parish of Exeter NH at that time). He was one of the proprietors of Gilmanton NH where several of his sons were among the first settlers. His will was proved 28 May 1746 in Brentwood NH. He served in the colonial wars.
Children of John & Susanna (Scribner) Mudgett:
1. John Mudgett, b. 1730 Brentwood, Rockingham Co NH; m. Elizabeth Sanborne, had issue
2. Joseph Mudgett, b. abt 1731 Brentwood NH; m. Hannah Mead, had issue.
3. Benjamin Mudgett, b. abt 1732 Brentwood NH; m. Hannah Bean, had issue.
4. Susanna Mudgett, b. 5 March 1737 Brentwood NH; m. Gilman Lougee, had issue.
5. William Mudgett, b. Sep 1740 Brentwood NH; m. Tabitha Gordon, had issue.
6. Simeon Mudgett, b. 24 Nov 1742 in Brentwood NH; m. Mary Smith, had issue.
7. Samuel Mudgett, b. abt 1744 in Brentwood NH; m. Mary –; had issue.
8. +Edward Scribner Mudgett, b. Aug 1745 in Brentwood NH

>>>>>Next Generation<<<<<

Edward Scribner Mudgett, son of John & Susanna (Scribner) Mudgett, b. Aug 1745 in Brentwood NH, and d. 5 Feb 1826 in Gilmanton NH. He married 1 Jan 1770 in Loudon NH to Sarah Smith, dau of Richard & Mary (Hardy) Smith. She b. 21 June 1749 in Exeter NH and d. Aug 1832 in Gilmanton NH. They moved to Gilmanton NH in March of 1771.
Children of Edward S. & Sarah (Smith) Mudgett:
1. Susanna Mudgett, b. 7 Nov 1771 in Gilmanton, Belknap Co NH; m1) Edward Gould; m2) Enoch Foster
2. Mary “Polly” Mudgett, b. Gilmanton NH; m. David Clifford
3. Edward Mudgett, b. 9 Dec 1774 in Gilmanton NH; m. Mary Clifford
4. +Samuel Mudgett, b. 1776 in Gilmanton NH
5. Richard Mudgett, b. 1778 in Gilmanton NH; m. Nancy Blake
6. Sarah “Sally” Mudgett, b. abt 1780 in Gilmanton NH; m. Levi Sleeper
7. John Mudgett, b. 26 Sep 1782 in Gilmanton NH; m. Anna –.
8. Joseph Mudgett, b. abt 1783 in Gilmanton NH; m. Mary –.
9. Betsey Mudgett, b. 1 Aug 1788 in Gilmanton NH; m. Elijah Bean
10. William Mudgett, b. 1 Aug 1788 in Gilmanton NH; m. Eunice Prescott

>>>>>Next Generation<<<<<

Samuel Mudgett, son of Edward Scribner & Sarah (Smith) Mudgett, b. 1776 in Gilmanton NH and d. 10 Dec 1858 in Gilmanton NH; He m. 16 Oct 1800 in Loudon NH to Mary Morrill. She b. 1776 in Gilmanton NH. He married 2nd, 9 March 1817 in South Hampton NH to Hannah French, dau of Elihu & Hannah (Barnard) French. She b. 30 May 1782 in South Hampton NH.
Children of Samuel & Mary (Morrill) Mudgett:
1. +Scribner Mudgett, b. 6 March 1801 in Gilmanton NH
2. Moses Morrill Mudgett, b. 10 March 1803 in Gilmanton NH; d. 27 Sep 1877 Gilmanton NH; m. 1827 to Ascenath Smith; m2d) Mehitable Millett; had issue.
3. Fanny Mudgett, b. 1810 in Gilmanton NH; d. 9 March 1821 Gilmanton NH
Child of Samuel & Hannah (French) Morrill:
4. Samuel Barnett French Mudgett, b. 28 Jan 1819; m. 1843 Susan L. Rundlett; had issue

>>>>>Next Generation<<<<<

Scribner Mudgett, son of Samuel & Mary (Morrill) Mudgett, b. 6 March 1801 in Gilmanton NH, d. 8 Dec 1831 in Gilmanton NH; m. Nancy Prescott, dau of Samuel & Anna (Healey) Prescott. She b. 30 Aug 1797 in Gilmanton NH.
Children of Scribner & Nancy (Prescott) Mudgett:
1. Edward Scribner Mudgett, b. 10 Feb 1830; m. Cynthia Ann Jones and had issue.
2. Albert Newell Mudgett, b. 12 Oct 1826 in Gilmanton NH
3. +Levi Horton Mudgett, b. 11 Nov 1827 in Gilmanton NH

>>>>>Next Generation<<<<<

Levi Horton Mudgett, son of Scribner & Nancy (Prescott) Mudgett was born 11 Nov 1827 in Gilmanton NH. He married Theodate Page Price, daughter of Moses & Theodate (Page) Price. She was b. 1 Oct 1827, and died 23 Dec 1903 in Arlington, MA. They are buried in Gilmanton, NH. His occupation: house painter.
———————–
1870 US Census > NH > Belknap > Gilmanton
Mudgett, Levi H. 43 M W House painter 500 NH
Mudgett, Theodate P. 43 F W Keeping House 2500 NH
Mudgett, Ellen P. 18 F W Teaching NH
Mudgett, Arthur P. 13 M W Works on Farm 500 NH
Mudgett, Herman W. 9 M W attending school NH
Mudgett, Henry L. 5 M W NH
Marden, Albert L. 18 M W attending school NH
———————–
Children of Levi H. & Theodate P. (Price) Mudgett:
1. Ellen P. Mudgett, b. abt 1852 in Gilmanton NH
2. Arthur P. Mudgett, b. November 1856 in Gilmanton NH; m. Flora Belle Pettingill, daughter of Frank & Betsey (Stevens) Pettingill.  She was born Oct 1858 in NH, and d. 11 Jun 1910 in Gilmanton NH. In 1900 residing Webster, Merrimack Co. NH. From 1910-1930 living in Andover, Merrimack Co. NH. Children: (1) Cecil Fremont Mudgett, b abt 1879, married 24 Dec 1899 in Belmont, Belknap Co. NH to Nellie May Haddock, dau of Henry & Elvira Louise (Wilcox) Haddock. (2) Henry L. Mudgett, b. July 1882 in Andover NH, m 30 April 1903 to widow, Carrie Lonigvel, daughter of Charles & Hannah (Ford) Bickford; (3) Harry H. Mudgett, b. July 1887 in Andover, NH; (4) Oscar Mudgett, b January 1889 in NH, he married Faith — by 1930 and had a daughter Marilyn, resided Waltham MA; (5) Herbert R. Mudgett, b. August 1890 Andover NH.
3. +Herman Webster Mudgett, b. 16 May 1861 in Gilmanton NH
4. Henry L. Mudgett, b. 15 Oct 1864 in Gilmanton NH; d. 23 Apr 1900 in Boston Mass, aged 33; he was a grocer; buried Gilmanton NH. He married 25 Dec 1888 in Saugus,  MA [minister was from Saugus, recorded in 3 places] to Minnie B. Shields, dau of Daniel & Sarah (Douglass) Shields. She was b. abt 1865 in Nova Scotia.
5. Mary Adams Mudgett, b March 1871 in Gilmanton NH; m. 18 Aug 1897 in Lexington MA to Herbert Fowle, son of Charles A. & Sarah T. (Austin) Fowle. He was b 10 Jun 1867 in Lexington MA, and died 10 Jun 1915 in Westfield MA [per Masonic records, Mt. Moriah Lodge]. In 1910 Residing in Arlington, Middlesex Co. MA with Mary’s father Levi H. Mudgett, then 82, residing with them.  Herbert’s occupations include: wood carver and architectural draughtsman. His death record lists ‘architect’.

>>>>>Next Generation<<<<<

Herman Webster Mudgett, (alias Henry “Harry” Howard Holmes alias Henry Mansfield Howard) son of Levi H. & Theodate P. (Price) Mudgett, was b. 16 May 1861 in Gilmanton, Belknap Co. NH and died 7 May 1896 in Moyamensing Prison, Philadelphia PA by hanging. He was buried 8 May 1896 at Holy Cross Cemetery, Yeadon, Delaware Co. PA. In 1880 residing in Loudon NH on a farm with his father-in-law; He graduated June 1884 from the University of Michigan Medical School; in 1886 residing in Englewood Chicago, druggist. He married 1st) 4 July 1878 in Alton, Belknap Co NH before a justice of the peace, to Clara A. Lovering (his only legitimate wife), daughter of Samuel B. & Lucy (Grace) Lovering. She b. 19 July 1861 in Loudon, Merrimack Co NH, and died 9 March 1956 in Canterbury NH. She later married 31 Oct 1906 in Penacook NH to John S. Peverly of Canterbury NH as his 2nd wife [her son’s WWI draft card of the time shows her as Mrs. John Peverly]. John S. Peverly had m1st) 1 January 1890 in Canterbury NH to Leonora Dow, dau of Olwyn W. & Sophia (Clifford) Dow. Herman W. Mudgett married (as a bigamist) 2nd 28 January 1887 in Minneapolis, Hennepin Co MN to Myrta/Myra Z. Belknap, daughter of John Sands & Lucy (Biers) Belknap.  She was b. Oct 1862 in Pennsylvania, and died 28 May 1924 in Paw Paw, Van Buren Co. MI.   . He married 3rd [as a bigamist], 17 Jan 1894 in Denver Colorado to Georgiana Yoke, daughter of John & Mary (Toner) Yoke, and a niece of Nelson Yoke. Georgiana was born 17 Oct 1869 in IL and died 20 July 1945 in Santa Ana, Orange Co. CA.  She m2d) 10 Nov 1898 in Marion, Grant Co. Indiana to Harry C. Chapman.
———–
1910 United States Federal Census > Illinois > DuPage > Hinsdale > District 5
Sabin, Mary, Head F  W36 single IL NY NY Stenographic, law office
Blair, Nettie, boarder F W 62 widow 1 ch 1 living IL MA NY no occup-own income
Blair, Mabel, boarder f W 26 single IL NY IL
Holmes, Myra B. boarder f W 47 widow 1 ch 1 living PA NY Iowa no occup-own income [b abt 1863]
Holmes, Lucy T. Boarder F W 20 single IL NH PA Teacher-Public Schools

Lucy Theodate Holmes.

———-
Child of Herman W. & Clara A. (Lovering) Mudgett:
1. +Robert Lovering Mudgett, b. 3 Feb 1880 in New Hampshire; d. 3 Nov 1956 in New Smyrna Beach, Florida.
Child of Herman W. & Myrta/Myra Z. (Belknap) Lovering:
2. Lucy Theodate Holmes, b. July 1889 in Wilmette, Cook Co. IL. In 1910 living in Hinsdale, DuPage IL with mother.  She died 29 December 1956 in Los Angeles California, and is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Santa Monica, LA County, CA. She m1) 11 July 1919 in France [recorded also at Kalamazoo Michigan] to James Douglas Hunter, son of Ronald M. & Josephine C. Hunter. He was born 10 Sep 1892 in Duluth MN and died 24 Nov 1947. They had one child a boy who died in 1919. They divorced. She m2d) 27 June 1917 in Chicago IL to John Thomas Moss, son of Frank Moss. He was born 17 Aug 1884 in Whiston, South Yorkshire, England and died 12 February 1937 in Santa Monica, California. He had m1) in 1908 in Lancashire England to Hannah Garsden and had 2 children by her, Vera Moss, b 1909 and Francis “Frank” Morse, b 1911.

>>>>>Next Generation<<<<<

Robert Lovering Mudgett, son of Herman W. & Clara A. (Lovering) Mudgett, b. 3 Feb 1880 in New Hampshire; d. 3 Nov 1956 in New Smyrna Beach, Floria. He m1) 19 Oct 1903 at Loudon, Merrimack Co. NH to Alexandra Gilbert. She born 6 March 1880 in Fairfield, VT, dau of Loren S. & Grace N. (Farrand) Gilbert. Robert L. Mudgett m2nd) 8 December 1923 in Volusia FL to Mary J. Griest, dau of Thomas Elwood & Martha C. (Russell) Griest [they resided in Smyrna FL in the 1920’s]. She b. 22 May 1880 and d. 3 Nov 1934. In 1905 living in the Hyde Park, Vermont area. In 1917 living in Milwaukee Wisconsin working as a public accountant in business for himself. By 1921 residing in Tampa FL, and in New Smyrna FL (including the Rio Vista Hotel); he was secretary of the New Smyrna Board of Trade in July of 1921, his wife Mary was secretary of the Woman’s Club; ; in 1925 he was Alderman; in 1942 he was City Auditor and Clerk.
———————-

Children of Robert L. & Alexandra (Gilbert) Mudgett:
1. Morris “Maurice” Lovering Mudgett, b. 22 May 1905 Hyde Park, Lamoille Co., Vermont, d. 27 February 1996; he married Margie Ajunia Porter. She was b. 1 Oct 1908 in Nebraska and d. 16 Sep 1988 in Chula Vista, San Diego Co., California. They had daughters, Cynthia Ann Mudgett, b. 2 Aug 1940 in Los Angeles Co., California; and Sandra Lee Mudgett, b. 11 Aug 1945 Los Angeles Co., California.
2. Harold Bertram Mudgett, b. 1 May 1906 Hyde Park, Lamoille Co., Vermont, died 13 Jul 1989 in San Luis, Obispo, California. [death date corrected December 2013]. He married in 1930 to Ruby Gail Lee Green.  Had two sons, John Loren Mudgett, b. 14 Jul 1931, and Richard Lee Mudgett, b. 9 Oct 1932, both in San Francisco County, California.  [Richard Lee Mudgett is the father of Jeffrey Lee Mudgett, born 1957 in Oakland, California, author of the book “Bloodstains.”

ASSORTED CENSUS RECORDS:
——–
1900 United States Federal Census > New Hampshire > Merrimack > Loudon > District 169
Lovering, Fred/Frank B. Head W M Apr 1863 37 single NH NH NH
Lovering, Selara S. sister W F July 1860 38 widow 1 ch 1 living NH NH NH, house keeper
Lovering, Edwin C. brother W M Apr 1865 35 single NH NH NH, day laborer
Mudgett, Robert L. Nephew W M Feb 1880 20 single NH NH NH, fireman, — mill
——–
1910 United States Federal Census > California > Los Angeles > South Pasadena Twp > District 347
Zischank, Max A Head M W 33 m1x 6 yrs Ger Ger Ger imm 1899 alien, office manager jewelry mfg
Zischank Matilda wife F W 28 m1x 6 yrs 2 ch 2 living Ohio Ger Ger
Zischank, Marjory, dau F W 4 single Calif Ger Ohio
Zischank, Max A. Jr. son M W 10/12 single Calif Ger Ohio
Mudgett, Alexandra servant F W  30 m1x 5 yrs VT Can-English VT, servant, private family
——-
1930 United States Federal Census > Florida > Volusia > Ormond > 22
Mudgett, Robert L. Head M W 50 married at age 21 NH NH NH municipal supervisor
Mudgett, Mary J. wife F W 49 married at age 43 PA PA PA
Griest, Martha C. mother-in-law F W 80 Widow m. age 25 PA PA PA

[story first written in May of 2006; updated September 3, 2013, November 1, 2013, September 2016, and 20 September 2017]

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Herman Webster Mudgett – Serial Killer born in New Hampshire

Posted on 20 May, 2006 by Janice Brown


See Story: Gilmanton New Hampshire Serial Killer: Herman Webster Mudgett (1861-1896) here.

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New Hampshire–You’re Going to Love It Here

Posted on 19 May, 2006 by Janice Brown

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New Hampshire Flooding: Don’t Blame Dan Brown or Da Vinci

Posted on 19 May, 2006 by Janice Brown

I had good intentions–to delay posting this article about historical flooding in New Hampshire…

At least until all this water dried up a little more. But I changed my mind when I heard some crazy stories. I have to set a few of them straight.

–I BLAME DAN BROWN–
The first story, bizarre I know, is via TJ at “Better Living with Chemistry.”  He says that some loons (apologies to the birds) out there are hinting that these floodwaters are God’s punishment on New Hampshire for spawning Dan Brown and thusly his book, The Da Vinci Code.  Suffice to say TJ clears up the drama. On a personal level, I … enjoyed his book, think he’s a superb writer, am looking forward to seeing the movie (today), and I’m not planning to sue him.

–BUT THEY TOLD ME–
The second story, that is recurring… “but we were told by the developer that this area only floods every 300 years,” or “I’ve never seen it this bad,” [and they’ve lived there 5 years]. Folks, believe me when I say that flooding around the rivers, lakes and low-lying areas of New Hampshire are historically cyclical.

–ENCOUNTER PROBABILITY VOODOO–
Did you know that some people (called hydrologists) spend their lives trying to figure out “encounter probabilities” for floods?  These probabilities are a TOOL for evaluating prospective damage, in order to budget or plan for such things as dams, stormwater draining systems, and disaster planning. In a nutshell they look at what the weather and water levels have been, and try to predict within a time frame (of 25, 50, 100 or more years) of when they are apt to occur again.

Somewhere into this predictive glop add the fact that New England Weather and climate is changing, along with the environment. “Minor” things like the existence, and ever growing presence of, pavement and buildings will alter how the land reacts to heavy rainfall.

So anyway, if I understand it correctly, these hydrology guys (and gals) create statistical tables, which PREDICT a typical interval of time in which the next distressing rain event (like we just had) MAY [not WILL] occur. They create charts which project the ‘encounter probability’ describing the chances that the flood will damage your house during your lifetime.

Now here comes a big problem. The statistics in these ‘predictive tables’ may or may not describe physical reality. Errrr..what? They predict PROBABLE consequences ONLY. In other words, the tables they create are graphical proof that the occurence of heavy flooding is simply a cosmic crap shoot.

–PLAN FOR THE WORST, BE HAPPY IF IT’S BETTER THAN THAT–
This means, that if you live in these river- or lake-view, low-lying areas, it’s a coin toss as to whether you will experience unexpected severe flood waters. If it does not happen in your lifetime, then it will probably happen in your child(ren)’s lifetime.   No one (including your realtor or your mother) can guarantee  that flooding will occur less or more often than is predicted.  “Mother Nature” often has her own plans, and she always succeeds in balancing the weather scales.

My father grew up in a town where flooding caused some serious damage in 1936 (Merrimack, NH). He rowed around in a boat taking photographs of it.  I donated most of those photographs to the Merrimack Historical Society [psst.. hint: time to put on a display of that flood, or maybe a “Then” and “Now” display for effect]. When I was growing up he confided, “make sure you live on a hill, or in high country. And if you don’t, own a canoe.”  Perhaps that is the best advice. But of course, that may increase your chances of being struck by lightning.

There is no doubt that the some of the prettiest scenery in New Hampshire is along the riverbeds and lakebeds of our beautiful state. This state is a remarkable place to live as long as the rain (or frozen rain) does not fall for too many days, or the “freshets” in the spring do not occur. [see definition of “freshet” later in this article].

The 2006 flood is definitely better documented than in the past, at least as far as media goes.  Instead of faded photographs, we have streaming video with sound tracks and music, created by residents of most areas of the state.  My favorites ones are found at Atlantic Ave.

–EXAMPLES OF NEW HAMPSHIRE’S FLOOD HISTORY–
To provide some historical facts, I looked through just a few of the town histories I’ve transcribed for my New Hampshire History & Genealogy web site.  It wasn’t long before I found many instances of flooding in New Hampshire.  This is only a SMALL sampling of New Hampshire’s flood history.  Some of the stories put the recent flooding into perspective.

1784–
On the 5th of December 1784, there was a remarkable freshet in the Merrimack. Judge Patten (in his diary) says of it, “Dec, 3d, Was a great rain, but warm.” “Dec. 5th being Sabath day was the highest freshet in the Merrimack River ever seen by any person now living. Last night the bridge over the Piscataquog in Bedford, was floted off and a number of men worked all day saving the timber and plank of the bridge.” This was long remembered as the “Great Winter Freshet.” A great deal of damage was done upon the Merrimack and its tributaries. Many families living upon the intervals of the Merrimack were forced to abandon their homes, and take refuge with their neighbors on the uplands.(Merrimack River Valley, Hillsborough County New Hampshire)

1835–
Flood along Merrimack River – “At one time there was an earlier burying ground along the east bank of the Merrimack River, but it was washed away in a flood sometime prior to 1835.” (Litchfield, Hillsborough County)

1838–
Flood and Fire-Peterborough NH Sept 28, 1838. Formerly stone grist mill (1839) later Peterborough Transcript and Walbridge & Taylor. Lost in flood (Peterborough, Hillsborough County)

1848, 1851–
In 1848 two piers were taken from the west end of the bridge by a freshet. It was repaired and remained till 1851, when it was carried completely away by a freshet. It has not been rebuilt. (Manchester, Hillsborough County)

1866–
W.A. BINGHAM’S TANNERY, located on road 27, was established by W.S. Balch, in 1846, purchased by Mr. Bingham in 1866, destroyed by the flood of 1869, and rebuilt in 1870.  He employs two or three men and turns out about 2,000 hides per annu, and does custom tanning. (Lyme, Grafton County)

1869–
In 1810, Peter Wilder, with his son-in-law Abijah Wetherbee, established the Wilder Chair Shop here in Wilder Village. Josiah P. Wilder and some of his brothers, sons of Peter, made over 25,000 spindle-back wooden seated chairs in forty or more designs. Stools, settees and rockers were also made here until the freshet of 1869 when the dam went out. (Site of Wilder’s Chair Factory, New Ipswich, Hillsborough County)

1870–
1870, February 19–an unexpected and disastrous flood on Israel’s river occured, doing great damage to property and periling many lives, although none were lost. Main street bridge was swept away and roads damaged; many houses and cellars were flooded and property destroyed. (Lancaster, Coos County)

1882– [I realize this is a long story, but a real “thriller” so I’ve included it]
The Great Freshet of 1882 – Dr. True secured, in 1882, from Moses Goodno this description of that freshet on Peabody and Androscoggin rivers, known as the Great Freshet of August 28, 1826: “I was living with Elijah Evans, on the spot where I was born, in the interval near where Hitchcock’s barns are situated.  This was on August 28, 1826, when I was nineteen years old.  It began to rain the previous night, and rained very hard all the next day, and in the afternoon the water began to rise in the river, when at seven o’clock in the evening it touched the stringers of the bridge.  It rained fearfully hard till eleven o’clock that night before it ceased. It seemed like pouring water through a sieve, or as if a cloud had burst.  A man could hardly keep from drowning when standing still, it rained so fast.  In a short time the water rose about eight feet higher than ever known before, and carried away the bridge.  About nine o’clock the water began to run into the doors and windows, and the family started for the mountains.  It was totally dark, but they waded across the interval and crossed a small bridge, and came to another which had just been swept away, and we could not go any further.  We then turned back, hoping to reach the barn for shelter, but the bridge we had crossed before was now swept away and we could not reach the barn. Trees floating down from the Peabody river near us, and swept us down with them.  We caught into the tops and were borne down with the current a third of a mile.  I succeeded in putting the children into the tops of the floating trees.  At last the trees formed a jam about some stumps, but the water ran so swiftly that a part of the trees were torn away and carried down stream, and with them Harriet Evans and her brother, John C. Evans, and in a minute more it swept away the young man, Elijah Evans and Harriet Wilson, then living in the family.  I succeeded in reaching the girl and bringing her back, and then the boy.  The father of the family, Elijah Evans, was in Shelburne at this time. I could hear the others screaming, and though it was pitch dark I swam part of the time and waded and followed the direction of the sound till I succeeded in reaching them, and found Harriet in the water clinging to the tree tops. I pulled her out of the water with her brother clinging to her clothes without her being aware of his being there.  I succeeded in getting them onto a dry knoll.  The old lady and two boys, Harrison and Sam were still on the first jam, holding on to a stump.  I thought they were quite safe there.  I saw a streak of light in the sky, and being a good swimmer I struck for the mountain, well knowing that I could do no more for them there, and they they would all be drowned if the water rose much higher.  I swam part of the way, and waded the rest.  I struck a sheep pen just below John Burbank’s barn, climbed into it, and jumped down into the water, well soaked with manure, to the armpits, and had some trouble getting out.  I went to the house, opened the outside door, when the brooks from the mountains rushed in.  I succeeded in shutting the inner door, went to the fire-place, caught a burning brand and put it in the oven so it should not be put out by the water, and shouted for Mr. Burbank. His wife sprang out of bed, lighted a candle, when Mr. Burbank followed, but fainted as soon as he arose.  We placed him on a bed, and called her hired man.  Isaac Carleton, and we let the cattle out of the yard, which was full of water, to keep them from drowning. We now lighted a lantern, took off the great doors from the barn and made a raft, but it flopped over, and we could do nothing with it. We next yoked the oxen and went to Mr. Joshua Kendall’s house, who had a large lye-trough, which had been made by digging out a large tree like a boat.  We hitched the oxen to this, Kendall rode in the boat while Carleton and I each road an ox.  In this way we went across the interval, but did not dare to take the women into the boat, through fear of tipping over, and waited until daylight, when we made bridges of plank, and succeeded in bringing them all safely to Mr. Burbank’s house about eight or nine o’clock in the forenoon. One of the boys had gone further down the stream on a jam, when he caught near Merrill Head’s house at a distance of half a mile. He could not swim, but succeeded in keeping out of the current in the main river, and the family had given him up for drowned, but when they reached the house, to their great joy, and surprise they found him. The escape of the whole family was certainly a marvellous one. The effects of that freshet were remarkable.  The channel of the Peabody river previous to this time could be crossed on a single plank, but the floods of water tore away the banks, taking out large trees by the roots, and widening the channel to its present condition. The river was a milk white color, from the mud taken from its banks.  It tore away about ten acres of excellent interval, and the land where Hutchinson’s interval now is, making hollows and channels all over it, some of which still remain.  Jams of trees covering five acres of land and fifteen feet high were formed. These were afterwards burned off.  The reason why Evans’s buildings were not swept away was owing to a jam of trees which lodged on some pine stumps and against the orchard which divided the current of water.  The only building swept away was a vacated log house belonging to a man by the name of Brooks.  It was several days before the news of the Willey catastrophe reached us.”   Such was Mr. Goodno’s story of one of the most interesting events in the history of the town.  It was a very disastrous freshet to the crops.  Large quantities of wheat and other grains floated down the river and were lost.  Such another rain-fall never occurred in modern times in the vicinity of the White Mountains. (Gorham, Coos County)

1886–
April 1, 1886–Israel’s river swollen to an enormous degree, broke up the ice and a tremendous gorge was formed at the head of Frank Smith & Co’s mill pond, obstructed by the solid mass of ice formed in the channel during a previous thaw….flooding occured into Mechanic Street..the ice and water struck the Town Hall building, carried away Aetna Engine No 2….No lives were lost (Lancaster, Coos County)

1887–
At the Glen Manufacturing Company’s works this immense mass of waters is poured through a narrow chasm thirty-three feet in width, descending in the space of 100 yards nearly twice as fast.  At times of high water, notably the great flood of June 1887, the view combines the terrible, majestic, grand and beautiful in a wierd and fascinating combination. (Berlin, Coos County)

November 1927 Flood–
Affected New England, New Hampshire to a lesser degree than other states

1936 Flood – affected New England, especially the Connecticut, Merrimack and Souhegan Rivers, and tributaries. It was the greatest disaster ever recorded along the Connecticut River, making 430,000 people homeless and leaving over $500 million worth of damage in its path. (In today’s dollars, the cost would have been over 6.5 billion!)

Janice

–Additional Reading–

Make a map of a flood hazard area at the ESRI and FEMA web site-

New Hampshire’s Flood History-

Everything You Didn’t Want to Know about Hydrology (click on “Hydrology” under Technical Appendices)-

Description of hydrologic models–

Tracking and Taming Water-

Ice Jams PDF-

Definition: fresh·et  (frsht), n.
A freshet can refer to one of two things:
A flood resulting from heavy rain or a spring thaw. Whereas heavy rain often causes a flash flood, a spring thaw event is generally a more incremental process, depending upon local climate and topography. The term freshet is most commonly used to describe a spring thaw resulting from snow and ice melt in rivers located in the northern latitudes of North America, particularly Canada, where rivers are frozen each winter and thaw during the spring. A spring freshet can sometimes last several weeks on large river systems, resulting in signficant inundation of flood plains as the snow pack melts in the river’s watershed. Spring freshets associated with thaw events are sometimes accompanied by ice jams which can cause flash floods.

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Penacook New Hampshire Sportsman and Coach: Robert Abial "Red" Rolfe (1908-1969)

Posted on 18 May, 2006 by Janice Brown

“Red” Rolfe signed with the New York Yankee’s baseball team in 1931 … and never looked back.

Robert "Red" Rolfe, The Pride of Penacook, wearing his Yankee uniform.

Robert “Red” Rolfe,
The Pride of Penacook, wearing his Yankees uniform.

Red Rolfe was born 17 October 1908 in Penacook, New Hampshire. He started his baseball career at Penacook High school, followed by Phillips Exeter Academy, Dartmouth College and the major leagues.

After graduation from Dartmouth College he played for Albany in the Eastern league in 1931, moving up after two seasons of play as shortstop in the Newark Bears in the International league, and then joined the Yankees as their regular third baseman from 1934-1942, accumulating 1,394 hits while batting .289.

He led the American League in triples (15) in 1936 and in runs (139), hits (213) and doubles (46) in 1939. Continue reading →

Posted in Genealogy, New Hampshire Men | Tagged , , , , , , , | 8 Comments