New Hampshire WWI Military: Heroes of Hillsborough

Posted on 12 May, 2018 by Janice Brown

One panel of a stereograph photograph of
unidentified mill in Hillsborough NH by
Charles F. McClary. New Hampshire Historical
Society. Used with permission.

The History of Hillsborough New Hampshire by George Waldo Browne and published in 1921 has part of a chapter devoted to The World War and lists most men from the town who served in the armed forces. It is available [here] in its original form and a transcribed list can also be found on Genealogy Trails web site.  Just to be clear, for this story I am describing people and events in the town of Hillsborough,  located in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire.  Hillsborough Bridge is a village within the same town. [Editor’s note: Hillsborough was sometimes spelled Hillsboro].  I focus on the men from the town of Hillsborough NH who died while in military service–there were at least eleven. Continue reading →

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New Hampshire WWI Military: Private Willie J. Bacon of Rumney

Posted on 10 May, 2018 by Janice Brown

Photograph of Rumney NH from the Boston,
Concord & Montreal Railroad, circa 1909.
Originally a stereo-graph photograph. New
Hampshire Historical Society, used with
permission.

There seemed to be a great deal of confusion over which state should claim Private Willie J. Bacon for his World War I service. Both Rumney Missouri (MO) and Rumney Maine (ME) were suggested places, I suppose because the state abbreviation was confusing. The Halsee WWI book places him in Maine too. In fact neither of those locations are correct. Military records, and his official burial cross show that he is credited to New Hampshire, for he was born in Rumney this state, and enlisted from Concord NH. Continue reading →

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100 Years Ago: A World War I Mother’s Day

Posted on 7 May, 2018 by Janice Brown

Lansing State Journal
newspaper of 1917 showing
mothers, carnations and the
founder  of Mother’s Day.

One hundred years ago Mother’s Day was celebrated on May 12, 1918 in New Hampshire. Two days before the Portsmouth Herald newspaper announced: “Sunday is Mother’s Day. Carnations Will Be Worn in Honor or Memory of Her That Day.” The story goes on to say that the tradition is to wear a carnation–a colored one if your mother was living and a white one if she “has passed from this life.”

Preachers had warmed up their presentation skills to offer special recognition to mothers from the pulpit. The article also adds that “The observance of the day calls for loving remembrance of your mother for her memory through some distinct act of kindness, visit, tribute or letter. Love on that day as your mother would have you live it.” Sage words for a world where death was so often the topic of late. The Court Street Christian Church of Portsmouth planned to visit “shut-ins” of the parish after the evening service. Continue reading →

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New Hampshire WWI Military: Heroes of Chester

Posted on 5 May, 2018 by Janice Brown

During WWI the Post Office was an important
place. Today this building is still a landmark–
the site of the Olde Post Restaurant.

When the United States entered the World War in 1917, Chester was among those towns who gladly stepped forward to offer its sons and daughters to the war effort. According to the town history 22 men from Chester served in the military (my count is 25 men and 2 women). In addition those who remained at home grew Victory Gardens, raised money for Liberty Bonds and participated in Red Cross and local aid drives. The Chester citizens both celebrated and mourned.  Four young men would leave town never to return. Continue reading →

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New Hampshire WWI Military: Ensign Ray Rufus Averill of Wentworth and Warren

Posted on 3 May, 2018 by Janice Brown

Ray R. Averill.
Courtesy of Cindy
Clancy. Please note
that this is not an
ensign’s uniform.

Wentworth and Warren are adjoining New Hampshire townships both of which are connected with the life of Ray R. Averill and therefore I need to credit them both. Ray Rufus Averill was born 10 Nov 1884 in Barton, Orleans Co. Vermont, son of Fred L. & Lizzie (Long) Averill. [Editor’s note: in the official naval records Ray R. Averill’s place of birth is shown as being Wentworth New Hampshire.  Many times a child’s birth would be recorded in more than one place.  In order to be inclusive here, I’ve connected him to both the place where he may have been born, and the town where he was laid to rest.]

In 1900 at age 16, he was already living on his own, boarding at a home in Laconia New Hampshire, and working as a laborer in a car shop. By 1910 he had moved to Somerville MA where, now aged 26, he was a fireman for the local railroad. Continue reading →

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