New Hampshire WWI Military: Heroes of Manchester

Posted on 10 November, 2016 by Janice Brown
Postcard showing a parade held in Manchester New Hampshire in 1918.

Postcard showing a military parade held in Manchester New Hampshire in 1918.

Manchester, New Hampshire sent its full quota of young men to serve during the World War (or World War I as we call it now). Of those soldiers, at least 140 did not return home alive. It is of those men that I write. The United States will soon commemorate the 100th anniversary of this war (1917-1919).  Veterans Day was first celebrated to celebrate the end of that War. The  first Armistice Day was on November 11th, 1918.

The citizens of Manchester built a fitting war memorial monument in Victory Park, however, the actual names of the men are not listed there. Manchester families remembered them until their dying day. In May of 1922 trees were planted in Stark Park as a remembrance of 47 soldiers who had died. The trees flourished, but the names of the men who gave up their lives mostly faded away. Continue reading →

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Ten Essential Tasks For U.S. Genealogists on Veterans Day

Posted on 9 November, 2016 by Janice Brown
Berwin H. Webster with sister's Anna and Margaret. Posing against a fence in Merrimack NH circa 1918.

My father, Berwin H. Webster with sister’s Anna (holding American flag) and Margaret. Posing against a fence in Merrimack NH on the first Armistice Day, 1918.

Genealogists have a greater reason than most to pay attention to Veterans Day.  We are the keepers of history, the scavengers of memorabilia, and the scribes of  remembrance.  We, more than many understand that we are making history this very moment.

One hundred years from now someone will be wanting to know what we did today.  Will you be the one who wrote it down?  This year, and in all others that follow you can set the lead, know the history, and record what happened for the future. Continue reading →

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New Hampshire WWI Military: Private Clarence F. Kelley of Manchester NH (1895-1918)

Posted on 9 November, 2016 by Janice Brown

kelley-clarence-photograph-2-watermarkedClarence Fletcher Kelley was born on 25 January 1895 in Manchester, New Hampshire, the son of Thomas F. & Eola L. (Fletcher) Kelley. By 1900 both he and his brother, Carroll, were living with their mother at a 255 Auburn Street tenement house.  By 1910 they were living at 396 Manchester Street. He would have attended schools in those neighborhoods.

On his war registration card of June 1917, Clarence indicated the following: 22 years of age, occupation a conductor on the Manchester Street Railroad (trolley).  He was single, and had been a member of the NH National Guard Battery for 3 months.  He was of medium height, slender with light brown eyes and brown hair.   Continue reading →

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New Hampshire WWI Military: 2nd Lieut. George D. Parnell of Manchester NH (1894-1918)

Posted on 9 November, 2016 by Janice Brown
Photograph of Lieut George D. Parnell, from the Charlotte Thompson Collection, Manuscripts and Institution Archives, Milne Special Collections and Archives Department, UNH. Used with written permission of University of New Hampshire Library, Durham, NH.

Photograph of Lieut. George D. Parnell, from the Charlotte Thompson Collection, Manuscripts and Institution Archives, Milne Special Collections and Archives Department, UNH. Used with
written permission of University of New Hampshire Library, Durham, NH.

George Downes Parnell was born 15 March 1894 in Manchester NH, son of Fred Oakley & Georgia W. (Downes) Parnell. He would have attended local Manchester schools.

In the 1900 United States Census, the Parnell family was living on Linden St. George’s father Fred was a new widower, his wife, “Georgie” (George’s mother) having died on 17 April, leaving 5 young children. Fred was a well-known grocer in the city, with a provision store at 250 Bridge Street.

Fred’s sister Cora Parnell (who I had written about in 2013 when I bought her photograph) was living with him, and caring for the children. Son, George D., was only 6 years old at that time. George’s sibings were Carroll Abbott (1893-1959), Arabelle (1895-1975), Nelson W. (1897-1948), Frederick O. (1898-1899), and Thomas D. (1900-?)

Continue reading →

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New Hampshire WWI Military: Corporal Herbert E. Staples of Ossipee NH (1891-1918)

Posted on 8 November, 2016 by Janice Brown

staples-herbert-edward-photo-watermarkedHerbert Edward Staples, son of John Edward & Ellen Frances (Edwards) Staples, was born 26 March 1891 in North Parsonsfield, Maine. He had siblings Nellie Frances, Grace, and Ora Bella.

Herbert’s father was a blacksmith, and he apprenticed with him in the small town of  Shapleigh in York County, Maine. Continue reading →

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