New Hampshire WWI Military: Heroes of East Kingston

Photograph of East Kingston NH’s
Old Cemetery from the
2001 Annual Report

East Kingston New Hampshire is a small town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, wedged between the towns of Kingston, Exeter, Kensington, South Hampton, and Newton. In 1910 its population had already been dropping for a decade. During the World War I years, its citizen count would drop even more, to 384 in 1920. The town population would not start to grow again until after the Great Depression.

In 1917 when the United States announced it was to go to war, the young men of the East Kingston–18 men as shown on the WWI memorial, but 24 to my own count–did their duty. Of those, two would not return, namely Samuel H. Clifton and Leroy F. Goddard.  [Editor’s note: Leroy F. Goddard is not  recognized on the town’s WWI plaque, but should be]. Continue reading

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New Hampshire WWI Military: Heroes of Hillsborough

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

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

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

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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