ABOUT TWO COUSINS FROM SALISBURY
James Haskell abt.1842 d.1870
John Haskell 1841 – d.1901
Nov 11, 2023 Veterans Day
After many delays beyond our control the John Haskell Tombstone was finally dedicated in a ceremony thanks to our very determined members.
A reading, singing of the Battle Hymn of the Republic, prayer, playing of Taps and gift of the flag to the Salisbury Historical Society all completed the process of long research with the acknowledgment and dedication.
The Warner Plaque Dedication several years earlier.
Salute at the dedication of the Black Heritage tail Marker in Warner, October 2021
Warner Town Square Oct 2021. Jane Wesomb, a descendant of Sampson Battis assists with the unveiling.
The Marker erected October 2021
JAMES HASKELL was an American of African descent.
He was born about 1842 actually in Warner, New Hampshire and also lived for a time in Salisbury and is buried here. He was the child of William Haskell and *Caroline M. Clark (see below). His father, William Haskell, was a well known basket maker who lived in Warner NH:
1-John Haskell (parents unk. at this time) & Lucinda Clark resided on the Warner end on the Couchtown Road it is believed.
2- William Haskell: Son of John Haskell & Lucinda Clark b. Warner Dec 31, 1818 (brother John see bellow is born 1821.) well known and talented basket maker in Warner NH. m. Caroline Clark daughter of Anthony Clark & Lucinda Moore (Lucinda Moor was the daughter of Sampson Battis)
3- James Haskell: Son of William & Caroline Haskell b abt 1842, 1866 m. Dorcas Ann Puul b 1825 Gilmanton, daughter of Jacob Paul and Catherine Wallace. 1860: Warner, James isiving with his parents New Hampshire with his parents.James Franklin Haskell enlists in the Mass 54th Regiment in 1863 and mustered out in 1865.Residences
1863: Warner, New Hampshire (military enlistment). James Haskell is listed as a farmer stood standing at about 5’4″ (1.63m) tall with a dark complexion, black eyes, and black hair upon the enlistment.
MILITARY SERVICE:
From government records;
Haskell, James F.
Age at enlistment: 21
Enlistment date: 19 Mar 1863
Residence at enlistment: Warner, NH
Profession at enlistment: farmer
Rank in: private
Rank out: private
Company: D
Fate at Ft. Wagner: survived
Mustered-out date: 20 Aug 1865
During the Civil War, he served as a Private in Company D of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry of the Union Army, the second regiment in the United States made up entirely of enlisted men of color.
He served under Robert Gould Shaw who perished at Fort Wagner.
The Movie:
The film is about one of the first military units of the Union Army during the American Civil War to consist largely of African-American men (except for its officers), as told from the point of view of Colonel Shaw, its white commanding officer. The regiment is known especially for its heroic actions at the brutal battle at Fort Wagner on Morris Island in South Carolina where Col. Shaw lost his life.
The Monument:
Joshua B. Smith, a black businessman, former slave, and former employee of the Shaw family, initiated a campaign for a monument. It wasn’t until 1883 that enough funds were raised to hire a sculptor. Renowned American sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens took the job, but the process took him another decade.
For more information on the project:
https://interactive.wttw.com/ten/monuments/robert-gould-shaw-fifty-fourth-regiment-memorial
Mustered out 20 August 1865 with his regiment.
After five years after he passed from consumption.
The story of the Mass 54th is well told in the movie Glory. A large monument exists at the Boston State House depicting Colonel Shaw and his regiment marching down Beacon Street.
James Franklin Haskell died May 8, 1870 Newport NH (was a mill operator) and isburied in Salisbury NH n the Bean/Smith’s Corner Cemetery now on rte 4 in Salisbury. His wife Dorcas Paul is buried in Sanbornton NH
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- Caroline Clark, mother to James Haskell was the daughter of Anthony Clark & Lucinda Moore. Lucinda Moor appears to be the daughter of Sampson Battis/Moore (abt 1751-1853) and Lucy Carey. Sampson Battis/Moore of Revolutionary war fame was from Canterbury. Sampson Battis Moore was a slave ot Archelaus Moore who took a great liking to him and they fought together in the Revolutionary War. Sampson achieved the rank of Major and was given command of a battalion by then Governor Gilman in 1800. He lived as free man with his wife *Lucy (Carey) and large family on his 100 acres, lived to be 102 years old and is buried in Canterbury. The area in Canterbury was called “New Guinea” as were many areas where clusters of Americans of African descent lived.
- *Lucy (Carey) who married Sampson Battis was a slave to William coffin and Sampson worked for him for a year to earn her freedom.
JOHN HASKELL was an American of African descent.
He was born about 1841 in Warner, New Hampshire and also lived for a time in Salisbury and is buried here.
1-John Haskell (parents unk. a this time) & Lucinda Clark resided on the Warner end on the Couchtown Road it is believed.
2- John Haskell (the second): Son of John Haskell & Lucinda Clark b. Warner abt 1821 (brother William see above was born 1818).
m . *Nancy Ann Potter born in Andover in abt 1815. (see below)
3- John Franklin Haskell (third John) to John Haskell & Nancy Potter is born in Warner abt 1841 Warner and records indicate he attended school there.
John Franklin Haskell was 5′ 8 1/2″ inches tall. He followed his first cousin James Haskell into the army; 45th Regiment, US Colored Infantry, Mustered out in 1865 in Texas and is on the 1870 Sutoton census living with his parents. He had no children and was never married. Died June 20th 1901, Tucker Pond Salisbury NH, buried at the Bean/Smith”s Corner Cemetery on rte 4 in Salisbury.
*Nancy Ann Potter who married who married John Haskell (the second John) was born in Andover in 1814. However records show that richard Potter had only three children, 3 boys and a girl Julia who died at the age of 20). Richard Potter was America’s first famed black magician and was a ventriloquist. More research is needed.
MILITARY SERVICE:
According to the Haskell Journal, Summer 2021
“The 45th regiment was at Darbytown road on October 13, 1864, six day aft er col Alexander Cheves Haskell lost his eye there. However the 45th regiment was also at Appomatox Courthouse on April 9, 1865 so perhaps John Haskell witnessed Colonel Alexander Cheves Haskell surrender the Confederate Cavalry that day.” About confederate Colonel Alexander Cheeves Haskell: It was at Darbytown Road where he was most seriously injured after suffering a shot to the head and losing the function of his left eye. (Tom Haskell, Alexander’s great-grandson says that “while left for dead on Darbytown Road, a northern soldier removed Alexander’s wedding band. When he realized later that Alexander had survived, he returned it to him after the war.”) Alexander was appointed by General Lee to surrender the Confederate Cavalry of the Army of Northern Virginia at the Appomattox Court House on April 12, 1865.”
In 1902 John Haskell drowned in Tucker Pond. He was originally interred in the Bean/Smiths Corner graveyard and moved with the others in 1941 and reinterred at the newer cemetery complex on rte 4.
BURIAL SITES OF THE HASKELL COUSINS
Research about John Haskell came together in the summer of 2019 and an application for a tombstone was sent to the Veterans Administration and was granted.
After more than 118 years since his death, we are pleased to say a Civil War Military memorial stone has been erected at his memorial site next to his cousin James Haskell. We thank everyone who contributed their research and energy to make this happen. See photos above.
John Haskell and James Haskell tombstones
Dave Merwin, President of the Salisbury Historical Society, studies the new tombstone for John Haskell.