| 1874: | Born Nov. 22 - Gloucester, NC (although he lists Beaufort on his service records). At the time Gloucester was still part of Straits. |
| 1890: | In his "resume" of 1908, he states he has 4 years as "seaman on sea-going vessel" prior to enlisting in the Revenue Cutter Service. (Probably on local fishing/merchant boats.) He further states, "Was born within one hundred yards of the salt water and in early boyhood learned the management of small boats; . . . practically all of my time was spent on rowing, sailing, or steam propelled vessels, mostly in the rivers, bays and sounds of eastern North Carolina . . . Have had two years experience in sea and surf fishing." |
| 1894: | Apr 1 - enlisted in the Revenue Cutter Service on the MORRILL and served as seaman, coxswain, quartermaster, and master-at-arms. |
| 1896: | Oct 1 - Transferred to COLFAX. |
| 1897: | Dec 2 - Rating changed from master at arms to ship's cook. During his time in the Revenue Cutter service, he ". . . cruised from Norfolk to Mobile." |
| 1898: | Jun 27 - enlisted in the Auxiliary Naval Force for 1 year - Charleston, SC. Time of the Spanish-American War. Jun 30 - Discharged from the Revenue Cutter Service. His "resume" of 1908, states he served as seaman, boatswain's mate 1st Class (day after enlisting). Served on the tug CHICKASAW Cruised from Charleston to Key West to Port Royal Aug 30 -discharged - war ended Highest marks for qualification and conduct. Serial # 26 Physical description on service record:
Blue Eyes, Reddish Hair Sallow Complexion Tattoo right forearm: Love and Friendship, clasped hands |
| 1899: | May 1 - enlisted in Navy for 4 years - Port Royal, SC. Residing in Beaufort, SC.> Ratings: seaman, quartermaster 2nd Class Was ". . . placed in charge of the picket launch HOPE at the Port Royal Navla Station. In May was sent to the Brooklyn Navy Yard with a detachment of men to bring the tug PENACOCOK to Port Royal . . . while serving there, (he) was detailed from time to time to the different tugs attached to that station to make trips along the coast and to do work about the harbor." |
| 1900: | Jan 23 - married Lillian Anna Baer - Port Royal |
| 1901: | Aug 9 - Lester Anthony born - Port Royal |
| 1902: | "Very Good" marks for qualification until Mar 1902 - Jul 23, 1902. Why the change?? Jul 15 - assigned to the WASP Jul 23 - assigned to the FRANKLIN - receiving ship for Norfolk Station. detailed to HERCULES to tow U.S.S. HORNET from Wilmington, NC to Norfolk, VA. The HERCULES, an iron tug built in Camden, NJ, in 1888, was a yard tug in the Norfolk Navy Yard. detailed to HERCULES for a trip to Boston, Gloucester and Cape Ann Sep 30 - made boatswain mate 1st Class - temporary Dec 31 - reverted back to former rank |
| 1903: | Apr 30 - discharged - Norfolk, VA Aug 10 - re-enlisted in Navy - Port Royal Ratings: boatswain's mate 1st Class, chief master-at-arms Aug - assistant to the master of tug |
| 1904: | John Elwood born - Frogmore, SC (St. Helena Island) |
| 1905: | Jun - charge of yard tug SEBAGO and all other Yard Craft at Port Royal and tugs in Charleston Navy Yard. |
| 1907: | Jul 16 - Carl born. Aug 9 - discharged - Charleston, SC Good Conduct Medal Letters of commendation Sep 12 - re-enlisted in Navy - Charleston, SC - papers say home is Gloucester (and Lillian lives there) - is this correct?? C.S.C. # 17288 |
| 1908: | May 21 - Letter of commendation from Commanding Officer of U.S.S. Blakely for John's assistance in rescuing that ship which had broken a rudder and run aground. Jun 2 - Received Godd Conduct Medal, dated Aug 9, 1907. Sep 30 - U.S.S. TEXAS - This ship is the Station Ship for Charleston. John is the Pilot Listed in Charleston City Directory - no address - Chief Master-at_Arms - Navy Yard Nov - Takes out fishing party of a group on Charlestonians on the SEBAGO Dec - Applies for permission to take the exam for appointment as Boatswain. Receives Letter of Recommendation from Commanding Officer of the U.S. Navy Yard at Charleston. |
| 1909: | Sep 27 - U.S.S. FRANKLIN - receiving ship for Norfolk Station. Oct 27 - U.S.S. TEXAS - the Station Ship at Charleston. Listed in Charleston City Directory - no address - Chief Master-at_Arms - Navy Yard |
| 1910: | Jan 7 - U.S.S. NORTH CAROLINA
Feb - Lillian purchases property in Chicora area of what is now Charleston Heights, SC. Disappears from Charleston City Directory thru 1915 - Elwood says that is when he was overseas and Lillian and the children moved to Gloucester. The history of the ships he was on during this time would seem to bear this out. May-June - the NORTH CAROLINA is engaged in attending the centennial celebrations of the independence of Argentina. Jun 02 - Calvin born - Gloucester, NC Jul 22 - Little Carl died - diphtheria - couldn't get him to a doctor - no roads Sep - John is in Newport, RI onboard the U.S.S. NORTH CAROLINA. |
| 1911: |
Jun-Jul - The NORTH CAROLINA is engaged in attending the centennial celebrations of the independence of Venezuela. Jul-Aug - The NORTH CAROLINA is involved in carrying the Secretary of War for an inspection tour of Puerto Rico, Santo Domingo, Cuba and the Panama Canal; and in bringing home from Cuba bodies of the crew of the MAINE for their final interment in Arlington National Cemetery. Sep 11 - discharge Good Conduct Medal Sep 12 - re-enlisted - New York, NY U.S.S. NORTH CAROLINA Lillian listed as residing in Gloucester, NC Sep 30 - U.S.S. FRANKLIN - receiving ship for Norfolk Station. Dec 11 - U.S.S. BUFFALO - This ship, an auxiliary cruiser built in 1892, is in service with the Asiatic Fleet in Chinese waters at this time. |
| 1912: | Jan 21 - U.S.S. SARATOGA - This ship is in the Far East at this time. Oct 18 - Brother Joe deeds some Gloucester property to John. Which property?? Oct 21 - Lillian sells the Chicora property. Nov 2 - Received Good Conduct Medal, dated ?-11-1911. |
| 1913: | Dec 20 - U.S.S. MONTEREY - China. |
| 1914: | Sep 30 - Receiving Ship at San Francisco Nov 3 - Receiving Ship at Norfolk Granted 30 days leave Dec 11 - U.S.S. HARTFORD - Station Ship at Charleston. |
| 1915: | Feb - family moved back to Charleston according to Elwood. No entry in Charleston City Directory. Jun 1 - John buys property in Chicora area of Charleston Heights, SC Sep 10 - re-enlisted for 4 full years |
| 1916: | Reappears in Charleston City Directory - in USN - living at Chicora Place (no address). |
| 1917: | Dec 6 - Naval Hospital - Charleston, SC Dec 23 - Receiving Ship at Charleston, SC |
| 1918: | Jan 9 - Appointed Boatswain (temporary) Feb 1 - Applied for War Risk Insurance with the Treasury Department in the amount of $5,000 payable in monthly installments of $28.75 in case of death or total permanent disability. May 20 - Appointed to temporary rank of warrant officer. Charleston City Directory now shows him living at #20 (7th Street), Chicora Place. |
| 1919: | Jul - John purchases more property in Chicora. |
| 1920: | Jul 15 - Reverted back to C.M.A.A. Jul 16 - re-enlisted for 4 years - Charleston, SC Lillian residing Station 14, Charleston Receiving Ship at Charleston, SC Aug 16 - Transferred to Fleet Reserve and released from active duty |
| 1921: | Jul 1 - Rating changed to CBM Jul 8 - John purchases some more Chicora property. |
| 1922: | Charleston City Directory lists him as a Rigger at the Navy Yard. |
| 1924: | Charleston City Directory lists him as retired. |
| 1925: | Jul 1 - Transferred to ____________________________________ |
| 1925: | May 4 - Retired |
| 1928: | Charleston City Directory lists him as Rigger at the Navy Yard, living at Sta. 13, Chicora Place. |
| 1929: | Charleston City Directory lists him as Rigger at the Navy Yard, living at #20 Seventh St., Chicora Place. May 4 - Placed upon the Navy's retired list. |
| 1930: | Disappears from Charleston City Directory until 1938. |
| 1932: | May 7 - Advanced to the rank of Boatswain on the Retired List of the Navy. |
| 1937: | Trip to California and Canada |
| 1938: | Charleston City Directory shows him living at Seventh St., Chicora Place - no employment. |
| 1942: | Charleston City Directory shows him living at #15 Seventh St., Chicora Place. This is the "little" gray house they moved to when they sold the "big" gray house. This is where they were living when he died. Street name was changed to Orvid at some point. At some point around this time, John and Lillian open a trailer park for Navy Yard workers. |
| 1945: | Apr 9 - died - Orvid St, Charleston, SC buried - Pigott Cemetery - Gloucester, NC later moved to Churchyard - Straits Methodist Church - Straits, NC |
| 1946: | Apr 17 - Estate received $38.71 as his final retired pay from the Navy for the period of Apr 1-9, 1945. |