In the Forest Hill Cemetery of Derry, New Hampshire, stands a veteran stone for a member of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry: John MacPherson (ie Mcpherson) of Company D. A headstone was ordered in 1940 for the soldier; the application lists no date of death.
For years, it was questioned why he was buried here, and what was his connection to Derry. Even more so is the fact that the same veteran has a stone in Arlington National Cemetery [see Find a Grave memorial #57196241], having died in Washington, DC on 4 Oct 1920.
If John McPherson was buried in Arlington, was the stone placed in Forest Hill an error and, if so, who is actually buried there?
A clue to that is inscribed on the gravestone that sits directly beside him: the family of Ida MacPherson, Clara J and Charles Chase.
A clue to that is inscribed on the gravestone that sits directly beside him: the family of Ida MacPherson, Clara J and Charles Chase.
A quick look at census records found no Ida MacPherson in Derry. However, with a shift in search methods, that soon changed. She was Ida PHERSON, and was the wife of JOHN F. PHERSON.
John was a veteran, though his known service was prior to the Civil War. As seen in the following images from the US Register of Enlistments (click on them to enlarge), they show John F. Pherson of Bedford, NH enlisting on 2 April 1851 for 5 years, with the Company D, US Mounted Rifles. On 6 Feb 1856, he reenlisted for another 5 years, same unit. He was discharged for disability at Fort Bliss, Texas on 1 Mar 1859.
Private Pherson applied for, and received a pension (under “O.W.” ie Old War), for $6. a month. Following his death, his widow Ida (not Ada as on index card) applied for his pension, but was rejected (reason unknown - pension file not yet ordered).
The 1890 Veteran Schedule for Auburn, NH lists John F. "Phirson", with a note that he had served 8 years in Co. D, 1st Regiment, Mounted Rifles. It also says "1st Mass", with no dates.
He died in Derry on 3 Jan. 1896. An obit was published in the Derry News, on Jan. 10th, 1896 (pg 1):
He died in Derry on 3 Jan. 1896. An obit was published in the Derry News, on Jan. 10th, 1896 (pg 1):
The "MacPherson" family stone looks like a "newer" marker, and entries found on Find a Grave indicate there were earlier individual stones for, at least, the two Chase names. Perhaps the single stone was placed following Ida's 1953 death, and the erroneously spelled surname done at that time (based on the veteran stone beside her).
How the burial place of John F. Pherson was somehow mistakenly changed to that of John McPherson/MacPherson is not known. His widow Ida would have been alive at the time that veteran stone was ordered as well (though living in Haverhill, MA).
How the burial place of John F. Pherson was somehow mistakenly changed to that of John McPherson/MacPherson is not known. His widow Ida would have been alive at the time that veteran stone was ordered as well (though living in Haverhill, MA).
The following is the family of John, wife Ida, and their two children:
JOHN F. PHERSON was born abt 11 May 1830 (based on age at death) in Bedford, Hillsborough, NH, the son of William and Mary Pherson. He died in Derry, Rockingham, NH on 3 Jan 1896 from cancer, aged 65 yrs, 7 mos, 23 das. He was buried in Forest Hill Cemetery, Derry [NH Death Rec].
He was married, date not yet found but circa 1890, to IDA M. ALLEN. She was born in Malden, MA on 2 Aug 1875 [MA VR: birth registered in Medford, MA], the dau of Thomas K. and Margaret A. (Nichols) Allen. She died in Haverhill, MA in 1952 [MA Death Index; gravestone]. She was buried in Forest Hill Cemetery, Derry [her father also buried in this cemetery, in adjacent lot to her and John].
They had two children:
i. CLARA JANE PHERSON, born 21 Jan 1891 in Auburn, NH [“Phersons” on birth rec; father was age 60, mother 15 yrs, 5 mos]. Died in Haverhill, MA in 1938 [MA Death Index; gravestone]; buried in Forest Hill Cem., Derry. She married in Derry, NH on 5 Sept 1908 to FRED ELMER CHASE Jr, son of Fred and Aletta (Young) Chase [NH Marr Rec].
1. Dorothy May Chase, born in Derry, NH ca 1911
2. Charles Henry Chase, born in Derry, NH on 12 Jan 1913; died in Haverhill, MA on 26 Dec 1913 [not 1915 as on stone], aged 11 mos, 14 das, from broncho-pneumonia [MA Death Rec]. Buried in Derry, NH.
ii. EMMA PHERSON, born 14 Feb 1895 in Derry, NH [from death rec]. She died on 1 Jan 1919 in Haverhill, MA from influenza and pneumonia [MA Death Rec]. She was bur in St. Patrick Cem, Hav. Married on 13 Mar 1915 In Haverhill, MA to DANIEL MURPHY.
JOHN F. PHERSON was born abt 11 May 1830 (based on age at death) in Bedford, Hillsborough, NH, the son of William and Mary Pherson. He died in Derry, Rockingham, NH on 3 Jan 1896 from cancer, aged 65 yrs, 7 mos, 23 das. He was buried in Forest Hill Cemetery, Derry [NH Death Rec].
He was married, date not yet found but circa 1890, to IDA M. ALLEN. She was born in Malden, MA on 2 Aug 1875 [MA VR: birth registered in Medford, MA], the dau of Thomas K. and Margaret A. (Nichols) Allen. She died in Haverhill, MA in 1952 [MA Death Index; gravestone]. She was buried in Forest Hill Cemetery, Derry [her father also buried in this cemetery, in adjacent lot to her and John].
They had two children:
i. CLARA JANE PHERSON, born 21 Jan 1891 in Auburn, NH [“Phersons” on birth rec; father was age 60, mother 15 yrs, 5 mos]. Died in Haverhill, MA in 1938 [MA Death Index; gravestone]; buried in Forest Hill Cem., Derry. She married in Derry, NH on 5 Sept 1908 to FRED ELMER CHASE Jr, son of Fred and Aletta (Young) Chase [NH Marr Rec].
1. Dorothy May Chase, born in Derry, NH ca 1911
2. Charles Henry Chase, born in Derry, NH on 12 Jan 1913; died in Haverhill, MA on 26 Dec 1913 [not 1915 as on stone], aged 11 mos, 14 das, from broncho-pneumonia [MA Death Rec]. Buried in Derry, NH.
ii. EMMA PHERSON, born 14 Feb 1895 in Derry, NH [from death rec]. She died on 1 Jan 1919 in Haverhill, MA from influenza and pneumonia [MA Death Rec]. She was bur in St. Patrick Cem, Hav. Married on 13 Mar 1915 In Haverhill, MA to DANIEL MURPHY.