The Pierce Manse, Home of President Pierce, Concord, N. H. Jul 2013

 This posting will take a look at the home of President Franklin Pierce in Concord, New Hampshire and the Concord cemetery where Franklin is buried.  Franklin Pierce is the only person from New Hampshire to be elected President of the United States. This house was built in 1838 and is the only home owned by Franklin Pierce. Pierce resigned his U. S. Senate seat to be near his family and to concentrate on his law practice and at this time they moved into the Manse. Franklin and his family lived in the house from May 1842 to May 1847 when Franklin left to serve in the Mexican War. A year after moving into the Manse, the Pierce's second son, Franky, died of typhus at the age of 4. Shortly after his return from the war in 1848, Pierce sold the house and the family returned to boarding in Concord homes until he was inaugurated as 14th President of the United States in 1853. This was the only house ever owned by Franklin. As noted in earlier postings Mrs. Pierce observed a year long mourning period following the death of her 3 sons. She did eventually go to Washington to fulfill her White House duties as best as she could. After leaving the White House she and Franklin traveled Europe for more than two years in an attempt to restore her health. She died of Tuberculosis in 1863.

President Pierce Manse Concord, New Hampshire Home

Pierce Manse

The story of how the home became to be known as Pierce Manse. The Pierce family lived in what is now known as the Pierce Manse and the house was originally located on Montgomery street in downtown Concord. The house was moved to its current location in 1971 after it was slated for demolition as part of a urban renewal project. Community volunteers, known as the Pierce Brigade secured a land grant and raised money to relocate the house and restore the Manse to its original condition.They needed a name that would distinguish Franklin and Jane's Concord home from his birthplace in Hillsborough, The Pierce Homestead and the Pierce Mansion where he died the home was named Manse in 1969. The name means " a house lived in by it's owner ". The Salem, Massachusetts home of Franklin's long time friend Nathaniel Hawthorne was known as " Old Manse " and that served as the idea for the name.

Photograph Of he Home Being Moved To Its Current Location

Dining Room

Jane's Bedroom

Beaver Hat And Cane Used By Franklin

This was an interesting house with many interesting items which of course they did not want photographed. The welcome center is located just inside the front entrance and they have a few items for sale and a short video to watch. The tours are led by volunteers who were very pleasant, knowledgeable and seemed to enjoy what they were doing.

Next on to the Old North Cemetery where Many of the pierce family are buried. The wrought iron enclosure where he is buried is known as Minot enclosure. I did not track down how it got that name. Also note the plaque says that Franklin was popularly known as " Young Hickory of the Granite Hills ". In all of my visits this is the first I saw this name used to refer to Franklin.

Gate Leading Into Minot Enclosure

Franklin Pierce Grave Site

Names Of Pierce Family Members Buried Here. Interesting The Child That

 Lived Only A Couple Of Days Is Not Listed

The beautiful old white house by the cemetery is the McNeil house. He was Solomon McNeil and he married Nancy Pierce. An interesting bit of information is that Benjamin Pierce ( Franklin's ) father donated the land for this cemetery to the town of Concord with the proviso that he could continue to cut the grass and keep for his use.

Well folks that is about all I have to tell you about this 14th President of the United States who it seems to me was a very misunderstood person who had many troubling days in his life. It is time to try to find my way over, up, or what ever direction I need to go to find Jim and get him off the Appalachian Trail and safely back home. My next report will be from Mountain Meadows Lodge, Killington, Vermont.

As always remember that God loves you and so do I.

Grandpa Bill