Jeremiah Gove (1694-1767) was at Louisbourg in 1745/46, as was his brother-in-law, Capt. Jonathan Prescott who died there of typhus, and as was Jeremiah's son, Joseph Gove (1726-1802) .

Americans and Candians have never been at war (it was the British that burned your White House in 1812) and we should be the closest of friends due to our common early heritage.

Example: the Jeremiah Gove above was the grandson of Edward Gove (see Edward Gove's Rebellion-Jan.27,1683) who fomented rebellion vs Gov. Cranfield, launched a raid on such, was captured, convicted of treason, sentenced to hanging, disembowelling (and worse), drawing and quartering-but commuted to the Tower of London, until pardonned 3 years later. At the other end of the above, Joseph Gove, who signed the Associoation Test (although mny Goves were Quakers-some for 'real' and some for 'convenience') had a grandson who came to New Brunswick (now part of Canada) as a "Late Loyalist". There were far more divided family loyalties during the Revolution/Rebellion than there were during the Civil War. These divisions were intolerable to many New Englanders and there was a dedicated 'forgive andf forget' effort in the 1780's-in part, to reverse the teremendous 'brain drain' that took place with the departure of the Loyalists, mostly in 1783. I am the descendant of the man who lead the 1st Revolution (he was the epitome of the NH motto'"Live free or die"), a man who was a signer of the Association Test and of several Loyalists.

What am I?-a North American! I'm proud of all of my heritage, am happy as a Canadian but am glad that 'my people' are also Americans.
James Gove Oborne

EDITOR’S REPLY: Great question. We’ve put in requests to the current owners of the Portsmouth Regional Hospital, but it seems unlikely any records from the 19^th century survive there. They may have become part of city records and then passed on to the Portsmouth Athenaeum, but that might be unlikely as well. If they survive and are in city records, God help anyone who wants to locate them. We’ve not learned how, but maybe a reader local will know.

March 10
MORE SCENIC WALKS
I didn't see it on your website (although I may well have missed it) but the Great Bay Nature Preserve at the far end of the Pease Tradeport also has nice wooded loops for easy hiking (similar to the Urban Forestry Center). There's a 2-ish mile loop that starts off with a rather unprepossing view of the fenced off old ammo dump, but soon turns into a pleasant ramble past open fields and through woods with a nice view of the bay. Plenty of birds, butterflies, wildlife for the patient viewer. There's also a short 1/2 milish loop that goes by some pond. Ample parking - and trail maps.
George Oakes

EDITOR’S REPLY: Thanks for the tip. We’ll check it out when the weather gets nice enough for pretty pictures, and post them in Scenic Seacoast Walks.

March 7
SEEKING BARK LIGHTFOOT
An 85 year old WWII veteran friend of mine (James L. Risk Jr.) who is also (as I am) a graduate of the US Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point NY recently told me that his father - James L. Risk Sr. was born on the Barkentine "Lightfoot" in a harbor in Japan.

Captain James Risk, master of the Bark Lightfoot, named the son James Lightfoot Risk in honor of his vessel Lightfoot which grandfather Risk owned and was captain of. He carried his wife on the vessel who gave birth on board. The Lightfoot was registered out of New Bedford.

Subsequently Captain James Risk had two additional sons whom he eventually commissioned as master of two other sailing ships he owned. According to my friend, grandfather and the two sons perished at sea in separate storms and lost all three ships. My friends father ("Sr") was not one of the brothers who perished. He went on to have a distinguished US Navy WWI (one) career as a Captain USN and as a Captain with the now extinct Clyde Mallory Lines. His son (my friend) followed his Dad's career in the US Merchant Marine in WWII.

My friend Jim Risk Jr. tells me he believes that the Bark Lightfoot's photo resided in the Peabody Museum in Marlboro (or is it Marblehead) MA. Is this your current museum? Is there anyone who can help me research this especially to see if this vessels photo actually exists? I would like to present a copy of this to him while he still lives.
Roger Tetrault in North Carolina 

EDITORS REPLY: Wow, that was one great letter. We only regret we are clueless. This site focuses exclusively on topics relating to the history of Seacoast, New Hampshire. You can reach the Peabody Essex Museum via the link on this page.

wrote his name on Mrs. Smith's personal coffee table, that she had put in room 202 to dress it up. When I found it. I ran it down to Alfie Turner. And he sanded it off and refinshed it. I then put it back in the room. Mrs. Smith didn't know about it until the 100th. anniversary of the hotel. The Portsmouth Herald had called me to verify what had happened when then senator, Kennedy was at the Rockingham Hotel. I asked if they were talking about the coffee table? They were, so I told them the story. They then contacted Mrs. Smith and she told them that she never knew about it. But wished that she had. The Herald was told the story by the former Head Housekeeper. She was the one that told me to check the table that day back in 1959. Your mother worked at The Wentworth for two seasons before we got married. So did her brother Ben. You could give Mr. Robinson our phone number. Just tell him that we have his book. It was a gift from Tom Varley the day we

gave him the Wentworth matchbox that I had for 43 years. And he presented us with a special invitation to the grand opening on June 19th. 2003. All we are asking for is his autograph for his book. We'd appreciate it if he could put our names above his autograph. Let me know if you can do this for us. Thanks
Lylah Starkey