On this day in 1817, an American Patriot passes away. Wentworth Cheswell was the grandson of a slave, and yet he lived life as a free man. He was even elected to public office. But there is much more to Cheswell than just his lineage. Most importantly, he was a Patriot who served his country in multiple ways during the American Revolution. Indeed, he held public positions for much of his life.
Cheswell (or Cheswill) was born in New Hampshire in 1746. Although his grandfather had been a slave, his father lived life as a free man. Hopestill Cheswell was a master housewright who built homes for Patriots such as John Paul Jones. He soon earned enough money to purchase more than 100 acres of his own land. Hopestill’s prosperity gave him the means to provide his son with a formal education. Such an education would have been rare for a “country boy.” Once his education was complete, Cheswell was a school teacher for a short period of time. It wasn’t long before he was an established property owner and a respected member of his community. Indeed, from 1768 until his death in 1817, Cheswell held a variety of public positions.
Actually, he held many positions. He was a constable, a town selectman, a keeper of town records, town assessor, a coroner, and a justice of the peace. He helped develop education regulations for the local schools, and he helped start the town’s first private library.
He held at least one other important position on the eve of the American Revolution. He was a messenger for his local Committee of Safety, and he made at least one Paul Revere-type ride to warn locals of British movements.
The story continues here: https://www.taraross.com/post/tdih-wentworth-cheswell
#TDIH #OTD #History #USHistory #liberty #freedom #ShareTheHistory
On this day in 1920, a future U.S. Coast Guardsman is born. John “Jack” Cullen is best known for his role in finding and stopping Nazi saboteurs as they attempted to invade America during World War II.
He received a Legion of Merit for his actions.
Cullen was once described as “a thoroughly wholesome, typically American boy” with “a modest demeanor.” When the Japanese attacked at Pearl Harbor, he did what so many in that generation did: He signed up to help.
Before too long, Cullen was a Coast Guardsman stationed near Amagansett, New York.
The story continues here: https://www.taraross.com/post/tdih-john-cullen
On this day in 1916, a future aviation heroine is born. Violet (“Vi”) Thurn Cowden is best known for her service in the Women Airforce Service Pilots [WASPs] during World War II.
Vi grew up on a small South Dakota farm and would later remember her early fascination with flight. As a young girl, she’d watched a hawk swoop down to grab a chicken. Vi knew instantly: “I wanted to fly like that.”
She grew older and became a teacher, but she still longed to fly. She soon convinced a pilot to give her lessons. “[I had to] ride my bike six miles out to the airport for class in the morning,” she chuckled. “And thank goodness it was downhill on the way back. And the little kids [at school] would say, ‘You flew today.’ And I said, ‘Well, how do you know?’ They said, ‘Well, you’re so happy.’”
The story continues here: https://www.taraross.com/post/tdih-violet-cowden
At about this time in 1918, a hero engages in an action that would earn him the Medal of Honor. Frank Luke, Jr., a.k.a. the “Balloon Buster,” has been called the “most spectacular air fighter of World War I.”
“He was the most daring aviator and greatest fighter pilot of the entire war,” renowned Captain Eddie Rickenbacker said. “His life is one of the brightest glories of our Air Service. He went on a rampage and shot down 14 enemy aircraft, including 10 balloons, in eight days. . . . [No other Ace] had ever come close to that.”
The story continues here: https://www.taraross.com/post/tdih-frank-luke-moh
