Jeremiah Plumer
Rank: Captain Co: F Age: "44" Residence: Biddeford Birthplace: Boscawan, NH Occupation: stable kpr
Married; Height: 6' 0 Eyes: Bl Hair: Br Complexion: Lt
JEREMIAH RICHARDSON PLUMER was born on 8 Oct 1803 in Boscawen, Merrimack, NH, the son of John and Hannah (Jackman) Plumer [Coffin, pg 167; Plumer Gen, pg 105]. He died in Lancaster, PA on 13 July 1867 from injuries he sustained in a boiler explosion [New York Times, 7/14/1867]. He has a gravestone in Woodlawn Cemetery, Biddeford, Maine with wife, but may actually be buried in Lancaster Cem, PA, as plot #1060 has his name attributed to it [Find a Grave, no photo on memorial #37392873].
On 6 May 1843, in Cabotville, MA [Springfield VR, pg 2604], he was married to ELECTA ELIDA DAY. She was born in West Springfield, MA on 27 Apr 1812, the daughter of Noah and Mary (Dewey) Day [Springfield VR]. She died on 24 Feb 1901 in Biddeford [ME VR] and was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery.
Though not yet found in 1850 census, Jeremiah and Electa may have arrived in Biddeford prior to 1849, but surely there in 1854 when daughter Mary was born. In 1860, he was worked at a livery stable, the census record listed him as age 54. His enlistment papers of Sep 1862 call him age 44, though he actually would soon turn 59 after his service began.
Jeremiah, whether alone or with his family, ended up in Lancaster, Pennsylvania by 1867, working as the superintendent for the Fulton Cotton Mill on Duke Street. According to the Lancaster Intelligencer [13 and 15 July 1867, pg 2], at 6 AM on the morning of 13 July, a boiler exploded at the mill, killing three and wounding (three mortally) many others (including pedestrians out on the street, as the boiler blew out the walls and shot 200 yards down the road). Jeremiah received injuries to both legs and an arm broken, but his wounds were mortal.
Jeremiah and Electa would have the following children:
i. ELIZABETH HAMLIN PLUMER, born 14 Jun 1845 in Springfield, Hampden, MA [Springfield VR]; died 12 Dec 1893 in Biddeford, ME [ME VR], aged 48 yrs, from heart disease [Obit, Weekly Standard, 12/15/1893, pg 5]. Married to WILLIAM S FOWLER, son of Chauncey B and Celia B (Sibley) Fowler, on 25 Dec 1869 [Plumer Gen, pg 156]. He was born in West Springfield, MA, 24 Nov 1847 [obit]; died 4 Jul 1930 [obit, Bidd. Wkly Jrnl, 7/11/1930]. Both are buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Biddeford, ME.
1. Elizabeth Bell Fowler, b. 22 May 1871 in West Springfield [Passport]; d. 23 Apr 1964, Reno, NV. Called "Lillian" in mother's obit and Biddeford newspapers ca 1892/93, when a student at Mt Holyoke Seminary (Class of '94). Marr John Locke Haines (d. 1917)
2. Sumner R. Fowler, b. 1 Jun 1873 in West Springfield, MA [MA VR]; d. 25 Dec 1952 [grave]
3. Mary Frances Fowler, b. 19 Sep 1876, West Springfield [MA VR]; d. 1954 [grave]
4. Sheldon S Fowler, b. 1878; d. 1879 [gravestone, Woodlawn Cem, Biddeford]
5. Kate Estelle Fowler, b. 1879; d. 1884 [gravestone]
ii. GEORGE W PLUMER, born 26 Aug 1846; died 4 Aug 1849 [Plumer Gen, pg 156] and is buried in parents plot.
iii. MARY FRANCES PLUMER (twin), born 12 June 1849 [Plumer Gen, pg 156]; died 29 Aug 1850. Buried in Woodlawn Cem, Biddeford, with parents.
iv. FRANK PLUMER (twin), born 12 June 1849; died 20 Jun 1849 [Plumer Gen, pg 156]. Buried with parents.
v. MARY FRANCES PLUMER, born 30 Mar 1854 in Biddeford; died in 1950 [grave]. She married on 10 Apr 1894 in Biddeford, ME [MA VR - marr reported in Newburyport] to EDWIN C NEAL, the son of Enoch and Sarah A (Merrill) Neal [Neal Family, pg 105]. He was born in Parsonsfield, ME [Marr rec] about Aug 1854 [1900 census; 1853 on gravestone]; he died in 1930 [grave]. They were living in Biddeford, 1900 and 1910 censuses, and in Goffstown, NH by 1920. They only had one child:
1. stillborn male, 3 May 1895 in Biddeford, Maine [ME vr]
On 6 May 1843, in Cabotville, MA [Springfield VR, pg 2604], he was married to ELECTA ELIDA DAY. She was born in West Springfield, MA on 27 Apr 1812, the daughter of Noah and Mary (Dewey) Day [Springfield VR]. She died on 24 Feb 1901 in Biddeford [ME VR] and was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery.
Though not yet found in 1850 census, Jeremiah and Electa may have arrived in Biddeford prior to 1849, but surely there in 1854 when daughter Mary was born. In 1860, he was worked at a livery stable, the census record listed him as age 54. His enlistment papers of Sep 1862 call him age 44, though he actually would soon turn 59 after his service began.
Jeremiah, whether alone or with his family, ended up in Lancaster, Pennsylvania by 1867, working as the superintendent for the Fulton Cotton Mill on Duke Street. According to the Lancaster Intelligencer [13 and 15 July 1867, pg 2], at 6 AM on the morning of 13 July, a boiler exploded at the mill, killing three and wounding (three mortally) many others (including pedestrians out on the street, as the boiler blew out the walls and shot 200 yards down the road). Jeremiah received injuries to both legs and an arm broken, but his wounds were mortal.
Jeremiah and Electa would have the following children:
i. ELIZABETH HAMLIN PLUMER, born 14 Jun 1845 in Springfield, Hampden, MA [Springfield VR]; died 12 Dec 1893 in Biddeford, ME [ME VR], aged 48 yrs, from heart disease [Obit, Weekly Standard, 12/15/1893, pg 5]. Married to WILLIAM S FOWLER, son of Chauncey B and Celia B (Sibley) Fowler, on 25 Dec 1869 [Plumer Gen, pg 156]. He was born in West Springfield, MA, 24 Nov 1847 [obit]; died 4 Jul 1930 [obit, Bidd. Wkly Jrnl, 7/11/1930]. Both are buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Biddeford, ME.
1. Elizabeth Bell Fowler, b. 22 May 1871 in West Springfield [Passport]; d. 23 Apr 1964, Reno, NV. Called "Lillian" in mother's obit and Biddeford newspapers ca 1892/93, when a student at Mt Holyoke Seminary (Class of '94). Marr John Locke Haines (d. 1917)
2. Sumner R. Fowler, b. 1 Jun 1873 in West Springfield, MA [MA VR]; d. 25 Dec 1952 [grave]
3. Mary Frances Fowler, b. 19 Sep 1876, West Springfield [MA VR]; d. 1954 [grave]
4. Sheldon S Fowler, b. 1878; d. 1879 [gravestone, Woodlawn Cem, Biddeford]
5. Kate Estelle Fowler, b. 1879; d. 1884 [gravestone]
ii. GEORGE W PLUMER, born 26 Aug 1846; died 4 Aug 1849 [Plumer Gen, pg 156] and is buried in parents plot.
iii. MARY FRANCES PLUMER (twin), born 12 June 1849 [Plumer Gen, pg 156]; died 29 Aug 1850. Buried in Woodlawn Cem, Biddeford, with parents.
iv. FRANK PLUMER (twin), born 12 June 1849; died 20 Jun 1849 [Plumer Gen, pg 156]. Buried with parents.
v. MARY FRANCES PLUMER, born 30 Mar 1854 in Biddeford; died in 1950 [grave]. She married on 10 Apr 1894 in Biddeford, ME [MA VR - marr reported in Newburyport] to EDWIN C NEAL, the son of Enoch and Sarah A (Merrill) Neal [Neal Family, pg 105]. He was born in Parsonsfield, ME [Marr rec] about Aug 1854 [1900 census; 1853 on gravestone]; he died in 1930 [grave]. They were living in Biddeford, 1900 and 1910 censuses, and in Goffstown, NH by 1920. They only had one child:
1. stillborn male, 3 May 1895 in Biddeford, Maine [ME vr]
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Gravestone photos, taken at Woodlawn Cemetery, Biddeford, ME on 25 March 2009 (bad lighting, need to retake)
Additional Source Data:
The Library of Congress, in their online collection, have photographs of Jeremiah Plumer and his Medal of Honor:
Drawing of Jeremiah Plumer: https://www.loc.gov/resource/ppmsca.52011/
Medal of Honor photo: https://www.loc.gov/item/2017648723/
Photograph of Capt. Plumer is a scanned copy of one later offered in an online auction (ca 2017), edited (by me) for blemishes/lighting
1849 Saco & Biddeford City Dir: perhaps the Jeremiah in Biddeford, an operative, res Foss St.
1850 census - not found
1860 Biddeford, York, Maine census (pg 93): hh 600/678; Electa's mother Mary and sis Elizabeth also in household
1866 Lancaster, PA Street Dir: Jeremiah is NOT listed in directory
1870 Biddeford (pg 28): hh 164/207; "Elida E" and sis Eliz Day both w/ house val of 2600 (share same place?), mother Mary liv w/ them at age 88
1872 Biddeford Street Directory (pg 61) widow Electa w/ house at 1 Emery
1877 Bidd St Dir (pg 69) and 1882 Bidd St Dir (pg 108): same address
1880 Biddeford Wrd-3 (pg 8): hh 21/44l 1 Emery
1890 Veteran Schedule: Electa, widow of Jeremiah, in Biddeford
- Brigham, Emma E Neal (1938). Neal Family, pg 105
- Vital Records of Springfield (MA) to 1850: also includes intents on 5 Apr 1843; pub 8 Apr; cert iss 22 Apr 1843
- Coffin, Charles Carleton. 150th Anniversary of the Settlement of Boscawen and Webster, New Hampshire. Republican Press Association c1884.
- Perley, Sidney. The Plumer Genealogy. Salem, MA: The Essex Institute c1917.
The Library of Congress, in their online collection, have photographs of Jeremiah Plumer and his Medal of Honor:
Drawing of Jeremiah Plumer: https://www.loc.gov/resource/ppmsca.52011/
Medal of Honor photo: https://www.loc.gov/item/2017648723/
Photograph of Capt. Plumer is a scanned copy of one later offered in an online auction (ca 2017), edited (by me) for blemishes/lighting
1849 Saco & Biddeford City Dir: perhaps the Jeremiah in Biddeford, an operative, res Foss St.
1850 census - not found
1860 Biddeford, York, Maine census (pg 93): hh 600/678; Electa's mother Mary and sis Elizabeth also in household
1866 Lancaster, PA Street Dir: Jeremiah is NOT listed in directory
1870 Biddeford (pg 28): hh 164/207; "Elida E" and sis Eliz Day both w/ house val of 2600 (share same place?), mother Mary liv w/ them at age 88
1872 Biddeford Street Directory (pg 61) widow Electa w/ house at 1 Emery
1877 Bidd St Dir (pg 69) and 1882 Bidd St Dir (pg 108): same address
1880 Biddeford Wrd-3 (pg 8): hh 21/44l 1 Emery
1890 Veteran Schedule: Electa, widow of Jeremiah, in Biddeford
- Brigham, Emma E Neal (1938). Neal Family, pg 105
- Vital Records of Springfield (MA) to 1850: also includes intents on 5 Apr 1843; pub 8 Apr; cert iss 22 Apr 1843
- Coffin, Charles Carleton. 150th Anniversary of the Settlement of Boscawen and Webster, New Hampshire. Republican Press Association c1884.
- Perley, Sidney. The Plumer Genealogy. Salem, MA: The Essex Institute c1917.