Civil War Veterans Buried In Washington State - Amos Brown

U.S.S. NORTH CAROLINA
Keel Laid: 1818 Philadelphia Navy Shipyard Philadelphia, PA
Launched: 9/7/1820 Philadelphia Navy Shipyard Philadelphia, PA
Commissioned: 6/24/1824
Decommissioned: 1866
 

U.S.S. VANDALIA
Keel Laid: 1825 Philadelphia Navy Yard
Launched: 1828 Philadelphia Navy Yard
Commissioned: 11/6/1828
Decommissioned: 2/4/1863

U.S.S. MINNESOTA
Keel Laid: 5/1854 Washington Navy Yard
Launched: 12/1/1855 Washington Navy Yard
Commissioned: 5/21/1857
Decommissioned: 6/2/1859
Recommissioned: 5/2/1861
Decommissioned: 2/16/1865
Recommissioned: 6/3/1867
Out Of Service: 1/13/1868
Recommissioned: 6/12/1875
Out of Service: 10/1895 - 8/1901

VESSEL HISTORY: (NO. Carolina)
 

Commissioned at the end of June, 1824 the U.S.S North Carolina was a 74-gun (she likely carried more firepower) ship of the line in the United States Navy.  She was considered by many to be the most powerful naval vessel then afloat.

Following a long period of active service on the seas, in 1839 North Carolina was berthed at the New York Navy Shipyard. There, she served as a receiving (induction center) ship for new U.S. Navy recruits. Decommissioned in 1866, she was sold in 1867. 

VESSEL HISTORY: (Vandalia)

The first Vandalia was an 18-gun sloop-of-war. Named after the city of Vandalia, IL she served in the U.S. Navy during the Second Seminole War and the American Civil War (ACW).

Launched and commissioned in 1828, her pre-Civil War service included the Brazil Squadron (1828-1831), West Indies Squadron (1832-1839), Home Squadron (1842 - 1845), Pacific Squadron (1849-1852), East Indies Squadron (1853) - 1856) and the Pacific Squadron (1857 - 1863).

During the ACW her first assignment (5/31/1861) was with the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron off of North Carolina. During this period she captured the schooner Henry Middleton and assisted in nabbing the sailing ship Thomas Watson. She then participated in the amphibious assault on Roanoke Island, NC before putting into New York that November.

Returning to duty in 1862 Vandalia, again, joined the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron. At year's end she returned northward to New York for more repairs,

Vandalia was decommissioned in the New York Navy Yard on 2/4/1863 then sailed to Portsmouth, NH where she became a receiving (induction center) and guard ship. She remained there until "broken up" sometime between 1870 and 1872.

VESSEL HISTORY: (Minnesota)

The Keel of Minnesota a wood steam frigate - named for The Minnesota River - was laid 5/1854. She was launched 12/1855 and commissioned in 5/1857.Decommissioned in 1859, with the onset of the American Civil War (ACW) the vessel was re-activated and became flagship of the  North Atlantic Blockading Squadron.

On 3/8/1862, during the first day of the battle of Hampton Roads, Minnesota ran aground. On the second day of that battle the U.S.S. Monito arrived to confront the C.S.S Merrimack/Virginia. The contest between the first-ever ironclads allowed tugs to "rescue" Minnesota which they did on 3/10.

Repaired, and returned to sea, three years later Minnesota participated in the second battle for Ft. Fisher, AL. She then served into the twentieth century before being beached and burnt to recover her metal fittings and to clear her name for use on a newly-ordered battleship.

SAILOR (N. Carolina):
Residence: New York, NY (est.)   Age: ca. 17/18 yrs.
Enlisted/Enrolled: 11/5/1860   Rank:  Landsman
Mustered In: Inf. Not Avail.
Transferred Out: Inf. Not Avail.
Highest Rank:  Inf. Not Avail.
Rank At Transfer: Inf. Not Avail.
 

SAILOR: (Vandalia)
Residence: New York, NY (est.)   Age: ca. 17/18 yrs.
Assigned: Inf. Not Avail.   Rank: Inf. Not Avail. 
Transferred Out: Inf. Not Avail.
Highest Rank: Inf. Not Avail. 
Rank At Transfer: Inf. Not Avail.
 

SAILOR: (Minnesota)
Residence: New York, NY (est.) Age: ca. 17/18yrs.
Transferred on Board: Inf. Not Avail.
Mustered Out: ca. 5/1863 (est.)
Highest Rank: Acting Ensign
Rank At Discharge: Acting Ensign

PERSONAL/FAMILY HISTORY:

Several birth years exist for Amos Brown. Herein we are adopting 1843 and the month of November. No specific birth date has been located within available documents.  His place of birth was New York, NY.

The names of Amos' parents are not known. Both, however, were reportedly born in New York.  Another unknown is whether or not he had brothers and sisters.

Beyond his birth, the first information available pertaining to Amos' life comes from his 11/5/1860 New York, NY three year enlistment in the U.S. Navy. At that time we catch a glimpse of Amos the physical man. He was: five foot seven inches tall, had blue eyes, brown hair and a light complexion. No occupation was given.

Landsman Brown's first vessel assignment was the rendezvous ship U.S.S. South Carolina in New York Harbor. From that vessel he moved to the U.S.S. Vandalia and, then, the U.S.S. Minnesota. Military service records will have to be accessed in order to obtain dates of assignment, transfer and final muster.

Post-ACW, no information is available on Amos until he shows up in 1885 on a census in Seattle King County, WA. What drew him to the shores of the Puget Sound within the Pacific Northwest is not known. Another unknowns are when and how he arrived here. Being a sailor, however, we can surmise he came here by ship.

As printed in the City Directory, Amos' Seattle address was 1110 Front Street. His listed occupation was "Capitalist."

In 1892 Amos was employed as a clerk in the City of Seattle's treasurer's office. Also, he was married.

All that is known about Amos's bride is that her first name was Clara. Available documentation indicates Clara was born in New York during the year 1848.

1900. The dawn of the twentieth century. Amos was still residing in Seattle, but living as a lodger, likely in a boarding house. His occupation in 1900 was noted as "sailor."

Amos, died in Seattle on 4/30/1908. The cause of his passing was listed as "pulmonary tuberculosis." According to the death certificate, he was to be buried in the Seattle Grand Army Of The Republic (G.A.R.) Cemetery. He was/is, however, buried in the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery located on Seattle's Queen Anne Hill.

And Clara?  It appears that she had mental problems. Amos apparently looked after her until his death. When he died, one of the attorneys handling his meager estate - a man who was the chairman of the Relief Committee of Seattle's John F. Miller G.A.R. Post - and had arranged for Comrade Brown's funeral and burial - initiated her placement in a hospital for the insane where she could receive appropriate care and treatment.  The date of her death and final resting place are unknowns.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 POSTED: 5/12/23
UPDATED:

Buried at Mt Pleasant Cemetery AKA Free Methodist & Seattle IOOF