"Sergeant Beaubien" by historical artist John Buxton depicts Rangers on patrol overlooking Lake George. On the right is William Stark with his famous dog "Beaubien" |
Captain William Stark was a member of Roger’s Rangers, and
elder brother to General John Stark who was so famous during the American
Revolution. (Gen. Stark coined the
famous phrase “Live Free or Die” which became the New Hampshire state
motto). Both Stark brothers were born at the Stark homestead on Stark Road in Derry, New Hampshire (then known as Londonderry). Each brother took a different side during the American Revolutionary War, but served together in the French and Indian War.
William Stark adopted a wolf hybrid
dog from a French Canadian officer, and he named him Sergeant Beau de
Bien. He entered the dog into the muster
roll of the Rangers, and he earned Sergeant’s pay as a scout. The men called the dog “Beaubien”. This famous dog was beloved by the Rangers
and his story is now part of New Hampshire history.
“He [Beaubien]lived to a ripe old age and though he never
boasted of his deeds he was considered a hero.” History of Rogers Rangers, by Burt
G. Loescher, Volume 1, pages 90-91.
A hearing was held recently in Concord at the statehouse to
create a canine veteran’s day to honor service dogs. Twelve other states have such a holiday. Richard Holmes, the Derry Town historian
recently announced at the Londonderry Historical Society meeting on 25 February
2014 that the first military dog in America was Londonderry’s own
Beaubien. His story could be the symbol
of the service dogs from New Hampshire for this new holiday.
For more information:
“Dogs could be honored with Canine Veteran’s Day”, WMUR TV, 20 February 2014 http://www.wmur.com/news/dogs-could-be-honored-with-canine-veterans-day/24587696
“Sgt. Beaubien was another Nutfield First" by Rick Holmes, Derry News, March 13, 2014 https://www.derrynews.com/opinion/column-sgt-beaubien-was-another-nutfield-first/article_bb803e17-8cf0-5a59-bc2a-9bf2248386af.html
Sergeant Beaubien, original artwork by John Buxton http://www.lordnelsons.com/gallery/frontier/buxton/15.htm
My Londonderry friend just wrote a children's book about a military dog, see this link:
http://www.amazon.ca/The-Adventures-Jethro-Fritz-Feinstein/dp/1457524570
My Londonderry friend just wrote a children's book about a military dog, see this link:
http://www.amazon.ca/The-Adventures-Jethro-Fritz-Feinstein/dp/1457524570
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To cite/link to this blog post: Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "America’s First Military Dog? Sgt. Beaubien", Nutfield Genealogy, posted March 17, 2023, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2014/03/americas-first-military-dog-sgt-beaubien.html: accessed [access date]).
I think the day proposed should include all service animals. Consider "Cher Ami" from WW1.
ReplyDeleteWe'll have to add Henry Dearborn's Newfoundland dog to the list. He gave his life on Arnold's Kennebec expedition to Quebec in 1775.
ReplyDelete