John Beahan, died 1816 Portsmouth, New Hampshire

This tombstone was photographed at the Old North Cemetery in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

HTWSSTKS

Washington 

Chapter

Here rests in peace

the Body of

John Beahan

A native of Ireland

who emigrated to this happy land

AD 1809 died July 31, 1816,

AEt 31

Stranger; Brother; Companions Gone

To join the Royal Arch above,

Where the Great High priest will sure reward

His acts of Kindness, Charity & Love.

 In researching the life of John Beahan I found the website for the St. John's Lodge of Freemasons from Portsmouth, New Hampshire, with an explanation of the symbols on this tombstone.  The initial letters HTWSSTKS are for Royal Arch Masons.  The letters are "Hiram, Tyrian, Widow's Son, Sent to King Solomon", which is a reference to the mason and architect of the Temple of King Solomon.  John Beahan was a member of the Washington Chapter, No. 3, Royal Arch Masons in Portsmouth.  He became a master mason on July 7, 1813.  

John Beahan was a hatter.  He learned this trade in Ireland and he continued with this occupation here in New Hampshire. According to the Portsmouth Freemason website, his gravestone was carved by Samuel Treat. 

For the truly curious:

"John Beahan" by Alan Robinson, Historian for the St. John's Lodge, Portsmouth Freemasons, accessed June 24, 2022:  https://portsmouthfreemasons.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/JanuaryTrestle_Board_for_Email.pdf   

North Cemetery Epitaphs:    https://files.cityofportsmouth.com/files/library/North%20Cemetery%20Epitaphs.pdf  

John Beahan's entry at the Find A Grave website:   https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8091086/john-beahan   

An explanation of HTWSSTKS: 

https://tuisnider.com/2015/08/18/historic-cemetery-symbols-the-acronym-htwsstks-its-meaning/  

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To cite/link to this blog post:  Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "John Beahan, died 1816 Portsmouth, New Hampshire", Nutfield Genealogy, posted September 20, 2022, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2022/09/john-beahan-died-1816-portsmouth-new.html: accessed [access date]).