Possible Civil War Cavalry Sword belonging to a lighthouse keeper.
The sword in this picture has been laying on the top of a display case in the Portsmouth Historical Museum. It has been somewhat out of sight, so it is a good candidate for our Out of the Attic theme this year. It had an acquisition number written on it which refers to some old museum records. According to the record. It was a:
“Civil War sword (that) belonged to Sheridan Smith, Calvary man. His horse was shot out from under him and for recognition he was made keeper of the Mussel Bed Shoal lighthouse. This is how they came to this section from Norton MA.”
Is this true? How can we determine that?
An on-line search revealed that historical records for the Mussel Bed Shoal lighthouse list a Thomas and Andrew Smith as lighthouse keepers – Not Sheridan Smith. Was Sheridan a middle name?
Mussel Shoal Light – near Mt. Hope Bridge area.
The 1880 Federal census lists ”Thomas S. Smith” as a resident of Portsmouth and a “Lighthouse Keeper”. We learned that his wife’s name was “Roseanne.” Does the “S” stand for Sheridan? We noted that the census lists one of his sons as “Andrew.”
Thomas Smith died in 1881 and it appears that his son Andrew took over the role as lighthouse keeper.
A Veterans Schedule from 1890 lists Roseanne as the wife of Thos. S. Smith (Alias) “Thomas Sheridan.” It also says he was in the Cavalry.
Is this a cavalry sword? It is similar to images we have seen of a typical Civil War Cavalry Sword found online.
It appears that may indeed be a Civil War Calvary Sword that belonged to Thomas Sheridan Smith. Was his horse shot out from under him? That is more difficult to prove. Maybe someone in Smith’s family has more of the story.
Research by Richard L. Schmidt of the Curator’s Committee
portsmouthhistorynotes 