LOT HALL SIDELINGER

GEDCOM Note

FOUND DNA MATCH THAT PROVES LOT HALL SIDELINGER IS IN OUR LINEAGE.

Lot, a 1-syllable boy's name of Hebrew origin, means: To envelop; protect; to veil. It's religious association is biblical (see * Ge 14:12).

He appeared on the census on 7 Jul 1860 in Damariscotta, Lincoln Co., ME. He resided with Nancys mother and family on 7 Jul 1860 in Damariscotta, Lincoln Co., ME. He was not in 1840 or 1850 Census. In 1850, he may have been in California during gold rush.

Lott Sidelinger found in:

US - Census Index (1860)

Age: 35 Gender: M

State: Maine

County: Lincoln Town: Damariscotta

Birth Location: ME Roll: 442

Household of Nancy Chapman

Nancy Chapman Age 62

Albert Chapman Age 41

Thomas Chapman Age 34

Edward Chapman Age 23

Lott Sidelinger Age 35

Nancy Sidelinger Age 21

Lott's Son Lott Hall Jr. was not Listed and he would have been about 9 years old.

Lot H. Sidelinger found in:

Census 1870

Age: 48

Gender: M

Race: W

Occupation: Farmer

Birthplace: ME

State: Maine

County: LINCOLN

Locale: DAMARISCOTTA

Series: M593

Roll: 549

Part: 1

Page: 512A

Value of Real Estate 1,100

Value of Personal Estate 2,230

Lot Sidlinger was heavy set and powerfully strong. In his younger days, he sought his fortune in the gold fields of Califonia during the Gold Rush of 1849 and was quite sucessful. Lot returned from the California Gold Fields with $10,000 in gold. However, in New York City, he was hospitalized as a result of poisoned liquor and was robbed of his gold.

"Gold Rush of 1849": In January 1848, James W. Marshall, a carpenter building a sawmill in partnership with John A. Sutter in California's Sacramento Valley, discovered gold. Sutter made his workers promise to keep the discovery a secret. However, the news leaked out within a few months. A shrewd merchant, Samuel Brannan, one of the early Mormon settlers in San Francisco, owned a store near Sutter's fort. In early May, he returned to San Francisco from a visit to the diggings and spread the word of gold, hoping to increase his business and set off the gold rush in earnest. Within a few days, boats filled with townspeople were heading up the Sacramento River to look for gold. Brannan, of course, had stocked his store with mining supplies and was doing a thriving business. San Francisco soon was almost a ghost town, as everyone was off to the gold sites. Newspapers were filled with the accounts of men who claimed to have become rich overnight by picking gold out of California's wondrous earth. Then, in a message to the Congress of the United States in December 1848, President James K. Polk confirmed the presence of gold in California. That winter, 1849, people from all walks of life from all across the United States and some from other countries as Mexico, Europe, Austrailia, and China set out for California. Many sold all their possessions to get there.

In 1878 at the age of 56, Lot signed on as a ship's carpenter on the Mable Clark ship. "1661.19 tons, built 1877 in a Waldoboro, Maine shipyard. The Mable Clark left Liverpool, England on March 9, 1878 with a cargo of coal bound for Hong Kong. On May 1, 1878 while sailing eastward in the South Atlantic toward the Cape of Good Hope, the ship crashed against rocks near the island of Tristan da Cunha, a volcanic island about half way between South America and the Cape of Good Hope, at the southern tip of Africa. Some of the crew lost. It was not until more than three months after the ship wreck that word reached Nobleboro of the disaster." From Nobleboro, Maine - A History" page 68. He returned in 1880 and Nancy Chapman supposedly died soon after they say from the shock of his returning after thinking he dead from family lore.

The Village Herald and Lincoln Record on October 10, 1878 reported the following:

"...Mr. Lot Sidlinger, the carpenter, who belong here, arrived home. ...The ship struck a rock about one-eighth of a mile from the Island and was so terrible that all hands were almost immediately obliged to take the rigging. ...Several of the crew were washed from the rigging and drowned during the afternoon following the night that the ship struck, and one died in the rigging. The captains' little girl, ten years of age, was placed in the arms of of a man [Lot Sidelinger] soon after the ship struck. A heavy sea wrenched her from his hold. By the merest accident her hair caught in the main brace and she was quickly grasped and drawn back by the man [Lot Sidlinger], uninjured with the exception of two broken teeth." ... The island is called "New Edenborough" by the 94 native inhabitants. The natives were very friendly. A subsequent article reported that Lot held the captain's ten year old daughter, Nina, in his arms for 48 hours in the upper rigging. When rescue came he had to be cut from the rigging because his fingers would not open. It has also been reported that his fingers were pried open with a marlin spike, but he never again could fully open his hand. Due to the condition of his hands he could not go to sea again. However, he lived until 1897 to age 76.

It was also reported that Lot's powerful frame so impressed the island natives that they acclaimed him chief and gave him a wax wreath.

[Tristan da Cunha, is the principal of a group of small islands of volcanic origin. The islands lie at about latitude 37°6' south and longitude 12°1' west. The total area of the islands is about 78 square miles. Tristan is the largest at 38 square miles and the only permanently inhabited island. An ancient volcanic peak erupted on October 1961 and ruined the settlement. All of the then 262 inhabitants (94 reported in 1878) were removed to England, but most returned two years later. These islands have belonged to the United Kingdom since 1815. Most of the inhabitants, 313 reported in 1988, are descendants of British soldiers who were stationed on Tristan da Cunha during the captivity of Napoleon on Saint Helena; some are descendants of settlers from whaling ships.]

LETTER FROM LOT SIDELINGER TO SON - LOTT HALL.

"Dammariscotte, June 21, 1890

My Dear Boy, I rec a letter from you some two weeks ago was pleased to think you were living. I have not heard from you since I saw you in Mondon St. I heard you went to war and was kild at the Battle of GetisBurg. I could not find out anything further about you. I had give you up a long time ago. I hope this wil finde you well and family if you have one I think you have. I am living on a little farm in this town. My helth is not good, I am very fleshy weight is over 200 pounds. My trouble is rouitism. My eyesight is very poor. Cannote do much work. My age is 69. I have been away to see on long voges. My last was 1880 in the ship Mable Clark of New York. We lost her on the Isle of Tristan Daconnub in the South Atlantic Ocean. One long year before we got home. Lost half of our crew their perhaps you saw the acount of that ship reck the worst on record. I will not say no more about the reck. Now rite me and tell me how you are getting along and how you like the country and about folks in New York that I once new. I have been in New York very often, could never here from you nor any one els. Now I am hopes to here something from you tell me all the news. Next time I will rite you all the news.

Yours, Lot Sidelinger"

Robert E. Dunbar, George F. Dow; NOBLEBORO, MAIN- A HISTORY; Nobleboro Historical Society, Nobleboro, Maine; 1988; p 67-69;

The following is from the above source.

"SHIPWRECK AND SURVIVAL"

There are many records of heroisn and survival involving man from Nobleboro in that inspiring and challenging century of the sailing ships. An account involving Lot Sidelinger is a good example. In 1878 at the age of 56 he signed on as ship's carpenter on the Mabel Clark, 1661 tons, built in a Waldoboro shipyard. The Mabel Clark left Liverpool, England on March 9 with a cargo of coal bound for Hong Kong. On May 1, while sailing eastward in the South Atlantic toward the Cape of Good Hope at the sourthern tip of Africa, the Ship crashed against rocks near the island of Tristan da Cunha, a volcanic island about half-way South America and Africa. It was not until more than three months after the shipwreck that word reached Nobleboro of the disaster.

The new was published August 8, 1878, in the local newspaper, The Billage Herald and Lincoln Record. The item was brief, reporting that "six men were lost; and 15 besides the Captain, his wife and child were saved." About two months later, after Lot Sidelinger and First Mate Randall Hiscock and returned home, more complete accounts were published, viz; "The ship struck a rock about one-eighth of a mile from the island, and so terrible was the sea that all hands were almost immediately obliged to take to the rigging. Mr Hiscock, the first mate, received his injuries--left eye--before he left the ship by being hurled against the house or mast in attempting to reach the boats. It was in thes condition that he plunged into the sea and gained the shore.

"Several of the crew were washed from the rigging and drowned during the afternoon following the night the ship struck, and one died in the rigging. Near dark of this day, William Hitchcock, second mate, attempted to reach shore but was killed by being dashed on the rocks. His remains were interred on the island. The Captain's little girl, ten years of age, was placed in a man's arms (Lot Sidelinger) soon after the ship struck; a heavy sea wrenched her from his hold; by the merest accident her hair caught in the main brace and she was quickly grasped by the man and drawn back, wrapped in a rubber coat and lashed to the mizzen top."

The local newspaper also published information based on a letter that Randall Hiscock had written to his wife. It told how the captain and three of his crew were able to reach shore with the help of the islanders. "The aid rendered by the island people was by tying a rope around the body of one of their number who sawm off to the assistance of those struggling to get ashore, and on reaching one of them, he would take him in his arms, and both would be drawn to the land. The rest of the crew, including Mr. Lot Sidelinger, and the captain's wife and children, remained on the wreck. Mrs. Sheldon did not move for thirty-four hours, being attired only in her night clothes (the shipwreck had occurred at 2 a.m. in a night of "intense darkness" and "heavy seas") and exposed to a hail storm, the sea breaking over her most of the time." The man who had saved the captain's daughter was indenified as Lot Sidelinger. The survivors remained on Tristan da Cunha for 49 days, until they were taken on a ship heading for Singapore. There they received assistance from the U. S. Consul, who arranged for their return voyage home.

The local citizens, in a traditional American responce, arranged for a gala benefit for shipwreck survivors Randall Hiscock and Lot Sidelinger. It was held at the new Lincoln Hall in Damariscotta (now the Lincoln movie theater). Admission was 15 cents and on sale were contributions of grapes, apples, pears, fancy cookies, hulled corn, eggs, and milk. Also on the program were readings and musical performances. Lot Sidelinger told the storey of the shipwreck. He might also have been asked about his earlier adventures in the California gold fields before he took to the seafaring life. Lot remained a vigorous man for many years. He married twice and had seven children, his last child, Harry being born in 1891 when Lot was 69 years old.

He was buried in Back Meadow Road, Damariscotta, ME. Lot Sidelinger died Mar 20 1897 AE 76y.'s (grave is next to Nancy Chapman).