The Washington herald., 1910-03-27
AN UNCLAIMED MINIATURE

AN UNCLAIMED MINIATURE
Some seventy years ago there was llv-
ing in an old house on the main street
of Norfolk. Va, a Mr. Edward Fiiz-
gerald. a purser in the United States
navy, who had visiting him a young
Pennsylvania girl. a niece OF his wife,
Mrs. Fitzgerald This young lady. Miss
Sarah Hite Roberts, was the daughter
OF that well-known legislator, Jonathan
Roberts. who was such a prominent fig
ure in public and political life for over
fifty years. having been a member Of
both branches OF the legislature of Penn
sylvanla. of the House of Representatives,
and Senate Of the United States, and col
lector OF the port Of Philadelphia, ap-
pointed TO that Office IN 1910. It is mar
rated of Mr.. Roberts that, although a
member OF the Society Of Friends. ne
voted for the war of 1872. and in con-
sequence OF this action felt it incum-
bent on him TO withdraw from the So
ciety. so as TO run no risk OF being dis
missed or turned out Of meeting, says
the Philadelphia Record.
Il happened that during this visit OF
Miss Roberts to her aunt, II was found
necessary to make some repairs to the
Norfolk house, and while this was be-
ing done, behind a mantlepiece was found
a miniature which depicted a handsome.
dark-eyed, curly-haired young man in the
uniform OF an officer in the United
States navy. The frame was missing and
the outer edges were broken, but the
portrait itself was intact and uniniured.
How II came 10 be in this secret hiding
place. by whom placed there. either by
accident or design. there was no method
Of determining On the back Of the
miniature was a portion of an inscrip-
ton the first part having evidently been
broken of, "'-lagher, L. S. S. Frank
lin"
Inquiry ELECTED the fact that on the
United States ship Franklin, Lieut.. John
Gallagher had served from 1917 70 $50.
and the miniature was evidently q por-
trait Of that officer.
There seems TO have been at the time
the miniature was found In 1882 the Inn
preston that Capt Gallaghers family
lived IN Pennsylvania, and as Miss Rob-
erts was a Pennsylvania girl and was
soon to return TO her home in that state.
Mrs Fitzgerald gave her the miniature.
thinking that possibly she would, at
some time. have an opportunity of Civ
ing 1t to a member OF the Gallagher fam
lily.
Time passed on. however. bringing fits
inevitable changes. Miss Roberts mar
ried, becoming Mrs. Tyson Her father
died in 1854, and Mr.. Fitzgerald three
years later, in 1857. During these years
no one appeared who had any claim on
the miniature. though Mrs. Tyson was
always DESTROYS OF seeing It in the pos
session OF some member OF Capt. Gala
gher's family.
The inquiries made at the Navy De-
partment in Washington concerning the
young naval officer brought forth ac-
curate but meager details. merely a rec
in Maryland and was appointed a sail
ing master in the navy in 1909. was act
ing lieutenant In 1912. and received HIS
commission as lieutenant in June OF the
next year. In 1926 he was promoted to
the rank of commander, and in 1885 was
made captain. Seven years later he died
near Wilmington, Del, on November /,
1912, about the date OF the finding of his
miniature in the old Norfolk house.
Judging from the inscription on the
back it was painted at some time during
his service on the Franklin. between 1917
and 1920
The Franklin was a new vessel, built
in 1873. at the navy yard, in Philadelphia,
indeed the first keel that was laid at
the new navy yard" was that of this
frigate. 1t was one OF the largest vessels
in the government service. as it was one
Of the few that carried seventy-four guns.
1t was launched at Philadelphia, August
Is, 1916. The war Of 1872 gave decided
impetus to the building OF the United
States war vessels, for IN this same year
six others were constructed, none, how
ever, as large as the Franklin. In 1852
the Franklin was broken up, having out
lived it's usefulness.
During all these years has the minla-
ture of this old-time naval officer, who
must have seen active service IN our
second war with Great Britain, remained |
n the possession Of Mrs. Tyson. who has
never lost the hope that at some time a /
member Of Capt Gallagher's family |
would be found TO whom could be given |
Lhis interesting miniature of a gallant |
ancestor
Mrs Sarah IT Tyson King ~ Prussia /
Montgomery County, Pa. would be glad |
70 restore this miniature to any proved 4
Of Capt. Gallagher.