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The Real Uncle Sam: Samuel Wilson LbNA #53396

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:May 1, 2010
Location:
City:Mason
County:Hillsborough
State:New Hampshire
Boxes:1
Planted by:lookin4moose
Found by: cgowlie
Last found:Sep 1, 2013
Status:FFFFFFF
Last edited:May 1, 2010
187 Valley Rd

Uncle Sam is the national personification of the United States and sometimes more specifically of the American government, with the first usage of the term dating from the War of 1812. He is depicted as a stern elderly white man with white hair and a goatee beard, and dressed in clothing that recalls the design elements of flag of the United States—for example, typically a top hat with red and white stripes and white stars on a blue band, and red and white striped trousers. The first use of the term in literature is seen in an 1816 allegorical book, The Adventures of Uncle Sam in Search After His Lost Honor by Frederick Augustus Fidfaddy, Esq.

Ever wonder who the real Uncle Sam was?
Samuel Wilson was a prosperous middle-aged meat-packer born in Troy, NY, who grew up in Mason, NH. During the War of 1812, he obtained a contract to supply beef to the Army, which he shipped in barrels. The barrels, being government property, were branded with the initials "US" but the teamsters and soldiers would joke that the initials referred to "Uncle Sam", who supplied the product. Over time anything marked with the same initials (as much Army property was) also became linked with his name. The 87th US Congress adopted the resolution on Sept. 15, 1961: "Resolved by the Senate and the House of Representatives that the Congress salutes Uncle Sam Wilson as the progenitor of America's National symbol of Uncle Sam".
(Wikipedia-Uncle Sam/Samuel Wilson)

To find his historic symbol, make your way to Canal St in Townsend, MA. Canal changes names to Valley at the NH line. Watch left for his historic marker celebrating his boyhood home 4.8 miles from where Canal begins. Continue .2 miles further to the Pleasant View Cemetery on the left. Park on the dirt drive immediately after the entrance.
Walk through the stone blocks and look for the Blood brothers who never returned. From there, head left to the almost top left corner of the cemetery and locate Sam's family's plot. Head right to several large multi-trunked pine trees. His world renowned initials are waiting behind the first tree under some rocks. When you find them, you'll be a Yankee Doodle Dandy: a real live nephew or neice of your Uncle Sam, even if you weren't born on the 4th of July!