Sam Houston, Washington’s Bodyguard

by Tom Seymour

Although cast from real life, the story of Captain Samuel Houston, Jr., sounds more like the stuff of fiction. An ancient trunk, a watch that once belonged to George Washington and a sword carried by Captain Houston in the Revolutionary War, figure jointly into this remarkable story of heroism and detective work.

Charlene Knox Farris was, in the summer of 1984, seeking material to use in teaching local history to her fifth grade class at Searsport Elementary School. In the process, Farris contacted Mr. And Mrs. Charles Martin, owners of the 1783 Houston House, the oldest house in town.

The Martins gave Farris a business card belonging to Lee Freedman, owner of Southwest Harbor Antiques Gallery in Southwest Harbor, Maine. Freedman had contacted the Martins regarding a trunk he had acquired. That trunk belonged to Revolutionary War soldier, Samuel Houston Jr.

Freedman guessed that the Martins might be descendants of Huston, since they lived in the original Houston House. They were not, but this contact between Freedman and the Martins set into motion a process that in the end, disclosed much about Samuel Houston’s life and times. It also gave Searsport something special, a real-life hero of national celebrity.

Treasure Trove

Her interest aroused, Charlene Knox Farris visited Freedman’s Southwest Harbor shop. Freedman kindly allowed Farris to examine, research and document the contents of the Houston trunk. These included, among many other items, the handwritten, “A Narrative and Memoir of Samuel Houston, Jr. of Belfast.” and also, a silhouette of Samuel Houston Jr.
In years past, Belfast and Searsport shared a vastly different boundary than what exists today. In Houston’s time, the line between East Belfast and West Prospect (as what is now Searsport was then known) was defined by Halfway Creek, currently named as Mill Stream, in today’s downtown Searsport. It was not until 1843 that East Belfast and West Prospect joined to become the Town of Searsport. This pushed the line between Belfast and Searsport somewhat more than three miles to the south. And it put the Houston House within the confines of the Town of Searsport.

Regarding the silhouette of Sam Houston, it was a common practice in the pre-photography days to have a silhouette made. Washington, Jefferson, Franklin and many others of our nation’s founders all sat for silhouettes, as did thousands of lesser luminaries. These, done from real life, come as close as possible to an actual photo and as such, have great value.

Documenting History

So when Farris picked up the silhouette from Houston’s trunk, she immediately realized that she was holding history in her hand. And she recognized that that silhouette, made from life, was a direct link between today’s world and the world of Houston

Wanting a copy of Houston’s profile for use in her history presentation, Farris used a venerable but accurate method. She held the original up to a windowpane and with translucent paper, carefully and accurately traced the image. This now appears as the centerpiece of her booklet, “Searsport’s Sam Houston.” Copies are available from the Penobscot Marine Museum in Searsport for $5 each.

Houston’s narrative, an account of his travels with Washington during the various campaigns of the American Revolution, provides a fascinating insight into many of America’s defining moments.

The Narrative

Houston did not write his narrative until age 79. His Revolutionary War pension had been revoked “on account of property,” and Houston was compelled to attest to having less than what would have disqualified him from his pension. Also, he was required to submit a record of his wartime service in order to comply with the terms of the 1832 Comprehensive Pension Act.

And so, four years before his death, Houston wrote his accounts of travels with Washington and his adventures during the late war.

The narrative tells us that Houston was on a visit to family and friends in Londonderry. New Hampshire, and stopped for the night in Newburyport, Massachusetts. There, he heard a report of the Battle of Bunker Hill. The next morning, Houston encountered a recruiting officer and enlisted upon the grounds that he be provided gun and ammunition. Thus, Houston joined the Continental Army and straightaway headed for Cambridge, where he joined Captain George Reid’s company from Londonderry. Houston found many old friends and schoolmates in this company.

While stationed in Boston, orders arrived from General Washington that each New England regiment was to select four men for Washington’s guard. These men must be at least as tall or taller than Washington, handsome, well-built, well-drilled, sober, reliable and intelligent.

Houston was chosen as one of the four from his regiment to serve in Washington’s “Life Guard.” He served in the Life Guard from March 1776 to December 1779, during which time he participated in the Battle of Trenton, the Battle of Monmouth, Brandywine Creek, Germantown and also, spent the winter with Washington’s troops at Valley Forge.

In August 1776, British troops landed at Staten Island New York, driving the grossly outnumbered colonial troops from one position to the next. Then, the Americans managed to halt the British at Harlem Heights. At this point, Houston was given charge of the guard that accompanied George Washington’s luggage. This won him the title of Baggage Master.

Two months hence, while eating breakfast, British troops approached, compelling the Americans to adopt a hasty retreat. Houston says of this, “I called out three or four and sprung into the wagonmaster’s yard and got a wagon and four and loaded up with what was most profitable…the cannon balls flying pretty thick, we got a little way off and halted some time to see how the game went on.”

Later, during the famous crossing of the Delaware preparatory to the Battle of Trenton, General Washington’s baggage wagon was in danger of foundering. A wheel had slipped over the side of the boat, so Houston jumped up to his waist in the frigid water and lifted the wheel back aboard. General Putnam, witnessing this heroic act, exclaimed, “ God curse you, there’s a man for you.”

In January 1777, his term of enlistment expired, so Houston re-enlisted and was given the rank of Corporal. We may presume that this was on account of his bravery during the river crossing.

At this point, Houston and his regiment were stationed in New Jersey. There, Houston again displayed extreme heroism by escaping capture by the British and swimming away. Later, downstream, Houston was aided by a local farmer and taken to the place where the redcoats had surprised him and his fellows. All were dead except for one who had suffered 13 bayonet wounds and was hidden in a haymow. Houston nursed the man back to health.

Then in May of 1777, Houston was assigned to the cavalry of Washington’s guard, where he was to escort the general himself and carry his dispatches.

Later, during the ill-fated battle of Brandywine Creek, Houston fought alongside both Polish Count Casimir Pulaski and Marquis de Lafayette. Houston’s friendship with Lafayette lasted for many years.

At the Battle of Monmouth, Houston completed espionage missions behind enemy lines, the most dangerous and deadly assignment possible. Because of these missions, Houston received a field promotion to the rank of Captain. In promoting Houston, General Washington presented him with his personal pocket watch. This watch remains in the possession of Houston’s great-great-great nephew.

Concerning Captain Houston’s sword, it remained the property of Joshua Black Montgomery of Greensboro, North Carolina, until 1986, when it was presented to Charlene who in turn, presented it to the Penobscot Marine Museum for the Searsport Sam Houston Exhibit.

The Trunk

All the above history was made available by virtue of information contained in Houston’s trunk, the one Farris examined in the Southwest Harbor Antiques Gallery. This trunk, Houston carried with him throughout his Revolutionary War service.

Later, Farris began an annual classroom celebration called Searsport Week. This was designed to give her students a knowledge of local history. Included in the presentation was considerable information on the Searsport man, Houston, of Washington’s body guard.

This presentation attracted local press coverage and news of Samuel Houston. Information about his trunk and his Revolutionary War service was reported in a local weekly newspaper. As a result, readers contacted Farris, offering contributions of money to go toward purchase of the Houston trunk. In the end, Farris had the $2,000 needed to buy Houston’s trunk.

But by then, because of all the publicity, the owner raised the asking price to $6,000. Farris was extremely disheartened. In the end, she decided to take the money meant to buy the trunk and establish a scholarship fund. Using only the interest, Farris was able to award a scholarship of $200 each year.

Because of her history research and community efforts, The Daughters of The American Revolution (DAR) named Farris Teacher of The Year in 1987.

In 1995, Lee Freedman contacted Farris and told her that he was liquidating his inventory and wished to give her the trunk. This was totally unanticipated news,. The trunk now resides in the Penobscot Maritime Museum encased in a protective rectangle of Plexiglas. Houston’s sword lies inside the Plexiglas, next to the trunk.

Houston’s gravestone, in the Gordon Cemetery in Searsport, carries the following inscription:

“The sleeping dust unconscious lies confined

But far far distant dwells the immortal mind.”

The January 15, 1835 edition of The Republican Journal, a Belfast newspaper, ran Houston’s obituary.

“In this town died Major Samuel Houston, aged 81, a patriot of the Revolution, having served in the army the whole period of the war and a part of the time he was one of the life guard of George Washington.”

The obituary refers to Houston as “Major,” rather than “Captain.” Yet, his gravestone proclaims his rank as captain. Farris proposes the rank of Major may possibly refer to a later appointment in the local militia.

In addition to the display at Penobscot Marine Museum, the Coleman House of the Searsport Historical Society now features a “Samuel Houston Room.”

The dauntless efforts of Farris have resurrected from the dim fog of history one of Searsport’s and Maine’s greatest heroes, Captain Samuel Houston Jr.

In recognition of her industry and effort on behalf of her students and the Town of Searsport, Dr. Ellen Fuller of the Searsport Historical Society appointed Farris Official Historian of the Town of Searsport. Although retired from teaching, Farris plans to continue visiting local schools and showing her Sam Houston presentation to students.