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Upcoming Events

All events are located at the Pierce Manse unless otherwise noted.

Thursday, April 24, 2008 at 7:00 p.m.
Pierce Brigade Lecture Series: Professional storyteller Sharon Wood will present the living history program, A Tribute to Sarah Josepha Hale. This program is underwritten by a grant from the New Hampshire Humanities Council.

Thursday, May 29, 2008 at 2:30 p.m.
Pierce Brigade Lecture Series: Join us at the Mary Baker Eddy Historic House on 62 North State Street in Concord to see their completed renovations and learn about Mary Baker Eddy's life in Concord. RSVP required to (603) 225-4555 by Friday, May 23, 2008.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008 11:00 a.m.
The Pierce Manse opens for the 2008 season! Come view our newly renovated barn, which includes an exciting new exhibition about Franklin Pierce and a changing exhibition gallery examining the New Hampshire Presidential Primary.

Thursday, June 26, 2008 at 7:00 p.m.
Pierce Brigade Lecture Series: Dr. Peter Wallner, author of the recently published biographies about Franklin Pierce, will speak about the relationship between Franklin Pierce and his long-time friend Nathaniel Hawthorne. Dr. Wallner will be available after his lecture to sign copies of the Pierce biographies.

Thursday, July 24, 2008 at 3:00 p.m.
Pierce Brigade Lecture Series: Pierce Brigade member and well-known theater artist Virginia Gerseny will give a dramatic presentation of Dolly Madison, former First Lady and wife of President James Madison.

Thursday, August 28, 2008 at 3:00 p.m.
Pierce Brigade Lecture Series: The Currier Museum of Art will present an Art Talk From Anonymous to Aponovich: New Hampshire History and Art. The illustrated presentation depicts New Hampshire through artwork from the Currier's permanent collection that captures the daily life and geography in the Granite State.

Thursday, September 25, 2008 at 7:00 p.m.
Pierce Brigade Lecture Series: Jere Daniell, Professor of History Emeritus at Dartmouth College, will speak about Revolutionary New Hampshire, from 1776 to 1795.

Thursday, October 23, 2008 at 2:30 p.m.
Pierce Brigade Lecture Series: Pierce Brigade President, Nancy Hartford, will present an slide lecture illustrating the changing styles of American furniture, 1620-1840.

Thursday, November 20, 2008 at 2:30 p.m.
Pierce Brigade Member's Business Meeting

**Tuesday, November 25, 2008 at 10 a.m.
Annual Wreath-Laying Ceremony at the Old North Cemetery, North State Street, Concord, NH. Every year, the United States President sends a wreath to the gravesite of former President Pierce to commemorate his birthday on November 23rd. Participants include the New Hampshire National Guard, the New Hampshire Governor's Horse Guards, and 4th grade students from Walker School. A reception at the Manse follows the ceremony. **TENTATIVE DATE - PLEASE CHECK BACK

Sunday, December 7, 2008 from 12 noon to 4 p.m.
Annual Holiday Open House at the Pierce Manse. Come explore how the Pierce family celebrated the holidays over 150 years ago. The Franklin Pierce University Singers will provide musical entertainment at 3 p.m. to get you in the spirit of the season! Admission is free; refreshments will be served.

The Pierce Children

Franklin and Jane Pierce married on November 19, 1834 at the Means House in Amherst, New Hampshire. Their first child, Franklin Pierce, Jr. was born on February 2, 1836 in Amhest, New Hampshire. At the time Franklin was serving as U.S. Representative in Washington, DC and never saw his firstborn son: Franklin Jr. died three days later on February 5, 1836.

Their second son, Frank (Franky) Robert Pierce, was born in Concord, New Hampshire on August 27, 1839. Franklin was serving as Senator in Washington, DC and missed his son's birth. Their third and last child, Benjamin Franklin Pierce was also born Concord, New Hampshire on April 13, 1841. Franklin was present for his third son's birth, and a year later gave up his senatorship to concentrate on his law practice and moving his young family into a permanent home in Concord.

Unfortunately, tragedy befell the family again on November 14, 1843 when Franky died of typhus in the Manse. He was only 4 years old.

Benny Pierce, their only surviving child, grew up in Concord, New Hampshire and attended local schools. His life also ended too soon, only two months before his father was to be inaugurated as U.S. President. On January 6, 1853, as the family traveled back to New Hampshire from a family funeral in Massachusetts, the passenger rail car they were riding in became uncoupled from the engine and tumbled down the hillside. Benny Pierce was the only person killed in the accident. Jane, distraught from grief over losing her last child, was unable to attend Franklin's inauguration on March 4, 1853.

Both Franky and Benny Pierce are buried, with their parents, in the Old North Cemetery in Concord, New Hampshire. The grave of Franklin Pierce Jr. is believed to be in Amherst, New Hampshire but has not yet been located.

Did You Know...

Franklin left to fight in the Mexican War on May 13, 1847 after an emotional send-off from a large group of Concord citizens. He made a brief address to the crowd, stating "I will come back with honor, or I will not come back at all." After participating in two major battles, Franklin came home on January 27, 1848.