I've told John Handran's story in previous posts ( https://gatheringthecousins.blogspot.com/2014/04/john-handran-1852-1885-medal-of-honor.html) but briefly, he was awarded the U.S. Medal of Honor by President Ulysses S. Grant in 1876 for rescuing a fellow Navy seaman from drowning. This honor hasn't previously received much recognition, perhaps partly because John died in the sinking of the Schooner Cleopatra just 9 years later.
About 5 years ago, I was contacted by the Medal of Honor Historical Society of the United States requesting "smoking gun" evidence that the John Handran in our family tree is the SAME John Handran that was awarded the Medal on Honor. I realized that, despite the excellently researched Handran family tree information provided by George Handran, I did not have adequate "smoking gun" evidence to prove this. A long search began. I was assisted by a Canadian group which specializes in Canadians (John was born in Newfoundland) who were awarded the US Medal of Honor.
In 2017, I found that evidence on the front page of the Cape Ann Advertiser Jan 1885 which I was able to review (the actual newspaper 130+ years old) at the Cape Ann Museum Library and Archives. This evidence satisfied the Medal of Honor Historical Society of the United States and they set about arranging for an "In Memory Of" memorial plaque to be laid at the sight of his wife Sarah's grave at Calvary Cemetery in Gloucester. Getting cemetery and military approval was no easy task but the plaque was laid in late winter this year and a ceremony was being planned. Then the virus stopped everyone's plans.
I told this story here on the blog, as well as on the Good Morning Gloucester blog ( https://goodmorninggloucester.com/2017/12/22/a-noble-record/). These blog posts are what brought John Handran's story to the attention of the Medal of Honor Historical Society of the United States. I told the story to well known genealogist and podcaster Lisa Louise Cooke who decided it warranted a segment on her Genealogy Gems Premium Podcast #183. I was delighted to share John's story as well as the steps taken to get some deserved recognition to him and to his family. You can listen to my interview here: https://lisalouisecooke.com/2020/06/01/new-view/
Genealogy Gems Premium is a paid subscription service (which I highly recommend for only $49.95/year) with a wide international following, but Lisa Louise has agreed to share a free version for you all to enjoy. It's time for John to get the recognition he and his family deserve for his heroism and service to country.
