Hon. Thomas Entwistle of Portsmouth, NH Biography from A History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire (1915)

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Source: A History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and Representative Citizens
         by Charles A. Hazlett, Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., Chicago, Ill, 1915

See a portrait of Hon. Thomas Entwistle at
http://www.usgwarchives.net/nh/rockingham/biopics/EntwistleThomas.jpg

Page 869

     HON. THOMAS ENTWISTLE, ex-city marshal of Portsmouth, N. H.,
is a native of England, born in Hyde, Cheshire, January 12, 1840.  Coming to
Portsmouth in his boyhood, he obtained employment in the Kearsarge Mills.
Here he worked until the Civil War broke out, when he was among the first
who offered their services in defense of the Union, enlisting June 21, 1861,
in Company D, Third Regiment, New Hampshire Volunteers.  At first the
regiment was assigned to the Tenth Corps, commanded by General Gilmore,
but when General Grant received the chief command it was under the orders
of General Butler.  Mr. Entwistle served from the beginning to the end of the
war in the southern campaigns, taking part in the following actions: Port
Royal Harbor, November 7, 1861; Elba Island, March 7, 1862; Bluffton,
March 16, 1862; Jehossee, April 10,14 and 17,1862; James Island, June 8,
1862; Secessionville, June 16, 1862; Pocotaligo, October 22, 1862; May
River, January 7, 1863; Stone Inlet, April 7, 1863; Morris Island, July 10,
1863; Fort Wagner, July 18, 1863; Siege of Wagner, July 18 to September
7, 1863; siege of Sumter, September 7 to March 1, 1864; Palatka, April 13,
1864; and Drewry's Bluff, May 13 to May 16, 1864.  He estimates that for
one year of the time he was constantly under fire.  On July 10, 1863, he was
wounded in the ribs by a minnie ball.  He was wounded again at Drewry's 
Bluff on May 16, 1864, receiving the injury this time in the right leg, this
wound resulting in his capture by the enemy.  On this occasion he was first
taken to Libby prison, and then, after the lapse of two weeks, to Anderson-
ville, where he was held nine months.  In the early part of February, 1865,
as he and other prisoners were being transferred to another place, fifty of the
number, including Mr. Entwistle, jumped from the train and escaped.  After
a perilous journey of twenty-one days, during which they suffered many hard-
ships he and two companions reached the Union lines on February 21, 1865.
He received a furlough of thirty days after the assault on Fort Wagner, in
recognition of meritorious conduct on the field.  Also in the course of service
he was advanced to the rank of sergeant.  At one time he was recommended
for a lieutenancy and would have received it but for a thoughtless speech of
his uttered impulsively.  He was honorably discharged at Concord, N. H.,
August 2, 1865.  In 1863, he was presented by Gen. Quincy Adams Gilmore,
then in charge of the Southern Division, with a bronze medal for meritorious
conduct.
     After receiving his discharge Mr. Entwistle returned to Portsmouth, ob-
tained employment in the blacksmith's Shop of the navy yard, and worked

Page 870 

there for about eighteen months.  He was then appointed night patrol of
Portsmouth.  The duties of this position had been efficiently discharged by
him for two years when he was elected assistant marshal.  He held that
office for nine years and was then, in 1877, elected city marshal, in which
capacity he served eight years, making a continuous record of nineteen years
spent in the public service.  Subsequently he was captain in the navy yard.
From this position he was removed under the Democratic administration, and
for several months in 1885 he worked in the blacksmith shop of the Boston &
Maine Railroad.  He was then reinstated captain of watch in the navy yard,
after the election of Benjamin Harrison to the presidency, and remained
this time seven years.  His connection with the navy yard was ended by his
resignation to accept the office of city marshal once more, an office he occu-
pied until Dec. 31, 1912, when he resigned.
     In politics a zealous Republican, Mr. Entwistle did good service on the
committee of Ward I for about thirty years.  He has served the community
in the representative capacity of selectman, councilman and Alderman, and
in the office of deputy United States marshal.  In 1907 he was elected to the
State Senate, serving three terms, 1908-1911; and he was a member of the
staff of Gov. Robt. P. Bass for one term, in 1911-12.  He is a member of
St. John's Lodge of Masons, No. 1; Osgood Lodge No. 48, I. 0. 0. F.;
and a comrade of Storer Post, No. 1, G. A. R.
     On October 13, 1859, Mr. Entwistle was united in marriage with Elvira
S. Dyer, daughter of Zekin Dyer, of Portsmouth.  Of this marriage were
born two sons and three daughters, all of whom married, except one daugh-
ter.  Of the sons, William T. was a candy maker in Portsmouth for a number
of years and is now agent of the Columbian Life Insurance Company.  The
other, Albert H., who was a machinist at the navy yard, died in 1909.  His
widow now resides at No. 278 Cabot street. The daughters are: Elizabeth,
wife of Walter L. Tuft; Georgia, wife of Oliver J. Goldsmith; and Maude
Isabelle, who resides at home and is a well known actress.  Mr. and Mrs.
Entwistle are members of St. John's Episcopal Church of which he is a
vestryman.