Native American Sailors

These two Native Americans served in the U.S. Navy in the 19th Century and are buried here at Mount Moriah Cemetery. Both sailors have new “replica style” replacement grave markers, installed in the fall of 2020.

Seaman Solomon White, USN
War of 1812
1775-December 5, 1854
Plot: Naval 2, Row 8, Grave 26

Solomon was born on Long Island, New York and served aboard the 44-gun Frigate USS President during the War of 1812. The ship sailed as far as the English Channel, and captured several merchant vessels. It was crippled and captured by a British ship in 1815. How long Seaman White served is unknown, but he was later admitted to the Naval Asylum in Philadelphia as a pensioner. After his death at age 79, Sol was buried in their cemetery. In 1866 those graves were removed and re-buried at Mount Moriah in the Naval Plot.

Seaman Edward Olney, USN
Civil War – USS Wabash
July 26, 1799-October 8, 1867
Plot: Naval 2, Row 12, Grave 16

Edward was born in Union, Maine, a member of the Penobscot Nation. His naval record says he was married and first joined the Navy in 1843. After his re-enlistment in 1863 he served on the steam Frigate USS Wabash, part of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, and participated in two assaults on Fort Fisher, North Carolina in December of 1864 and January of 1865.  That same year he entered the U.S. Naval Asylum in Philadelphia, where he later died at age 69.