Thirty-three-year-old Francis Hanson died this date, September 18th, in 1843 of a tetanus infection and was buried at Bethel Burying Ground. Mr. Hanson was hit by a train as he was crossing the tracks in the Camden, New Jersey railroad yard and sustained a compound fracture of one of his legs. He was transported to Pennsylvania Hospital and eventually died of an infection.
Mr. Hanson was married and did not appear to have any children according to census records. He listed his occupation as “waiter.” He was employed as a personal servant in the household of United State Navy Commodore Robert F. Stockton who was commanding the Philadelphia Navy Shipyard. He was the first U.S. naval officer to act against the slave trade and captured several slave ships. He was a participant in negotiating a treaty that leads to the founding of the country of Liberia.
Mr. and Ms. Hanson lived near the intersection of 2nd and Catharine Streets next to the Delaware River waterfront and just three blocks from the Bethel Burying Ground.
Bethel Burying Ground Project 