David Franklin was born on Sunday 1 Nov 1840 in New York to Thomas and Mary Franklin, free people of color. He was the third of six children. By 1850 David and his family were living in Hackensack, New Jersey and he was attending school. Future censuses indicated David could read and write. By 1855 they had moved back to New York, settling in Brooklyn.
David had been pursuing the same occupation of his father and two older brothers, Thomas and Edward, when he enlisted in the U.S. Navy as an Ordinary Seaman on 13 Nov 1863 in New York City and reported to the receiving ship USS North Carolina.
When the USS Dawn came out of the Brooklyn Navy Yard on 2 Dec 1863 after almost five months for repairs, needing a new crew, David was assigned to the Dawn to serve as the Officer's Steward and cook. The Dawn departed New York on 10 Dec to join the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron. He mustered out on 31 Mar 1865.
It's not known what happened to David in the years between 1865 and 1888. He did make his way to Washington Territory and Tacoma. Sometime between 1885 and 1888 he joined Custer Post No. 6 of the Grand Army of the Republic. Custer Post elected him as an Alternate to the 1907 Encampment of the Department of Washington and Alaska.
Using Tacoma City Directories, you can trace the various places he lived in Tacoma. In most directories, his occupation is listed as cook. The 1899 directory lists his occupation as broiler, working at the Donnelly Cafe at 746 Pacific Avenue, which was connected to the Hotel Donnelly. Off and on between 1900 and 1920, his younger brother Gus lived with David. Gus' occupation was also cook.
On 2 Aug 1906, David enlisted in the Hospital Corps of the 2nd Regiment of the Washington National Guard Infantry.
On 7 Feb 1920 Gus died in the Pierce County Hospital and was buried on 11 Feb in Oakwood Hill Cemetery. Shortly thereafter, David followed him in death on Tuesday 16 Mar 1920, and was buried in a Grand Army of the Republic section of Oakwood Hill Cemetery on 20 Mar.
His grave was unmarked until 6 Oct 2022 when a VA headstone, which was obtained by Gov. Isaac Stevens Camp No. 1, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, was set and dedicated on 8 Oct 2022 by the Allied Orders of the Grand Army of the Republic.
Cemetery Information
Cemetery Name
Oakwood Hill
Cemetery Street
5210 S Alder St
Cemetery City
Tacoma
Cemetery Township
Cemetery County
Pierce
Cemetery State
WA
Grave Information
Cemetery Lot
147
Cemetery Section
Row 8
Cemetery Grave Number
4
GAR Post
Custer Post 6
GAR Department
WA
Military Headstone
Replace Headstone
Reset Headstone
Private Headstone
Headstone
GAR Marker
MOLL Marker
Other Marker
CBRC
MOH
Image 1
Photo taken 8 Oct 2022 by Sister Tricia Bures and used with her permission. All rights reserved.
Image 2
Artist rendition of Ordinary Seaman David Franklin with the USS Dawn firing its guns during the Battle of Wilson's Wharf on 24 May 1864 by Alan Archambault and used with his permission. All rights reserved.
