Eskimo whaling friends from the North LbNA #47918 (ARCHIVED)
Map
Nearby Boxes
Add Note
Add Location| Owner: | Adoptable |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Jun 7, 2009 |
| Location: | |
| City: | Groton |
| County: | New London |
| State: | Connecticut |
| Boxes: | 1 |
| Planted by: | Maire's Facets  |
|---|---|
| Found by: | Black Belt Bunch |
| Last found: | Aug 10, 2014 |
| Status: | FFFFFFFFFFaFFFaaFaar |
| Last edited: | Jan 21, 2019 |
Joseph and Tookoolito (Hannah) Ebierbing were Inuit Eskimo's who became aquainted with Charles Hall and Sidney Buddington, both ship captains who explored the Artic, as well as other sea captains in the 1860's. They travelled with these captains showing them how to survive in the Artic. Through their acquaintance with these captains they even met the Queen of England. On one occasion, Buddington's ship, Polaris was lost. Captain Hall had died under mysterious circumstances and Buddington and the crew, along with Ebierbing and Tookoolito, became marooned on an ice flow for 6 months. They only survived because of the skills of this eskimo couple. Ebierbing and Tookoolito became famous, but remained quiet and reserved. She was more well versed in English than he, and both became Christians.
Buddington brought them to Groton where they stayed with his family and then eventually bought a house. But Tookoolito had lost 2 infants and was mourning the loss of an adopted infant when her husband went north on another adventure, leaving her behind in Groton. Upon his return he learned of her death. She is buried here in Starr Hill Cemetery. Her headstone reads:
Ebierbing
Hannah Ebierbing
wife of Joseph
Died 31 Dec. 1876 age 38
Joseph left on another expedition and died in the Artic in 1881, but was not buried here in Groton with his wife, as was assumed he would be when the headstone was made for his wife.
Clues: Find Starr Hill Cemetery on Lestertown Road in Groton. Enter the cemetery section with the chain link fence, not the newer section with the stone wall. Immediately turn right and drive down toward the lower and older section of the cemetery. You will notice a stone wall in this bottom section with a green area with no burial sites on the right, and the oldest part of the cemetery on the left. You can park on the on the side of the road here, just be aware of others who may need to get by. Follow the northern side of the stone wall from the road past several headstones until you meet "Mr. Smith" Just a few steps past "Mr Smith" behind a loose stone in the wall, about thigh high, is your prize. If you walk to the tree you have gone too far. As always, use discretion and do not dismantle the wall, being careful to rehide well and replace any stones. (Side note: check out the headstones of 15 defenders of the battle of Ft. Griswold who are buried here in this section.)
Buddington brought them to Groton where they stayed with his family and then eventually bought a house. But Tookoolito had lost 2 infants and was mourning the loss of an adopted infant when her husband went north on another adventure, leaving her behind in Groton. Upon his return he learned of her death. She is buried here in Starr Hill Cemetery. Her headstone reads:
Ebierbing
Hannah Ebierbing
wife of Joseph
Died 31 Dec. 1876 age 38
Joseph left on another expedition and died in the Artic in 1881, but was not buried here in Groton with his wife, as was assumed he would be when the headstone was made for his wife.
Clues: Find Starr Hill Cemetery on Lestertown Road in Groton. Enter the cemetery section with the chain link fence, not the newer section with the stone wall. Immediately turn right and drive down toward the lower and older section of the cemetery. You will notice a stone wall in this bottom section with a green area with no burial sites on the right, and the oldest part of the cemetery on the left. You can park on the on the side of the road here, just be aware of others who may need to get by. Follow the northern side of the stone wall from the road past several headstones until you meet "Mr. Smith" Just a few steps past "Mr Smith" behind a loose stone in the wall, about thigh high, is your prize. If you walk to the tree you have gone too far. As always, use discretion and do not dismantle the wall, being careful to rehide well and replace any stones. (Side note: check out the headstones of 15 defenders of the battle of Ft. Griswold who are buried here in this section.)