Tragic Tuckers

”Another great affliction” That’s what caught my attention.

Portsmouth Herald, Tues, 4 Oct 1910
Rests At Harmony Grove - A Tribute to the Memory of the Late Daniel R Tucker. The funeral of Daniel R Tucker was held this afternoon at half past two o'clock from his late home on Gates Street, Rev C H Emmons officiating.  Interment was in Harmony Grove Cemetery.  The funeral director was H W Nickerson.

Another great affliction fell upon the home of Mrs Tucker on Gates Street, when there occurred on Friday evening the death of Daniel R Tucker after a lingering illness from consumption.  Although in failing health for about a year, Mr Tucker kept at work a great part of the time until he was finally obliged to give up.  He was a man of noble characteristics and a quiet disposition.  One to whom nothing was dearer than his home and family.

Mr Tucker was a native of Cape Breton, but has been a resident of Portsmouth during the past twenty-eight years.  He is survived by his wife, four daughters, one son, and his mother, one brother, also a sister, Mrs Dodge of South Orrington, ME.

courtesy of June S

Daniel Robert Tucker married Marie Marguertie Arbuckle, the daughter of James Arbuckle & Olivia Dempsey, from New Glasgow, Nova Scotia.   

Of 10 children, only 4 girls lived into old age – their only son died at 32 leaving a 7yr old girl fatherless.

The tombstone reflects the number of losses they suffered in a short time frame including the death of the father......

And Daniel wasn’t the only one in this family to die of tuberculosis – their first two children did as well, Rachel at 18, Olivia at 20.

Portsmouth Herald, Mon, 6 Apr 1903
Rachel Tucker, daughter of Mr and Mrs Daniel R tucker, died at the home of her parents at eleven o'clock on Sunday forenoon, aged eighteen years, six months and eighteen days.  She had been ill since last December of tuberculosis and her death was not unexpected.  Miss Tucker was a member of the Universalist Church and the Young People's Christian Union and was a teacher in the Sunday School.  She leaves besides her parents, five sisters, one brother and a host of friends.  The funeral will be held from the Universalist Church on Wednesday afternoon at three o'clock.

Also in 1910, the two baby girls Sabrina aka Sabina died at 7 & Rachel S died at 6 of diphtheria.

Their only son, William Herbert drowned at the Panama - his first adventure from home

The Portsmouth Herald, Thurs, 2 Nov 1922, pg 4, col 6