Pt Pleasant’s The Fleming Brothers, Cheating The Seas Of Many Lives

White Lawn Cemetery

The White Lawn Cemetery has been a part of Point Pleasant longer than the current residents, yet so few know its history. We can consider the White Lawn Cemetery a living document (no pun intended), much like the US Constitution. The White Lawn holds countless stories of our town’s history, the good, the bad, and the ugly. Since the first burial in 1876, with a few plots still available today, a few more chapters are waiting to be written.

White Lawn is the resting place of Pt Pleasant’s many founding families, including 27 members of the Fleming family. This is the story of David Fleming and his brothers.

Fleming Brothers

Born on May 26, 1829, in Point Pleasant to Jacob and Mary Fleming, David (Born 1829) was the eldest of six brothers.  James (born 1835), Charles (born 1838), Joseph (born 1843), John (born 1845), and Alfred (born 1854). The Fleming brothers’ great-grandfather was a fourth cousin of President George Washington. Jacob stressed to his boys the importance of being a disciplined Surfman, knowing and respecting the ocean.  Although David’s education was limited due to scarce resources, he excelled in other areas. By 16, he was known for his bravery and steady nerves. His swimming and boating skills were outstanding, and he had already learned to navigate the seas.

The Local Rescue Volunteers

The shoreline from Long Branch to Barnegat Bay was known as Squan Beach. At the southern end of Squan Beach was a group of brave rescue volunteers who would brave the elements no matter the time of year and respond to shipwrecks along the coast. With little equipment, the volunteers ingeniously utilized boats, floats, ropes, and any available materials to aid their rescue efforts.

February 14, 1846 Nor-Easter

It was February 14th, 1846, and a terrible nor-easter was hammering the New Jersey Coast.  The weather was bitter cold, with heavy snow, high winds, and extremely rough surf, and few people felt safe, even in their homes. Sailing off the coast of NJ was the John Minturn, which had 40 crew and passengers. The cargo, valued at $80,000 ($3,000,000 today), was on its way from New Orleans to New York City.  Due to this storm, the John Minturn’s Captain found navigating challenging. The Captain decided the best alternative was to attempt to beach the vessel on Squan Beach in Mantoloking. The John Minturn wrecked itself on a sand bar about 300 yards off the beach. This was a horrible place for any ship to be in this situation.

The John Minturn wrecked when David Fleming was 16, and this was his first rescue with the volunteer team. During the 18 hours of braving the waters, the volunteers would swim out to the wreck, rescuing as many souls as possible. Additionally, they’d shoulder the solemn duty of bringing the deceased back to shore. Had it not been for the wreck of the John Minturn, David may have taken a different path.  David joined the volunteers and later inspired James and Charles, who followed in their older brothers’ footsteps.

The Federal Life Saving Service

In 1852, the government formed the Federal Lifesaving Team in coastal communities. David Fleming was one of the first members of the Federal Lifesaving Services. Also on the team were Bill Chadwick (captain), Peter Sutphen, Britton Miller, William VanNote, George Johnson, and James Fleming. The Federal Lifesaving Service would later become part of the United States Coast Guard.

Charles and Joseph Fleming

Charles was born in 1838, and Joseph was born almost five years later, in 1842. Eventually, both served alongside their brother in the Federal Lifesaving Service. The two brothers enlisted in the Union Army, Company F, 14th Regiment, New Jersey Volunteers, in the American Civil War. Because of his skills as a Surfman, Joseph transferred to the Navy after serving two years in the Army. He received an honorable discharge in 1865.

At the time of Charles’s death in 1931, both brothers were believed to be the oldest living Civil War Veterans (age 90 and 95) in Ocean County (the oldest in the US, Albert Henry Wilson 1850-1956). Charles died in 1931 at age 95 of influenza, and Joseph in 1934 at age 93.

Conclusion

The New Jersey coast saw many shipwrecks during the 1800s, with the 1880s marking the worst period. However, the wreck of the John Minturn was the catalyst that led to the establishment of the Federal Life Saving Service across the country. David Fleming and his brothers likely never realized their lasting impact on Point Pleasant. A small marker stands at the corner of Ocean Road (Route 88) and Borden Avenue, near where the Flemings lived, with Fleming Avenue located on the opposite corner as a quiet tribute to their legacy.

Very few families lived along the ocean before the late 1800s. Being that close to the shoreline was not a thing back then. With that in mind, with everything that comes with a winter storm, how would rescue volunteers know whether or not there was a shipwreck off our beaches? I asked PPHSM member Richard Morris how these men got word about a shipwreck, especially during a storm.  Richard broke a pencil. I heard the pencil break, and he said, “They would listen for a ship’s mast break.  The sound would travel, and the members would gather at the wreck.”

The Point Pleasant area has a rich history that dates back to 1609, including one of Henry Hudson’s early journeys, Civil War Veteran Rodrick Clark, and our Connection to Charlie Chaplin. We have many stories, from life savers to playwrights, and I hope to blog about many of them.