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The
first USS North Carolina was a 74-gun ship of
the line in the United States Navy. One
of the "nine ships to rate not less than 74 guns each"
authorized by Congress on April 29, 1816, she was laid down in
1818 by the Philadelphia Navy Yard, launched on September 7,
1820, and fitted out in the Norfolk Navy Yard. Master Commandant Charles
W. Morgan was assigned to North Carolina as her
first commanding officer on June 24, 1824. While
nominally a 74-gun ship, a popular size at the time, North
Carolina was actually pierced (had gun ports for) 102 guns,
and probably originally mounted ninety-four 42-pounder (19 kg)
and 32-pounder (15 kg) cannons. In 1845, she had fifty-six
42-pounders (19 kg), twenty-six 32-pounders (15 kg), and
eight 8 in (200 mm) cannons, for a total of 90. Considered
by many the most powerful naval vessel then afloat, North
Carolina served in the Mediterranean as flagship for Commodore John
Rodgers from April 29, 1825 to May 18, 1827. In the early
days of the Republic, as today, a display of naval might brought a
nation prestige and enhanced her commerce. Such was the case as
Rodgers' squadron which laid the groundwork for the 1830
commercial treaty with Turkey opening ports of the Eastern
Mediterranean and the Black Sea to American traders. After
a period in ordinary at Norfolk, North Carolina decommissioned
on October 30, 1836 to fit out for the Pacific Squadron, the one
other area where ships of her vast size could be employed. Only
the Mediterranean and the western coast of South America at
that time offered ports which could accommodate ships of great
draft. Again flagship of her station, flying the pennant of
Commodore Henry E. Ballard, North Carolina reached
Callao, Peru on May 26, 1837. With war raging between Chile and
Peru, and relations between the United States and Mexico strained, North
Carolina protected the important American commerce of the
eastern Pacific until March 1839. Since her great size made her
less flexible than smaller ships, she returned to the New
York Navy Yard in June, and served as a receiving ship until
placed in ordinary in 1866. She was sold at New York on October 1,
1867. Solomon
Clark returned to Camden after his military service. He married in
the mid-1860s. Solomon Clark was living on Chew's Court in South
Camden when the 1872 City Directory was compiled, working as a
laborer. In
November of 1872 Solomon Clark was elected First Lieutenant in one
of the companies of the Eight Regiment, Colored of the New Jersey
National Guard. Solomon
Clark was appointed to the Camden Fire Department as an extra man
with Engine Company 1 on April 8, 1877. He was the first
African-American to serve as a member of the Camden Fire
Department. Solomon Clark was then living at 918 South 3rd
Street.
He was reappointed in 1878 and again in 1879. By that time he had
moved to 246 Spruce
Street. The
1880 Census shows Solomon Clark and his wife Lydia at 246 Spruce
Street, working as a laborer. He was then the father of two
daughters, Laura, 14, and Rachel, 6. The family stayed at this
address through 1882. The 1883-1884 City Directory shows Solomon
Clark running a cigar store and living at 307 Spruce
Street. He
next appears in City Directories in 1888, when he was working as a
laborer again and living at 309 Division
Street. Solomon Clark had
moved to 312 Spruce
Street by the time the 1890-1891 Directory was
being compiled. The 1894-1895 and 1895-1896 edition show Solomon
Clark at 248 Spruce
Street. He was approved for a Civil War
pension in 1896 and was granted an increase from $6.00 per month
to $8.00 in May of 1898. The 1896 Directory shows him at 842
Locust Street. He is listed at 327 Cherry
Street in the 1897 and 1898 Directories. Solomon
Clark last appears in City Directories in 1898. On
September 21, 1898 Solomon Clark passed away. He was buried
at Johnson Cemetery in East Camden.
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