Article taken from The Portsmouth Times, Saturday, June 5, 1965
President Andrew Jackson stopped by Portsmouth in 1836 when he was en route to Washington on the "Lady Washington." He was received by the Home Guards, the Drum Corps and Sunday School Children in addition to most of the town people.
A reception for the President was held at Bigelow Methodist Church which was then on the north side of Second and east of Market St. The youngsters strewed flowers in the President's path and he shook hands with all the adults and kissed the babies.
Jackson must have been very fond of babies because the highlight of the day came when he heard of the birth of triplets in the Hannah family.
He went right over to visit the infants at their Second St. home and presented $5 gold pieces to Meshach, Shadrach, and Abednego.