Private Joseph Whitehouse

Quick Facts

Significance:

Tailor and Private on the Lewis and Clark Expedition

Place of Birth:

Fairfax County, Virginia

Date of Birth:

1775

Place of Death:

Unknown

Date of Death:

Possibly 1850s

Place of Burial:

Unknown

Cemetery Name:

Unknown

"I am employed makeing up leather shirts and overalls." - Whitehouse, Aug 22, 1805

Across the entire expedition the members were expected to carry themselves with a professional, military, appearence. To that end they had to keep their clothing as repaired as possible, and if it was beyond salvaging they would turn to leathers.

Thus came the importance of Joseph Whitehouse. As a tanner and tailor by trade prior to the expedition he was often tasked with keeping the expedition well dressed. While all hands were on deck for the creation of moccasins and the tanning process, it is likely that Whitehouse helped teach anyone unfamiliar how to properly care for and repair hides. He likely could have done proper measurements on the rest of the crew and directed them in how to make fitting clothes.

By the time the expedition made it to Fort Clatsop almost everyone was using wearing at least one piece of buckskin, even if solely their moccasins. Over 300 pairs of moccasins were made at Fort Clatsop, with Whitehouse no doubt having a large hand in their creation.

From His Perspective

Joseph Whitehouse, despite being a Private, kept a detailed record of the expedition from his point of view. This journal gave great insight as to what life was like for a Private on the journey.

If you are interested in reading Whitehouse's journal you can find them for free here.

After the Expedition

For his service to the expedition Whitehouse was awarded $166.66 2/3. 

Whitehouse fell onto hard times after the expedition ended, finding himself renlisting in the army after having an arrest warrant issued for him in 1807 for debts. He would enlist again for the war of 1812, and a final time in 1816. On the first of February, 1817, Whitehouse deserted and was promptly lost from history.  

Resources:

Morris, Larry E. The Fate of the Corps. Yale University Press, 2004. Print.

Moulton, Gary. The Journals of the Lewis & Clark Expedition: August 30, 1803 - August 2, 1804 . University of Nebraska Press, 1986. Print.

Moulton, Gary. Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. University of Nebraska Press. Web.

Further Reading:

Learn more about Joseph Whitehouse at Lewis-Clark.org