b. 1847 Brooklyn, New York. d. 22/12/1887 Newport, Rhode Island.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 04/01/1882 off Coasters Harbor Island, Newport, Rhode Island.
Born in 1847 in Brooklyn, New York, McCarton joined the Navy from that state. By January 4, 1882, he was serving as a ship’s printer on the training ship USS New Hampshire. On that day, while New Hampshire was off Coaster’s Harbor Island in Newport, Rhode Island, he and another sailor, Quartermaster Henry J. Manning, jumped overboard in an attempt to save Second Class Musician Jabez Smith from drowning. For this action, both McCarton and Manning were awarded the Medal of Honor three years later, on October 18, 1884.
MOH CITATION:
For jumping overboard from the U.S. training ship New Hampshire off Coasters Harbor Island, near Newport, R.I., 4 January 1882, and endeavoring to rescue Jabez Smith, second class musician, from drowning.
BURIAL LOCATION: HOLY CROSS CEMETERY, BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.
SECTION ST PETER, ROW N, PLOT 37.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.