Genealogical Record: Robert Smith Chew

Robert Chew

Mary (Molly) Perrott

John Morris Smith

Mary Chew

?

?

John Benger

Elizabeth (Betty) Johnston

John Chew
* 1753
+ 1806 02 12

Elizabeth Smith
* 1759
+ 1806 05 21

George French
Doctor, Mayor
* 1751 Glasgow, Scotland
+ 1824 06 01 Fredericksburg, VA, USA

Anne Brayne Benger
* 1761
+ 1820

Robert Smith Chew
Court Clerk
* 1779 09 26 Spottsylvania Co., VA, USA
+ 1826 11 02

Elizabeth (Betsey) French
* 1783
+ 1842

Robert Smith Chew
Civil servant
* 1811 11 04 VA, USA
+ 1873 08 03 Washington, DC, USA

Brief biography listed in Appleton's 1886 Encyclopedia, is mentioned elsewhere for his roles as aide to Seward (was present at signing of Alaskan treaty in 1867, painted by Emanuel Leutze, an excerpt of which is shown above) and wartime special messenger for Lincoln.

1834 07: Joined State Department (according to sworn testimony, p. 117 of Congressional Globe, 40th Congress, 2nd Session at memory.loc.gov)

1844 03 02: Is mentioned in National Intelligencer as an Assistant Marshal on horseback at the funeral for the late Secretary of State, the Hon. Abel P. Upshur, killed when a gun aboard the USS Princeton exploded during a demonstration.

1861 04 06: Carried a famous message (which survives, and can be viewed at memory.loc.gov) from Lincoln to Governor Pickens at Charleston.

1866 07: Promoted to Chief Clerk of the State Department.

1868 04 04: Testified before Senate in impeachment trial of Andrew Johnson (memory.loc.gov).

1880: widow listed in Washington, DC, USA census.

Should investigate Seward papers at U of Rochester.

Library of Congress has some correspondence with Hamilton Fish as part of the latter's archives (LC mm 78020602).

According to family lore, when his brother was captured in the Civil War, RSC negotiated his release into house arrest at RSC's home.