Genealogical Record: Louisa Harrison Chew

Self Parents Grandparents GGParents GGGParents
Louisa Harrison Chew

*1871 05 23 DC, USA
+1965 08 15 Terrell Hills, Bexar Co., TX, USA

110376

Richard Smith Chew

*1843 09 07 Washington, DC, USA
+1875 04 10 Washington, DC, USA

Listed in Appleton's 1886 Encyclopedia under father's entry, from whence most of the following.

1861: Graduated from Naval Academy.

1862 03 08-09: served aboard the frigate "Minnesota" during the famous battle between the Monitor and the Merrimack (Appleton misdates this in April, and misspells the ship Merrimac, but is not known for his accuracy).

1864 02 22: commissioned Lieutenant.

1866 07 25: Lieutenant-Commander.

1875 02 02: retired for disability

Another source gives his date of death as 1870.

Jim Cheevers of the USNA Museum confirms that RSC was in the Naval Academy class of 1859, which was ordered to active duty in May 1861 and was subsequently considered to have graduated in 1863. He also says that Midshipman Chew was serving aboard the steam frigate Minnesota in a published register of U.S. Navy officers dated 1862 09 01, and that it is safe to assume he was at the Battle of Hampton Roads.

11933 <7:2

Robert Smith Chew
Civil servant

*1811 11 04 VA, USA
+1873 08 03 Washington, DC, USA

[portrait from painting of signing of Alaskan treaty]

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.

10043 <71:6

Robert Smith Chew
1779 09 26-1826 11 02
10051 <84:7
John Chew
10067 <86:8 >61:21
Elizabeth Smith
10068 <86:8 >52:21
Elizabeth (Betsey) French
1783-1842
10052 <84:7
George French
10085
Anne Brayne Benger
10086 >12522:78
Elizabeth Ringold Smith

*1815 03 24 Washington, DC, USA?
+1899 02 23 Washington, DC, USA

Listed in 1880 Census of Washington, DC, USA as widowed, living with sons Robert, John and Walter, sister Louisa and servants Kittie Walker, Caroline Green and Elenora Buckner.

A portrait of her, painted by Charles Bird King, is in the online collection of the Smithsonian, their object #DC990444

Some sources spell her middle name Ringgold.

JJC 10005 had her birth year as 1818.

Buried at Chapel Hill, Lot 538, Oak Hill Cemetery, Washington, DC.

10044 <71:6

Richard Smith
1786-1864
10053 <73:7
Walter Smith
10095 >164:26
Hester Belt
10096 >1731:79
Covington Mackall
1796-1876
10054 <73:7
Leonard Covington Mackall
10121 <76:8 >138:24
Catherine Beall
10122 <76:8 >125:27
Louisa Harrison Coffin

*1848 04 09 DC, USA
+1888 06 05

Some sources list her as Louise, but her grave at the Oak Hill Cemetery in DC, USA (findagrave.com) gives the correct spelling.

11934 <7:2

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SpouseChildrenChildren-in-LawGrandchildren
Edward Fenton McGlachlin

110377


m. 1892 11 26 Washington, DC, USA
Fenton Harrison McGlachlin

*1893 Stevens Point, Portage Co., WI, USA
+1917 10 15 San Antonio, TX, USA

Died falling from an aeroplane.

110385

Helen Olcott McGlachlin

*1895
+1990

Married John Evarard Hatch, had children Mellie Hatch (m. Clark) (1916-2004), John Evarard Hatch (1918-1946), McGlachlin Hatch (1919-2007).

110388

Elizabeth McGlachlin

*1904 MN, USA
+1934 Manila, PHL

Married Joseph Conrad Odell, had children Louise Odell (m. Thickens) (1925-2005) and Fenton McGlachlin Odell (1926-1950), died of infantile paralysis

110390

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