Genealogical Record: John James Chew

Self Parents Grandparents GGParents GGGParents
John James Chew
State Department clerk

*1851 Washington, DC, USA
+1916

Listed in 1880 Census of Washington, see ERS 10044.

His father-in-law TJC 11641's obituary reads in part: Mr. and Mrs. Coffey’s daughter, Mrs. John Chew, died abroad while Mr. Chew was secretary to the American legation at Vienna.

11637

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
Court Clerk

*1779 09 26 Spottsylvania Co., VA, USA
+1826 11 02

Succeeded his father as Clerk of the Hustings Court for the Town and Corporation of Fredericksburg, some of whose signed certificates 1812 07 14-1820 02 26 survive.

Is listed at LDS IGI 442426.35.25657.

Month and date of birth and death from findagrave.com, which lists interment at Masonic Cemetery, Fredericksburg VA, is source of father-in-law's profession and gives date of marriage as 1802-10-20.

S. Bassett French confirms career. but gives date of death as 1825-11-23.

Dora C. Jett (see RBC 14139) gives the text of his tombstone, confirms his date of death, says his will was dated 1821-10-17 and left property to his wife, his sister and his sons RSC 10043, JJC 11661 and an unknown son George French Chew. I would very much like to see this will.

RLC 14093 gives year of marriage as 1802.

10051 <84:7

John Chew
1753-1806 02 12
10067 <86:8
Robert Chew
10069 <127:9 >48:20
Mary (Molly) Perrott
10070 <127:9 >11:4
Elizabeth Smith
1759-1806 05 21
10068 <86:8
John Morris Smith
10071 >2:2
Mary Chew
10072 >48:20
Elizabeth (Betsey) French

*1783
+1842

10052 <84:7

George French
1751-1824 06 01
10085
?
?
Anne Brayne Benger
1761-1820
10086
John Benger
10087 <87:9 >12483:77
Elizabeth (Betty) Johnston
10088 <87:9 >37:20
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 Washington DC, USA
+1864

10053 <73:7

Walter Smith
1744-1796
10095
Clement Smith
10097 >91:25
Barbara Sim
10098 >71:25
Hester Belt
1744-1814
10096
Joseph Belt
10099 >9:3
Esther Smith
10100 >1720:78
Covington Mackall

*1796 Washington DC, USA
+1876

10054 <73:7

Leonard Covington Mackall
1768-1843
10121 <76:8
Benjamin Mackall
10123 <82:9 >10:3
Rebecca Covington
10124 <82:9 >126:23
Catherine Beall
1769-1789
10122 <76:8
Brooke Beall
10125 <82:9 >99:26
Margaret Johns
10126 <82:9 >24:4

 

SpouseChildrenChildren-in-LawGrandchildren
Lillian Kerr Coffey

*1864 10 31 PA, USA
+1892 07 22 Vienna, AUT

Her father TJC 11641's obituary reads in part: Mr. and Mrs. Coffey’s daughter, Mrs. John Chew, died abroad while Mr. Chew was secretary to the American legation at Vienna.

11638 <1:1


m. 1886 03 01
Lillian Chew

11948

Evelyn Chew

*1875

11950

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