*1811 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.

10043

*1779 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 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.

10051 <70:7

*1753
+1806 02 12

Interred at Masonic Cemetery, Fredericksburg, VA, USA [findagrave.com; Dora C. Jett cf. RBC 14139]. Tombstone gives date of death and age (53) at death.

Jett adds that he was the first of four generations that held the post of clerk of the Hustings Court (a/k/a the General Court or Corporation Court) of Fredericksburg from 1787 to 1886. He was a vestryman in St. George's Church in 1803. His will dated 1805 mentions his wife ES 10068, his son RSC 10051, his daughter MBC 16260 and grandon JJC 11661 (who received "my gold watch and chain and gold seal in token of my love and affection for him").

The existence of a miniature portrait is mentioned in an article in the Free Lance-Post, which also mentions that he was clerk of the Fredericksburg Court 1787-1806.

USGenWeb mentions that he was succeeded as Clerk of the General Court on his death in 1806 by a Robert Hening.

Mentioned in S. Bassett French's biographical sketches.

10067 <72:8

*1759
+1806 05 21

Interred at Masonic Cemetery, Fredericksburg, VA, USA [findagrave.com; Dora C. Jett cf. RBC 14139]. Tombstone gives date of death and age (47) at death.

10068 <72:8

*1783
+1842

10052 <70:7

*1751 Scotland
+1824

According to an article in the Free Lance-Post, he was from Scotland, and was at one point mayor of Fredericksburg, VA.

10085

*175_
+1794

10086