2024-01 Raynors Americana Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/20/2024
Tew family of Sampson county, North Carolina can trace its lineage to mid 1700s. Sampson County was established in April 1784 following the American Revolutionary War. Pioneer families lived there as early as the 1730s or 1740s. William Tew was born in the County 1755. We have divided the archive into three sections. War Period Documents/Letters; Pre-War Period Documents/Letters; and Post- War Period Documents/Letters; War Dated Letters/Documents (Thirty-Four) The following letters were written by members of the Tew family of Sampson county, North Carolina, during the American Civil War. Home front letters were addressed to Joel John Tew (1836-1914) who enlisted as a sergeant in Co. K, 51st North Carolina Infantry when he was 25 years old. He was promoted to a 2nd Lieutenant on 17 September 1862 and was wounded in the left arm on 31 May 1864 in the fighting at Cold Harbor. He returned to his regiment in January 1865. [It should be noted that Joel's first and middle name appear interchangeably in various records and he is often referred to as "J. J." I have used Joel as his first name as that it is the way it appears on his headstone.] We excerpt many of these letters; Two letters written to Joel John Tew by his mother/sister.(January 27, 1864), From his mother, "We have a sad time here now. We have not heard from Samson yet. There came a letter to the office last mail to Henry Jackson informing him of the death of his son Josiah (Josiah Jackson served as a private in Co. A, 8th Texas Cavalry, Terry's Regiment or 8th Texas Rangers, was mortally wounded in the Battle of Mossy Creek Station which occurred on 29 December 1873. ). ... The Cumberland Militia keeps very busy now looking up deserters. They have catched D[avid] J. Godwin 4, Blackmon and Branch. They dug them out of a cave under old Blackmon's Stable and they are all lodged in Fayetteville jail at this time. ... they saw Harris and Jones. Harris had his gun to his face. One of the militia halted them when Harris shot Daniel Colvin in the face and he fell dead upon the spot. ... They have also catched Willis Lee. They shot him in the hand and back but the doctor says he is not hurt much but he pretends he is about to die. .." (March the 16th 1864), from his sister, " Papa is gone after Wiley. He is very sick if he is not dead. Dawson's Gabriel sent his master a letter dated the 28th of February stating that Wiley [Dawson] 1 was very sick and had been since the middle of February and his feet and legs was swelled & he had not had on his shoes in a week. We got the news on Sunday at the funeral and he started and he started the same night. I do not know where he is. The letter said they were talking of discharging him and if they did and his master went after him, to stop in Wilmington and look in the hospital for him....I am very sorry to tell you that he wrote that W. B. Johnson was dead. B was a good soldier and his company all liked him and I was very sorry to hear of his death. Please tell George of it if his people does not write this week. W. W. Hood is also dead...." The following letters/documents are from or signed by Joel John Tew or his family. (May 9th 1863) Camp Florida Near Wilmington, Joel John Tew to his sister, "There has been a battle at Fredericksburg but I have not heard from it more than we gained the victory & drove the enemy back across the [Rappahannock] River. I have heard of two Brigades that was in the fight & Iverson's was not mentioned in it & I hope it was not in the fight at all. I think if it had been & they did not all get killed, they would have written before now. But I shall patiently wait the result of the battle knowing that if Samson is killed or wounded, there is one above to protect him in his troubles...." ... Tew's manuscript enlistment (July 24, 1863), document signed by Tew, .. "I, John C. Willifoot [Williford], born in Sampson County in the State of North Carolina, aged 18 years and by occupation a farmer, do hereby acknowledge to have voluntarily enlisted this the 24th day of July 1863 as a soldier in the State troops of North Carolina... maintain and defend the Constitution of the said State ..." .. (No Date, c1864) signed by Lewis Tew (father), "How much of devotion to that cause for which now his second Son has died. I sadly think how grate the Shock of the intelligence of his death ...." referring to his son Sampson Millard Tew. (nd, c1864) Autograph Manuscript Document, "Charges and Specifications against Private J.D. Weelons, Co K" issued by "J.J. Dew". ... (March 30, 1864) Written to JJ Tew by E. Dudly who "Let me inform you I was married last evening. I should have married before my furlough was so near out ... I want you to extend my furlogh for ten to fifteen more days ...." ... Three receipts including May 1862, "Ten Dollars .. "sent money while in service at Smithfield". ... Wallpaper cover written to Lt. J.J. Tew, Co. K, 51st Regt. N.C. Troops Clingman's Brigade." ... Two Confederate Documents issued to Tew for 305 lbs of Bacon, March 15, 1865, ... A pair of "Tax in Kind" forms signed by Lewis Tew whereby he commits to 3300 lbs of pork; 1000 lbs of fodders ... Seventeen receipts for Lewis Tew for various reasons. ... (April 12, 1864) Letter written to J.J. Tew from his cousin H(ezekiah) Jackson who enlisted 7/8/1862 into GA 11th Infantry and was wounded5/12/1864, arm amputated. "We think the CS Army will soon have a fight to write about .... Longstreets Army". ...(March 15, 1862) Two documents (both are original although duplicate information) issued to Lewis Tew for $1267.00 for Bussels of corn ... signed by Captain Joseph B. Briggs. ... (November 30, 1861), Fort Johnson being a pass fore Sergt Draughon (KIA 7/1/62 at MalvernHill, VA .. blown up in an explosion) .. NC Volunteers has permission to remain out of the garrison until 12 oclock tonight, signed by Lt. N.L. Hawley. ... (October 30, 1863), J.J. Tew, LT Co. K, 57th signs the manuscript enlistment for George A. Johnson (who would die of disease 7/28/64 at Richmond) ... "That I will bear true allegiance to the Confederate States ..." Pre-War Letters/Documents (Thirty-nine Documents) (September 25, 1840) Lewis Tew buys land from Alfred Royal (his ancestor John Royall attended 136 acres of land in NE NC, Feb 3, 1717) ..... (December 22, 1853) Lewis Tew buys land from James Goodwin ... ((February 16, 1855) judgement for $3.00 ... and =/- 36 other pre-war documents mostly receipts. Post-War Letters/Documents (Eighty Documents) There are 35 various commercial receipts for JJ Tew. Also, 30 receipts for county taxes. And, 8 county tax receipts which include "Poll Tax" (usually used to suppress the Black Vote). ... (December 15, 1882) Sampson County, Probate Court JJ. Tew appears to affirm "... that Lewis Tew late of said County, is dead" ... (August 16, 1899 & December 23, 1899) Two Receipts for JJ. Tew for his subscription to the newspaper THE CAUCASIAN. ... (January 26, 1899" is J.J. Tew's "Application for Pension" ... "while in said service at Cold Harbor in the State of Virginia, on or about 31st of May, 1864, did receive a wound or wounds .... shot through your left elbow ... applicant is totally unable to use his left arm and is getting old and is unable to work much ..." ... and another few documents.
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