The items on this page are from the estate of Thomas John Chew, Esq., US Navy. He was born January 28, 1777. He entered the US Navy in 1799; was commissioned Purser on April 25, 1812. Thomas was Purser aboard the Frigate CONSTITUTION ("Old Ironsides") during the battle with the HMS GUERRIERE in the War of 1812. He was aboard the CHESAPEAKE in her fight with the SHANNON, and taken Prisoner of War briefly held in Nova Scotia. When Captain James Lawrence lay mortally wounded, Thomas John supported him in his arms as Captain Lawrence gave his dying command -- the most famous words in US Navy history: "Don't give up the ship" -- later to be adopted as the US Navy motto. Thomas was also Purser of the WASHINGTON -- a seventy-four gun ship -- in 1819. Thomas John resigned from the Navy in 1832. He passed away in 1846.
Other USS CONSTITUTION items are also shown on this page for convenience. They are identified in the description by source.
If you see an item you want, please note the ITEM NUMBER and NAME and use it in your email.
You can email us at snyderstr@aol.com with questions. Use the links below to jump to specific categories of items.
| Historical Artifacts | Documents |
| Thumbnail (Click to Enlarge) | Item Number Item Name | Description, Size, Condition | Price | Status |
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TJC-01 Brass and Mahogany Ship's Telescope |
This is a brass and mahogany collapsing 4-draw tube telescope named to T. J. Chew, Purser.
It is part of the Thomas J. Chew estate described above. The engraving is shown in close-up
here.
It measures 8-1/2 inches fully collapsed and 24 inches at total extension. The objective lens is 1-1/2 inches in diameter. The telescope is 1-3/4 inches in diameter at the widest point. It is shown partially extended here to show more detail. The objective lens has a detachable lens cover which fits snuggly to the end. The eyepiece has an integral sliding lens cover, shown open and closed here. |
SOLD | |
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TJC-06 Brass Document Reader Magnifier |
This is a brass case and cover with document
magnifier named to J. Chew. It is part of the Thomas J. Chew estate
described above. The covered container measures 1-1/8 inches assembled. The magnifier is just small enough to fit in the case snuggly (about 7/8 by 1 inch). The magnifier has a glass lens, and it is still functional as designed, with the focus precisely set. These are views of the case open and magnifier displayed front and bottom. The brass may have been silver plated at one time, but little or no traces remain. There is deep tarnish from age. The case has some dings and signs of long-time use and carry. The magnifier is in very good condition overall. |
$1,999.99 | Available |
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USSC-01 Silver and Oak Ship's Timber Dedicated and Identified Cane |
This is a silver collar on an oak timber from
the frigate USS CONSTITUTION. The engraving is shown in close-up
here.
It measures 35-1/2 inches overall length. It is 1-1/8 inches in diameter at the top. The silver collar is script engraved with the following dedication: Piece of Lieutenant James D. Colt apparently served aboard the USS CONSTITUTION during the time "Old Ironsides" was laid up in New Hampshire at the Portsmouth Navy Yard, serving as a receiving ship for new recruits until she was sent down to the Boston Navy Yard just prior to her 100th birthday (1897). At the time, the USS CONSTITUTION commander was Commander Edwin Malcolm Shepard. This is a historical piece in that the Constitution spent the better part of 1882 in ordinary at New York Navy Yard, then was towed to Portsmouth Navy Yard, where she was outfitted as a barracks ship. Whether she was placed in commission or "in service," is unknown, as are the identities of those officers assigned to her there in the nearly fifteen years that followed. It is very likely that Lieutenant James D. Colt is the son or grandson of James Denison Colt, the noted Boston attorney and Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Court in the mid to late 19th century. At the time of the presentation of this piece, John Wingate Weeks was the commander of the Massachusetts Naval Brigade. He served in the MNB from 1890 to 1900, the last six years as its commanding officer. He was a Naval Academy graduate, Congressman, Senator, and later became Secretary of War, holding that office in both the Harding and Coolidge administrations. The engraving on the collar is shown here in three views as it wraps around the cane: Left -- Center -- Right. And in two views here: Left -- Right. |
SOLD |
| Thumbnail (Click to Enlarge) | Item Number Item Name | Description, Size, Condition | Price | Status |
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TJC-02 1813 Dated Letter To TJ Chew Regarding Ship Stores |
This is a detailed letter addressed to Thomas J. Chew, Esq., in New London, Connecticut from C. W.
Greene in Boston, Massachusetts. It is postmarked with a Boston carmine ink handstamp cancellation dated 24 Dec 1813. The content
was written on 23 December, 1813. It acknowledges receipt of a letter from Chew on the 15th. Greene indicates he posted another
letter to Chew from New York the previous day. Greene has not heard from Portsmouth yet. He indicates the price of salt
is $11 on that day, and that he will pay an order of $115.23, and he received that amount from Wilson, which was paid in
(another?) currency that was worth 4 cents less. He didn't think it worth while to ask for the difference.
He says they have no embargo yet, but they are all in the dark. He will be happy to see Mr. Elton. Signed and dated by Charles W. Greene, 23 Dec 1813, with Thomas Chew's name next to the closing. Of historical interest is a list of auction prices showing wartime prices for various commodities, including:
The letter is a 9-1/2 by 16 inch single sheet, folded double, then further folded to form the envelope. The back side has the address and postmarks. The red wax seal is broken, only traces remain. There are some stains from age, foxing and some minor tears along the margins. |
$499.99 | Available |
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TJC-03 1825 Dated Letter To TJ Chew Regarding A Business Partnership |
This is a detailed letter addressed to Thomas J. Chew, Esq., from E. B. Leonard(?) in New London,
Connecticut. It has no postmarks, as it was enclosed in a separate envelope (not present). The content was written on 22 February,
1825. It addresses sending money in the same packet (some $25), from Bank of America dividend he received for a Mrs Pick.
There are some business details regarding Mr. Leonard's opinions and thoughts about establishing a partnership involving 4-5,000 dollars that apparently went awry for some reason. The letter is a 9-1/2 by 16 inch single sheet, folded double, then further folded to form the envelope. The back side has the address and postmarks. There are some stains from age, foxing and some minor tears along the margins. |
$499.99 | Available |
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TJC-04 1839 Dated Letter To T.J. Chew Regarding the Last Words of Commodore Patterson |
This is a detailed letter addressed to Thomas J. Chew, Esq., in New York (City) from C. O. Handy
(also in NYC). It is not postmarked, apparently carried by courier. The content was written on 13 September, 1839. It
provides details of the death of Commodore (Daniel T) Patterson (on 25 August, 1839) after a short 30 hour illness, and
has a long quoted passage to Chew given on his deathbed. Commodore Patterson (as Captain of the CONSTITUTION) was Chew's former
Commanding Officer when Chew was Purser aboard the CONSTITUTION. It is written in a very clear and readable hand.
Signed and dated by C. O. Handy, 13 Sep 1839, with Thomas Chew's name next to the closing. Content reads: 22 Broadway Sept 13, 1839 My dear Sir I have a letter from [D.] Walker giving me the particulars of Commodore Patterson's death, to which he adds. "Please say to Mr Chew that I have made every exertion to hear from Mr. Strong. He is absent from Pensacola, somewhere in the North, and he is expected back in October. I have written agreeable to the direction obtained of his friend, but get no answer altho I asked. Philo [White] while he send his direction, he has not done so. I am going out of the city for one week. I hope on return to hear from Mr. Strong." Yours Truly C. O. Handy. The letter is a 10 by 16 inch single sheet, folded double, then further folded to form the envelope. The back side has the address and return. The red wax seal is broken, only traces remain. There are some stains from age, and light foxing. |
$749.99 | Avail able |
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TJC-05 1839 Dated Letter To T.J. Chew Regarding the cause of death of Commodore Patterson |
This is a detailed follow-up letter, not addressed, however intended for Thomas J. Chew, Esq.,
in New York (City) from C. O. Handy (also in NYC). It is not postmarked, apparently carried by courier, or enclosed in a
separate envelope (not present). The content was written on 29 November, 1839. It provides details of a search for Mr.
Strong by Commodore (Daniel T) Patterson, who passed away on 25 August, 1839 after a short 30 hour illness (apparently
Yellow Fever), and was not able to complete Chew's request. It is written in a very clear and readable hand.
Signed and dated by C. O. Handy, Nov 29 [1839] Content reads: 22 BWay Nov 29 My dear Sir I rec'd a letter from [D.] Walker yesterday about our bill. -- He desires me to say to you that "Philo White brought home his bond by mistake, I immediately re-enclosed it to Mr Strong, & that he expects to hear from him within three weeks -- this delay has caused him much pain" "Mr Strong who has been travelling with his wife, he presumes has been kept away by the Yellow Fever from Pensacola." Yours Truly C. O. Handy. This is a historically significant document, as references to the cause of death of Commodore Patterson are very sketchy. This is a clear indication the cause was Yellow Fever. The letter is a 10 by 8 inch single sheet, having an impressed maker mark at the upper left corner. The back side has the address and return. There are some stains from age, and light foxing. |
$499.99 | Available |