Standard 19^th century wood handled knife and fork. Handle of fork is inscribed “HUGH NEWELL” and the handle of the knife is inscribed “HUGH S. NEWELL.”

Hugh S. Newell was 27 years old when he enlisted as a Private in Co. K, 3^rd Maine Infantry at Augusta on June 4, 1861. He was promoted to Corporal on Dec. 5, 1861 and to Sergeant September 1, 1863. He was present for every action his regiment was in from 1^st Bull Run to the Wilderness. He was wounded slightly at the Battle of Fair Oaks in June of 1862. He was captured during the battle of the Wilderness and there his record ends. A note on his military record says “February 13, 1937, It has this day been determined by this Department from the records and from information furnished by the General Accounting Office that the above named soldier died on or about September 10, 1864, a prisoner of war.” It is supposed that he died in the prison camp at Florence, South Carolina in September of 1864. His widow did apply for a pension in 1867 and was awarded one. However, in 1887 it was discovered and reported that Mrs. Newell was living for years with another man. Special Examiner Frank McClelland referred to the relationship as “living adulterously.” A document dated February 13, 1888 has Mrs. Newell explaining that though she lived with another man and had two children with him after Hugh Newell’s death she never remarried and that she was indeed still Newell’s widow, an unusual set of circumstances for the 19^th century. Military and Pension records come with the set.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THIS ITEM, AS WITH ALL OTHER ITEMS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB SITE,

MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR LAYAWAY PROGRAM.

FOR OUR POLICIES AND TERMS,

CLICK ON ‘CONTACT US’ AT THE TOP OF ANY PAGE ON THE SITE,

THEN ON ‘LAYAWAY POLICY’.

THANK YOU!