Thomas Carleton Cheney Papers, 1851-1889

Collection number: MC 173
Size: 3 boxes (1.0 cu.ft.)

About Thomas Carleton Cheney

Thomas C. Cheney was born in Derry, New Hampshire on September 11, 1831 to Sally and Lyman King Cheney. For many years he lived in Manchester (N.H.), and it was there at the age of 25 that he became an active member of the First Free Baptist Church. He married twice (Rachel Tomkins, on May 4, 1853, and Jennie Ham) and had two children, Frederick and Clinton.

In 1861, at the age of 28, Cheney enlisted as a private in the First N.H. Volunteer Light Battery commanded by Captain George A. Gerrish. The company at the time consisted of a six-gun battery of rifled brass pieces, 155 men, and 115 horses, “finely equipped with uniforms and great provisions.” Throughout the Civil War Cheney’s unit was combined with others, and consequently it came under the command of many different officers. Cheney’s unit was in virtually every major battle of the Army of the Potomac – Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, and the Virginia Campaign of 1864. He received a slight flesh wound in May 1864 at Po River, Virginia and mustered out September 25 that same year.

In 1879, he set up residence in Dorchester, Massachusetts, working as a machinist and spending his non-working hours at the Free Baptist Church in Boston. He died in Dorchester on May 30, 1900, aged 68.

About the Thomas Carleton Cheney Papers

The Thomas Carleton Cheney collection consists of 55 letters written between 1851-1885, with the bulk of them being between 1861 and 1664, four diaries from 1861 to 1864, a small number of photographs, Cheney’s mess kit, and several small items Cheney made to pass the time, such as wooden rings and several pairs of wooden pliers, some of them carved at the front. Also among the items in the collection is a scale model brass cannon, which Cheney made after the war, and a knife that he carried in his backpack, which bears the unmistakable imprint of a spent musket ball. This knife probably saved his life.

Each of the letters has been transcribed, and links have been provided from the listing below to the transcriptions.

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

This collection is open.

Copyright Notice

Contents of this collection are governed by U.S. copyright law. For questions about publication or reproduction rights, contact Special Collections staff.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], [Folder number], [Box number], Thomas Carleton Cheney Papers, 1851-1889, MC 173, Milne Special Collections and Archives, University of New Hampshire Library, Durham, NH, USA.

Acquisitions Information

Donated: Don Cheney, Waxahachie, TX (Accession number: 2000.14)

Collection Contents

Series 1: Correspondence, 1861-1864

Subseries A: Correspondence from T.C. Cheney, 1861-1864

Box 1
Box 1, Folder 1		To Luther Cheney & David Gilchrist, 1861-1862 To Luther Cheney, brother, December 19, 1861 To Luther Cheney, January 10, 1862 To David S. Gilchrist, brother-in-law, January 20, 1862 To David S. Gilchrist, brother-in-law, January 27, 1862 To David S. Gilchrist, brother-in-law, March 2, 1862 To David S. Gilchrist, brother-in-law, April 28, 1862
Box 1, Folder 2		To Luther, Gilchrist, Frederick Cheney, and Melissa C. Paige, 1862 To Luther, May 4, 1862 To Frederick Cheney, son, [enclosed with June 22, 1862 letter to Frederick Cheney from Rachel - see below], June 15, 1862 To Luther, June 24, 1862 To David S. Gilchrist>, July 11, 1862 To David S. Gilchrist, September 5, 1862 To Melissa C. Paige, sister, September 10, 1862 To Luther, September 22, 1862 To David S. Gilchrist, September 26, 1862 To Luther, November 9, 1862
Box 1, Folder 3		Letters, 1863 To David S. Gilchrist, January 2, 1863 To Luther, January 8, 1863 To Lyman Cheney, father, February 24, 1863 To Melissa, April 5, 1863 To David S. Gilchrist, May 9, 1863 To Melissa, May 18, 1863 To David S. Gilchrist, May 29, 1863
Box 1, Folder 4		Letters, 1863 To Luther, June 17, 1863 and July 22, 1863 To David S. Gilchrist, July 30, 1863 To Melissa, August 10, 1863
Box 1, Folder 5		Letters, 1863 To Melissa, September 24, 1863 To Lyman, September 27, 1863 To Luther, October 2, 1863 To David S. Gilchrist, October 24, 1863 To Lyman, October 25, 1863 To Luther, November 5, 1863
Box 1, Folder 6		Letters, 1864 To Lyman, January 14, 1864 To Luther, January 31, 1864 To Melissa, February 1, 1864, and March 1, 1864 To Luther, March 16, 1864 To Melissa, April 28 1864
Box 1, Folder 7		Letters, 1864 & Undated To Luther, June 11, 1864 To David S. Gilchrist, June 23, 1864 To Luther, July 3, 1864 To Melissa, September 18, 1864 To Frederick, undated To Luther, partial letter, undated

Subseries B: Correspondence to T.C. Cheney, 1851-1885

Box 1, Folder 8		Letters, 1851-1885 From Lyman Cheney, father, July 16, 1851 From Rachel Cheney, wife, December 18, 1862 From Freddie Cheney, son, March 30, From Freddie Cheney, son, April 5, From Freddie Cheney, son, April 20, 1885
Box 1, Folder 9		Letters, 1885 From Freddie Cheney, June 16, 1885 From Freddie Cheney, June 28, 1885

Subseries C: Between other family members, 1851-1885

Box 1, Folder 10

Letters, 1862 & Undated From Freddie Cheney, son, to Aunt Emily J. Gilchrist, undated From Rachel Cheney to son Freddie, June 22, 1862 From Rachel Cheney to Freddie and Aunt Emily, July 13, 1862 From Emily Gilchrist to Rachel Cheney with enclosed from Freddie, undated

Series 2: Diaries, 1861-1864

Box 1, Folder 11		Diary, November 20, 1861-September 17, 1862
Box 1, Folder 12		Diary, September 18, 1862-October 18, 1863
Box 1, Folder 13		Diary, October 19 1863-May 29, 1864
Box 1, Folder 14		Diary, May 30, 1864-October 1, 1864

Series 3: Miscellaneous, 1891-1864

Box 1, Folder 15		Discharge papers, obituary, and G.A.R. chapter eulogy
Box 1, Folder 16		Postage Currency, Fractional Currency, a Confederate Bill, and a copy of an article entitled ‘How Fractional Currency Was Introduced'
Box 1, Folder 17		Envelopes, 1851-1889

Series 4: Photographs, 1861-1864

Box 1, Folder 18		Photographs 1-10 e. 1: T.C. Cheney, September 11, 1891 e. 2: George A. Shepard, 1st N.H. Battery e. 3: Luther Cheney, brother e. 4: H. Bean, 1st N.H. Battery e. 5: Nathaniel Varney, 1st N.H. Battery e. 6: David McClure, brother-in-law e. 7: Mrs. David McClure, sister, Aunt ‘Kittie’ e. 8: Frederick Cheney, son, age 17 e. 9: Helen A. Hormer, sister e. 10: Tom Thumb and family
Box 1, Folder 19		Photographs 11-18 e. 11: Alfred R. Crosby e. 12: Emma Y. Pierce e. 13: Mrs. C.C. Paige, sister, Aunt ‘Millie' e. 14: Rachel Cheney, 1st wife e. 15: Mary Maud Pierce e. 16: Mrs. C.C. Paige, sister, Aunt ‘Millie’ e. 17: Lieut. Gen. U.S. Grant e. 18: Abraham Lincoln

Series 5: Artifacts, 1861-1854

Box 1, Folder 20		CD-ROM containing images of the letters of Thomas Carleton Cheney, 1861-1864, pictures of Civil War artifacts belonging to Cheney, and 1885 letters from Frederick Cheney re an abortive move to Texas
Box 2
		Misc. Handcrafted and Commemerative Items 1. George Washington Commemorative Silver coin, 1776-1876 2. ID coin with hole 3. #8 pin 4. Grand Army of the Republic Button 5. ‘vise’ pendant 6. 1st NH Artillery pin 7. Medal: Dorchester 1630 8. Medal: July 27th 1864 List of battles 9. Medal: Dept. Mass. GAR ‘Beans” 10. Medal: ‘J.M. Wells Post’ and ‘Grand Army of the Republic’ 11. Inlaid Cannon Pin (wood carving) 12. Inlaid napkin ring (wood carving) 13. Wooden pincher (wood carving - broken) 14. Miniature pinchers (wood carving) 15. Minature ring (wood carving) 16. Minature pinchers (wood carving) 17. Ring (wood carving) 18. Rings made from pieces of ‘Lady Washington’s Piano’ (wood carving) 19. A couple of broken rings 20. Unknown Object 21. Knife – Depression on base of blade caused by bullet 22. Detachable spoon, knife and fork 23. Pocket knife 24. Gun Powder holder/dispenser 25. Unknown wooden piece 26. GAR Commemorative Medals – 'New Hampshire' and 'Massachusetts' 27. Wood Carvings – carved pinchers (4″ length) 28. Needle-book 29. Calling cards 30. Three Wallets 31. Wooden handle with rope attached, hook at the end of the rope 32. Tool pouch with belt loops 33. Thirteen Buttons – cut from the uniforms of dead soldiers
Box 3
		Family Ephemera 1. Machined Miniature Cannon (Used by Family on 4th of July) 2. Shaving Mirror 3. Rachel Cheney’s Bible