Person Information

Biography

Thomas Wells Child was born into a military family, his father and grandfather having served in the Revolutionary War. He graduated from the Military Academy in 1814 and became a major. That same year he fought in the War of 1812 along the Niagara Frontier, and was engaged in the capture of Fort Erie. In 1836 he served in Florida fighting against the Seminole Indians until 1842. In 1845 Childs fought in the Mexican-American War in the Battles of Palo Alto and Resaca-de-la-Palma. He was later made the Military Governor of Jalapa. After the Mexican-American War, Childs commanded at Fort McHenry in Maryland. He died of yellow fever October 8, 1853.

Letter References

Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Augustus Henry Seward, January 14, 1848

Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Augustus Henry Seward, November 6, 1847

Citations

Biography and Citation Information:
Biography: 
Thomas Wells Child was born into a military family, his father and grandfather having served in the Revolutionary War. He graduated from the Military Academy in 1814 and became a major. That same year he fought in the War of 1812 along the Niagara Frontier, and was engaged in the capture of Fort Erie. In 1836 he served in Florida fighting against the Seminole Indians until 1842. In 1845 Childs fought in the Mexican-American War in the Battles of Palo Alto and Resaca-de-la-Palma. He was later made the Military Governor of Jalapa. After the Mexican-American War, Childs commanded at Fort McHenry in Maryland. He died of yellow fever October 8, 1853.
Citation Type: 
Book or Book Chapter
Book or Monograph Title: 
Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U.S ..., Volume 1
Author(s) or Editor(s): 
George Washington Cullum
Publisher Location: 
Boston and New York
Publisher Name: 
Houghton, Mifflin and Company
Year: 
1891
Start Page: 
116
End Page: 
117
Citation Notes: 
https://books.google.com/books?id=UuUtAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA116&dq=thomas+childs+1853+obituary&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjjycuOuZHZAhXMxlkKHZdRAqUQ6AEIJzAA#v=onepage&q=thomas%20childs%201853%20obituary&f=false
Citation for Birth Info:
Citation Type: 
Website
Citation URL: 
https://search.ancestrylibrary.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?_phsrc=Cje1918&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&gss=angs-g&new=1&rank=1&msT=1&gsfn=thomas&gsfn_x=1&gsln=childs&gsln_x=1&msbdy_x=1&msbdy=1796&catbucket=rstp&MSAV=0&uidh=if4&pcat=ROOT_CATEGORY&h=7788759
Title of Webpage: 
Ancestry.com
Website Viewing Date: 
Tuesday, February 6, 2018 - 08:45
Website Last Modified Date: 
Tuesday, February 6, 2018 - 08:45
Citation Notes: 
Ancestry.com. Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
Citation for Death Info:
Citation Type: 
Website
Citation URL: 
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/19189956
Title of Webpage: 
Find A Grave
Website Viewing Date: 
Tuesday, February 6, 2018 - 08:45
Website Last Modified Date: 
Tuesday, February 6, 2018 - 08:45
Citation Notes: 
BURIAL Saint Paul's Cemetery Alexandria, Alexandria City, Virginia, USA MEMORIAL ID 19189956