No. 13100 Sewell Wilcutt Rich
No. 13101 Sewell Wilcutt Rich
Contained in an album at the Dorchester Historical Society of about 150 photos kept by Nathaniel R. Perkins, MD, who examined thousands of men who were going into the war, 1914-1918. Given by Mrs N. R. Perkins in accordance with instructions from her late husband, Dr. Nathaniel P. Perkins of 1122 Adams St, Dorchester. Index catalog has entries for the individuals.
Sewell W Rich Born Cohasset Dec 26, 1894. Graduated from Osgood Primary School 1900 Mary Hemenway (Boston) 1907. Mechanics Art High 1908-1909 Enlisted Mass Calvary headquarters Dept May 1916 on Mexican border June 1916 was then transferred at his own request to D troop. Was at Ft Bliss five months on return from the border called for service again June 1917 calvary changed to 102d machine gun battery troop B 15 co B Now made Corp to France Sept 1917to the front line trenches [more] taken prisoner.
Sewell Wilcutt Rich was born 26 December 1894 in Cohasset, Massachusetts to Thomas A. Rich, a hair salesman born in Mass. and Mary A. Wellman, born in Waldoboro, Maine.
In 1900, Sewell was the youngest of 3 children. His brother Thomas W. was 15 years old and his sister Anna L. was 9 years old. By 1910, the family was living on Frost Avenue, Dorchester and the elder brother was no longer at home. Sewell graduated from the Osgood Primary School, Cohasset in 1900, Mary Hemingway School, Dorchester in 1907 and Mechanics Art High, Boston in 1908/09.
In 1917, Sewell registered for the draft. His occupation was listed as an automobile mechanic at Franklin Motor Car Co., Commonwealth Avenue, Boston and his residence as Radford Lane. He was tall with medium build, gray eyes and dark brown hair.
He enlisted in the Massachusetts Calvary Headquarters Department May 1916 and was on the Mexican border by June 1916. At age 22, he enlisted in the National Guard at Allston, Mass. on June 7, 1916 with D Troop, Separate Squadron, Cavalry, Massachusetts National Guard through August 5, 1917. He had been stationed at Fort Bliss (headquartered in El Paso, Texas) for five months. On return from the border, he was called for service again in June 1917, transferred to Co. B, 102nd Machine Gun Battalion through April 20, 1918. He had been promoted from Private to Corporal, July 23, 1917, mustered August 1, 1917 and sent to France on September 1917. He was in front line trenches by February 1918 and promoted to Sergeant. He was engaged in the Defensive sectors of Chemin-des-Dames and Toul-Boucq. Unfortunately, he was severely wounded and taken prisoner at the Battle of Seicheprey, one of the earliest battles, on April 20, 1918. He was held in prison camps in Limburg, Damstard/ Darmstadt, Luchail and Rastartt/Rastatt from April 20 to December 8, 1918. In January 1919, his father had received a telegram that he was in Vichy France in an American Hospital. He was honorably discharged on April 4, 1919 after serving overseas from September 25, 1917 to March 6, 1919. (Photo 80A was taken behind the lines in France.)
In 1920, Sewell was living with his parents on Radford Lane. He was listed as a wholesale candy dealer. By 1930, he was married to Ruth Bennett, lived with her family (mother and sister) on Lombard Street and worked as a furniture salesman. In May, 1933, they had one son, Robert, who was raised in Hanson, Massachusetts and who served in the Army during the Korean War.
Sewell died on December 23, 1937 at age 42, of Tuberculosis at the V.A. facility in Rutland Heights, Massachusetts. He was survived by his wife and son. He is buried at Cedar Grove Cemetery, Dorchester and is memorialized on a plaque of the Third Religious Society (Unitarian) that is located at the Dorchester Historical Society.
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Sources:
Census Records, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, FamilySearch.org
Death Record, Vital Statistics, Mt. Vernon St., Dorchester
Dr. Perkins’ Notes
Obituary, Patriot Ledger, Robert Bennett Rich, August 7, 2013
Service Record,The Adjutant General Office, Archives – Museum Branch, Concord, MA
WW1 Draft Registration, FamilySearch.org