The Mathewson's Brothers, 7th, Rhode Island

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Calvin Rhodes Mathewson, a brother of Nicholas, was born in North Kingston October 30, 1846.  Evidently the inital of his middle name cannot be K., official records to the contrary notwithstanding.  He was but fifteen at the time of his enlistment, and hailed from Coventry Centre.  He was not stromg, and consequently, speedily found himself in the hospital.  He was absent from the regiment sick after December20, 1862, and was discharged April2, 1863, at the Postmounth Grove Hospital.

After attending school nearly a year he enlisted February 17, 1864, in compamy G., Third Rhode Island Cavalry, joined the regiment in Louisana, and participated in the Red River campaign, after which he was sent to a hospital in New Orleans.  On December 10th he was discharged and, with many others, smilarly conditioned was sent to New York on the steamer "North America".  She went down, however, with all on board, on December 22nd off Cape Hatteras.  Calvin had another brother James Mathewson, who enlisted at the age of seventeen, in Battery G., First Rhode Island Light Artillery.
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Nicholas Whitford Mathewson, son of Verbadus and Mary Whitford Mathewson, was born in West Greenwich, November 30, 1834.  Most of his life was spent in North Kingstown, at the village of Hamilton then called "Bissell's Narrows".  His occupation was Mill operative.  In 1854, he married Hannah E., dauther of Miner Rose, of North Kingstown.  He was very tall and therefore was almost always on the extreme right of his company.  While the regiment was waiting in the streets of Fredericksburg, Virginia, December 13, 1862, the head of his company was opposite a cross street down which the Confederates were firing with their artillery.  One of the shots struck Nicholas takening off both feet.  He did not survie many hours.

He left two children Mary W. and Charles A., of Wickford, with whom the widow now resides, though in the intervening time she again married, so that her present surname is Crowell.  A few years ago the family changed its name from Mathewson to Matteson.