Page:A cyclopedia of American medical biography vol. 1.djvu/286

 CHEEVER

CHEEVER

tising for a short time in Savannah, he received an appointment as assistant sur- geon in the United States Navy, and was assigned to the sloop-of-war "James- town." When Georgia seceded he promp- tly resigned and reported for duty at home. He was commissioned surgeon in the Confederate States Navy; was sent on a secret mission to France, and on his re- turn was assigned to the confederate cruiser "Florida," being captured on that vessel in the harbor of Bahia, Brazil. On the voyage to Chesapeake Bay, small-pox broke out on the United States vessel and Dr. Charlton, with the prompt manliness and humanity which characterized him, at once volunteered his services. These were gratefully accepted, and his devo- tion was so pronounced and so success- ful that after a short incarceration in Fort Warren, Massachusetts, the enemy treated him as the British had his great grandfather under similar circumstances and turned their backs while he walked out, with the understanding that he would not return south. Being a man of the highest sense of honor, he observed his parole, and went first to England and then to Halifax, Nova Scotia, returning to Savannah after the cessation of hostilities to enjoy a large practice to the end of his life. He was attending phy- sician to the Savannah Hospital and when the epidemic of 1876 devastated Savannah, devoted himself with entire sacrifice to his people. Practising be- fore the era of specialists, he nevertheless attained great reputation as a surgeon and in obstetrics and fevers. He was twice married, first to Julia Catherine Crane, daughter of Heman Averil Crane, and after her death to Julia Johnstone. His eldest son, Thomas Jackson, became a doctor in Savannah. J. B. B.

Cheever, Abijah (1760-1843).

Dr. Abijah Cheever was descended in the fifth generation from Ezekiel Cheever, master of the Latin School, Boston, who came to Boston from England in 1637, and taught Latin for seventy years, dying in 1708.

Abijah Cheever was born in Sangers, Massachusetts in 1760, his boyhood being passed in farm work. On the even- ing before the battle of Lexington he was employed in running bullets from a mould over a fire of hickory coals for the long Queen Anne muskets of his brothers who shared in the battle the following day. He graduated from Harvard College in 1779, then studied medicine and surgery as a profession, and obtained his M. D. in 1782. He was a student of Dr. John Warren.

In 1783 he was commissioned as surgeon in the Revolutionary War.

" By his Excellency John Hancock, Esq., governor and commander-in-chief in and over the Commonwealth of Massa- chusetts.

"To Abijah Cheever, Gentleman, Greeting. Having heard of your skill in surgery and reposing confidence in your ability and good conduct, I do by these presents constitute and appoint you sur- geon on board the ship Tartar fitted out by this commonwealth for the service thereof. . ..

" Dated at Boston this thirteenth day of May in the year of our Lord one thou- sand seven hundred and eighty two, and in the sixth year of the Independence of the United States.

Signed, John Hancock."

In this privateer he made two voyages. In the first the Tartar captured four Brit- ish merchant vessels. In the second voy- age she was attacked by the British frig- ate Belisanus, and was herself captured. Dr. Cheever was sent to the old prison ship in New York harbor and confined some time. Exchanged later, after peace was proclaimed, he settled as physician and surgeon in Boston, at the then fash- ionable North End, married, and prac- tised seventeen years. He then returned to Sangers, where he lived until his death at the age of eighty-three.

He was pensioned by John C. Calhoun, secretary of war, in 1818, as surgeon's mate in the army of the Revolution, and with the rank of captain of infantry of the continental line.