I forgot to go see ‘One Blow After Another’. With the appearance of Dan Jone’s ‘All In’, alas I am grounded in the words of a Fellow Historian, who may have been given the assignment of……….Raising James Bond from the dead!
It is an honor to include Irene Victoria Easton in the pantheon of Detective Writers, and, their fictional characters, as will as my kin…..
ELIZABETH ROSEMOND TAYLOR….
Liz is related to Ian Fleming – who may have inspired Pynchon! I talked about a School of Spies at Belmont, as well as a Think Tank that would study how Jesus is used in modern day politics.
John Presco
Thomas Pynchon and Ian Fleming share a deep, critical connection through Pynchon’s lifelong fascination with spy fiction, intelligence work, and the pop-culture machinery of the Cold War.
Key Connections
- Spy Fiction Influence: In the introduction to his short story collection Slow Learner, Pynchon openly acknowledges growing up on spy novels and adventure tales. [1]
- The James Bond Connection: Pynchon specifically references Ian Fleming’s James Bond in Slow Learner, characterizing Bond as an icon of a post-war Anglo-American order who made his name “by kicking third-world people around”. [1]
- Shared Details and Motifs: Scholars have noted how specific operational lore from Fleming’s novels—such as the unique rhythmic “fist” or typing/tapping signature of individual radio operators used in intelligence tracking—found its way into Pynchon’s masterwork Gravity’s Rainbow. [1]
- Deconstructing the Genre: While Fleming treated the spy thriller as a glamorous, high-stakes geopolitical fantasy, Pynchon subverted and transformed these tropes into dense, paranoid postmodern critiques of corporate-state power, military-industrial complexes, and imperial control. [1, 2, 3]
3/18/2026
Another Acid-trip After Another
Teyana Taylor as Perfidia Beverly Hills in Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another.” Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.
Another Acid-trip After Another
by
John Presco
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
I’m already having a AAAA – and I haven’t seen ‘One Battle After Another’
OBAA
In the opening scene of AAAA, Paul Thomas Anderson flies over the top of a grassy knoll and on to the the set of ‘Christine’s World’ starring Sean Penn, and produced by the Comedic Artist, President Zelensky.
“WTF!” cries the man who saved the world, and, grabs a ZOD-WIZ Killer-Droid from his bodyguard.”
Sean, reaches over, and lowers the weapon……no vehicle has ever escaped from;
“Let him go, Zach! It’s only…….Tinsel Town!”
Here is my review of Anderson’s first Pynchon Movie – that I hated to death! This review may have gotten me banned from Hollywood. Paul has a hard-on for Thomas. But, it was I who fucked his muse. If he looking to do the same? I copyrighted my Art Tale of Muse, Mary Anne Tharaldsen, who is mentioned in the talk about who writes Thomas Pynchon’s biography. I’m going to suggest Zelenzky hire me. I will have Mary Ann be the Art Director of ‘Christine’s World’.
I’m going to ask my old friend, Tim O’Connor to sing some of his Ass-Id Tunes. He lived in Venice and sang on the Boardwalk for money.
JJ FLASH! I just tried to send Tim an e-mal on March 18, 2026 – and it was no good! Fifteen minutes later – I discover he died February 19? 2026! When did Rena die!
Tim O’Connor, the American folk singer, bluesman, and author known as the “Hitch Hiking Poet,” passed away around February 2026 at age 73, according to Dutch reports. Known for hitchhiking over 300,000 miles, he featured in the film Dead Calm and lived on his sailboat in the Netherlands, later authoring books about his travels.
In 1932, Hicks McTaggart is a private detective working for the agency Unamalgamated Ops in Milwaukee. A third party to the ongoing war between the federal government and the mafia, Hicks speaks freely with Milwaukeeans of all kinds, including Nazi bowlers, mafiosi, soda jerks, and a psychic secretary. Hicks is given the assignment to track down Daphne Airmont, daughter of the reclusive “Al Capone of Cheese” Bruno Airmont, along with Hop Wingdale, Daphne’s paramour and a clarinetist for the swing band The Klezmopolitans. Although typically he avoids such assignments, Hicks’ interest in Daphne’s case comes from their association years ago, when he helped her escape a mad therapist via motorboat.
Reception and interpretation
In a 2025 review written for The New Yorker, Kathryn Schulz noted the novel’s prescience during Trump-era “Pynchonesque America” and mentions that the novel “lands in a moment when reality seems to have caught up with [Pynchon’s] fictions.” In her mixed review, she noted the lack of a clear message: “At some point, though, meaning that is sufficiently cryptic becomes indistinguishable from no meaning at all”.[3]
Dwight Garner in The New York Times also gave the novel a mixed reception. While enjoying Pynchon’s wordplay, he found that the author’s “timing and reflexes are not what they used to be” and called the novel “the least notable thing he’s written”.[4]
Kirkus Reviews said, “Pynchon did the private dick thing to better effect in Inherent Vice (2009), a superior yarn in nearly every respect, so this one earns only an average grade — but then, middling Pynchon is better than a whole lot of writers’ best.”[7]
McCarthy was married at one time to Dorothy Spreckels grand- daughter of sugar magnate Claus Spreckels Police said he recently had worked as an orderly at Laguna Honda home but disappeared from there January 4 after working only two weeks A check on other papers in the dead man’s pockets disclosed he had been eating at a merchant club at 9 Mission Street San Francisco and living in an Embarcadero hotel The manager of the club said he was last seen there January 4 also The body had been in the water about 10 days according to corner’s deputies and there were no marks of violence A notebook indicated the dead man had been treated at sity of California Hospital Foley Golden then I assign the ruling is error
In December 1950, local cops swept up a rat king of drunken gamblers after an early morning brawl inside the Encore, resulting in the feds calling a pair of long-sought men to appear before the Kefauver Senate Crime Investigating Committee. Invited to Washington were Elmer “Bones” Remmer (San Francisco) and Thomas J. Whalen (East Saint Louis). With them in the Encore, and booked on charges of intoxication were Edmund M. Scribner (Bakersfield tavern keeper) and redheaded Miss Vici Raaf, actress.
Whalen was also charged with robbery and carrying a concealed weapon after a search turned up a .25-caliber automatic hidden in the padding of his car, and $4600 cash. The cops arrested the quartet after Andy McIntyre, proprietor, called for help with some brawling football fans. Whalen was passed out on the floor when deputy sheriffs and Highway Patrolmen arrived, Miss Raaf, Whalen’s housemate above the Sunset Strip, bending over him.
Remmer, who Miss Raaf identified as the operator of the Cal-Neva Lodge — which he was supposed to have sold under duress in 1948 — cursed at and threatened officers and reporters. Sheriffs interrogated the men about the recent Samuel Rummel gang slaying in Laurel Canyon, and told them all to stay out of Los Angeles.
The Text Content on Page 7 of Oakland Tribune , January 30, 1952 is:
Remmer Defense Tries To Trip Tax Agent By VICTOR STIER Tribune StaM Writer CARSON CITY Nev JanL 30 defense in the Bones Remmer income tax evasion casi battered again today at wary government witness Ray A Weaver special agent of the In ternal Revenue Bureau who headed the gation of the gambler’s tax Spurgeon Avakian Oakland tax defense spent a frustrating day yesterday in his tion of Weaver and finally pealed to Federal Judge Roger T Foley to instruct the witness to answer my questions The judge only scowled and courtly I don’t make Wholesale rulings More than once Weaver turned own questions back at him Avakian tried to trap Weaver into admitting that he had used improper accounting methods in his summary of the assets and liabilities of Menlo Club Remmer’s San Francisco Poker Palace He asked if he had omitted a liability to Gene Schreiber from whom Remmer purchased the Menlo Club Weaver said he didn’t put the liability in his would have reduced Remmer’s net it was mer’s personal liability and not the club’s He I did not consider it the Menlo Club a true partnership This was an out of the blue blow to the defense which has contended the Menlo and othe Remmer ventures were partnerships
All along the gov has tried to that these associations were phoney and set up only to en able Remmer to evade his taxes Again Avakian returned to subject and Weaver said the ne worth of the Menlo Club was Remmer’s net worth That is Remmer’s individual worth anc not the He you can’t avoid it At this Defense Atty John Golden moved the remark be stricken but was denied by Judge Prisoners Put Bones CARSON CITY Nev Jan 30 trial of Elmer F Remmer now ending its second month hasn’t only inconvenienced at- jurors and its principals has also caused a minor de- pression at the Washoe County jail in Reno The complex tax evasion case has dragged through eight weeks of testimony in the court of eral Judge Roger T Foley It has been delayed several times by holidays and severe storms
Today Remmer learned by letter that his case had another effect Friend the note said It looks like your trial and the weather will keep the rest of us Federals in jail all winter A couple of us have been here longer than three months now and no chance of getting into court in sight It’s rough So we are tap city Elmer and I mean but good Knowing you as I do from years ago I don’t hesitate to write and ask you you can see your way clear to put something on the sheriff’s books for this other chap and myself A small touch will keep us in cigarets razor blades and miscellaneous The note came from Harold Sylvada who identified trie other chap as Harry M Taylor
Remmer said today he had never heard of either felt sorry for them and sent them some money He wouldn’t say how much Both have been awaiting trial for Dyer Act charges since early November Man’s Body Found in Bay The body of a man tentatively identified as Andrew George Carthy 40 was recovered from the Bay today mile east of the Golden Gate Bridge Identification was made by police through papers which gave the address of Mrs A G Carthy 2460 Green Street Mrs McCarthy told police her son Andrew disappeared from her home four weeks ago and that she had not seen him since
McCarthy was married at one time to Dorothy Spreckels grand- daughter of sugar magnate Claus Spreckels Police said he recently had worked as an orderly at Laguna Honda home but disappeared from there January 4 after working only two weeks A check on other papers in the dead man’s pockets disclosed he had been eating at a merchant club at 9 Mission Street San Francisco and living in an Embarcadero hotel The manager of the club said he was last seen there January 4 also The body had been in the water about 10 days according to corner’s deputies and there were no marks of violence A notebook indicated the dead man had been treated at sity of California Hospital Foley Golden then I assign the ruling is error In another exchange Avakian asked he had testified on direct examination that determine the amount oJ cash Mr Remmer had in safer and safe deposit And Weaver said Xes because Mr Hemmer re fused to give us any tion whatsoever Avakian then drew out that this refusal came in a Reno attorney’s office one day in 1948 He shake Weaver’s sertion that Remmer had been present when his attorney at the time John P Thatcher of Reno refused to let him discuss the the government Weaver bulky bler was there and added I even remember that he was wearing cowboy boots Later on another matter to which Prosecutor Walter M lampbell Jr had objected cain asserted he would like to Remmer’s returns that are charged here as fraudulent were not even discussed with the ons in the case
Judge Foley however sustained the ion Weaver did say that Remmer’s employees and were co-operative at all times and hadn’t shown of 1945 Menl Club lOU’s as accounts receiv able Weaver Be cause the Menlo Club didn’t sell anything The defense did score in bnl aspect of the cross-examination In direct examination said the government had no been able to ascertain the amount of Remmer had a the beginning or the indictment period 1944 through 1946 On cross-examination he ad nutted that this information would necessary to adequately determine the taxpayer’s ne worth When objected to Avakian asking Weaver it he submitted his report on the Remmer investigation to Dell the defense attorney asked Judge Foley three times 36 heard on this your The judge I’ve told you three time no Avakian did gain more dence that Remmer a oan of on September 27 1946 from a friend of his the late Robert L Weaver he Jeffres introduced Through into prompt to comply with any of he government’s requests asked Weaver why he dence a photostatic copy of res bank account showing a withdrawal on that date
This is important to Remmer it subtracts that amount rom his net worth for that ear The loan was first brought to light when the defense a prosecution witness a month ago At that time Campbell tried to shake the witness Harold drell but failed Maundrell in- the loan had been made Redden on Stand Again Airs Protection Plot Oakland Tribune Wednesday 1952 E if 7 Thomas C of 127 Santa Clara Avenue Alameda who has pleaded guilty to a grand indictment charging of a bribe and book making cross examina tidn today by counsel Wayne on trial -in Superior Court on the same charges Redden who has Wayne of accepting payments from Joseph May to provide police protection for activities in Alameda in is awaiting sentence on the charge Wayne indicted in with the same is standing trial on the defense position that payments that came him through den from May were in ment of a loan he made to May and that he had no ion whatever with bookmaking activities ADMITS CONTACT Redden testified on direct ex- amination before a jury in Judge Charles Wade Snook’s Court erday that he had approached Wayne on behalf of May to see if police protection could be ar- Redden declared Wayne told im he had fixed things up with Alameda Police so that day could operate in that city on that all bets be taken y telephone that there be no operating in bars lat the bookmaking offices ut of the public view and there no syndicate f that May paid around protection money during the time May operated from September 25 to December 2 on Webster Street and during the time May operated at -2256 Pacific Avenue ALLEGED PAYOFF All the police of it to Ridden was a case or two of whiskey and a slot machine he said was split between himself and Wayne Chief Atty Richard H Chamberlain and Dep Dist Atty Raymond E Mellana ex- to complete the prosecution case late today Defense Andrew J Eyman expects to consume another three days with defense witnesses Prospects are case will go to the jury next Tuesday
4. Flora Sharon, b. November 3, 1879, at San Francisco; d. November 5, 1945, unmarried at San Francisco.
5. Mary Alice, b. April 4, 1882, at San Francisco; d. in infancy.
B21,121.
Bessie Sedgwick, 1st child of John Sedgwick (B21,12) and Malvina (Davis) Sedgwick, was born at Sonora, Cal., September 19, 1859, and married Thomas T. Dargie, at Oakland, Cal., publisher of newspapers, August 7, 1890, at that city. He was associated with the Oakland Tribune, was born at Sonora and died fifty years old February 11, 1907, at Oakland. She lives at 2460 Green Street, San Francisco. Children, both born at Oakland, Cal. (Dargie):
1. Bessie, b. March 22, 1892. (B21,121,1)
2. Thomas Malvern, b. August 23, 1893. (B21,121,2)
B21,121,1.
Bessie Dargie, 1st child of Bessie (Sedgwick) Dargie (B21,121) and Thomas T. Dargie, was born March 22, 1892, at Oakland, Cal., and married in 1910 at San Francisco Andrew George McCarthy, son of Mary Ann McCarthy and Andrew McCarthy, a member of the music firm in San Francisco of Sherman & Clapp. He died September 4, 1927, at San Francisco. His widow resides at 11 Clay Street, San Francisco. Children, all born at San Francisco (McCarthy):
1. Mary Louise, b. February 16, 1911. (B21,121,11)
2. Andrew George McCarthy, Jr., b. December 17, 1911. (B21,121,12)
3. Betsey Swan Sedgwick, b. August 1, 1913; d. July 24, 1936, at San Francisco.
B21,121,11.
Mary Louise McCarthy, 1st child of Bessie (Dargie) McCarthy (B21,121,1) and Andrew G. McCarthy, was born February 16, 1911, at San Francisco and married July 23, 1932, at that place, Oscar Sutro, Jr., son of Oscar Sutro and Mary (O’Sullivan) Sutro. Oscar, Jr. was born April 28, 1909, at Piedmont, California, graduated, A.B., in 1932 at Leland Stanford University and Hastings College of the Law. He is senior specialist in the operating department of Standard Stations, Inc. They live at 2335 Hyde
My God! What have the Nine Muses wrought?! I just discovered via Henry Brevoort’s letters to Washington Irving, that Henry is related to Eidth Sedgewick, Andy Warhol’s Muse. My kindred, Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor, was Andy’s Muse. Rena Easton is/was Christine Rosamond and my Muse. Donald Trump – stiffed Andy! This is…The Greatest New York Story – ever! The king of new York – is defiled! Long live Andy and Edith!
If you want to read a great book, read ‘Edith’ who was born into the Bluest Boston Blood, and ends up getting vitamin shots from Doctor Feelgood!
Robert Brevoort Buck is guilty of legal maleficence. He comes from one of America’s foremost literary and historic families – that he knew nothing about! Yet, he launches his law firm against Rosamond’s brother, teacher, family historian, and genealogist.
Andy knew who his muses were. He is the most famous artist to work in New York, that was once known as New Amsterdam. I want to sue Donald Trump for political maleficence, and for destroying the reputation of the Republican Party founded by John and Jessie Benton. I will be looking at the Bi-laws, and the ethical guidelines for a candidate, in hope I can get the greatest fraud to come out of New York – disqualified!
John Presco
President: Royal Rosamond Press
Big Buck Think Tank
Trump Stiffs Andy – With Liz
Trump stiffed Andy Warhol who did several famous images of my kin, Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor. We share the same great grandfather, James Rosamond, who was the brother of Captain Samuel Rosamond, the Patriot. Liz would be happy to have known about her all American family who immigrated from Ireland. She did not know her cousin was the famous artist, Christine Rosamond Benton, who married into the Benton family of American artists. This history and genealogy was compiled by Jimmy (James) Rosamond, and myself after Christine and Liz, died. Jimmy descends from James.
My late father and Trump are like twins. Vic hated art, but became a player and partner of Christine, as did Larry Chazen, a CEO of Noble Oil. Rick Perry is on the board of the pipe company that is fighting the Sioux. Chazen is a partner of the Getty oil family who own one of the largest art collections in the world. Trump owns no original art, and defunded the National Endowment of the Arts. Not since the Medicis and Habsburgs, have we seen such a cluster.
Warhol was fascinated with the rich, powerful, and famous. My family tie to Trump is thru art. My credibility and stock – is thru the roof, thanks to Trump becoming President. This blog is a historic prophecy, and Bohemian archive. I prepared the way for the coming of Trump – the real Mad Man! If he had not been elected, then my family and ex-friends could go back to ignoring me. This an Cultural Reboot. Protestors are at our airports fighting for deportees and refugees. Christine’s place in the rea art world, has been secured. This is what she wanted. She headed a Women’s Movement in the 70s.
Here is Christine Rosamond’s ‘Denim and Silk’. She looks like Elfin Muse.
Trump and the extreme-right are going to do even more crazy and dangerous things. They are very destructive. Someday, this blog will be the stepping stones for the – return to sanity! It will be a famous art lesson for future generations who are making history in the streets! A new pertinence is being constructed before our eyes!
Trump is the No.1 enemy of art, and just about everything else. If he met Julia Childes, he would scarf down her food at the studio, then barf it out in the parking lot, making sure that was caught on film. In the world according to Trump, most people are con-artists, fakes, crooked ‘The Enemy’. What he really thinks about evangelicals, is waiting in the wings. Trump is ‘The Lawnmower Man’. For this reason, I and may others, may not have anything to say because he is altering reality at an incredible rate. We find little time to do things that used to amuse us. Why go to a movie, when you got a marathon thriller on T.V. – for free! Trump is a great teacher! All the lessons I have been blogging, now make sense in every blatant action he takes. He is Trump College. Learn how to be a Bohemian by opposing him at every turn. Fight fire, with fire!
“Hell no! We won’t go!”
“I’ve always felt that a lot of modern art is a con, and that the most successful painters are often better salesmen and promoters than they are artists.”
This is to say, artists are like Trump, rather then like other artists. Trump is the artist’s, artist. There can only be one winner – and one Trump! He is not going to let anyone -play! He owns all the toys. Trump is…….The Supreme Creator! He only pretended he was going to let his daughter in, let her steer the ship of state. Ivanka has a minor collection of New York Artists. I will be contacting her.
Rosamond was more than a Popular Artist. Her images of Beautiful Liberated Women, were Protest Posters that millions of women hung on the walls of their abodes. My heart stood still as I beheld my new muses long eyelashes. Here is Simone Rosamond. She told me she got them from her mother.
The Rose of the World is our Lady Liberty that stands in New York Harbor holding up a light for the whole world to see these words, her words……..The Mother of Exiles!
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
Jon Presco
President: Royal Rosamond Press
Copyright 2017
http://www.sedgwick.org/na/families/robert1613/ged/d0013/f0002687.html
https://www.masshist.org/collection-guides/view/fa0248
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edie_Sedgwick
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Dwight_Sedgwick
http://www.archive.org/stream/cu31924022056786/cu31924022056786_djvu.txt
Acknowledgments are also due to another member of the Brevoort family, Mrs. Robert Sedgwick, through whom have been secured excerpts from letters written by her grand- mother Margaret, who was the sister of Henry Brevoort and who became the wife of Pro- fessor James Renwick. Margaret Brevoort was a charming correspondent, and the Editor has been glad to utilize in his pages passages from these lively and characteristic letters. The publishers desire also to express their appreciation of Mrs. Sedgwick’s courtesy in PUBLISHERS’ NOTE placing at their service the portrait by Jarvis of Mrs. Renwick, now in the home of her great-granddaughter, Mrs. Sedgwick; and of Mr. Kane’s similar courtesy in regard to the portrait by Rembrandt Peale of Henry Brevoort. These portraits are now for the first time reproduced.
Many personages known to fame are present in the next letter, written June 24**^, 1813, at London, where Brevoort, accompanied by Peter Irving, had arrived a fortnight earlier. Distinguished women figure preponderantly in these pages. Brevoort meets Joanna Bailey and Miss Edgeworth; sees, at Drury Lane Theatre, the great Madame de Stael with her “very reverend black beard and fea- tures that correspond to it”; hears Mrs. Siddons read the whole play of Hamlet; describes Madame D’Arblay whose Evelina, now almost forgotten, vied in popularity with the works of her rival French novelists. His words concerning the sublimity of Mrs. Siddons’ art, when “the theatre echoed with sobs and shrieks and ‘Bravos,’” recall the emotional power of that supreme tragic ac- tress of England ; and this intense scene finds an amusing contrast in the following para-
They were one of the great romances of the 1960s. Pop art’s golden couple, even if silver was their signature color. Romeo and Juliet with kink. Andy Warhol and Edie Sedgwick. The two were opposites. Were, in fact, radically, diametrically, almost violently opposed. So how could the attraction between them have been other than irresistible? She was the beauty to his beast, the princess to his pauper, the exhibitionist to his voyeur. They were also, of course, opposite sexes, which should have made their pairing all the more inevitable, only it did, well, the opposite since he preferred the same. As impediments to heterosexual unions go, homosexual impulse is a biggie. Edie got around it, though, no problem because she intuited that Andy’s gayness was incidental. Fundamental was Andy’s narcissism. No, fundamental was Andy’s frustrated narcissism. He was the boy who didn’t like what he saw when he gazed into the pool, and thus was doomed, in a permanent state of unfulfilled desire. Edie’s method of seduction was to take her shoulder-length dark hair, chop it off, bleach it a metallic shade of blond so that it matched his wig, and dress herself in the striped boatnecked shirts that had become his uniform. In other words, to turn herself into the reflection of his dreams. At long last—oh, rapture! oh, ecstasy!—his self-love was requited.
Until it wasn’t. Andy and Edie’s mutual platinum obsession lasted not quite one calendar year. In 1965 she was his leading lady in 10 movies, give or take. (Andy couldn’t bring himself to be organized enough for a filmography un-rife with holes and question marks.) Their final official movie, Lupe, released more than half a century ago, in 1966, began when Andy offered writer Robert Heide a sole directive: “I want something where Edie commits suicide at the end.” This line, delivered in his usual uninflected, unemphatic tone, is chilling, something that the villain in a Hitchcock thriller, one of those immaculately amoral gentleman-monsters, might have said. Or it would be if there hadn’t been heat beneath the frost, a passion that smoldered before it burned, turned fatal.
vMajor General Charles Frederick Sedgwick
- https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/23292836/charles-frederick-sedg…
- https://libguides.ctstatelibrary.org/law/judge-attorney-biographies…
- https://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/book/lookupname?key=Se…
General Sedgwick was born in Cornwall, Litchfield County, Connecticut, September 1, 1795. His grandfather, General John Sedgwick, was a major in the Revolutionary army, and a major general of the state militia. His ancestry is traced to Robert Sedgwick, one of Cromwell’s generals.
He was a brother of the late Albert Sedgwick, who was for many years sheriff of Litchfield County and School Fund Commissioner of this state; and a cousin of the renowned General John Sedgwick of the sixth corps of the army of the Potomac, who was killed at Spotsylvania, Virginia, in the late civil war.
After graduating at Williams College, 1813, he took charge of an academy in Sharon, Connecticut, and at the same time studied law, and was admitted to the bar, March, 1820, in Litchfield County. He immediately located in Sharon, and there continued in the practice of his profession and ended his life work. He was married to Betsey, daughter of Judge Cyrus Swan of Sharon, October 15, 1821. She and eight of their children survive him.
He was early a member of the Legislature in both of its branches, a judge of the court of probate for the district of Sharon, and for the last eighteen years of his professional activity, and until his health began to fail, State’s Attorney for the county.
He inherited and manifested a special admiration for military affairs, and was appointed brigadier general of the state militia in 1829, and afterwards major general of the third military division of the state.
Physically, he was a remarkable man; large, tall, and erect, his appearance in and out of the court-room was attractive and commanding. As a lawyer not arrogant, not sarcastic, not brilliant, always courteous, a ready, fluent advocate, presenting his views of the case on trial with force and zeal, commanding the respect of the court and jury.
In the discharge of his duty as a public prosecutor, the administration of his office was characterized by the application of the principle “that ninety-nine guilty persons should escape, rather than one innocent person should suffer.” His habits were exemplary; tobacco and intoxicants in all their forms were to him abhorrent.
The current events of the day were all noted by him, and he delighted in works of history, biography and genealogy. His wonderfully retentive memory, bodily vigor, and genial nature made him a delightful talker in the social circle, and eminently useful in furnishing information of and concerning persons and their affairs. If it became necessary to find a collateral or other heir to an estate, or to insert a branch in the genealogical tree of a family in western Connecticut, General Sedgwick was referred to as a living compendium of the required information, and his detailed reminiscences of the peculiarities and characteristics of persons always interested his hearers and often elicited their merriment.
His centennial address and history of the town of Sharon in 1865, is a valuable depository of knowledge for the inhabitants of the town. His address at Litchfield in April, 1870, entitled “Fifty Years at the Bar,” descriptive of the lawyers and judges of the courts of his time, is an acquisition to the legal literature of our state, which should be preserved in an enduring form.
The members of the bar of Litchfield County manifested their esteem for him from time to time, by soliciting his appointment to the office he so long held; and to show his appreciation thereof, I will quote the concluding remarks of his address:
“Standing here alone, the only member of this bar who has been in practice for fifty years, I take pleasure in expressing to my brethren of more recent experience, the deepest gratitude for the pleasant and friendly relations they have permitted me to enjoy with them during the whole of our acquaintance. By their kind amenities and the favor of the judges, the rays of my evening sun have fallen upon me softer than did those of my noon-day. These precious remembrances will remain with me as long as I have consciousness; and in conclusion I say to my brethren, not as a thoughtless wish, but as an honest prayer, May God bless you, each and all.”
He lived soberly, he waited for death calmly, and died in communion with the Congregational Church at Sharon, March 9th, 1882, in his 87th year.
Prepared at the request of the Reporter by Donald J. Warner, Esquire, of the Litchfield County bar.
The connection between Andrew McCarthy (the 80s actor) and Sedgwick isn’t direct in pop culture, but genealogically, an Andrew George McCarthy Jr. (born 1911) was linked to the prominent Sedgwick family through his mother, Bessie (Dargie) McCarthy, who was a Sedgwick descendant. The famous actor Andrew McCarthy (b. 1962) is known for “St. Elmo’s Fire” and “Pretty in Pink,” while the genealogical Andrew McCarthy Jr. was an oil salesman in WWII, showing they are different people from different generations, though potentially distant relatives through a shared American lineage.
- Bessie (Sedgwick) McCarthy: Mother of Andrew George McCarthy Jr., connecting him to the Sedgwick line.
4. Flora Sharon, b. November 3, 1879, at San Francisco; d. November 5, 1945, unmarried at San Francisco.
5. Mary Alice, b. April 4, 1882, at San Francisco; d. in infancy.
B21,121.
Bessie Sedgwick, 1st child of John Sedgwick (B21,12) and Malvina (Davis) Sedgwick, was born at Sonora, Cal., September 19, 1859, and married Thomas T. Dargie, at Oakland, Cal., publisher of newspapers, August 7, 1890, at that city. He was associated with the Oakland Tribune, was born at Sonora and died fifty years old February 11, 1907, at Oakland. She lives at 2460 Green Street, San Francisco. Children, both born at Oakland, Cal. (Dargie):
1. Bessie, b. March 22, 1892. (B21,121,1)
2. Thomas Malvern, b. August 23, 1893. (B21,121,2)
B21,121,1.
Bessie Dargie, 1st child of Bessie (Sedgwick) Dargie (B21,121) and Thomas T. Dargie, was born March 22, 1892, at Oakland, Cal., and married in 1910 at San Francisco Andrew George McCarthy, son of Mary Ann McCarthy and Andrew McCarthy, a member of the music firm in San Francisco of Sherman & Clapp. He died September 4, 1927, at San Francisco. His widow resides at 11 Clay Street, San Francisco. Children, all born at San Francisco (McCarthy):
1. Mary Louise, b. February 16, 1911. (B21,121,11)
2. Andrew George McCarthy, Jr., b. December 17, 1911. (B21,121,12)
3. Betsey Swan Sedgwick, b. August 1, 1913; d. July 24, 1936, at San Francisco.
B21,121,11.
Mary Louise McCarthy, 1st child of Bessie (Dargie) McCarthy (B21,121,1) and Andrew G. McCarthy, was born February 16, 1911, at San Francisco and married July 23, 1932, at that place, Oscar Sutro, Jr., son of Oscar Sutro and Mary (O’Sullivan) Sutro. Oscar, Jr. was born April 28, 1909, at Piedmont, California, graduated, A.B., in 1932 at Leland Stanford University and Hastings College of the Law. He is senior specialist in the operating department of Standard Stations, Inc. They live at 2335 Hyde
William Edward Dargie (March 13, 1854 – February 10, 1911) owned and published the Oakland Tribune from 1876–1911. He was instrumental in instilling and propagating the firmly right-wing, conservative Republican ideology with which Oakland became thoroughly identified, almost from its incorporation through the 1960s. He remained active in the running of “his” paper until his health began to fail in 1910.
Leave a Reply