RM Vivas
US Veteran
Archival Observations – The Widow Craw (nee Wesson)
Perusing through the various archived records, one finds little threads that, when pulled, unravel some interesting stories that might otherwise not see the light of day.
While processing some info on a Registered Magnum #1938, I happened across such information.
In early 1937, MAJ William H. Craig of the 11th US Infantry, stationed at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana, started a correspondence with D.B. Wesson, pursuant to ordering a Registered Magnum.
MAJ Craig was about to be posted to the Philippines and intended to hunt Indo-China and perhaps China with a Magnum and wanted DBW to kit him out.
The correspondence is typical, although there was a paragraph that caught my eye:
“…Several years ago I received a wedding invitation from a polo-playing aviator by the name of Captain D.T. (Nick) Craw, to a Miss Wesson. I presume the Miss Wesson Nick married was one of your family. I have played polo with him in Mexico City when we went down to play against the Mexican team. I have not heard from him after his marriage and after he was sent over to Hawaii…” – CRAIG to DBW, 25JAN37
In much correspondence between potential Magnum purchasers and DBW, one will see references to having met DBW or corresponded with him earlier. I often think that these statements are simple remembrances although the cynical side of me says that they are attempts to gain a couple extra points of DBW’s favor to perhaps get a better deal or a gun shipped faster or with special attention given. I’m a cynic.
DBW responded:
“…Nick Craw married Mary Victoria Wesson, the daughter of my cousin Frank (Treasurer of this company) and they are now stationed at Mitchell Field. He is a grand lad and must now be referred to as old Nick as young Nick arrived not so many weeks ago…” – DBW to CRAIG, 28JAN37
This got me to thinking that perhaps I should see what I could find on Mrs. Craw (nee Wesson)….
Truth to tell, nothing particularly interesting turned up. Her deceased husband, however, had an interesting life and a tragic but epic end.
Her husband had an interesting military career starting in world War One. He stayed in after the war and worked his way up. He was in Morocco during World War Two where he was killed in an action that wound up with him receiving (posthumously) a Medal of Honor!
Some details of his rather interesting career may be found at the links below.
CRAW - Congressional Medal Of Honor Society
CRAW - Wikipedia
It’s a bit of a stretch, perhaps, to tie this to S&W guns, but on a day like today (04JUL25), it seemed worth throwing out there.
There’s quite a bit of interesting things like this within the archives of the Smith & Wesson Historical Foundation and most would never see the light of day without the support of collectors. Smith & Wesson Historical Foundation; you’re a member, aren’t you? Smith & Wesson Historical Foundation
Best,
RM Vivas
