Michael Bedout Chesson

"Michael Bedout Chesson, 78, of Belmont, Massachusetts, died peacefully on December 14, 2025 after a short illness, surrounded by his family. Author of Richmond After the War, 1865-1890, Michael was a noted historian of the South, slavery, and the Civil War. Born in 1947, he was raised in Richmond and Newport News, Virginia, educated at the College of William and Mary and Johns Hopkins University, and received his doctorate at Harvard University. He is survived by his beloved wife of 37 years, Jane Sherwin; son Mark Chesson and his fiancée Megan Barth; daughter Ginny Chesson; brother Mark Chesson and wife Dona of Newport News, and his nieces Jane and Sarah Chesson. A service of Christian burial will be held in Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond, on January 2 at 12:30pm.

Memorial gifts may be directed to William & Mary Libraries’ Special Collections Research Center Fund (3705).  Any checks payable to the William & Mary Foundation; mail to William & Mary, P.O. Box 1693, Boone, IA 50950-0693. Memo line: “Special Collections Research Center Fund (3705) in memory of Michael B. Chesson.” Gifts online at https://giving.wm.edu/."

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