Roll of Honor
Incident
Location: North Carolina Weapon: Handgun; Revolver Offender: Sentenced to 5 years
Posseman Samuel Seawell was shot and killed in Cumnock, Lee County, North Carolina, after he and other officers raided an illegal still site in Moore County and confiscated the still and equipment.
The owner of the still had learned of the seizure and set out after the officers and located them at the Euphronia Church, near Cumnock. The man dismounted his horse, immediately shot Posseman Seawell, and then held the other officers at gunpoint as he ordered them to handover the equipment.
The man fled but was later captured in Bennettsville, South Carolina. He was returned to North Carolina where he was convicted of murdering Posseman Seawell and was sentenced to five years in prison. Following his release from prison he was arrested again for moonshining. He was sentenced to one year in federal prison in New York where he later died while serving the sentence.
Posseman Seawell served as a major in the Confederate Army during the Civil War.
Posseman Seawell served as a major in the Confederate Army during the Civil War.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, two children, and his parents and is buried at Friendship Baptist Church Cemetery in Carthage, North Carolina.
In Our Keeping
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Posseman Seawell served with the United States Department of the Treasury.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Samuel Waite Seawell served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Posseman Samuel Waite Seawell is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,759 officers honored here.
In DC, 754 of 1,419 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.1% of this state's fallen. That is 53.1 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At United States Department of the Treasury - Office of Internal Revenue, 25 of 27 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 92.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Samuel Waite Seawell's cause is highlighted.
How Samuel Waite Seawell Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Samuel Waite Seawell is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Samuel Waite Seawell was killed by handgun; revolver.
Incident Location
Military Service
Samuel Waite Seawell served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Visit Samuel Waite Seawell’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
26 officers from United States Department of the Treasury - Office of Internal Revenue are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
