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- [S39] Findagrave.com, (www.findagrave.com).
Capt. Charles Monford
Birth: unknown Death: unknown William Morford, the father of Captain Charles Morford, was born in 1764, and in 1788 married Lydia Stout, whose birth occurred in 1768. Of their twelve children, nine survived and grew to mature years. Charles, of this number, the seventh son, was born March 27, 1807, in Middletown township, and enjoyed such opportunities of education as were afforded near his home, supplemented by judicious reading and study at home. Developing early a taste for mechanics, he went to New York City, and learned the carpenter’s trade, which was on his return to his home followed successfully for several years, in connection with farming. He later engaged with his brother William in mercantile pursuits at Chanceville, now New Monmouth. Thomas Morford was soon added to the firm, and the first lumber and coal-yards were opened in this vicinity. These brothers were also instrumental in starting the first line of packets between the section of the bay-shore now known as Port Monmouth and New York, and for many years a very considerable business was done in sailing-vessels. A "Transportation Company" was afterward incorporated, of which Charles was made president, when a steamboat was built for the purpose of facilitating the shipment of produce from the adjacent country. The vessel, which made regular trips from Port Monmouth to New York, was under command of Mr. Morford as the first captain, and sailed daily from a substantial pier erected for the purpose. Captain Morford was, on the 25th of September, 1832, married to Susan, daughter of Daniel and Margaret Herbert, of the same township, their children being John, married to Z. Maria Brown; Caroline; Almira, wife of David S. Wyckoff; Lydia, married to S.T. Hendrickson; Margaret H.; Charles H., married to Laura M. Worthley. In 1858, Captain Morford relinquished to his son John the homestead farm at New Monmouth which he owned and cultivated, and removed to the one in Middletown village now occupied by his widow and son, Charles H. Morford. He was identified with the leading enterprises of the county, and with every movement which advanced the interests of the community. An early Whig in politics, he later indorsed the principles of the Republican party, and although much interested in the advancement of its principles, invariably declined the most urgent solicitations to accept office. He was one of the incorporators of the Monmouth County Agricultural Society, and vice-president of the Fairview Cemetery Association, in which he manifested an active interest. He was also at the time of his death, which occurred June 7, 1874, president of the Red Bank and Middletown Turnpike Company. He was in his religious convictions a Baptist, and both a member and trustee of the Middletown Baptist Church. A comprehensive estimate of the character of Captain Morford is embodied in the annexed tribute from a friend, published soon after his death: "His Christian character, in the ordinary sense of the word, was fully conceded and warmly indorsed by all who knew him in that relation; there yet remains his rare and honorable singularity. Captain Morford was unlike the body of men with the talent and power of accumulation in knowing, better than most men, how to make his means a servant and not a tyrant. All know how difficult it is for the man who has, to use the ordinary phrase, ‘made his money,’ to avoid holding it too highly. Captain Morford learned years ago (and this is the especial subject of admiration) to make his money a mercy and not an evil,— to use it as if it had been made for his use. Ripening with age and experience, he surrounded himself with the highest comforts and many moderate luxuries, making his residence notable for its moral as well as physical atmosphere of enjoyment; he considered wealth never better expended than in his family, with the result or having won around him one of the happiest and most united families within the writer’s knowledge. He traveled much on the American continent and in Europe during the Paris Exposition year of 1867 as a personal enjoyment and enlarging his knowledge of men and the world, laying up memories and friendships equally pleasant; and all this without holding back one tithe from the causes of religion and local benevolence, with which he has been so long and honorably associated. "The writer has believed that to this especial feature of Captain Morford’s life— his ripening and broadening with years, instead of narrowing, as so many do— attention deserves to be more especially called, than others might call it, for the sake of the honorable example afforded, and in the hope that that example may not be unfruitful."
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Descendants of Hendrick Willemsz
1807 - 1874 (67 years)