NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

Biographical and Genealogical History of Morris County New Jersey. Illustrated. Vol. II., Lewis Publishing Company, New York and Chicago, 1899.

He was born in Morris county, on the 28th of May, 1839, and is a son of Elijah Trowbridge, who was born in this county and is a son of Austin Trowbridge. The last named, a native of Morris County, was a son of Shubal Trowbridge, of English descent, the original American ancestors locating in the New World in early colonial days. Elijah Trowbridge was a farmer, but when a young man removed to Brooklyn and was appointed one of the first policemen of that city. He married Temperance Muchmore, who was born in Bottle Hill, now Madison, New Jersey, a daughter of John Taylor Muchmore. Eight children were born of this union, five of whom reached years of maturity, while four are still living, namely: Phoebe, Charles, John, and Johanna, the wife of George Perkins. Frank, who joined the one hundredth and forty-seventh New York Volunteer Infantry, and served throughout the war, was wounded at Cold Harbor and died from the effects of his injuries after the close of hostilities. Three children of this family died in childhood. The father died in Brooklyn, in the forty-ninth year of his age, while his wife lived to be seventy-two years of age. After her husband's death, she returned to Morris County, but later moved back to Brooklyn, where her death occurred.

Mr. Trowbridge, whose name begins this review, was a child of nine when with his parents he removed to Brooklyn, where he acquired his education in the public schools. At the age of eighteen he began to learn the carpenter’s trade, serving a four-year apprenticeship, in which time he thoroughly mastered the business, becoming an expert workman. But when he had completed his term his attention was called to other things. The question of the extension of slavery had involved the country in civil war, and being true to the union, Mr. Trowbridge enlisted on the 11th of December 1861, being assigned to Company F, First New York Volunteer Engineers, serving in Hilton Head, Charleston, and Morris Island. Later he was commissioned second lieutenant of the First Regiment South Carolina Volunteer Infantry, Company A, afterward the Thirty-third Regiment of Colored Troops, this being the first regiment of colored troops organized during the war. They were engaged in provost, guard and picket duty, and were often on detailed service. Mr. Trowbridge continued at the front until December 1864, when he resigned and returned home.

Again reaching the north, he worked his trade in Brooklyn until 1866, when he came to Chatham, where he has since been engaged in business. His thorough understanding of the trade, his reliability and promptness and his skillful workmanship has brought him a creditable success. On April 26, 1866, Mr. Trowbridge was joined in wedlock to Miss Margaret Lum, a daughter of Harvey Lum, and together they have five children: Alfred M., a carpenter in Chatham, Frank L., who is engaged in merchandising in Chatham; Charles L., a mason and a carpenter; Roy S., a machinist, and Harriett E. The parents hold membership in the Presbyterian Church, and Mr. Trowbridge is a member of the A.T.A. Tolbert Post, No. 24, G.A.R., and Mr. Trowbridge exercises his right of franchise in support of the Republican party and is as true to his duties of citizenship in times of peace as he was when he followed the starry banner on southern battlefields.

Transcribed by Christopher Cresta

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