George Whitfield Trowbridge
Born: Dec. 14, 1868, Mt. Freedom, Randolph, Morris Co. New Jersey
Died: Dec. 5, 1940, Short Hills, Essex Co., New Jersey
Parents: David Austin Trowbridge & Catherine Caroline Coe
Occupation: carpenter & farmer (operated Millburn, Short Hills, New Jersey Poor Farm in 1910-20's, see below).
Religious Affiliation: White Oak Ridge Chapel, Millburn, Essex Co., New Jersey
Buried: Dec. 9, 1940, Fairmont Cemetery, Chatham, Morris  Co., New Jersey
Marriage: June 26, 1895, Harrison, Husdon Co., New Jersey
Wife: Rachel Ann Sanford
Born: Nov. 3, 1875, Harrison, Hudson Co., New Jersey
Died: July 4, 1945, Summit, Union Co., New Jersey
Buried: July 6, 1945, Fairmont Cemetery, Chatham, Morris  Co., New Jersey

Children:

Irving Napoleon Trowbridge

Helen May Trowbridge

Mabel Eveline Trowbridge
Born: Mar. 26, 1903, Summit, Union Co., New Jersey
Died: unknown
Marriage: before 1942, unknown
Husband: A. Koschoreck?
Born: unknown
Died: still living, 1942, Maplewood, New Jersey

Ralph Austin Trowbridge

Laura Coe Trowbridge
Born: Aug. 16, 1905, West Livingston, Essex Co., New Jersey
Died: May, 1983,  Cross Lake, Onondaga Co., New York
Marriage: Nov. 4, 1922, New York City, New York
Husband:  Edward Orville Highbrown
Born: Aug. 30, 1895, Brooklyn, Kings Co., New York
Died: Jan. 20, 1947, probably Millburn, Essex Co., New Jersey

GEORGE WHITFIELD TROWBRIDGE

George Whitfield Trowbridge was named for  his late first cousin George Whitfield Trowbridge, (a son of his uncle John Jabez Trowbridge), who died two days before  George was born.  George  ran the poor farm for Millburn, Essex Co., New Jerseyfor a number of years, of which the following account was written by David Wilson, a great-grandson of George W. Trowbridge:

"My great-grandparents ran the poor house that was in Millburn, Short Hills, [Essex County] New Jersey for a number of years. The Poor Farm was located on what is now White Oak Ridge Road in Short Hills, Essex Co., New Jersey. The fire station now stands on the front portion of that property which was quite large at that time.  In the 1910-1920 range, George W. Trowbridge and his wife Rachel Sandford Trowbridge farmed the land and tended the cows. They also ran a milk delivery wagon into local towns. Their children often helped with many of those chores. By about 1923, George's son-in-law Philip Ayres Ross, and his wife Helen Trowbridge Ross (George's daughter) had taken on the poor farm and ran it for a ten year contract with the town according to one of their sons. The family moved from the Poor Farm around 1933."

According to Morris County court records, George W. Trowbridge was charged with a serious crime  in Mt. Freedom, New Jersey in 1893. It is unknown what the outcome was, but obviously it must have ended favorably for George as he still retained his freedom, although it may be connectied to his leaving Mt. Freedom, which occurred about the same time period.

Moving to the Short Hills, Millburn area in Essex Co., New Jersey, George was a well respected member of the community in Short Hills, and in his later years was very active in his church, the White Oak Ridge Chapel which was located next door to the poor farm.. In a bulletin dated Oct. 14, 1956 celebrating the 125 anniversary of the chapel, it is written:  

"In 1936 24 foot wing was added to the primary room, built by Mr. G. W. Trowbridge and costing $824, this was paid in part with the Allen legacy and the rest by subscription, continuing the policy of incurring no debts against the Chapel.."

After George's death, his wife was a considered important enough to have the  following announcement printed  in the Millburn town newspaper on Aug. 21, 1942, following George's death, regarding a luncheon honoring two of his granddaughters:

"Mrs. George Trowbridge of Oak Ridge road entertained at luncheon Monday in honor of her granddaus. Mrs. Selden Russell of East Orange, and Mrs. H. L. Russel of Thousand Islands, N. Y.  Among those present were Mrs.Philip Ross of Chatham, Mrs. E. O. Highbrown (Laura C. Trowbridge) of Millburn, and Mrs. A. Koschoreck (Mabel E. Trowbridge) of Maplewood. Mrs. Mabel Wright of Valley Stream, Long Island is visiting her sister, Mrs. George Trowbridge of White Oak Ridge road."  

Other information on the family of George W. and Irving N. Trowbridge  from the gedcom of Ina Wilcox at Rootsweb.com.

Home