Introduction
Albert Doughty was born in New Jersey around 1847 to Samuel and Elizabeth Doughty. At the time of the 1850 Census, Samuel Doughty was working as a clerk, and the family lived in Camden’s Middle Ward.
When the Census was taken in 1850 the family still resided in the Middle Ward. Samuel Doughty was at this time working as a steamboat captain, for the Federal Street ferry, and Albert would, when old enough, work aboard ship with his father. At the time of the 1860 Census the family included older brothers William and Samuel, and a younger sister, Laura. Oldest son John was not at home. Samuel Doughty captained a ferry until his passing in 1878.
The 1870 Census shows Albert Doughty living in Camden’s North Ward with his wife, the former Amelia Bowers, and four month old daughter Elizabeth. He was working on a steamboat at the time of the Census. The Doughtys lived on the same block as the John M. Gray family. John M. Gray and his sons Peter S. Gray and John Gray all would be called to serve as members of the Camden Fire Department, as would Albert Doughty. Also on the block were brothers John Anderson and Isaac Anderson, who also served with the Fire Department.
Albert Doughty was living at 35 North 5th Street and working as a “steamboat man,” when, on September 8, 1872 he was appointed to the Camden Fire Department, as a Driver with the Hook and Ladder Company, known more recently as Ladder Company 1, replacing George Horner, who had resigned. City Directories from 1872 through 1877 show an address of 30 North 5th Street, rear. The 1878 Directory has an address of 4 England Place.
Albert and Amelia Doughty would lose their daughter, but two more children were born to the couple, Ida and Samuel. Sadly, Albert Doughty died young, on August 7, 1878, leaving his wife to raise the two children. Albert Doughty had been working on one of the Pennsylvania Railroad’s flat boats when he fell overboard and drowned. Because Albert Doughty had attempted suicide by taking an overdose of laudanum the previous September, a coroner’s inquest was held. After reviewing the circumstances surrounding Albert Doughty’s drowning, the jury ruled his death was due to accident.
The 1880 Census shows Amelia Doughty working as a laundress, and living with her two children, Ida, 7, and Samuel Christian Doughty, 5, at 5 James Court. Also living there were Amelia’s brother, Fred Bowers, and a boarder, Rebecca Harris.
Camden and Vicinity
Philadelphia Inquirer —
HOUSE OF CORRECTION.
The necessity for a House of Correction for Camden county has for many years past been so great that the grand jury for the October term of the courts, through their foreman, John S. Read, deemed it advisable to make the subjoined special presentment:—
Whereas, It has been made manifest to the grand inquest of Camden county that there is a defect in our present system of imprisoning persons convicted of petty offenses by causing their maintenance to fall upon the tax-payers without any adequate good being gained in the reformation of such persons; therefore, it is the recommendation of this grand inquest, in view of such reformation, and to lessen the present extraordinary expenses of the county, that a House of Correction be established, into which all persons convicted of such petty offenses shall be detained, under proper heads or departments, and compelled to labor during their term of imprisonment, the proceeds of such labor to be paid into the treasury of the county. We believe that, under proper management, such an institution would be conducive to the future benefit of such persons, as well as to the entire community.
THE COURTS.
In the Camden Quarter Sessions yesterday quite an important civil case came up, which will probably occupy two or three days. It is an action brought by the city of Camden against the bondmen of C. Sloan, who, some five years ago, was collector of taxes for North Ward. The defendants in this suit, Henry Fredericks, Caleb Roberts, and others, became sureties on Mr. Sloan’s bond, and, while the said Sloan was collector, there occurred a deficit in his accounts, making him debtor to the city in a sum reaching nearly $1000. The city holds that these gentlemen are bound to pay the deficit; but the defendants aver that at the time the defalcation was discovered they took the necessary steps to relieve them from any responsibility in the matter. The case elicits considerable interest, and is thought to be a test for others that may be commenced.
TOKEN OF ESTEEM.
Yesterday afternoon Robert S. Bender, the retiring chief marshal of the Camden Paid Fire Department, and William Shearman, assistant marshal, were made the recipients of handsome presents from E. J. Dodamead, J. Kellum, H. Grosscup, William Davis, A. Doughty and George Horner, the regular members. Mr. Bender received a large and elaborately arranged cake, and Mr. Shearman a fine frame, containing photographs of the above gentlemen, as expressions of esteem the men held for them while under their direction.
ROBBERY ON A VESSEL.
Some time during Monday night two colored men on board a vessel lying at Starr’s wharf, near Kaighn’s Point, were robbed, while asleep, of all their clothing, their watches and other articles. Two other men employed on the vessel, and who are now missing, are suspected.
RESIGNED.
Yesterday all the regular members of Engine No. 2, belonging to the Paid Fire Department, of Camden, resigned. Their places will be supplied by appointments from the Board of Fire Commissioners.
SLUNG SHOTS.
The police officers have been instructed to arrest all boys found shooting stones in the streets of Camden with slung shots, in consequence of the numerous windows broken by them. Several persons have also been quite severely hurt by them.
Attempted Suicide
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Attempted Suicide. — Yesterday morning Alfred Doughty, residing on Columbia avenue, near Fifth street, Camden, attempted to destroy himself by taking a dose of laudanum. The potion was not sufficient to accomplish his purpose.
The Body of Doughty Recovered
Philadelphia Inquirer —
The Body of Doughty Recovered. — About six o’clock yesterday morning the body of Albert Doughty, the man who was accidentally drowned on Wednesday afternoon from one of the flat boats belonging to the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, opposite the American Dredging Company’s wharf, was recovered near the place where he went down. Coroner Roberts took charge of the body and commenced an investigation into the circumstances of the drowning. The testimony showed that his death was the result of accident, a conclusion which was arrived at by the jury.