Introduction
CHARLES C. “CHAUNCEY” MOFFETT was in the restaurant business in Camden as early as 1869 then became involved in politics. He was a member of City Council in 1871, a Camden County Freeholder in 1878, and in his last years was the janitor at Camden’s City Hall.
Charles Moffett lived in Philadelphia in the 1850s. His son, Henry C. Moffett, who would serve as a detective with the Camden Police Department for 15 years, was born in 1858. Charles Moffett brought the family to Camden by 1869, settling in a two-story frame home in the 300 block of Liberty Street, a few doors away from Memorial Methodist Protestant Church, where Boston Corbett had been pastor in 1867. City Directories state that Charles C. Moffett ran an “eating saloon.” He was also politically active, and was elected to the Camden City Council in 1871 and to the Camden County Board of Freeholders in 1878.
After his term as Freeholder expired, Charles C. Moffett took his family to Kansas and tried farming. The 1880 Census shows the Charles C. Moffett, wife Susan and children Henry C., Ida, Clara, Walter, and Rachel Moffett living in Kirwin, Kansas. He brought his family back to New Jersey shortly after the Census was taken, and by the time the 1881 City Directory was compiled, the family was back on Liberty Street. Charles C. Moffett and family are shown at 306 Liberty Street up to 1878, in Kansas in the 1880 Census, and at 304 Liberty Street from 1881 through 1887. This may have been the same house, as Sanford maps show that the house numbering was irregular in the 1870s and 1880s.
Charles C. Moffett was appointed by City Council to the position of Janitor at Camden’s City Hall in December of 1887. He began work on February 1, 1888. Susan Moffett passed away in 1896, and joined her on July 11, 1897. Sadly, daughter Clara Moffett took her own life on December 7, 1897. The Moffets were still living at 304 Liberty Street as late as 1910, when daughter Rachel Moffett Tomlin passed away.
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Camden Post —
An Unpleasant Controversy.
Mr. Charles Moffett, father of Councilman Moffett, will have a hearing before Justice Davis to-night on the charge of disorderly conduct preferred by ex-policeman Scudder. Mr. Moffett and Dr. Leckner were standing on the corner of Third and Kaighn avenue, yesterday, conversing together when Mr. Scudder came up and made some disparaging remarks about the manner in which the Police Court was conducted. Mr. Moffett replied that it was no worse than the Criminal Court. The ex-police officer then made another remark and Mr. Moffett called him a liar. A warrant was sworn out for Mr. Moffett’s arrest, and, he learning of it, presented himself at ‘Squire Davis’ office, this morning, but the ‘Squire was out of town, and consequently the hearing has been postponed until to-night.
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Camden Post —
Gideon Burt – Charles C. Moffett
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Camden Post —
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Camden Daily Telegram —
Miss Bitter’s Relatives Leave Her in Her Cell.
Nothing has yet been done to relieve the unhappy plight of Miss Caroline Bitter, the invalid aunt of Colonel D. B. Murphy, of this city, and she still sits in her cell at the City Hall because she has no where else to go. Kind-hearted Janitor Charles Moffett, of the City Hall, has done what he can to make the old lady comfortable, and this morning three gentlemen, realizing the crying shame of a lady educated and gently reared seeking the shelter of a cell because of the unnatural heartlessness of her relatives, made a small purse of three dollars and presented it to the unfortunate invalid.
Dr. H. H. Davis, whose wife is Miss Bitter’s niece, was telephoned to this morning, but was out.
Susan Moffett
Susan Moffett
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Camden Daily Telegram & Camden Post —
FUNERAL OF MRS. MOFFETT.
City Officials Act as Pall Bearers for a Noble Woman.
The funeral of Mrs. Susan Moffett, wife of Janitor Charles C. Moffett, of the City Hall, was held this afternoon from the residence of her son, Henry Moffett, No. 602 Broadway. The services were conducted by Rev. J. R. Mace, pastor of the Broadway M. E. church, and interment was made in Harleigh Cemetery. A large number of Mrs. Moffett’s friends attended the funeral and followed her remains to the cemetery.
The pall bearers were ex-Mayor Jesse Pratt, City Clerk T. P. Varney, Supervisor of Highways John Blowe, Tax Receiver William A. Husted, City Engineer Levi Farnham and Assessor C. J. Mines. The body was laid out in a brown silk dress and reposed in a black cloth covered casket with silver trimmings. The floral tributes were numerous and consisted of twelve rosebuds representing twelve grandchildren, a “Gates Ajar,” from her son Henry; a pillow, from her three daughters; a bouquet, from the Broadway M. E. church; a setting sun, from her son Walter, and a sheaf of wheat, from the officials of the city.
Named: Henry C. Moffett, Broadway, Rev. J.R. Mace, Charles C. Moffett, James Flood, John E. Fennelly, Stevens Street, and South 2nd Street.
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Camden Daily Courier —
Named: Charles C. Moffett, Charles Lederman, Frederick Bourquin, William Keyes, Walter Moffett, and Henry C. Moffett.
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Camden Post —
Walter Moffett – Henry C. Moffett
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Camden Daily Telegram —
Named: Henry C. Moffett, Clara Moffett, Dr. John W. Donges, Dr. O.W. Braymer, Dr. William S. Jones, James Rutherford, Rutherford’s Hardware, and 1100 Broadway.
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Camden Post-Telegram —
John C. Tomlin – Liberty Street