Dorchester Illustration World War One Service Member biography: Caleb Edward Moffitt
At the Dorchester Historical Society, we are in the process of a year-long project to commemorate the 100th anniversary of World War I. Using a collection of photographs we have of WWI Dorchester residents, we will be featuring servicemen in a number of short biographies throughout the year. At the culmination of the project, we hope to produce an online exhibit that highlights these men and their service to our country.
Our next biography features: Caleb Edward Moffitt.
Written by Donna Albino.
Caleb Edward Moffitt was born on December 2, 1898 to Carl Moffitt and Frances (Walters) Moffitt. Caleb’s parents were living at 19 Rosedale Street in Dorchester when he was born. His father was born in Rockland, Maine and was a physician; his mother was an immigrant from England.
The Moffitts remained at 19 Rosedale Street through the 1900 and 1910 census years. Caleb’s first and middle names were swapped between the two censuses; in 1900, he was referred to as Caleb, but in 1910 he was Edward, and continued to be known as Edward Reginald Caleb Moffitt for the rest of his life.
Edward married Jane Searing of South Boston on February 9, 1918 in Portsmouth, NH. Their marriage certificate listed their ages as 18 and 22, but in reality, Jane was 15 and Edward was 19 when they married. Edward was working as an electrician at the time of their marriage.
Edward enlisted in the war effort on May 6, 1918 and served in the Navy until September 30, 1921, thus missing the 1920 census. But according to the Boston city directory, he returned to his parents’ home at 19 Rosedale Street in Dorchester after his discharge from the Navy, and was employed as a clerk.
Edward divorced Jane Searing Moffitt on December 2, 1927, and married Lillian Bourke in Nashua, NH, on June 9, 1928. In the 1930 census, Edward and Lillian were living with Edward’s parents in his childhood home at 19 Rosedale Street in Dorchester. Edward was working as a timekeeper for a steamship at the time. Edward’s parents had also taken in two elderly family members: his father’s aunt Angie Moffitt, and cousin Ella Cushing, both in their 70s.
Lillian and Edward moved to Rockland, Maine around 1935, and moved in with Edward’s father Carl, who had returned to his hometown in retirement. Their address was 171 Broadway St. Edward divorced Lillian Bourke Moffit in 1938, and married Gertrude Blackington on June 15, 1938. In the 1940 census, Edward and Gertrude were living in their own home at 141 Broadway St in Rockland, Maine and their son Edward was six months old.
Edward lived a quiet life until his death in 1982, as we were not able to find any documentary evidence about his life after the 1940 census. Edward passed away on October 4, 1982 in Rockland, Maine; his wife, Gertrude, passed away a few years later in 1990.
Sources:
Ancestry.com. Massachusetts, Birth Records, 1840-1915 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013.
New England Historical Genealogical Society; New Hampshire Bureau of Vital Records, Concord, New Hampshire
Ancestry.com. New Hampshire, Marriage Records Index, 1637-1947 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
Ancestry.com. Maine, Marriage Index, 1892-1996 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2003.
Ancestry.com. Maine, Death Index, 1960-1997 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2002.
Year: 1900; Census Place: Boston Ward 20, Suffolk, Massachusetts; Page: 4; Enumeration District: 1466; FHL microfilm: 1240686
Year: 1910; Census Place: Boston Ward 20, Suffolk, Massachusetts; Roll: T624_622; Page: 4A; Enumeration District: 1934; FHL microfilm: 1374635
Year: 1930; Census Place: Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts; Page: 5A; Enumeration District: 0459; FHL microfilm: 2340689
Year: 1940; Census Place: Rockland, Knox, Maine; Roll: m-t0627-01482; Page: 2A; Enumeration District: 7-22
Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
Ancestry.com. U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
Ancestry.com, Jacobs Family Tree compiled by NancyMoffitt37