Aaron Comfort (1791 - 1862)

Born 8 Nov 1791 in Philadelphia, PA

Ancestors

Husband of Ann (Woolston) Comfort — married 17 Oct 1816 in Buck's County, Pennsylvania

Descendants

Died 27 Nov 1862 at age 71 in Raisin Township, Lenawee County, Michigan

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Biography

Aaron Comfort was the son of Moses Comfort and Elizabeth his wife^[1] He married Ann Woolston 17 Nov 1816^[2]

AARON COMFORT was born in Falls township, Bucks county, Pa., 11th mo. 8th, 1791. He was the son of Moses and Elizabeth Comfort, of the same county. The ancestry of the Comfort family is traced back to the time when three brothers, named respectively Robert, John and (one whose given name has been lost), came to this country from England. Robert settled on the Hudson river, New York. John settled first in New Jersey, and afterwards in Pennsylvania, and the other brother settled in Maryland, and “Old Point Comfort,’ now known as Fort Monroe, was named after him. The Pennsylvania branch of the family became quite numerous, most of them living in Bucks county, and near Philadelphia, and nearly all were members of the orthodox branch of the Society of Friends. The family, with very few exceptions, have been for generations farmers, a few, however, finding their way to the city, and engaging in mercantile pursuits. Moses Comfort’s farm was situated in Penn’s Manor, Bucks county, and adjoining the old homestead of William Penn. Moses Comfort married Elizabeth Mitchel, daughter of Joseph and Mary (Knight) Mitchel. Aaron Comfort and Ann Woolston, daughter of Joshua and Mary Woolston, were married at Middletown (now Langhorn, Penn.), 10th mo. 17th, 1816. They had ten children, as follows: Joshua and Jonathan died in infancy; Mary, now the wife of Joshua Taylor, a farmer of Raisin, was born in Falls, Bucks county, Penn., 1st mo. 13th, 1820; Elwood, 1st mo. 29th, 1822, a farmer and manufacturer of brick and tile in Raisin; Elizabeth, 9th mo. 29th, 1824, was the wife of J. C. Satterthwaite, now deceased; Jane, 3d mo. 8th, 1828, now the wife of Samuel M. Satterthwaite, a farmer of Raisin; Dr. Jonathan J., 1st mo. 9th, 1830, now a resident of Philadelphia; Aaron R.,6th mo. 29th, 1832, a resident of California; Woolston, 3d mo. 27th, 1834, a farmer and miller of Raisin; Moses, 5th mo. 1st, 1836, a farmer of Raisin ; all born in Falls township, Bucks county, Pa. The descendants of Aaron and Ann Comfort now living, number seven children, twenty-three grandchildren, and four great grandchildren. Ann Comfort was born near Middletown (now Langhorn), Pa., 2d mo. 27th, 1795, and is still living with her daughter Mary, in Raisin. Her mother was Mary Richardson, daughter of Joshua Richardson and Sarah Preston, who lived at Middletown, Pa. Her ancestors on both sides for several generations appear to have been highly esteemed members of the Society of Friends, originally from England, and were prominent amongst the early settlers for their intelligence and respectability. Aaron Comfort came to Michigan in the spring of 1840, and arrived in Tecumseh the 16th of 5th mo. He came from Philadelphia with his own teams, crossing the Alleghany mountains by the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh pike, seventeen days traveling from point to point, spending nineteen days on the road, being laid by about two days of the time. He purchased 160 acres of improved land on section 4 in Raisin, of Thomas Sisson, at $28 per acre, where he settled. He, with Samuel Satterthwaite owned a valuable water-power and mill site, and in 1848 they erected a large grist-mill, which is now known as Comfort’s mill. Friend Comfort was an intelligent, honorable, energetic man, full of hope and confidence. He was a consistent member of the Society of Friends, whose daily life and conduct and pure principles drew to him many friends; and his upright daily walk was a constant lesson to everyone, that a spotless life was indeed a pleasant and happy one. He took a lively interest and was liberal in the support of schools, both public and those belonging to the society of which he was a member, as well as of all measures which he believed would tend to the upbuilding of the church, and the cause of Christ in the earth. He and the late Samuel Satterthwaite were warm personal friends, and for more than twenty years were partners in business, and on the most intimate terms. Their deaths occurred only about three months apart. Aaron Comfort died at his home, in Raisin, 11th mo. 28th, 1852.^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ Swarthmore College; Swarthmore, Pennsylvania; A Record of the Births and Burial; Philadelphia Monthly Meeting Records; Quaker Meeting Records; Call Number: MR Ph 176; U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1994, Ancestry.com
2. ↑ Swarthmore College; Swarthmore, Pennsylvania; Marriages, 1780-1830; Collection: Quaker Meeting Records; Call Number: MR Ph 301; Middletown Monthly Meeting Records; U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1994, Ancestry.com
3. ↑ "History and Biographical Record of Lenawee County, Michigan, Vol. II", by W. A. Whitney & R. I. Bonner, 1880, page 97

• Robert Comfort's family genealogy records.