Charles Pond was "one of the wealthiest merchants in Milford [Connecticut]. He was an owner or co-owner of several vessels...."[1]
During the Revolutionary War he was an officer in both the naval and ground forces of the Continental Army who both captured and was captured by British forces. [2] and rose to the rank of Captain.[3][4] He and his wife Mary Miles were the parents of Charles Hobby Pond, the 37th Governor of Connecticut.[5] Captain of the "New Defence" ; prisoner. [6]
Charles married Martha Miles.[10] According to a 1906 article on the Ponds of Milford[11], the marriage took place about 1769.
The couple are thought to have had 8 children, all probably born in Milford:
Martha, b. c. 1770, m. Abraham Dewitt in Milford on 3 Jan. 1790[12], d. in Milford 30 Sept. 1790[13][14][15]
Charlotte, b. 19 June 1772, d. 8 July 1772, at 19 days of life and buried in Milford Center Cemetery[16][17]
Sally/Sarah, b. in Milford as "Sally Pond 2 June 1774[18][19]. As "Sally Pond" she married Willliam Harpin Fowler in Milford on 18 Dec. 1796[20][21][22]. As "Sarah", wife of "William Harpin Fowler" she gave birth to "Mary Fowler" on 16 September 1797. Records of children she gave birth to in 1799, 1802, 1804, 1807, 1810 and 1813 refer to her as "Sarah Fowler". Sarah "Sally" (Pond) Folwer died in Milford on 1 June 1846 and was buried in Milford Cemetery[23][24]
Charlotte, b. 1777[25], m. David Atwater in Milford on 9 Sept. 1798[26], d. in Milford on 11 Sept. 1847[27][28]
Mary, is said to have been born in Milford on 13 June 1779. According to The Ponds of Milford, Mary Pond married William Strong.[29] Apart from this family genealogical history, the best evidence of this marriage that has so far been located is the fact that William Strong and "Mary H. Strong" named one of their sons "Charles Pond Strong"[30] and one of their daughters "Catherine Pond Strong"[31]. A source has yet to be located to document that the maiden surname of "Mary H." was Pond.
Charles Hobby Pond, b. 26 April 1781[32], m. Catherine Dickinson 14 March 1809[33][34], Governor of Connecticut from 1853 to 1854[35], d. 28 April 1861[36][37]
Adam, b. c. 1783, d. Jan 1783 at age 40 years.[38][39] According to his FindAGrave web memorial, the inscription of his cenotaph reads "To the memory of Adam Pond. He was lost at sea on the passage from Liverpool to New York in 1823"
Susan, b. 29 Jan. 1786[40][41], m. (1) Isaac Clark in Milford on 20 Sept. 1801, m (2) Dr. John Carrington in Milford on 23 Nov. 1806[42], d. 22 May 1867[43]
Martha died in Milford on 29 May 1797 at age 57[44][45]
Second marriage and children
Charles married second Catherine DeWitt in Milford on 10 December 1797.[46] She was only about 37 years old at the time they married[47], but the couple are thought to have had no children.
Sea merchant
Service during the Revolutionary War
"Charles Pond (1744–1832), a first lieutenant in Col. Charles Webb’s 19th Continental Regiment, served as captain of the Continental armed sloop General Schuyler from June to December 1776." The national archives holds a letter he wrote to George Washington in June 1776 informing him of having captured two British ships.[48]
By an unsubstantiated account, in September 1776[49], the sloop named General Schuler, with Charles in command, is said to have ferried Nathan Hale across Long Island Sound on the secret mission that ended in Hale's execution as a spy.[50]
By the end of 1776, Charles was an officer of ground forces in Col. Webb's Regiment. In December 1776, Charles is said to have accompanied George Washington and troops as they crossed the Delaware and fought in the battle of Princeton.[51]
On 1 January 1777, Charles Pond was commissioned as a Captain with his own Company in the 6th Connecticut Regiment of Colonel Meigs[52][53] and remained in the army until April 1779 when he resigned to take a commission in the Connecticut navy.[54]
"After commanding the snow Lady Spencer for a short time, he became captain of the galley New Defence. About 1 Feb. 1780, the New Defence was captured by the British in Long Island Sound, and Pond and his crew were confined on prison ships in New York Harbor."[55] He was soon released in a prisoner exchange.[56]
Also during the Revolutionary War "...his sloop Experiment was often commanded by Daniel Miles, his brother-in-law."[57]
Death
Charles died in Milford on 18 May 1832 at about 88 years of age and was buried in Milford Center Cemetery.[58][59] Photographs of some of the many fascinating headstones and memorials in this cemetery can be viewed online at (https://www.angelfire.com/endymion77/milford.html)
Sources
↑ Chapin, David. Freshwater Passages: The Trade and Travels of Peter Pond. University of Nebraska Press, 2014.
↑ Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed 15 Feb 2024), "Record of Charles Pond", Ancestor # A090463.
↑ He died 18 May 1832 at about age 88 years. See "Connecticut Deaths and Burials, 1772-1934," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F7NG-DJG : accessed 28 March 2016), Charles Pond, 18 May 1832; citing , reference # 145; FHL microfilm 3,347.
↑ "Connecticut Births and Christenings, 1649-1906", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F7WW-QJG : 7 January 2020), Charles Pond in entry for Sally Pond, 1774. The primary record documented that Sally Pond was born in Milford on 2 June 1774 to Charles Pond and Martha Miles.
↑ "Connecticut, Charles R. Hale Collection, Vital Records, 1640-1955", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F7NG-DJV : 16 September 2020), C. Pond in entry for Martha Pond Dewitt, 1790. Record from the Milford Center Cemetery. "Dewitt, Martha, wife of Abraham V.H., daughter of Captain C. Pond, d. Sept. 30, 1790, age 57 yrs."
↑ "Connecticut, Charles R. Hale Collection, Vital Records, 1640-1955", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F7NG-DJJ : 16 September 2020), Martha Pond Dewitt, 1790. Specifies father's name as "C. Pond"
↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/15200284/martha-dewitt: accessed 24 August 2023), memorial page for Martha “Polly” Pond DeWitt (1 Dec 1772–30 Sep 1790), Find a Grave Memorial ID 15200284, citing Milford Cemetery, Milford, New Haven County, Connecticut, USA; Maintained by Jan Franco (contributor 46625834).
↑ See her headstone with date of death and age at death. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/28915209/charlotte-pond: accessed 24 August 2023), memorial page for Charlotte Pond (19 Jun 1772–8 Jul 1772), Find a Grave Memorial ID 28915209, citing Milford Cemetery, Milford, New Haven County, Connecticut, USA; Maintained by V. Nareen Lake (contributor 46613568).
↑ "Connecticut Births and Christenings, 1649-1906", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F7WW-QJL : 7 January 2020), Sally Pond, 1774. The primary source specifies the father as Charles Pond and the mother as Martha Mile.
↑ "Connecticut, Vital Records, Prior to 1850," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPSF-X9SR : 15 April 2022), Sally Pond in entry for William Harpin Fowler, ; citing Marriage, Milford, New Haven, Connecticut, United States, Compiled by Lucius A. and Lucius B. Barbour, housed at State Library, Hartford, Connecticut; FHL microfilm 008272231.
↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/76287995/sarah-fowler: accessed 24 August 2023), memorial page for Sarah “Sally” Pond Fowler (2 Jun 1774–1 Jun 1846), Find a Grave Memorial ID 76287995, citing Milford Cemetery, Milford, New Haven County, Connecticut, USA; Maintained by Kat (contributor 19409629).
↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/144880994/charlotte-atwater: accessed 24 August 2023), memorial page for Charlotte Atwater (unknown–11 Sep 1847), Find a Grave Memorial ID 144880994, citing Milford Cemetery, Milford, New Haven County, Connecticut, USA; Maintained by Alycia K (contributor 48136266).
↑ Connecticut State Library. Charles H. Pond, Governor of Connecticut, 1853-1854. (https://archive.ph/20130414165647/http://www.ctstatelibrary.org/node/9503) Charles Hobby Pond was born in 1781 at Milford ...Pond's father had been an army captain during the Revolutionary War. Pond graduated from Yale in 1802 and then studied law. However, poor health prevented him from becoming a practicing lawyer. He was married in 1809 to Catherine Dickinson and they had seven children. Pond spent a number of years at sea. At first this was for health reasons, but later he was an employee of his father's shipping business. In politics, he served in several capacities with the New Haven County government, including that of an associate judge and a sheriff. In 1850 Pond was elected to the position of Lieutenant Governor on the Democratic ticket. While he lost this seat in 1851, he regained it again for 1852 and 1853. When Governor Seymour resigned on October 15, 1853, Pond was inaugurated Connecticut's new chief executive. He was not nominated by his party in 1854 and thus had the shortest gubernatorial term up to that time. Pond's house in Milford faces the town's green. He died in 1861 and is buried in the Milford Cemetery.
↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/153471906/adam-pond: accessed 24 August 2023), memorial page for Adam Pond (1784–1823), Find a Grave Memorial ID 153471906, citing Milford Cemetery, Milford, New Haven County, Connecticut, USA; Maintained by Greenie (contributor 48465444).
↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/128262921/susan-carrington: accessed 24 August 2023), memorial page for Susan Pond Carrington (29 Jan 1786–22 May 1867), Find a Grave Memorial ID 128262921, citing Milford Cemetery, Milford, New Haven County, Connecticut, USA; Maintained by Alycia K (contributor 48136266).
↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/128262921/susan-carrington: accessed 24 August 2023), memorial page for Susan Pond Carrington (29 Jan 1786–22 May 1867), Find a Grave Memorial ID 128262921, citing Milford Cemetery, Milford, New Haven County, Connecticut, USA; Maintained by Alycia K (contributor 48136266).
↑ "Connecticut, Charles R. Hale Collection, Vital Records, 1640-1955", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F7NG-DJL : 16 September 2020), Charles Pond in entry for Martha Pond, 1797. "Pond, Martha, wife of Captain Charles, died May 29, 1797. age 57 yrs."
↑ "Connecticut, Vital Records, Prior to 1850," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QG1L-SX8Y : 15 April 2022), Charles Pond in entry for Martha Miles, ; citing date of birth; name of parents; marriage to Captain Charles Pond; and date of death, Compiled by Lucius A. and Lucius B. Barbour, housed at State Library, Hartford, Connecticut; FHL microfilm 008143426.
Rev War Pension application for service of Captain Charles Pond, made by Catharine Pond [Link]
Rev War Service Records for Lt. Charles Pond, First Lieut. Continental 19th Regiment of Foot in 1776, Recommended for Commissions in Brig’ Spencer’s Brigade, Roxbury Jan 28, 1776 [Link]
Rev War 19th Continental 1776, Colonel Charles Webb’s Regiment included Lt Charles Pond of Milford [Link]
Rev War Service Records for Captain Charles Pond in the 6th Connecticut Regiment with Col J. Meigs’ Regiment, 1st Appointment Jan 1, 1777 discharge April 19, 1779 (conflicting note says Resigned April 29, 1779) [Link]
Is Charles your ancestor? Please don't go away! Login to collaborate or comment, or contact
the profile manager, or ask our community of genealogists a question.
Featured Asian and Pacific Islander connections:
Charles is
20 degrees from 今上 天皇, 15 degrees from Adrienne Clarkson, 21 degrees from Dwight Heine, 21 degrees from Dwayne Johnson, 17 degrees from Tupua Tamasese Lealofioaana, 17 degrees from Stacey Milbern, 18 degrees from Sono Osato, 29 degrees from 乾隆 愛新覺羅, 19 degrees from Ravi Shankar, 24 degrees from Taika Waititi, 21 degrees from Penny Wong and 16 degrees from Chang Bunker
on our single family tree.
Login to see how you relate to 33 million family members.