Ralph Middleton Munroe

Notes:

In 1847, Ralph helped a friend, William Andrews, to develop a wood carving machine and after about one year, the friend threw in the towel and told Ralph to help himself to what tools he wanted, in lieu of better pay. During this episode, he also worked in his spare time with two German machinists named Newman. they were experts in developing and perfecting intricate patterns, so Ralph gained much knowledge from these men.

At one point, Ralph visited his grandfather in Concord, Massachusets, and visited the old pencil shop of William Munroe which was still in operation. Also during this visit, he met the daughter of Ralph Waldo Emerson, Ellen. She was credited with bringing the game of croquet from England to the US. In Concord, Ralph also became acquainted with the Alcotts, Frank Sanborn, the Barretts, William W. Weildon, Horace Mann, the Hosmers and others. Across the way from his grandfather lived Judge Rockwood Hoar, who later became Attorney General under Grant.

Shortly after the beginning of the American Civil War, Ralph went to boarding school at the Eagleswood Military Academy. The school was located about a mile and a half west of Perth Amoby on the Raritan River.

When his parents moved to Staten Island, he was sent to a private school on New York Avenue, opposite St. John's Church. The school was run by Isaac Holden.

In 1875, Ralph became engaged in a business venture with the Elmira Seamless Keg Company.

In 1888, Ralph became a permanent resident of Cocoanut Grove, Florida. He was one of the early settlers of that place and lived there until his death.

From Nov 1889 to Jun 1891, he tried various experiments with sponge culture. He tried to persuade the state legislature to set aside a small area to be reserved for experiments, but the bill was not passed.

Ralph was well known for his superior skill at designing sail boats. He designed and built many boats for his friends and for many well known people of his day. He was the originator of the Sharpie sail boat.

Many other interesting facts about Ralph can be found in his book, "The Commodore's Story" printed in 1930.

References:

(1) "History and Genealogy of the Lexington, Mass. Munroes", 2nd ed. by R. S.
Munroe - Florence, Massachusetts (1986) - 15-21-34-1 - p. 275, 407-408

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Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Ralph married Eva A. Hewett in Staten Island, Richmond Co., New York, USA. Eva was born about 1853; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Munroe was born est 1875; and died.

Ralph married Jessie Wellington Wirth on 29 Jul 1895 in Coconut Grove, Dade, Florida, USA. Jessie was born on 13 Jul 1876 in Albany, Albany Co., New York, USA; died on 16 Feb 1940; was buried in Miami, Miami-Dade, Florida, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Martha Wirth Munroe was born on 22 Nov 1900 in Coconut Grove, Dade, Florida, USA; and died.
2. Wirth Middleton Munroe was born on 27 Nov 1902 in Coconut Grove, Dade, Florida, USA; died on 21 Oct 1968 in Miami, Miami-Dade, Florida, USA.

Notes:

Thomas was a dry goods merchant in New York City and London, England.

References:

(1) "History and Genealogy of the Lexington, Mass. Munroes", 2nd ed. by R. S.
Munroe - Florence, Massachusetts (1986) - 15-21-34 - p. 274

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Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Thomas married Ellen Middleton on 4 Jul 1839 in London, , Greater London, England. Ellen was born about 1814; was buried in Concord, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

References:

(1) "History and Genealogy of the Lexington, Mass. Munroes", 2nd ed. by R. S.
Munroe - Florence, Massachusetts (1986) - 15-21-34 - p. 275

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Birth:
Estimate: This birth date is an estimate based on the birth dates of nearest relatives or contemporaries, or based on other clues such as christening date, marriage date, birth order, etc.

Notes:

William was born on the Seaver Farm in Roxbury, Massachusetts about the time his father's broken health compelled him to abandon farming. His infancy and youth shared the most severe trials of his father's humble fortunes. He was not a strong boy and he had but very irregular advantages of even the little school education within the reach of the boy of that day.

At thirteen years he was for a while at his grandfather Parker's farm in Roxbury. Though feeling at home there, he did not like farming well enough to stay, as he desired to learn a trade. At fourteen he was with a wheelwright for a short time, but there he thought he had a hard fare and hard usage. Leaving this place, he was next with a cabinetmaker, where he found but little chance of properly learning the trade and left.

It was not until he was about seventeen that he found a place where he had good treatment and an opportunity to do himself credit. He went to work for his second cousin, Deacon Nehemiah Munroe, a cabinetmaker on the Main Street, Roxbury. In the cabinetmaker's shop, William soon showed that he had capacity, and, before leaving it, stood at the head, as the best workman in it, the finest and most difficult work being entrusted to his hands.

Before finishing his apprenticeship, he had felt conscious of having powers that were cramped. He often had innovative ideas about new ways of making or onamenting his work, but the rules of the shop did not permit innovations. On one occasion, however, he defied them by proceeding quietly to hang a table leaf by its hinges on a plan not known to the rules. After getting a good start, someone informed the Deacon who became angered at this disobedience. William was allowed to finish what he had started, however, and the result was so superior that William's invention became the new way of hanging table leaves.

After arriving of age, he remained with the Deacon about six months as a journeyman, earning the means of buying a humble outfit and some tools. He left Roxbury for Concord on 1 Jun 1800 on the invitation of his older brothers, Daniel and Nathaniel. They had already established themselves as clockmakers, and wished him to make clock cases for them. He was thus employed part of the time as partner with them until 1804.

After their marriage, William and Patty moved into part of the brick county house near the Middlesex Hotel. About two years later, they moved to the neighborhood of Barrett's Mills, near where Patty's mother lived. William had his shop in a part of the house standing east of the Mill Brook. He was employed making clockcases and timepiece cases and a few showcases for his brothers. He also made some articles of furniture which he took to Boston for sale.

In 1810 he made a voyage to Norfolk, Virginia with clocks taken in payment for the cases which he had made. He sold his clocks, invested the proceeds in corn and flour, and came back with them in mid-winter, barely escaping shipwreck on the voyage. He sold most of the flour to Abel Prescott, a baker of Concord. Instead of cash, which he could not collect from Prescott, a round about trade was made, by which he obtained the shop on the Mill Dam, which he owned and occupied for several years.

In 1811 he moved from Barrett's Mills to the village into the small house south of the meeting house. Living there and working in the shop on the Mill Dam, he made the attempt to get a support as a regular cabinetmaker. He says "In this I continued about a year, when finding that I could make with my own hands more furniture than I could sell, business of every kind being dull, and my family expenses increasing, I found that, unless I could make money faster, I should in a few years at most, even if I should have my health, be poor. I was worth a few hundred dollars, and that not in cash." This was at the beginning of the war with England. Non-intercourse, non-importation, and embargo laws were in force, and business of nearly every kind much depressed.

The demand for articles that hitherto had only been made abroad was, however, an exception. For these, non-importation created a scarcity, so invention in that direction was encouraged and well rewarded. William first attempted to produce cabinetmakers' squares. He succeeded without difficulty and readily sold all that he made at a good profit. Then decided to try to make and sell lead pencils.

He procured a few lumps of black lead. This he pulverized with a hammer and separated the fine portions by their suspension in water in a tumbler. From this he made his first experimental mixture in a spoon. The result was not very encouraging, but with more experimentation and invention, he finally came up with an acceptable product. Before the war of 1812, no pencils were made in America and because the supply was cut off by the war they became scarce and expensive. William's first pencils, his own invention, were sold to Benjamin Andrews in Boston. These were the first to be made in America.

William overcame the problems of mass production and began to prosper. When the war was over and English pencils were again on the market, he overcame the problems of increasing the quality of his pencils to stay competitive. In 1819 he finally sold his cabinet shop, taking pencil woods as pay, and began concentrating only on making pencils.

William soon found himself established as not only the first, but the best of American pencil makers. Improvements continued until 1830 when the trade sought him, rather than he the trade. He made as high as four thousand gross a year, of such quality that they readily outsold the imported ones and were evntually conterfeited by foreign makers. His wife remained his only confidante, and was a most efficient helpmate.

William is given credit for his achievements by Josephine Swayne in "The Story of Concord," (1923), in Kane's book "Famous Firsts," in an article in the Scientific American for 4 Jan 1879 (refuting another claim in Scribner's Magazine for Apr 1878), and in several books of reference.

In Apr 1821 the family moved to the farm near Barrett's Mills, which William had long owned. The old house was thoroughly renovated and additions made to accomodate his business. He paid little attention to farming, except for showing some originality in the cultivation of teasel.

In Nov 1844 he moved to a new residence in the village nearer the railroad. There he spent the rest of his life.

He took little part in public affairs, but once allowed his name to be entered to run for state senator. When he lost the election, as he predicted he would, he felt releived that he wouldn't have to serve. Politically he called himself a Federalist of the old school, and a Whig. He greatly admired the political character and views of Daniel Webster.

William was quiet and retiring, more fond of his home and family than of society. He was fond of music and was an excellant singer. It was as leader of the choir in church that he found among the singers there was a young woman who became his wife, Patty Stone, the daughter of Capt. John Stone of Concord, Massachusetts.

In religious matters, William was all his mature life a consistant Christian, but little demonstrative, though devout and reverent. He joined the church with his wife soon after his marriage and was chosen deacon in 1837. However, for reasons personal to himself, he declined to serve, though strongly urged by Dr. Ripley and friends. He could not accept the dogmas then current through the teachings of the Assembly's Catechism. He preferred the plain rules of duty for his creed and the teachings of the Bible, for which his reverence was unbounded, and with which he was very familier.

William was never a robust man. His helath was at times feeble, yet, till past sixty, he appeared young for his years. At about seventy, a chronic trouble, which had hitherto given him but slight suffering developed itself more seriously. From that time his health gradually failed. After a few years he was confined to his house, and was finally oblidged to keep his room. After years of slow physical decline, surrounded by loving caretakers, he died at age 83 years, 3 months.

Ref: Lexington Munroes, 2nd ed. 15-21-3

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

William married Patty Stone on 19 Sep 1805 in , , Massachusetts, USA. Patty (daughter of Capt. John Stone) was born est 1780; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Notes:

Daniel fought in the Revolution and he lived in Roxbury, Massachusetts. His wife was from Roxbury.

His wife was a daughter of one of the Parkers of Parker Hill, Roxbury. Near this he occupied a farm called the Seaver Farm for a few years. But ill health, which had caused his discharge from the Continental Army after a short service, also compelled him to abandon farming for the less laborious life of a trader. He experienced the varying fortunes which attended trade, brought up a large family in the light of a pious example, lived to a good old age, and left behind him the name of a perfectly reliable, honest, upright man and consistent Christian.

He was appointed as one of the enginemen of the first fire engine of Roxbury in 1784. The fire engine was located on the site of the Greyhound Inn.

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Birth:
Estimate: This birth date is an estimate based on the birth dates of nearest relatives or contemporaries, or based on other clues such as christening date, marriage date, birth order, etc.

Daniel married Abigail Parker on 15 Sep 1774. Abigail was born on 30 Jan 1753 in Roxbury, Suffolk Co, Massachusetts, USA; died on 1 May 1844 in Barnstable, Barnstable Co., Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Error alert: There are three people named Abigail Parker who supposedly married close Munroe relatives close to the same time frame. This is either a coincidence or an error.

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Notes:

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA