J. J. Reford and J. J. Chaffee...who were they?...Really??

[RJNorton]

(05-08-2013 10:58 PM)scldrgnfly Wrote:  Also, if my memory serves me correctly, in the 1870 or it could have been 1880 NY, NY census there were two J. J. Reford's, one a laborer on North Carolina Street, and the second on W. 53rd Avenue who was a retired lawyer both around 53 years of age....They both listed as John J. Reford.

Good morning, Martha. According to Rick Stelnick's article in the January 2010 Surratt Courier the Reford we are talking about was a James Jacob Reford. Mr. Stelnick writes that when James Jacob Reford was asked his job description his response was that "he was a professional minder - a minder of the Demill family business."

Mr. Stelnick also writes that Reford found John Wilkes Booth to be "a kindred spirit."