Charles Frederick Herreshoff, III., son of Charles Frederick, II., and Sarah (Brown) Herreshoff, was born July 26, 1809, in Providence, and there passed his childhood and early youth. The elementary portion of his education was received at the local schools and the Friends' School, now called the Moses Brown School, where he was prepared for college and thereafter entered Brown University, from which he was graduated with the class of 1828. From a very early age, Mr. Herreshoff displayed the keenest interest in all matters concerning the designing and building of boats, and this may be said to have been almost a passion with him. During the summer he was constantly on board a boat, while during the winter he spent every spare moment and particularly his evenings in cutting out with his knife models of vessels and miniature craft of all kinds. These little sailing vessels he rigged and ballasted until they were the perfect counterparts of their larger model. As he grew older he began to experiment with new forms and devices and thus gradually laid the foundation of his great knowledge of his art. This knowledge, as will be be seen, was based on his personal experience, and his ability to know whether or not any model would be successful came in the course of time to be practically intuitive, so that to others less versed than he it seemed well nigh miraculous. His small toy vessels gradually gave place to larger craft, which could be actually used, and of these he made an enormous number with his own hands. With a devotion which was not always convenient for those around him, he named all of his boats Julia, which was his wife's name, until there was such a fleet of Julias, that even the members of his own family could not tell them apart. He was noted as one of the best sailors in Narragansett bay, and was, in spite of his retiring disposition, a very well known figure in the community. A number of years were spent by him in improving a piece of property which had been bought by his grandfather, John Brown, 1781, near the town of Bristol, and which was called Point Pleasant Farm, on Poppasquash. Here he established his home and here resided until 1856. Though a man of strong character and powerful convictions, which in politics were enlisted on the side of the Republican party, he had a strong distaste for public life of any kind and consistently avoiding making himself conspicuous. It was in 1856 that he first came to the town of Bristol to live and here he and his family remained permanently. He was associated for a time with the Herreshoff Company, and during the first five or six years of its existence, designed a number of its successful craft. His death occurred in that town, September 8, 1888. He was survived by his wife until the year 1901, when she died on February 19, at the venerable age of eighty-nine years. She was a lady of refined tastes, honored and beloved by all who knew her.
Charles Frederick Herreshoff was married on May 15, 1833, to Julia Ann Lewis, who was born March 20, 1811, a daughter of Captain Joseph Warren and Ann (Lane) Lewis, of Boston. A large part of the love and ability for naval architecture was derived from the Lewis side of the family. Captain Joseph Lewis for years commanded the largest vessels which plied between Boston and England and which made the quickest voyages. Mr. and Mrs. Herreshoff were the parents of nine children, as follows: 1. James Brown, mentioned below. 2. Caroline Louisa, mentioned below. 3. Charles Frederick, mentioned below. 4. John Brown, mentioned below. 5. Lewis, born Feb. 3, 1844. 6. Sally Brown, born Dec. 1, 1845, died Feb. 19, 1917; Sally Brown Herreshoff was a woman of distinguished lineage, both on the paternal and maternal side; a woman of gentle manners, but with force of character, combined with courtesy and upright intellect; she lived a quiet but useful life, actively interested in the Home for Aged Women, and the Children's Home, being a judicious member of each board of managers, also one of the most valued members of Trinity Episcopal Church; in her early girlhood she lost her sight, but the affliction only served to develop her beautiful character and sunny nature; she was conversant with all the types for the blind in reading and writing, and her musical ability was most remarkable, her memory being so retentive that she executed with great skill some of the most difficult compositions of noted composers; her artistic instincts were strong, and her clever fingers fashioned many pieces of handiwork; she sleeps among her kindred of generations, tried by a sorrow that falls to but few, her faith never faltered, her trust in the love of 'that Almighty Father, who can make no mistakes', was supreme. 7. Nathaniel Greene, mentioned below. 8. John Brown Francis, mentioned below. 9. Julian Lewis, mentioned below.
(the above is from "The History of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations: Biographical", by the American Historical Society, Inc., 1920, volume 6)
*************************************
In principle inflexible, in manner dignified and gentle, of tastes simple but refined.
He was a lover of Nature, of music and of all beauty.
Welcoming new truth while loyally cherishing the old.
His favorite study the advancement of Naval Science.
Home was his center of enjoyment,
and the promotion of others happiness his constant care.
Thus he won the respect of all about him,
and the assurance of that reward which awaits a life well spent.