Gazlay Family History
Robert Arthur Tefft
Parents
| Father | Elmer James Tefft, Sr. (12 April 1867 - 27 April 1935) |
| Mother | Jessie Louise McClure (August 1866 - 28 November 1950) |
Personal Information
| Record Created: 1 March 2010; Last Edited: 24 April 2025 |
| Person ID | 540 |
| Name | Robert Arthur Tefft |
| Gender | Male |
| Born | 30 August 1894 in Norwich, New London County, Connecticut1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 |
| Married | 6 June 1923 in Baltic, Connecticut to Ethel C. Firth6, 7, 8 |
| Died | 22 January 1982 in Norwich, New London County, Connecticut1, 6 |
| Buried | in Maplewood Cemetery, Norwich, New London County, Connecticut6 |
Biography
Robert served in the Merchant Marines in 1918, worked in Civil Service, ran a grocery store in New Hampshire, was a carpenter at Electric Boat for 15 years, and last worked for the city of Norwich Parks Department. He was a member of the General Assembly and former first selectman of Montville, where he was a resident for more than 50 years. He moved to Norwich in 1957. Robert was a member of the Oxoboxo Lodge of Masons for 44 years, and a member of Oweneco Chapter, Order of Eastern Star for 35 years. He was also a member of Lee Methodist Church in Norwich.6
Person/Family
| Spouse 1 |  Ethel C. Firth (daughter of Fremont Firth and Edith Crumbie) |
| Born | 25 February 1901 in New Bedford, Massachusetts |
| Married | 6 June 1923 in Baltic, Connecticut to Robert Arthur Tefft |
| Died | 22 October 1978 in Norwich, New London County, Connecticut |
| Children | of Robert Arthur Tefft and Ethel C. Firth: |
| 1. | Carolyn E. Tefft |
| Born | 30 December 1924 in Norwich, New London County, Connecticut |
| Married | 5 October 1968 in Norwich, New London County, Connecticut to Joseph Maoli |
| Died | 9 March 2007 in Norwich, New London County, Connecticut |
| 2. | Robert A. Tefft, Jr. |
| Born | ca. 1926 |
| Died | before 1935 |
| +3. | Muriel Edith Tefft |
| Born | 3 August 1930 in Oakdale, New London County, Connecticut |
| Married | 26 June 1954 in Montville, New London County, Connecticut to Milford Ernest Newbury, Jr. |
| Died | 5 September 2015 in Norwich, New London County, Connecticut |
Sources
- Social Security Death Index (SSDI), Rootsweb (website). Robert Tefft, no. 043-14-3414
- U.S. Federal Census, 1900, Connecticut, New London County, Oakdale, Enumeration District 456, Sheet 22B. The census record shows his birth as Aug 1893, which is believed to be in error by one year.
- U.S. Federal Census, 1900, Connecticut, New London County, Montville, Enumeration District 456, Sheet No. 22B, family of Elma J. Teft [sic, Elmer J. Tefft] (34, Connecticut, April 1866, farm laborer); wife of 13 years Jessie L Teft (33, Scotland, Aug 1866, 3 children, 3 living); son Elma J. Teft (11, Connecticut, July 1888); son Luther Teft (9, Connecticut, Aug 1890); son Robert A. Teft (6, Connecticut, Aug 1893).
- U.S. Federal Census, 1920, Connecticut, New London County, Montville, E.D. 255, Sheet No. 15A, Elmer J. Teffts, 53, Connecticut, machinist, paper mill; wife Jessie L. Teffts, 52, Scotland, immigrated 1870; son Robert A. Teffts, 25, Connecticut, paper cutter, paper mill.
- U.S. Federal Census, 1950, Connecticut, New London County, Montville, E.D. 6-52, Sheet Nos. 30-31, Robert A. Tefft, 55, Conn., carpenter, building trade; wife Ethel Tefft, 49, Massachusetts; daughter Carolyn Tefft, 25, Conn., waitress, school cafeteria; daughter Muriel Tefft, 19, Conn., secretarial, high school.
- Obituary, The Day, New London, Connecticut, Robert Tefft, 23 January 1982
- Index to marriage, death, and land records, Montville, Connecticut, Town Hall Website, file number 1923-00000087, marriage of Robert A. Tefft and Ethel Firth
- Obituary, The Day, New London, Connecticut, Ethel Tefft, 23 October 1978