52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 7; Charles William White

This week's ancestral biography is on Charles William White; my great great grandfather. Charles was the second eldest son of Robert White (1813-1893) and Ann Strong (1815-1884) being born on 22 May 1835 in County Westmeath, Ireland. Siblings of Charles included:

• Joseph (1834 - 1904) married Elizabeth Freeman 
• Elizabeth (1838 - ?) 
• Robert (1840 - ?) 
• William Henry (1846 - 1896) married Josephine Elizabeth Parker 
• Frances Ann (1849 - ?) married GLM Carter 
• James (1850 - 1854) 
• Thomas Edward (1854 - ?) married Agnes Jane Laing 
• Sarah Jane White (1859 - ?) 

Robert, Sr. and family consisting of mother, Ann, and children; Joseph, Charles, Elizabeth, and Robert sailed from Liverpool, England on the Salem and reached New York harbor on 2 November 1843. Below are scans from the passenger lists of the ship showing the family.

page 1

page 2

The family was living in Albany by 1850 as can be seen in the Federal Census for that year.  Robert is listed as no occupation but he worked as a farmer and a laborer.  Brother Joseph is listed as a laborer and Charles is listed as a butcher; a trade that he would hold and become prominent at until he became elderly.

1850 Census

Charles belonged to the Episcopalian faith and worshipped at Grace Episcopal Church on Clinton Avenue and Robin Street.  At least three of his siblings, William Henry, Thomas Edward, and Sarah Jane were baptized there.  Charles became the senior Vestryman at Grace Church.  A position that he held until his death.  His son Joseph would succeed him as Vestryman until his death in 1954. 

Charles William White

Mary Ann Wilson White, circa 1907

Charles married a Catholic Irish immigrant girl, Mary Ann Wilson, on 23 September 1861.  Charles and Mary had eleven children.

• Mary A. (1862 - 1918)
• Charles William (1863 - 1937) married Minnie Adams
• James Lincoln (1864 - 1885) married Elizabeth J. Goodwin
• Robert (1866 - 1908)
• Joseph (1868 - 1954) married Theresa Anna Neubauer
• Margaret Agnes (1869 - 1939) married William Charles Brennan
• George Washington (1871 - 1935) married Clara Boyd Hitchcock
• Emma (1873 - 1874)
• Christopher (1875 - 1877)
• Bella (1877 - 1877)
• John Bridgeford (1880 - 1903) married Clara Boyd Hitchcock

Shortly after the death of his daughter Emma, Charles purchased a very large lot in Albany Rural Cemetery for $150 which will become the family burial plot.  Below is a scan of his lot owners card.

Mary, Charles' wife died on 20 December 1908 and was buried in the family plot.  Charles joined her on 16 November 1917.  The family honored Charles with an impressive obituary in the Times Union as seen below.

The main White headstone at Albany Rural Cemetery; below.