Until last year, since the early 1850s there have been three men named Charles Koreman living in Albany. A father, a son, and a grandson; all with the same name. This bio will focus on Charles I. His name was not always Charles.
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| Charles Koreman, circa 1872 |
He was born Adrianus Johannes Koremans on 31 January 1844 in the city of Zierikzee, in the Province of Zeeland, in the Netherlands; to Cornelis Koremans and Maria Catharina Colen. Charles was the younger brother of my great-great grandfather, Henry Koreman. The author believes that sometime after the family arrived in the United States, circa 1852, that Adrianus Johannes Koremans' (Adriaan John Koreman in English) name was changed to Charles Koreman. From there the name stuck.
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| Adrianus Johannes Koremans, Dutch birth certificate |
In the 1860 New York State Census, 16 year old Charles was listed without an occupation but residing with his parents. The following year the Civil War broke out and the young immigrant boy desired to show his patriotism for his new homeland. He longed to enlist as a volunteer soldier. Against his parents' wishes he was mustered into the 177th Regiment of NYS Volunteers as a Private on 16 October 1862; and within five weeks Charles was discharged as a minor on 23 November 1862 for enlisting without his parents consent.
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| Record from 177th Regt. NYSV, Adjutant General Book |
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| Record from 177th Regt. NYSV, Muster Rolls |
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| Record of Discharge |
However within two years Charles re-enlisted as a Private this time in the 12th Cavalry, NYSV on 8 September 1864 for a one year term. He was discharged on 14 June 1865 at Raleigh, North Carolina.
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| Charles Koreman, 12th Cavalry, NYSV |
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| Record from 12th Cavalry, NYSV Adjutant General Book |
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| Record from 12th Cavalry, NYSV Descriptive Rolls |
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| Charles Koreman, 12th Cavalry. NYSV, Discharge Paper |
After the war Charles re-entered life as a civilian and took up the occupation as a saddler. At one point Charles and older brother Henry were in business together as saddlers in 1873 according to the Albany City Directory for that year. Below is a listing from the directory for their business.
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| 1873 Albany City Directory Ad |
Also around 1873 Charles married Magdelena Behrhof (1854 - 1892). Magdelena was the younger sister of Margaret Behrhof who married Henry Koreman in 1863. Two Koreman brothers married two Behrhof sisters.
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| Magdelena Behrhof Koreman, circa 1875 |
Charles and Magdelena resided in Albany's South End on Osborn Street for a number of years before moving around the corner to 77 Catherine Street in a neighborhood known as the "beehive." The couple had eight children;
- Charles (1874-1877)
- Henry (1876-1876)
- Margaret (1877-1938)
- Charles Joseph (1878-1938)
- Peter Edward (1880-1933)
- Henry William (1884-1939)
- Frank Joseph (1886-1915)
- Adrian Charles (1890-1927)
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| Charles Koreman seated center of picture with crossed arms |
From 1888 till 1893 Charles was employed as a foreman at the Carriage Manufactory of James Goold Company until his eye sight started declining. I believe the photo above to be the workers from the Goold Carriage Company. His poor eyesight enabled him to apply for a pension with the United States government for service during the Civil War. An affidavit from his Civil War pension files is below detailing his troubles.
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| Affidavit from Koreman's pension records |
Charles kept his ties with other Civil War soldiers by joining one of the local Grand Army of the Republic posts. As of this writing, the author knows that Charles was a member of one the three GAR posts in Albany but not which one. Below is a photo of Charles on the right; seated perhaps next to his brother-in-law, Joseph Wagner, who also fought in the war. Both men are wearing GAR dress uniforms.
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| Charles Koreman, seated right |
Charles died on Christmas Day 1908 in Albany at 77 Catherine Street. He collapsed and was found in the hallway of his home according to the
Albany Evening Journal. One of the last photographs of Charles is below. Charles is seated left; brother Henry is seated right; and an unknown Koreman relative is standing behind them. The unknown man may be Henry Koreman Jr.? Charles was buried in Our Lady Help of Christians Cemetery in Glenmont, NY.
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| Koreman photo circa 1908 |
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