52 Ancestors 2015 Edition: #43 Charles H Whitney --Ooops I Thought I Had Already Written About You
Amy Johnson Crow, the author of the blog No Story Too Small, is the host of the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Blog Prompt series. If you are not familiar with the project please click on the following link: Announcing 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: 2015 Edition.
Week 43 (October 22-28) – Oops. An ancestor who made an “oops,” or one that you made while researching one of them. (We’ve all done it, believe me!)
My first oops here is that I am a tad behind on these prompts. (Sigh) Well, I'll get caught up when I get caught up.
The second oops is that I thought I had already written a blog post about my 2nd great grand uncle, Charles H Whitney. I've written about his siblings, Augustus and Samuel. Samuel Whitney was my 2nd great grandfather. You can read about him and his brother Augustus in these posts:
52 Ancestors: #15 Samuel Whitney --Who Or What What Were You Driving Around?
Juneteenth Junction: Paying Tribute To Augustus Whitney
But what about Charles H Whitney? What was his story?
I believe he was born sometime around August 5, 1854. I came up with this date based on the month and day that were shown on his death certificate and the age he listed on his marriage license to his first wife, Arrena Sheldon. Charles was one of three sons born to my 3rd great grandparents, Thomas Whitney and Margaret Merrick/Merritt Whitney. The Whitneys lived in an area of Hyde County known as Lake Comfort.
Image courtesy of Google Maps.
The Lake Comfort area is marked with the red star.
Here's what the family group looked like in 1870.
Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009.
Images reproduced by FamilySearch.
Images reproduced by FamilySearch.
Charles Whitney and my great grandfather Samuel resided with their parents. Their older brother Augustus lived next door with his wife, Susan Ann Burns Whitney. Charles would go on to marry Arrena Sheldon on February 4, 1875 at Horace White's house, the home of a neighbor. Interesting to note that the maiden name of Horace White's wife was Merrick. My 3rd great grandmother Margaret's maiden name was Merrick or Merritt. The families were enumerated on the same page of the 1880 Federal Census. Possibly some sort of kin? Still trying to figure this out.
Source Information Ancestry.com. North Carolina, Marriage Records, 1741-2011 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Original data: North Carolina County Registers of Deeds. Microfilm. Record Group 048. North Carolina State Archives, Raleigh, NC.
At some point after 1930, Charles H Whitney moved to Norfolk, VA. Perhaps he relocated due to work opportunities. Perhaps he needed to leave Philadelphia to get away from the tragic loss of his son. Charles died on January 4, 1939 from acute myocarditis. He's buried at Calvery Cemetery in Norfolk, VA.
Source Information: Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1880 United States Federal Census [database on-line].
Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010.
Charles Whitney household is noted with red arrow.
Horace White and his family are marked with the yellow star.
Charles and Arrena Whitney had at least 4 children together. Their names were Mollie, Thomas, Charles and Walter. Charles's wife Arrena passed away sometime prior to 1900. He resided in the Lake Comfort area of Hyde County through 1900 with his children. He was listed as a widower that year but would not remain one. On November 4, 1906, Charles married a Caroline Jones from Township 8 (New Bern, NC)
Hey, this is kind of cool. It looks like my 2nd great grandfather Thomas Duke Harrison of New Bern married them!
Things didn't work out so well for the couple though. By 1910, Caroline had returned home to live with her mother Zilphia. Her marital status was listed as divorced.
Source Citation Year: 1910; Census Place: Township 8, Craven, North Carolina; Roll: T624_1104; Page: 8B;
Enumeration District: 0021; FHL microfilm: 1375117
There was apparently a child born from this union. There's a James Whitney listed after his mother Carrie on this census entry. He would have been born sometime around 1906 or 1907.
After 1900, I wasn't able to find Charles Whitney in the census again until 1930. He turned up in Philadelphia, which makes sense because that is where his daughter Mollie eventually settled with her family.
After 1900, I wasn't able to find Charles Whitney in the census again until 1930. He turned up in Philadelphia, which makes sense because that is where his daughter Mollie eventually settled with her family.
Source CitationYear: 1930; Census Place: Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Roll: 2138; Page: 11A;
Enumeration District: 0494; Image: 639.0; FHL microfilm: 2341872
5239 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA.
Address where Charles Whitney and
his daughter's family resided at in 1930.
Image courtesy of Google Maps.
Image courtesy of Google Maps.
Tragedy would strike come 1933. Do you remember that child that Charles had with his second wife Caroline Jones. His name was listed as James on the 1910 census. I suspect that James may have been a middle name. The reason why is because of this.
Source InformationAncestry.com. Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1963 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.
I think this is James. He's the correct age, parents names match, and the proximity in which he lived to his father and half sister Mollie makes me believe that this is the same child that was listed on the 1910 census living with his mother Caroline.
Image courtesy of Google Maps.
Image courtesy of Google Maps.
775 North 44th St, Philadelphia, PA.
Address where Charles "James" Whitney resided in 1933.
I bet this was quite the blow for my 2nd great grand uncle. Children are supposed to outlive their parents.
Source Information Ancestry.com. Virginia, Death Records, 1912-2014 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.Original data: Virginia, Deaths, 1912–2014. Virginia Department of Health, Richmond, Virginia.
At some point after 1930, Charles H Whitney moved to Norfolk, VA. Perhaps he relocated due to work opportunities. Perhaps he needed to leave Philadelphia to get away from the tragic loss of his son. Charles died on January 4, 1939 from acute myocarditis. He's buried at Calvery Cemetery in Norfolk, VA.
You are so lucky to find those houses still standing and looking good. It is sad to find children dying before their parents.
ReplyDeleteYes, I know what you mean Kristin. I wasn't anticipating the places being kept up so well. Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
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