Charlotte Elizabeth Wolfrom (abt. 1827 - 1904)

Born about 1827 in New York, United States [uncertain]

Wife of Levi Williams — married about 1847 (to 1853) in New York, United States [uncertain]

Wife of John B. Stevens — married about 1857 (to 1898) in New York, United States [uncertain]

Descendants

Died 19 Sep 1904 at about age 77 in Batavia, Genesee, New York, United States

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Biography

Charlotte Wolfrom (alt: Walfrom) was born in September, 1827,^[1] possibly in Dutchess County, New York.^[2] She went by the nickname "Lottie."^[3] Her parents were Sarah and Andrew Walfrom.

Her first marriage was to Levi Williams. By 1850, Charlotte (age 27) and Levi (age 35), had two sons, Lewis (age 3) and Peter (age 1), and were living with Levi's parents, Warren (age 71) and Polly (age 58) Williams, in Queenbury, Warren County, New York. Warren and Levi were both farmers, and Nathan Thompson (age 22) was included in the household as well, presumably as a farm laborer.^[4]

Charlotte and Levi's daughter, Geraldine Adelia, was born around 1852, and shortly thereafter, Levi died, on 1 Jun 1853.^[5] By 1860, Charlotte (age 36) had remarried, this time to John Stevens (age 36, who reported being born in England), and they, along with Lewis (age 12), Peter (age 10), Adalia (age 8), and John and Charlotte's first child, Sarah (age 2), were living with Charlotte's parents (Andrew, age 68, and Sarah, age 62), and Charlotte's 25-year-old brother, Jeremiah, in Pavilion, Genesee County, New York. Andrew and Jeremiah worked as farmers, while John's occupation was a miner. The census also includes, in the next dwelling, Charlotte's 30-year-old brother, Aaron, a farmer; his wife, Melinda; their children, Catherine (age 7), Franklin (age 5), and Freddie (age 2); and a farm laborer, John Bigelow.^[6]

By 1870, the Stevenses had settled in Le Roy, Genesee County, New York, and had added another child, Mathias, to the family. At this point, Charlotte was 44. John (age 46), was working as a stone mason, and Peter (age 21) was employed as a painter. Adelia, Sarah, and Mathias were 18, 12 and 5 years old respectively.^[7]

In 1875, John reported his occupation as a laborer, and Peter was still engaged as a painter. Further, this census included the New York counties where the rest of the family were born: Charlotte in "Duchess" -- possibly Dutchess County, Peter in Yates County, Adelia in Warren County, and Sarah and Mathias in Genesee County.^[2]

In 1880, the household included just John (age 56), Charlotte (age 54), Peter (age 32), Adelia (age 28), and Mathias (age 16). John and Peter were both working as farmers.^[8]

New York State's 1885 census was not taken due to bureaucratic issues, but one was done in 1892, which found Charlotte (age 70) and John (age 67, and working as a farmer) living with Peter (age 43, a painter) and Matthias (age 24, a carpenter).^[9]

Charlotte was once again widowed on 26 Aug 1898 when she was around 76 years old.^[10] In 1900, Charlotte had possibly reverted to the surname Williams. At the time, she was listed in the census as Charlotte Williams (age 73), a widow, living with Peter Williams, who was reported to be age 43, a house painter, and married for one year (though no spouse is included in the household). Also listed was Matthias Stevens, age 33, a carpenter (reported to be a boarder).^[1]

Charlotte continued to live in Le Roy until shortly before her death in Batavia, Genesee County, New York, at the age of 78, on 19 Sep 1904.^[11] She was laid to rest at the Stafford Rural Cemetery, in Stafford, Genesee County, New York, USA.^[12] Her obituaries in the Batavia Daily News and Rochester Democrat and Chronicle mention that at the time of her death, she resided on Colorado Avenue in Batavia. She reportedly died at 6:30 am after suffering with pneumonia for less than a week. Survivors included sons Peter H. Williams and Mathias M. Stevens, both of Le Roy; daughters Mrs. Stella Gould of St. Louis, St. Louis County, Missouri, and Mrs. E. E. Cook of Batavia; and brother Aaron Wolfrom of Short Tract, Allegany County, New York.^[13][14]

Research Notes

Absent Charlotte's birth or baptismal record, determining her birth date is reliant on information reported in census records. That is variously recorded as:

1823 (estimate based on reported age in 1850),

1824 (estimate based on reported age in 1860),

1826 (estimate based on reported age in 1870),

1823 (estimate based on reported age in 1875),

1826 (estimate based on reported age in 1880),

1822 (estimate based on reported age in 1892), and

1827 September (an actual reported date in 1900).

The only other date available is 1822, listed as her birth date on her gravestone.

Last Name at Birth: Charlotte's father's baptismal record appears to spell their name "Wolfrom," but his tombstone records it as "Walfrom." Her brother Aaron used the spelling "Walfrom,"^[15] but there is no clear record regarding Charlotte's spelling of the name.

Siblings identified in her biography:

• Eliza, born abt 1820, Columbia County, New York
• Catherine, born abt 1825, Rockland County, New York
• Aaron G., born 1829, Rockland County, New York; died 23 mar 1905, Short Tract, Allegany, County, New York^[15]
• Jeremiah, born abt 1835, Sullivan County, New York

Children identified in her biography:

• With Levi:
  • Lewis, born abt 1848
  • Peter Henry, born abt 1849, Yates County, New York
  • Adelia Grizelda, born abt 1852, Warren County, New York
• With John:
  • Sarah, born abt 1858, Genesee County, New York
  • Matthias, born 1867 Oct 17, Genesee County, New York

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} 1900 Census: "United States Census, 1900"
   citing Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: T623; Line: 100; Digital film/folder number: 004114521; FHL microfilm: 1241038; Image number: 422; Sheet number: 5; Sheet letter: B; Packet letter: A; Indexing batch: N00688-6
   FamilySearch Record: MSXB-5SS (accessed 18 October 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: S3HY-67HS-31T
   Charlotte E Williams (73), widowed head of household in Le Roy, LeRoy, Genesee, New York, United States. Born in New York.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} 1875 Census: "New York State Census, 1875"
   citing Page: 57; Line: 10; Digital film/folder number: 004327097; FHL microfilm: 810478; Image number: 427; Packet letter: A; Indexing batch: N04265-3
   FamilySearch Record: VNVP-BQQ (accessed 13 October 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: S3HT-DR77-79C
   Charlotte A Stevens (52) in Le Roy, LeRoy, Genesee, New York, United States.
3. ↑ Information told by family members to Williams-63652.
4. ↑ 1850 Census: "United States Census, 1850"
   citing Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: M432; Line: 22; Digital film/folder number: 004203577_003_M9CD-7Q5; FHL microfilm: 444325; Image number: 115; Packet letter: A; Indexing batch: N01113-0
   FamilySearch Record: MZM9-7JF (accessed 13 October 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: S3HY-6SH7-S8F
   Charlotte E Williams (27) in Queensbury, Warren, New York, United States. Born in New York.
5. ↑ Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
   Find A Grave: Memorial #113165001 (accessed 13 October 2023)
   Memorial page for Levi K Williams (1816-1 Jun 1853), citing Gurney Lane Cemetery, Queensbury, Warren County, New York, USA; Maintained by Sunshine (contributor 47500612).
6. ↑ 1860 Census: "United States Census, 1860"
   citing Page: 6; Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: M653; Digital film/folder number: 005170348; FHL microfilm: 803756; Image number: 163; Packet letter: A; Indexing batch: N01766-2
   FamilySearch Record: MCW8-W7T (accessed 13 October 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GBS4-WB5
   Charlotte Stebbins (36) in Town of Pavilion, Genesee, New York, United States. Born in New York.
7. ↑ 1870 Census: "United States Census, 1870"
   citing Page: 62; Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: M593; Line: 39; Digital film/folder number: 004274927; FHL microfilm: 000552438; Image number: 566; Packet letter: A; Indexing batch: N01588-8
   FamilySearch Record: M8XN-2C9 (accessed 13 October 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: S3HT-DBBS-64G
   Charlotte Stevens (44) in Le Roy, Genesee, New York, United States. Born in New York.
8. ↑ 1880 Census: "United States Census, 1880"
   citing Volume: 1; Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: T9; Affiliate Line Number: 00066; Digital film/folder number: 005161472; FHL microfilm: 1254835; Image number: 587; Sheet number: 581; Sheet letter: B
   FamilySearch Record: MZ84-J8H (accessed 13 October 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GYB6-WCD
   Charlotte Stevens (54), wife, Keeps House, in household of John Stevens (56 years) in LeRoy, Genesee, New York, United States. Born in New York, United States.
9. ↑ 1892 Census: "New York State Census, 1892"
   citing Digital film/folder number: 004296248; FHL microfilm: 810479; Record number: 26153; Packet letter: A
   FamilySearch Record: MQ93-M25 (accessed 13 October 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: S3HY-6PSH-NWF Image number 00611
   Charlotte Stevens (70) in LeRoy, Genesee, New York, United States. Born in United States.
10. ↑ Death: "New York, State Death Index, 1880-1956"
    citing Entry: 31420; Digital film/folder number: 104132591; Record number: 27
    FamilySearch Record: QGRR-Z7S5 (accessed 13 October 2023)
    FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CSG8-5Q9W-7 Image number 00730
    John B Stevens death 26 Aug 1898 in LeRoy, Genesee, New York, United States.
11. ↑ Death: "New York, State Death Index, 1880-1956"
    citing Entry: 40697; Digital film/folder number: 104132597; Record number: 9
    FamilySearch Record: QGJD-7LS1 (accessed 13 October 2023)
    FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CSG8-B3NZ-G Image number 00822
    Charlotte E Stevens death 19 Sep 1904 in Batavia, Genesee, New York, United States.
12. ↑ Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
    Find A Grave: Memorial #229656792 (accessed 9 September 2023)
    Memorial page for Charlotte E. Williams Stevens (1822-1904), citing Stafford Rural Cemetery, Stafford, Genesee County, New York, USA; Maintained by B Rozpad (contributor 50074804).
13. ↑ Mrs John Stevens, (Batavia) The Daily News, 20 Sep 1904, p. 1, col. 5
14. ↑ Mrs. Charlotte E. Stevens, (Rochester) Democrat and Chronicle, 21 Sep 1904, p. 3, col. 5
15. ↑ ^{15.0 15.1} Memorial: Find a Grave (no image
    Find A Grave: Memorial #202391381 (accessed 21 October 2023
    Memorial page for Aaron G. Walfrom (15 Aug 1820-23 Mar 1905), citing Hunts Hollow Cemetery, Portage, Livingston County, New York, USA; Maintained by Butterfly~Kisses (contributor 46994799).