Family Tree Maker's Genealogy Site: Genealogy Report: Descendants of Henry Christie

[ Home Page | First Page | Previous Page | Next Page | Last Page ]

Descendants of Henry Christie

Generation No. 2

2. WILLIAM² CHRISTIE (HENRY¹) was born March 22, 1865 in Staffordshire, England, and died September 13, 1928 in Trenton, NJ. He married (1) ????. She died Unknown. He married (2) ELIZA STONIER June 26, 1893 in Trenton, NJ, daughter of HORATIO STONIER and MARY POOLE. She was born January 11, 1868 in Handley, Staffordshire, England, and died March 11, 1952 in Trenton, NJ.

Notes for WILLIAM CHRISTIE:
William came to the US from England (Abt 1887 according to the 1900 Census, 1888 on the 1910 census) to work in a pottery company in Trenton, NJ. According to his marriage certificate to Eliza, this was a second marriage but nothing is known about his first wife.

William does not show up until 1892-93 in the Trenton City Directory. At that time he lived at 413 Monmouth (also address on marriage certificate). In the 1900 Directory and Census, the family was living at 72 Franklin. By 1910 he and Eliza were living at 12 McKinley Avenue which has long been considered the "homestead". His occupation is always listed as a clerk with some references to pottery and his obituary also states that he was working for Tatler Pottery.

He was called "Gradad" by Virginia and Betty Ann.

Writer received more legible copy of his death certificate on 11/15/00, He was male, white and married-no surprise there. His date of birth was 3/22/1865 (we didn't have the day). He was 63 years, 5 months and 21 days old! and was a superintendent at Tatler, Inc.

He was born in Staffordshire, England. Father and mother's names are "unknown" but both were born in England according to Eliza who was the informant.

At the top of the certificate it states that he had been a resident of the 10th Ward (12 McKinley Avenue) and the length of residence in city or town where death occurred was 40 years as was the length of time in the US. Prior to this information, it was never known whether Trenton was his original destination or if he was someplace else before marrying Eliza. It would appear that he did come directly to Trenton.

More About WILLIAM CHRISTIE:
Burial: September 17, 1928, Riverview Cemetery, Trenton, NJ
Immigration: 1887, To Jersey City, NJ?
Occupation: Tatler's Pottery for over 35 years.

Notes for ELIZA STONIER:
Eliza immigrated at age 19 to the US to paint on pottery at Tattler in New Jersey in approx. 1887 (according to the 1900 Census) and was married to William six years later (1893). Family lore has it that she came from Stokes on Trent in Staffordshire, England. She could read, write and speak English.

Most of her family lived in Jersey City, NJ and I have reason to believe that she did not come directly to Trenton. It is possible that she came to the States with her entire family including her parents, Horatio and Mary. Further research in the Trenton City Directory is required to confirm this.

William does not show up until 1892-93. At that time he lived at 413 Monmouth (date on marriage certificate) and in 1900 Directory and Census, the family was living at 72 Franklin. According to Al Christie, they also lived on Elm Street for a short time. By 1920 he and Eliza were living at 12 McKinley Avenue which has long been considered the Christie "homestead".

Writer has copy of Eliza's death certificate. She died of a cerebral hemorrhage at her home at 124 W. State Street. She was white, widowed and 84 years old. She had resided in Trenton for 65 years according to her son, Alfred, having been born on 1/11/1868 in Handley, England. Her parents were Horatio Stonier & Mary Poole (agrees with marriage certificate).

More About ELIZA STONIER:
Burial: March 14, 1952, Riverview Cemetery, Trenton, NJ
Immigration: Abt. 1887

Marriage Notes for WILLIAM CHRISTIE and ELIZA STONIER:
Married in Trenton on June 26, 1893. According to marriage certificate this was William's second marriage and Eliza's first. Edmund Stonier (Eliza's brother) of 206 Montgomery St, Jersey City, NJ was the witness. The marriage took place at Trinity Episcopal Church. Eliza's address was 344 N. Clinton Ave and William lived at 413 Monmouth St.

Children of WILLIAM CHRISTIE and ELIZA STONIER are:

3.	i.	WILLIAM EDGAR³ CHRISTIE, b. May 31, 1894, Trenton, NJ; d. July 29, 1934, Long Beach Island, NJ.
4.	ii.	ALFRED E. CHRISTIE, b. July 24, 1897, Trenton, NJ; d. December 02, 1962, Trenton, NJ.
	iii.	DOUGLAS EWART CHRISTIE, b. February 21, 1899, Trenton, NJ; d. April 07, 1928, Panama Canal Zone.

Notes for DOUGLAS EWART CHRISTIE:
Douglas was a graduate of West Point and was station in the Panama Canal Zone at the time of his sudden and untimely death. His commanding officer wrote to his parents the day after his death detailing his apparent heart attack. Incidentally, they were on their way to NY to catch a ship to visit Douglas when they received the news. He is buried at West Point and never married although family lore has it that he had a girlfriend who may have been pregnant at the time of his death. This has never been confirmed.

This is a copy of his obituary as sent to me by my cousin, Jim Conlon:

LIEUT. CHRISTIE DIES SUDDENLY IN CANAL ZONE

News Reaches Parents As They Board Ship to Visit Him

Lieutenant Douglas E. Christie, of this city, who has been serving with the United States Army in the Panama Canal Zone, died suddenly of a heart condition yesterday morning at Camp Galliard, Canal Zone, according to information which has been received by his parents, Mr.
and Mrs. William Christie, of 12 McKinley Avenue. Beyond the fact of the death and that the remains are being sent to Trenton, no details are known at present.

Word of the tragedy was received by his parents and by a brother, Dr. W. Edgar Christie of Philadelphia, as they were about to board the steamer Balboa in New York yesterday morning to pay a visit to Lieutenant Christie. Upon boarding the ship, a cablegram was handed to them by the master of the vessel from Brigadier General Charles D. Rhoades, commanding officer of the tropical cantonment, informing them of the young man's death.

Lieutenant Christie had looked forward in long anticipation to his family's visit, and in a recent letter to Dr. Christie, had told him that he was planning to surprise his parents. He had intended to meet the ship in the pilot boat before the larger vessel docked at the canal. The army officer was in Trenton last Fall upon a month’s leave of absence, visiting his family and friends.

It was Lieutenant Christie's usual custom to engage in some athletic activity either polo or golf, every morning. His family presumes that he was thus busied when his death occurred.

Highly esteemed by all who knew him, Lieutenant Christie was personally selected by General Rhodes, a former commander of the Rainbow Division, to be his aide at the Canal Zone military post. When the Trenton officer was on leave, General Rhodes wrote frequent personal letters to him.

Holding the rank of Second Lieutenant, Mr. Christie was 28 years old. He was graduated from the Trenton High School in 1917 and attended Pennsylvania State College for one year. He was nominated for a cadetship at the West Point Military Academy by former Congressman Elijah C. Hutchinson.

After being graduated from the United States military school in 1923, Lieutenant Christie was assigned to Plattsburg, N.Y, and served there for one and a half years. After being on duty for six months at Fort Hamilton, N.Y., where he acquitted himself with an enviable record, the Trentonian was sent to the Canal Zone. He served there for the past two years.

His commanding officers universally rated him with a high standing, and in both field and administrative work he was considered an excellent officer.

Aside from his parents and Dr. Christie, the army officer is survived by one other brother, Alfred E. Christie, of l518 Riverside Avenue.

Writer also has copies of letters written by Doug's commanding officer to the family as well as personal letters from Doug to his brother, Al.

More About DOUGLAS EWART CHRISTIE:
Burial: April 1928, West Point, NY
Degree: 1923, West Point Academy
Education: 1917, Trenton High School
Military service: Bet. 1923 - 1928, 2nd Lieutant, US Army

[ Home Page | First Page | Previous Page | Next Page | Last Page ]