Charles Edwin George (1892 - 1962)

Born 18 Jun 1892 in Brackley, Northamptonshire, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Son of John George and Rebecca (Bennett) Plevey

Husband of Grace Sharp (Bowman) George — married 12 Apr 1919 in San Francisco, California, USA

Descendants

Died 30 Jul 1962 at age 70 in Portsmouth, Virginia, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Bennet George [send private message]

Biography

Charles George was born in Northamptonshire, England.

Charles George is a Military Veteran.
Served in the United Kingdom Royal Navy 1908-1913
Served on HMS Powerful, Pembroke, and Natal.

Charles George served in the United States Army in World War I
Service started: 9 Nov 1915
Unit(s): Coast Artillery Corps
Service ended: 4 June 1920

Charles George is a Military Veteran.
Served in the United States Navy 1921-1925 as electrician's mate second class, V-6
Served on U.S.S. Eagle.

Charles Edwin George was born 18 June 1892 in Brackley, Northamptonshire, United Kingdom to John and Rebekah (Bennett) George ^[1] and baptised 4 September 1892 in the Church of England. ^[2]

He was left fatherless at the age of six when John died of pneumonia in 1898, ^[3] but two years later Rebekah remarried to Edward Plevey. ^{[4] [5]}

In his early youth he worked as a telegraph messenger boy and as a stableboy. ^[6]

Charles joined the Royal Navy at the age of 16 and became an Ordinary Seaman on his 18th birthday. He served as Ordinary and Able-bodied Seaman on cruisers HMS Powerful, Pembroke and Natal, ^[6] including a tour in the Indian Ocean to South Africa and Australia. His service number was J2638. ^[7]

His last ship was the cruiser HMS Natal. ^[8] In late December 1912 Natal sailed from England to New York carrying the body of U.S. Ambassador Whitelaw Reid, who had died suddenly. She arrived 4 January 1913 after a tempestuous voyage. A New York Times article four days later reported that "two plates on the starboard bow" ... "were smashed in by the furious seas" and that two guns broke loose. ^[9]

On 7 January Charles was one of about 30 seamen who deserted Natal. ^[6]

In his 1995 autobiography Charles' half brother Kenneth Plevey stated "discipline had been so harsh on his warship that about 30 men jumped ship in America rather than put up with it". ^[10] Charles and Kenneth stayed in contact throughout Charles' life, so presumably Kenneth heard the story from Charles.

However, less than three years after the storm damage, Natal exploded at anchor at Cromarty, Scotland, killing 421. ^[8]

Whether he left the Royal Navy because of harsh discipline or because of concerns about the ship's safety, he was now in the United States, where his descendants all live 100 years later.

On 8 Nov 1915 Charles renounced his British citizenship, at which time he was living in Bronx County, New York and his occupation was railroad man. ^[11] He was naturalized on 3 February 1919, ^[12] possibly as a benefit of serving in the U.S. military during World War I.

The day after he renounced his British citizenship he enlisted in the U.S. Army at Fort Slocum, New York, serving in the Coast Artillery Corps. He was promoted to corporal 28 October 1916 and to radio sergeant 25 September 1917. His serial number was 625310. ^[13]

During World War I he served in France from 10 May 1918 to 14 January 1919 in Headquarters Co., 57th Artillery, CAC. Taking part in the battles of St. Mihiel and the Argonne offensive. ^{[14] [15] [16]} On returning to the United States he was furloughed to the Army Reserves at Fort Winfield Scott, San Francisco, California on 22 May 1919. On 4 June 1920 he was honorably discharged from the Army. ^[13]

On 3 August 1921 Charles received a Certificate of Service to Able Seaman being "rated as an Able Seaman for service on the high seas and any inland waters" ^[17] and on 5 February 1923 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy serving on the U.S.S. Eagle (#9). His service number was 405-52-19. He was honorably discharged at the end of his four year enlistment as electrician's mate second class, V-6 at Hampton Roads, Virginia. ^[18]

Charles married Grace Sharp Bowman 12 April 1919 in San Franciso while stationed at Fort Winfield Scott. They were married at Calvary Presbyterian Church on Fillmore St. ^[19]

Grace was also a recent immigrant, having been born in Scotland and moving in 1913 to the United States. Her parents and most siblings also immigrated from 1904 to 1919, settling around Newport News, Virginia and working in the shipbuilding industry.

It is not known how Charles and Grace met, but two of the Coastal Artillery Corps forts were located a few miles from Newport News. Perhaps Charles was stationed at one before being sent to France.

The couple set up household in Grace's town, Newport News, Virginia. In 1920 they were living with Grace's parents and Charles was an electrician at the ship yard. ^[20] In 1927 they were living in Norfolk County, Virginia. ^[21] In January 1928 they bought a house in the village of Craddock, at that time outside of Portsmouth, where they would stay until Charles died. ^[22]

Charles and Grace had children:^[22][23]

1. John Bennet George (1920-2007),
2. William Duncan George (1921-2012),
3. Grace Margaret George (1926-2015).

In 1920 Charles was an electrician at the Newport News shipyard. ^[20] By 1930 he was an electrician at the Naval Hospital in Portsmouth. ^[22] He would continue to work there until retirement 28 April 1954.

For many years Charles was an amateur radio operator, using the call sign W4PAJ. ^[24]

On 30 July 1962, at the age of 70, he died suddenly of a heart attack. ^[25]

In 1995 Charles' half-brother Kenneth Plevey wrote the following about Charles in his autobiography: ^[10]

"My elder step-brother Charles was recruited into the British Navy when he was 16 years of age, so we only saw him when he came home on leave, but he travelled the world, and we were great mates, my last actual contact with him was when he came home prior to sailing to America to 'show the flag', he used to borrow a bike and take me in to Banbury on the handle bars. A few weeks after he sailed my mother got a letter which left her in tears for days, and it transpired discipline had been so harsh on his warship that about 30 men jumped ship in America rather than put up with it, and Charlie was among them, which meant he would never be able to come home. In later life he and I corresponded regularly, and his jobs progressed from being the driver of overhead electric trains, to a shipyard worker at Newport News, Va., then a Powerhouse Engineer at a hospital which had its own station, and finally an X-Ray specialist engineer at that same hospital.

"For most of his life he owned and operated his own DX transmitter and was always pressing me to take it up so we could exchange messages, but I never had the urge. He lived to 70 years, and is interred in Virginia, together with his Scottish born wife Grace."

Charles and Grace are buried at Olive Branch Cemetery, Portsmouth, Virginia, USA in plot M-154. ^[26]

Sources

1. ↑ Birth Registration: England & Wales General Register Office, GRO Online Index - Birth (https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/ : accessed 12 Feb 2021), database entry for George, Charles Edwin (Mother's maiden name: Bennett), GRO Reference: 1892 S Quarter in BRACKLEY, Volume 03B Page 2
2. ↑ Christening: "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JQ8V-3RL : 19 March 2020), Charles Edwin George, 1892.
3. ↑ Father's Death Record: England & Wales General Register Office, GRO Online Index - Birth (https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/ : accessed 12 Feb 2021), database entry for George, John, age at death 33, GRO Reference: 1898 D Quarter in BRACKLEY Volume 03B.
4. ↑ Mother's Second Marriage: "England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:26SF-5Q2 : 13 December 2014), Rebecca George, 1900; from "England & Wales Marriages, 1837-2005," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing 1900, quarter 3, vol. 3B, p. 2A, Brackley, Northamptonshire, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.
5. ↑ 1901 Census: "England and Wales Census, 1901," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X9Y3-PBK : 20 May 2019), Chas E George in household of Edwd Plevy, Brackley St Peter, Northamptonshire, England, United Kingdom; from "1901 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing Brackley subdistrict, PRO RG 13, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2} Royal Navy Record: Ancestry.com. "UK, Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services, 1848-1939," [database on-line], citing The National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services; Class: ADM 188; Piece: 652. Share Link Ancestry Record 60522 #256238.
7. ↑ 1911 Census: Ancestry.com. "1911 England Census," [database on-line], citing The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911. Vessels, Australia and South Africa. Share Link Ancestry Record 2352 #32846027. Charles E. George, 18 single, ordinary seaman, birthplace: Brackley, Northamptonshire, C of E [Church of England].
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} HMS Natal: Wikipedia contributors. "HMS Natal." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Accessed 14 Dec 2021.
9. ↑ Natal's Voyage: Newspapers.com (pay site), citing The New York Times (New York, New York), 8 Jan 1913, page 1, "GUNS BROKE LOOSE ON NATAL."
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1} Dissertion: Plevey, Kenneth W. "A Pommy Immigrant"; self published 1995; printed by The Quirindi Newspaper Company Pty. Limited, 145 George Street, Quirindi, N.S.W., 2343, Australia; ISBN 0 646 23090 5.
11. ↑ British Citizenship Renounced: U.S. Dept of Labor, Naturalization Service, Declaration of Intention, original in posession of Bennet George.
12. ↑ Naturalization: Certificate of Naturalization No. 1121803, Volume 336, No. 83150, original in posession of Bennet George.
13. ↑ ^{13.0 13.1} US Army Record: Fold3.com. "New York, Abstracts of World War I Military Service, 1917-1919," [database and images], citing New York State Archives; accessed 14 Dec 2021. Charles E. George, 625310.
14. ↑ Transport to France: Ancestry.com. "U.S., Army Transport Service Arriving and Departing Passenger Lists, 1910-1939," [database on-line], citing The National Archives at College Park; College Park, Maryland; Record Group Title: Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, 1774-1985; Record Group Number: 92; Roll or Box Number: 552. Share Link Ancestry Record 61174 #2764937.
15. ↑ Return to USA: Ancestry.com. "U.S., Army Transport Service Arriving and Departing Passenger Lists, 1910-1939," [database on-line], citing The National Archives at College Park; College Park, Maryland; Record Group Title: Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, 1774-1985; Record Group Number: 92; Roll or Box Number: 119, Share Link Ancestry Record 61174 #8654897.
16. ↑ 57th Artillery: Freepages.rootsweb.com.
17. ↑ Able Seaman: United States Department of Commerce, Steamboat-Inspection Service, File No. S 8016, Serial Number 99244, original in posession of Bennet George.
18. ↑ US Navy: Discharge Certificate, original in posession of Bennet George.
19. ↑ Marriage: "California, San Francisco County Records, 1824-1997," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL41-TK7Z : 22 July 2021), Charles Edwin George and Grace Sharp Bowman, 12 Apr 1919; citing Marriage, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States, San Francisco Public Library, California; FamilySearch digital folder 004354141.
20. ↑ ^{20.0 20.1} 1920 Census: Ancestry.com. "1920 United States Federal Census," [database on-line], citing 1920; Census Place: Newport, Warwick, Virginia; Roll: T625_1916; Page: 41A; Enumeration District: 152. Share Link Ancestry Record 6061 #108429048.
21. ↑ 1927 Norfolk Directory: Ancestry.com. "U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995," [database on-line], citing Norfolk, Virginia, City Directory, 1927. Share Link Ancestry Record 2469 #658111047.
22. ↑ ^{22.0 22.1 22.2} 1930 Census: "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:CFS2-GZM : accessed 14 December 2021), Charles E George, Deep Creek, Norfolk, Virginia, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 4, sheet 23B, line 96, family 565, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 2452; FHL microfilm 2,342,186.
23. ↑ 1940 Census: "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VRBK-3P8 : 2 February 2020), Charles E George, Deep Creek Magisterial District, Norfolk, Virginia, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 65-3B, sheet 17A, line 12, family 362, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 4279.
24. ↑ Personal memory of grandson Bennet George.
25. ↑ Death Certificate: "Virginia, Death Certificates, 1912-1987," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVYG-RPM1 : 16 August 2019), Charles Edwin George, 30 Jul 1962; from "Virginia, Marriage Records, 1700-1850," database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2012); citing Portsmouth, Virginia, United States, entry #, Virginia Department of Health, Richmond.
26. ↑ Burial: Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/34138727/charles-edwin-george : accessed 12 December 2021), memorial page for Charles Edwin George (18 Jun 1892–30 Jul 1962), Find A Grave: Memorial #34138727, citing Olive Branch Cemetery, Portsmouth, Portsmouth City, Virginia, USA; maintained by B George (contributor 47859622).

See, also:

• "1950 United States Census," Enumeration District 65-26, Norfolk, Virginia, United States, Sheet 75, Line 2, Charles E. George. Link

DNA

• Paternal relationship is confirmed with an AncestryDNA test match between Susan (George) Kohlman and a child of Peggy Huckle, third cousins. Predicted relationship reported by AncestryDNA: 3rd-4th Cousins based on sharing 98 cM across 6 segments.​
• Maternal relationship is confirmed by a 23andMe test match between Bennet George and a living third cousin, who is a child of Joseph Bennett. Their MRCAs are Thomas Bennett and Ann Malyon. Predicted relationship from 23andMe: Third Cousin, based on sharing 54cM across 3 segments.