Co F 17th N Y Vol Infantry
C H A R L T O N , W I L L I A M J.—Age, 21 years. Enlisted, May 14,
1801. at S i n g S i n g ; mustered in as private, Co. F , May 22,1801,
to serve two years; mustered out w i t h company, June 2, 1863,
at New Y'ork c i t y ; subsequent service in F i f t h Infantry
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CHARLTON, W I L L I A M J.—Age, 21 years. Enlisted, March 30,
1861, at New York city; mustered in as private, Co. B, same
date, to serve three years; promoted corporal, August 23,
1861; sergeant, April 1, 1865; transferred to Co. K, June 1,
1865, and promoted first sergeant; mustered out with company,
August 21, 1865, at Hart's Island, New York Harbor; prior
service in Co. F , Seventeenth Infantry; commissioned, but not
mustered second lieutenant, August 31, 1865, with rank from
July 20, 1865, vice G. A . Buckingham, promoted.
C H
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William Joh Charlton, a well known and highly esteemed veteran of the Civil War answered the last call at his home No. 702 South street, on Tuesday evening hurt, in his 78th year. He had been In poor health for several
years, especially since an auto accident
in March l919, and had been confined
to his home since last August
Mr. Charlton was born in Sligo, Ireland
May 9, 1843. His parents, Ralph and Rachel Kerr Charlton, died when he was very young, and he was taken In charge by his maternal uncle, James H.' Kerr, a well-known citizen of
Peekskill, four decades ago. , He was 11 years of age when he came to Peekskill, Sept, 4. 1854, and has since resided here with the exception of a few years.
For some four years he lived on the farm at Contlnentalville, later occupiedby Captain Purdy He then went to Rosendale, Wis,, and was there on a farm nearly a year. On his return to Peekskill, he entered the • Peekskill
Military Academy where he graduated in I860, in the English department.
It was about this time that the fever of war was abroad in the land and the young man was infected with it. He
joined the Bleakley Rifles. But realizing that it might be some time before they were called to the front he enlisted
in Company F, Seventeenth Regiment and was mustered in May 22. 1861. He participated in all the engagements of
his regiment, and was discharged June 2, 1863. He spent nine months in Peeksklll, and re-enlisted March 30,
1864, in Company B, Fifth Regiment, New York Veteran Volunteers. In that regiment he served until the close of
the war, and was mustered out as First ^Sergeant of Company K, of the gallant Fifth. He was commissioned
as Second Lieutenant by Governor Fenton with rank from July 30, 1865, but he never mustered in. He carried
the colors of his regiment during the Five Forks campaign, and was present at Appomatox Court House when Lee
surrendered.
He Was complimented in
regimental orders for distinguished
gallantry in the field at Five Forks, and White Oak Road. His discharge
from the Fifth New York bears this endorsement:
"Sergeant Charlton is a brave and energetic soldier, and a man in whom I have great confidence."
Wm. F. Dunn, Col." Col. Dunn was subsequently in command
of the Fourteenth United States infantry.
At the close of the Rebellion, Mr.
Charlton returned to Peeksklll and became a clerk in the Peeksklll post office under Postmaster Charles Mc- Cutchen. He was there six months and then he became a clerk and bookkeeper for the Peeksklll Plow Works and the Peeksklll Manufacturing Company.
In the spring of 1869,'beginning in
February, he taught school in the Furnace Woods School District. In the fall of 1869 he began teaching fn what
was known as the Saxton Smith school district in Putnam County.
It was there he met the young lady who was to be his companion through life "and on January 10, 1872, a couple
of years later, he married Ermina T. Barrett daughter at the late Dr. Isaac Barrett, of Mahopac Falls. They have
had eight children, of whom three are still living. Mrs, Charlton died on Sept. 27, 1918.
In October, 1870, he became hookkeeper
for Ombony & Daln, and remained there nearly eight years. TH
January 1878, he became bookkeeper and confidential clerk for the stove firm of Montross & Lent (the Peekskill
Stove Works), and fulfilled those duties
until the dissolution of the firm in 1886
Following that he occupied a number
of positions in town. He was bookkeeper for The Highland Democrat for several years, when It was In Central avenue, and until 1889. He also did reportorial work for this paper.
For a couple of year st about that time,
he was also business manager and editor of the Peekskill Messenger. He
was bookkeeper for Charles H. Chase for a year or so.
When the new Excise law went into
effect, Mr. Charton received one of the first appointments as clerk in the Albany office by Col. Lyman, in 1896.
Owing to serious illness, and later death In the family, Mr. Charlton did not accept the office. After performing
various duties of a clerical nature about town Mr, Charlton was appointed
superintendent of the Peeksklll Water Works, on March 15, 1900/ On March 1^, 1901, he was reappointed, each year he was again chosen to fill this responsible position until March 1904, when he was succeeded by Lanning
G. Roake. Since that time he has filled clerical positions In the village and spent a year or more compiling a
history of Peeksklll and the town of
Cortlandt, from data supplied by Stephen
D, Horton. and spent a year or more compiling a
history of Peeksklll and the town of
Cortlandt, from data supplied by Stephen D, Horton.
Tn politics Mr. Charlton has always
been an organization Republican He
has been a member of the Town Committee
for many years, and off and on
a member of the Village Committee.
He was always an attendant upon village
and town caucuses, and almost
always one of the secretaries He
seldom missed a district or assembly
convention, and was frequently a dele
gate to the county and senatorial conventions
He was always a diligent party worker,, and was...

Mr. Charlton's
two yetrf Of service as a
town auditor demonstrated his ability
In handling figures and a knowledge
of the value of merchandise and
of talent and service, He made one of
the best auditors Cortlandtown has
ever had.
On March 4, 1918, Mr Charlton was
elected treasurer of the village and occupied
that position until March, 191A,
when he would not accept a renomina-
•lon.
Mr. Charlton has always been active
In Orand Army circles. He was a charter
member, a Past Conitnunder and at
hla death and for year prior to that
time he waa Adjutant of Abram Voaburg
Poat, No. M, G. A. H. He was
an enthusiastic worker in Its ranks,
always zealous for Its progress. He
Is known among Grand Army men
not only In th# county of Westchester
but all through the State of New York,
and has been a frequent delegate to
state and national encampments of
i he Grand Army. He had a thorough
knowledge of the history of each veteran
In the town of Cortlandt, having
made a study of the various regiments
represented in this town
He never mingled much with the
fraternities, but at one time was active
in Cortlandt Lodge, No. 6, I. O. 0. F,-,
and Mt. Ararat Encampment, No. 9, I.
O. O. F., haying held the office of Conductor
and warden In the former and
High Priest in the latter.
iFor over fifty years Mr. Charlton was
a member and for many years a
strong pillar of the Van Nest Reformed
Church of this village. He was superintendent
of the Sunday school for
many year# was an elder of the |
church and devoted to Its work.
He was a member of the Peeksklll
Board of Trade during its existence
and was for years an auditor of the
Peekskill Cooperative Building, Savings
and Loan Association, lie was a
member of the Peeksklll Chess Club
many years. He was an honorary
member of the Harris Light Cavalry
Survivors' Association.
Mr. Charlton's forte was always
figures. He was an expert accountant
and was frequently called upon to
straighten up books and accounts of
business firms and corporations.
Mr. Charlton was -an authority on
local history and a natural born newspaperman.
He had written columns
upon columns for the Highland Democrat
and other local newspapers. He
had at different times represented here
almost every New York newspaper.
For -several years he was correspondent
at the State Camp for New York
City dallies. He had penned many
.brief histories of , Peeksklll for
publications and pamphlets. He
used to be active on all local committees
as the Centennial Committee
of 1916, when he prepared and read
ihe historical sketch of Peeksklll at
the public meeting In Depew Park.
He was very active on the Hudson
Fulton Celebration Committee In 1809,
and the Columbus celebration in 1893,
and his name always appeared on the
when he was active and alert.
The deceased is survived by three
children, Miss Florence and I. Montross
Charlton of Peeksklll, and Ralph
W, Charlton of Morristown, N.J.
funeral services were, .held from
Van .Nest Reformed Church
yesterday Friday) afternoon at 2
.o'clock and the Interment was at Hillside.
The religious service1 was conducted
by Rev. Philip Jonker, assisted by
Rev. Henri de Vries, and the G, A. R.
ritual followed. The bearers were
Sons of Veterans, John W- Baluffl,
John Coiy, William Elklas, Fred
Heady, Kenneth Sparks, and Eldorus
Denike, and taps were blown at the
grave in Hillside cemetery.