This article first
appeared in 2011. Since then more details have been found about the family’s Pittsburgh
religious affiliations, and these have been incorporated into this revised
article.
In the December 27, 1875
issue of the Pittsburgh Post is a small obituary for a familiar name.
Transcribing it in full It reads:
Charles T. Russell died
yesterday morning, in the 69th year of his age. He will be
remembered by our older citizens as one of the most sterling merchants in the
city. He began business in Market Street in 1831, where he remained until 1867,
since which time he has been in the brokerage and insurance business. He was a
native of Ireland, and came to New York in 1823. He took his early lessons in
active business from A.T. Stewart, in New York.
This Charles T. Russell was Charles
Tays Russell (hereafter shortened to Charles Tays). He was the uncle of Charles
Taze Russell (hereafter abbreviated to CTR). His story has a bearing on the
history of his famous nephew.
Perhaps at the outset we
could consider the unusual middle name of Tays. Where did this come from? In
Charles Tays’ will (which will be discussed below) he mentions a sister who
never emigrated, Fannie Russell. Fannie married an Alexander Harper, and died
in Donegal, Ireland, in 1867. Donegal borders on Londonderry and the newspaper
obituaries for CTR’s father, Joseph Lytle, state that he was born in
Londonderry. A check on Ancestry shows there was a large family by the name of
Tays in that part of Ireland. (One theory is that they were Scots-Irish named
after the river Tay in Scotland). So the middle name Tays was likely a family
name – a maiden name for a mother, grandmother or aunt.
When Joseph Lytle Russell
named his second son Charles Taze Russell, the spelling changed. However,
genealogical records from this era often show variations in spelling,
particularly in handwritten documents. (Joseph’s middle name for example is often
spelled Lytel but cemetery records have him down as Lytle). Phonetically, Tays
and Taze are the same - let’s call one the Irish spelling and the other the
American.
According to the newspaper
obituary, Charles Tays came to New York from Ireland in 1823, and learned
business from A.T. Stewart in New York.
Alexander Turney Stewart was
a highly successful businessman in dry goods, who was born in Northern Ireland
of Scots Protestant stock – very much like the Russell family. After receiving
an inheritance, Stewart came to New York in 1823 to found a store that, amongst
other things, sold imported Irish fabrics, and ultimately became an empire.
Charles Tays moved to New York from Northern Ireland in the same year and his subsequent
career as a dry goods merchant is linked to Stewart in the obituary. There is
no doubt a story there, even if it is now lost to time.
The obituary says “he began
business in Market Street in 1831, where he remained until 1867, since which
time he has been in the brokerage and insurance business.”
Coming from what now called Northern Ireland,
the Russell family came from a Presbyterian background and automatically
gravitated towards Pittsburgh Presbyterians. Charles Tays is documented as
joining the Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh in 1834.
The Third Presbyterian Church Pittsburgh was established
in 1834, and as members joined they were given a number. In the very first year
of its operation, Charles T Russell, became a member, and was given the number
47. Here is his entry in the church admissions register.
The entry states he was admitted on January 22, 1834, by
certificate, which means he came from another Presbyterian Church with a letter
of introduction. We do not know which one that was, or whether it was in
Pittsburgh or elsewhere.
The right hand column
details what eventually happened to these members. The entry for Chas T Russell
shows that he was “suspended.” Had he simply left for another church the entry
would have read “dismissed” – which can be a bit confusing for readers
unfamiliar with the terms as they were used in the register. Had he misbehaved
and been expelled the register would have stated that, and quite likely would have
given salacious detail of his offense. However, the entry “suspended” in this
context suggests that Charles Tays simply lapsed. He stopped attending, he
ceased making contributions, and eventually the church wrote him off. There is
no evidence of any subsequent involvement in religious affairs for the rest of
his (admittedly) sketchy history. And his obituary does not tell us who
conducted his funeral service.
Eleven years later his
younger brother Joseph Lytle Russell would join the same church, the Third
Presbyterian, on March 7, 1845, by certificate.
His assigned number was 551. This means that
like Charles Tays before him, he had come from another Presbyterian Church with
a letter of introduction, but again we don’t know from which church, whether in
Pittsburgh or elsewhere. In Joseph’s case the records show he was ultimately
“dismissed” in 1849 (around the time his first son Thomas was born) so simply changed
churches again within the Pittsburgh Presbyterian community.
Returning to Charles Tays, according
to his obituary, in 1867 he changed direction: “since which time he has been in
the brokerage and insurance business.”
The 1870 Trade Directory for Pittsburgh lists
two Charles T. Russells. One is a broker at 111 Smithfield (the Uncle) and the
other is a clerk at 96 Liberty (the nephew). On the same page is Joseph L.
Russell, furnishing goods at 87 Fifth av, n 96 Liberty.
As noted above, there
appears no evidence that Charles Tays took an interest in religious matters
later in life, unlike brother Joseph and nephew CTR. The initials CTR have not
been found in religious periodicals of the day prior to when they obviously
referred to Joseph Lytle’s son.
On December 26, 1875 Charles
Tays died. The cause of death was recorded as chronic hepatitis. According to the
death certificate he was aged 69, single, and had lived at 112 Smithfield for
the last four years. The funeral took place on December 29 and he was buried in
the Allegheny cemetery in a plot originally bought by his brother James Russell
back in 1845. Already buried there were James Russell, James’ wife Sarah, Eliza
Russell (CTR’s mother) and three of her children, Thomas, Lucinda, and Joseph
Lytle Jr.
After Charles Tays’ burial,
only two more family members would be added – his sister Mary Jane who died in
1886, and finally Joseph Lytle when he died in 1897. (For those who wish to
check the Allegheny cemetery records the family plot is Section 7, lot 17. All
are listed as buried in grave 1.) A grave marker for Charles Tays has survived,
and is shown below.
By the time CTR died in 1916
the Watch Tower Society had its own plot in United Cemeteries in N Pittsburgh, so
CTR was buried there.
Charles Tays made a will on
March 22, 1872 in which he outlined bequests to a number of relatives. The current
family tree for the Russell family in circulation is made up to a large degree
from information contained in the will and subsequent documents. Where Charles
Tays’ siblings had already died, money - usually in thousand dollar lots - was shared
between surviving nephews and nieces if there were any. Joseph Lytle and an attorney
David Reed were named as executors of the will. In the event, Reed bowed out,
and Joseph became sole executor. For those who would like to check the details for
themselves, I have transcribed Charles Tays’ will and other related documents at
the end of this article.
So in review, there appear
to be three ways that Charles Tays (the other CTR) would affect the history of
the Watch Tower movement.
First, he seems responsible
for other family members settling in Allegheny and Pittsburgh. From here we
have his nephew CTR dropping into a “dusty dingy Hall”, and the rest as they
say is history.
Second, CTR’s full name is an
obvious gesture towards the Uncle.
Third, there was possible
financial help for the work, at least indirectly, from Charles Tays.
Charles Tays did well
financially, but his death certificate lists him as unmarried. As noted above,
his last will and testament left his assets to surviving brothers and sisters
and, where they had predeceased him, to their offspring.
There was a thousand dollars
for his brother Alexander (although he was to die before Charles Tays did), a
thousand to share between the children of his late sister Fannie, a thousand
for Joseph Lytel – and then a larger sum of three thousand dollars that the
trustees were asked to invest to pay for the support of his elderly unmarried
sister, Mary Jane Russell. On her death, the capital was to be redistributed
among the surviving beneficiaries. (There is subsequent documentation on how
this did not work out as anticipated and the capital fund had to be dipped into
to assist with her care).
An internet search will
reveal some confident statements about how much CTR inherited. However, until
we have verifiable documentary evidence, any such statements remain hearsay.
Still, most would agree that CTR was a shrewd businessman who invested wisely.
(For example in the 1894 Harvest Siftings page 21 he explains his success in
investing in oil wells). However, it does help to have something tangible to
work with. In the parable of the talents the men were given a talent to start
with.
So in addition to CTR’s own
business acumen in partnership with his father, his uncle’s bequests may have assisted
at some point towards what ultimately became CTR’s life’s work.
Such is the story of Charles
TAYS Russell. A footnote to history.
LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF
CHARLES T RUSSELL
Note on the transcriptions
below:
Where a question mark (?)
occurs, it means there is some uncertainty as to the transcription because I
have worked off photocopies. Only a visit to a Pittsburgh record office might
solve these issues; however, they do not affect anything material in the
document.
DOCUMENT 1
Last Will and Testament of
Charles T. Russell.
Pittsburgh March 22, 1872
I, Charles T. Russell, of the City of
Pittsburgh, County of Allegheny, State of Pennsylvania, do make and publish
this my last will and testament, hereby revoking and making void all former
wills heretofore made at any time by me.
First, I direct that all my
debts and funeral expenses be paid as soon after my decease as possible out of
the first monies that shall come into the hands of my executors from any
portion of my estate, real or personal.
Second, I direct that
executors to convert my goods, chattels and effects into money as soon after my
decease as possible.
Third, I will and bequeath
to the children of my sister Fanny, who died in the year 1867, and was intermarried
with Alexander Harper who is still residing in Donegal County, Ireland, the sum
of one thousand dollars.
Fourth, I will and bequeath
to my sister Mary Jane three thousand dollars which I direct my executors to
put to interest for her during her lifetime and at her death I desire that it
shall be equally divided among the heirs mentioned in this will.
Fifth, I will and bequeath
to my brother Alexander G. Russell and his children now residing in Orange
County, State of New York, one thousand dollars.
Sixth, I will and bequeath
to my brother Joseph L. Russell and his children one thousand dollars.
I do hereby nominate and
appoint my brother Joseph L. Russell and David Reed, Attorney at Law, to be the
executors of this my last will and testament, in testimony thereof , I, the
said Charles T. Russell, the testator have to this my will at my hand and seal
this twenty second day of March, eighteen hundred and seventy-two.
Attest Charles T. Russell seal
State of Pennsylvania
Allegheny County
Be it known that on this
thirtieth day of December AD 1875 before me Joseph H. Gray, register of wills
of (?) in and for the county aforesaid, came W. W. Patrick and Joseph Irwin,
and they being duly qualified (the former affirmed and the latter sworn) did
express and say they were well acquainted with C. T. Russell deceased and with
his hand writing and that the signature to the foregoing instrument of writing
is in his own proper hand writing as they verily believe.
Sworn under my hand this 30th
day of December AD 1875.
Jos. H. Gray, Registrar
State of Pennsylvania
Allegheny County
Be it known that on the 30th
day of December AD 1875, letters testamentary with a copy of the will annexed
upon the estate of Charles T. Russell died were duly granted unto Joseph L.
Russell one of the executors in said will named (David Reed esq. having
renounced) who was duly sworn to well and truly administer the goods and
chattels, rights and credits, which were of said deceased, and to faithfully
comply with the acts of assembly relating to collateral inheritances.
Given under my hand the
above date, Jos. H. Gray, Registrar
DOCUMENT 2
In Re. Estate of Charles T
Russell, Decd.
To the Honorable Wm. G. Hawkins Jr. Judge of Orphans (?) Court
of Allegheny County.
Herewith find testimony of
Joseph L. Russell, executor, taken at his residence No 80 Cedar Avenue,
Allegheny City on Friday April 12, 1878, in accordance with the commission
issued to me April 6, 1878.
W F McCook (?)
Mr Joseph L. Russell, (?)
I am the acting executor
under the will of my brother, Charles T. Russell, deceased. Hon. David Reed was
executor named in the will but declined to act. All the bills against the
estate have been paid as far as I know.
The distributions made under
the will are as follows:
1st The children of Fannie Harper are:
Mrs F. A. Stewart,
Wellsville, Montgomery County, Missouri
John R. Harper, Arlington,
St Louis County, Missouri
Mrs Mary Muir, Grand Rapids,
Michigan
William James Harper,
Broxton, near Castlefin (?) Donegal County, Ireland
Mrs (indistinct – secondary
sources say Eliza Nesbitt) Donegal County, Ireland
Thomas R. Harper, Jimason
City, Plumas County, California
2nd distribution
Mary Jane Russell, Allegheny
City, Penna.
3rd
Alexander G. Russell, named
in the will as brother of deceased died before the decedent. His children are:
Thomas Green Russell, St
Louis, Mo.
Sarah Ann Morris,
Montgomery, Orange County, New York
Fanny G. Bond, Plainfield,
New Jersey
Cornelia S. Davenport, No.
74 Hicks Street, Brooklyn, New York
(my copy of the document
ends here)
DOCUMENT 3
Document dated September 2,
1886 relating to Mary Jane Russell’s inheritance.
Whereas the late Charles T.
Russell, who died in the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, in 1875,
bequeathed three thousand dollars ($3000) to his executors in trust, to pay the
interest to his sister, Miss Mary Jane Russell, during her lifetime , and, upon
her death, to distribute the principal equally among “the heirs mentioned in
this will”; and whereas through the inability of his executors to collect
certain debts that were due to the estate of the said Charles T. Russell,
deceased, the said fund was reduced from three thousand dollars ($3000) to
fourteen hundred and eighteen and 51/100 dollars; and whereas the fund so
reduced could not be made to yield more than six percent interest, about eighty
five dollars per year, and whereas the said Mary Jane Russell is now very aged
and infirm and has constantly required more than the amount of the interest of
said fund to maintain her, and whereas now much more, she is in need of comfort
and attention in her closing years; and whereas it has been found needful to
extract certain debts for her maintenance and may require additional debt
therefore in the future; Therefore we, Stephen H. Davenport and Cornelia S.
Davenport, his wife, in consideration of the premises and of our dollar (?) in
hand paid to each of us, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, hereby
authorize J. L. Russell, acting executor of the will of the said Charles T. Russell,
deceased, to use as much of the principal of the said fund, in addition to the
interest, as may be required, in his judgment, to pay the necessary expenses of
the said Mary Jane Russell and the debts that have been extracted for her
maintenance. And we hereby release and forever discharge the said J. L.
Russell, his executors and administrators of and from such part of our share of
the said as he shall so expend. It being understood that the balance of said
fund not required for the above mentioned purpose shall be distributed in
accord with the terms of the will of the said Charles T. Russell, upon the
death of the said Mary Jane Russell.
Witness our hands and seal
this second day of September AD 1886.
Stephen H Davenport seal
Cornelia S Davenport seal
74 Hicks Street
Brooklyn, NY
Notes on the above
Mary Jane Russell died
before the end of 1886 and is buried in the family plot in Allegheny Cemetery.
Cornelia Davenport (a
daughter of Alexander Russell) and her husband lived quite near to where the Brooklyn
Tabernacle would be. However, she died on October 23, 1888.
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