Henry Reuben Starkweather (1822-1893)
| Henry Reuben Starkweather (1822-1893) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 15 Oct 1822 Livingstonville,Schoharie,Ny |
| Died | 1 Oct 1893 Ocate,Mora,Nm |
| Other names | Charles Williams |
| Father | Asa Starkweather |
| Mother | Mary Robinson |
| Wife | Maria Francisca Guillerma Lefebre |
| Children | Margarita Mary Jane Williams Charles Asa Maria Isabel |
Biography
In 1846 the United States sent troops to New Mexico for the short-lived “Mexican War.” One of the soldiers who had joined the arm in 1839 by the name of Charles Williams, was actually born Henry Reuben Starkweather on October 15, 1822, in Livingstonville, New York. He was the son of Asa Starkweather and Mary Robinson (or Robson).
Henry worked with his father in the grocery business until he decide to join the Army. It is not known why he changed his name, maybe he was running away as he was only 17 when he joined the army. At any rate the name of Charles Williams was the one he used and all descendants use that name. During drills at Ft. Leavenworth in Kansas, prior to coming to New Mexico, Charles was injured when the carbine of his rifle flew open and shattered the stock and a piece of the copper cap struck him in the pupil of the right eye. The wound did not totally disable him and he continued his service, but he eventually lost the sight of that eye. It was said that he wore a patch over that eye. He also was a Captain of a detachment of volunteers against the Utah and Apache Indians in 1855.
The army discharged him in Taos, New Mexico on October 3, 1849. The following summer he worked as a census taker for the Federal Census of 1850. Its possible that this is when he met Manuel LeFebvre’s daughter Maria Francisca Guillerma Lefebre, as they were married a few months later on November 30, 1850. Francisca was born March 10, 1833 in Taos. Charles and Francisca had four children and then in the later 1850’s they moved to Mora County and settled in a beautiful area called Guadalupita and began to farm. After a few years they moved over the hill to Ocate’ and began farming on a larger scale. There are still descendents of Charles Williams living in Guadalupita today.
They were married by Father Antonio Jose Martinez, the controversial priest from Taos, who was excommunicated by Bishop Lamy.
In 1860, he was living in Guadalupita. He was 38 years old. His real estate worth was: $900.00. Personal $800.00. There is a story that the Indian servant, Archuletta Encarnacion, also had a child by Charlie Williams.
References
- From The Lujan Family History, p210.
