Charles Billings I, 1825-1906

Second Generation

Charles Billings was Braddish and Lamira Billings’ youngest child. Out of all his brothers and sisters, he was the most educated, well travelled, and civic minded.

Charles studied to become a lawyer and spent four years articling in the law office of Robert Hervey. The two men stood together on the platform that collapsed during the ‘Stoney Monday’ riot of September 17, 1849. In that same year, Charles also helped establish the General Protestant Hospital in Bytown

Charles had a strong interest in public and political affairs, which led to various appointments. After a brief foray into politics, Charles continued his law studies. In 1852, he was elected Reeve of Gloucester and became a member of the education committee for the Carleton County Council

Charles continued his education and clerked at a law office in Buffalo. He never started his own practice, and he decided to change his career path when he returned to the family estate in 1854. Charles became the Township Clerk—a position he held until his death in 1906. In addition, Charles taught school at Billing Bridge between 1856 and 1863, and maintained the family farm.

Charles was an innovative and successful farmer. He practiced market gardening, and grew a variety of fruits and vegetables for local sale, including asparagus, rhubarb, potatoes, melons, and strawberries. He even kept bees and gathered their honey.

Poetry was one of Charles’ passions and he used this skill to support himself as a student. Another romantic aspect of his life was his marriage to Maria Murray in 1858.

Family letters imply that the couple eloped during a picnic, but they didn’t tell their families of their marriage for several months. The couple had four children together:

Charles Murray,

Hugh Braddish,

Lamira Jane and Sarah Maria. Sarah Maria died in infancy.

TITLE Charles Billings and Maria Murray Billings Family DATE ca.1870 ITEM NUMBER CA-016002 MG162-08-958.11 DESCRIPTION Lamira Jane “Minnie” Billings, Maria Murray Billings, and Hugh Braddish Billings I (seated left to right);Charles Billings and Charles Murray Billings (standing left to right).
TITLE Charles Billings and Maria Murray Billings Family DATE ca.1870 ITEM NUMBER MG002-22-003 CA-000422 DESCRIPTION Formal portrait of Charles Billings, Maria Murray Billings, and Lamira Jane Billings (seated left to right); Charles Murray Billings and Hugh Braddish Billings (standing left to right).
TITLE Charles Billings and Maria Murray Billings Family DATE ca.1880 ITEM NUMBER CA-016325 MG002-22-092 DESCRIPTION Formal portrait of Maria Murray and Charles Billings (seated); Charles Murray, Hugh Braddish, and Lamira Jane “Minnie” Billings (standing left to right).

Family was important to Charles, who spent a lot of time on the Billings’ genealogy. While mapping out the family tree, he travelled to Boston 21 times and visited England, Scotland, Ireland, France and Wales. He passed away in November, 1906.

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