When Charlotte died on 4 Mar 1922, the Evening News printed an article about her, saying she was 119 years old, born on Sugar Island, and lived there nearly all her life.
Garden River church records tell a different story. These records state that Charlotte Ogbeawakwat (Jayanuve) was born in 1822. She married John Cornelius Whalen on 18 May 1848. John's birth year was not given, but it was stated he was born in Mackinac. Charlotte's death was recorded as 3 Mar 1922.
Children were:
John, born 1 Jun 1850, died 24 May 1854
Mary, born 26 Feb 1852, died 28 Jun 1867
Charlotte, born 7 Sep 1854, married 28 Jun 1872 to Joseph Belanger
Rosalie, born 8 Feb 1858, baptised 26 Sep 1858, married 26 Apr 1878 to John Thibault, died 3? Mar 1905
William, born 11 May 1856, died 20 Aug 1864
James, born 24 Apr 1862, died 26 Jan 1867
Thomas, born 5 Jan 1855, died 29 Oct 1855
Patrick, born 13 Sep 1864, baptised 7 Feb 1865, married 20 Nov 1888 to Ann Sagakway, married 28 Oct 1902 to Susan Clark [died 13 Jan 1931 in Garden River]
Mary Ann, born 13 Nov 1859, married 4 Feb 1878 to Daniel McKay
1871 Census - Sault Ste Marie, Algoma, Ontario
Whalen, John, 57, born U States, Catholic, Irish, labourer
Charlotte, 24, born Ontario, Indian [Charlotte was not 24, she was most likely 43 at this time]
Charlotte, 17, born Ontario, Irish
Rosalie, 12, born Ontario, Irish
Mary Ann, 10, born Ontario, Irish
Patrick, 7, born Ontario, Irish
On 21 Jan 1878 in Graden River - District of Algoma, division of Sault Ste. Marie
Mary Ann Whalan, 19, of Nerbisk, Algoma, born Pumpkin Point, spinster, daughter of John Whalan and Charlotte Wassea married Daniel McKay, 20 years, of Sugar Island, US, born Gros Cap, Algoma, bachelor, labourer, son of J.B. McKay and Mary Lasage
1901 Census - Garden River Village Indian Reserve
Whalen, Patrick, head, widowed, born 13 Nov 1864, age 36, born Ontario, Chippewa, Canadian, Roman Catholic, laborer
Charlotte, daughter, born 13 Apr 1889, age 12, born Ontario, Chippewa, Canadian, Roman Catholic
Mary, daughter, born 18 Apr 1891, age 10, born Ontario, Chippewa, Canadian, Roman Catholic
Jane, daughter, born 9 Jun 1895, age 6, born Ontario, Chippewa, Canadian, Roman Catholic
Charlotte, mother, widowed, born 18 May 1828, age 73, born Ontario, Chippewa, Canadian, Roman Catholic
1920 Federal Census - Sugar Island, Chippewa, Michigan
Dwelling 38, family 40
McCoy, Daniel, head, owns - no mortgage, white, 61, to US 1869, naturalized citizen, 1915, born Canada speaks French, parents born Canada speaks French, carpenter from home
Mary A., wife, Indian, 61, year to US unknown, naturalized citizen in 1915, born in Canada speaks Indian, father born in Michigan, mother born Canada speaks Indian
Peter, son, w Indian, 19, born in Michigan, father born Canada speaks French, mother born Canada speaks Indian, laborer at sawmill
Ida A., daughter, w Indian, 17, born in Michigan, father born Canada speaks French, mother born Canada speaks Indian
[at bottom of page, same dwelling and family]
Whalen, Charlotte, mother-in-law, Indian, 112, widowed, to US in 1820, Alien, born Canada speaks Indian, parents born Canada speak Indian
Charlotte died 4 Mar 1922 in Sugar Island township, Chippewa, Michigan. Her birth was given as 1803, age as 119, occupation as retired, widow of John Whalen (deceased), parents unknown. Her cause of death was "old age, was in good health." Informant was son-in-law Daniel McCoy. Burial was in Garden River, Ontario. [Charlotte went from the likely age of 73 in 1901 based on her marriage in 1848 and the births of her children, to 119 in 1922 - aging 46 years in a 21 year span. Her true age was closer to 94]
Garden River Church records for Patrick Whalen and his family
Garden River Church Records for Rosalie and her family
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