In 1865, Celia and her brother Charles were living with their mother, Ann (aged 70) in Brownville. Census showed Ann born in NY City and Celia and Charles born in Jefferson County. Charles and Celia (or Cecelia) were listed in Brownville through the 1880 census.
The following article from the Watertown paper following the death of Celia and her two siblings appears to be only partially accurate based on the census records described above which show the family was in Brownville for over 30 years and in Jefferson county for even longer.
Watertown Daily Times - March 7, 1896
The Rattery Family, of Brownville, Extinct - A sister and two brothers, colored, reach the end of long lives by asphyxiation
Three freshly-dug graves side by side in the village cemetery at Brownville mark the resting place of the last of the Ratterys, Celia, William and Charles. Within a few days the brothers and sister passed away suddenly, their death hastened by exposure to the cold on that eventful Sunday morning when Celia was asphyxiated and the aged brothers weakened unto death. Thursday night William died and a few hours later Charles followed him into the other world.
The Ratterys resided in a tumble-down cabin-like structure on the Main street of the village. They were familiar figured in the town, where their bent forms were often seen passing from house to house in search of a little work to do or selling vegetables. Celia, although her hair was whitened with age and her shoulders carried the weight of 80 years of toil, was content to earn a livelihood by any manner of housework. William was a man of all work. His age was 70. He was a general window washer and chore man for anyone who could pay him. He was a unique character.
Charles was a representative "darkie", born and reared a slave. His occupation was coachman and body servant. After the war ended, the Rattery's, in some unexplainable manner, located in Oswego where they lived for 25 years, when they removed to this city. Here they found employment for a time, but some few years ago went to Brownville to live. They had saved $100. With this they purchased the cabin which they loved to call home. There was a garden connected with the house and this land the family planted and cultivated, selling a portion of the produce and storing the rest for their own use.
During the past year the aged trio became so feeble as to be unable to even contribute to their own support, so the townspeople, who had ever been charitable toward the colored people, were called on oftener.
There were only three rooms on the lower floor of the house, a sitting room, kitchen and woodshed. The garret was used as a kind of store house. In the sitting room was a double bed and this apartment was used as a sleeping room by the brothers, while a cot bed in the kitchen furnished a sleeping place for the aged sister. The single stove which furnished warmth was a range, and it occupied a place in the kitchen.
Saturday night a week ago was not a particularly could night and the brothers took advantage of the change in weather to go to the village. it was late when they returned. The family retired. A coal fire was burning in the range in the kitchen. About 9 in the morning William was awakened by a stifling in his throat. He could hardly breathe, he was choking. He managed to crawl to the door and open it. He knew that escaping coal gas was filling the house. Then the aged darky, revived somewhat by the pure morning air, heroically dragged his decrepit frame to the kitchen. A pail of water stood by the stove. Raising the lid, William managed to raise the water pail and pour its contents on the seething coals. Then he started to get another pail of water, to do which he would have to go to a neighbor's house. Just as he reached the door he fell exhausted and the pail rolled form his grasp.
Meanwhile, Charles had been roused by the choking sensation in his throat and being revived somewhat by the air coming through the open door, attempted to rise from the bed. He nearly succeeded when he fell to the floor. The deadly coal gas had been too long in his lungs.
A villager passing the house at noon discovered the form of William across the threshold of the open door. Suspecting that something was wrong, he entered and rousing the exhausted "darkie," asked him the trouble. Before he received an answer he caught sight of the prostrate form of Charles. The villager then rushed into the kitchen. On the floor lay the body of Celia, cold in death. She too had tried to escape bu could only roll from the cot to the floor. The odor of the deadly coal gas filled the room. A physician was called, Charles and William were roused from their stupor. They could only mumble a disconnected story. The coroner viewed the remains. There was no inquest as asphyxiation was plainly the cause of death. The body was laid to rest in the village cemetery.
William and Charles were near the point of death and it was necessary that they should receive proper treatment. The authorities decided to remove them to the county house, but when the colored people, relatives and friends, heard of the intended action they protested. A physician was employed and nurses from their own race volunteered to care for the brothers rather than have then undergo what they considered the disgrace of being taken to the poor house. So the aged darkies, emaciated and decrepit, exhausted and chilled from exposure, tried to battle with death. For five days they lingered and then death conquered.
Today the funeral was held and it was attended by many colored people of Watertown and Brownville. The two brothers were interred by the side of their sister's unmarked grave and in the spring one gravestone will be sufficient to mark their resting place.
The following article from the Watertown paper following the death of Celia and her two siblings appears to be only partially accurate based on the census records described above which show the family was in Brownville for over 30 years and in Jefferson county for even longer.
Watertown Daily Times - March 7, 1896
The Rattery Family, of Brownville, Extinct - A sister and two brothers, colored, reach the end of long lives by asphyxiation
Three freshly-dug graves side by side in the village cemetery at Brownville mark the resting place of the last of the Ratterys, Celia, William and Charles. Within a few days the brothers and sister passed away suddenly, their death hastened by exposure to the cold on that eventful Sunday morning when Celia was asphyxiated and the aged brothers weakened unto death. Thursday night William died and a few hours later Charles followed him into the other world.
The Ratterys resided in a tumble-down cabin-like structure on the Main street of the village. They were familiar figured in the town, where their bent forms were often seen passing from house to house in search of a little work to do or selling vegetables. Celia, although her hair was whitened with age and her shoulders carried the weight of 80 years of toil, was content to earn a livelihood by any manner of housework. William was a man of all work. His age was 70. He was a general window washer and chore man for anyone who could pay him. He was a unique character.
Charles was a representative "darkie", born and reared a slave. His occupation was coachman and body servant. After the war ended, the Rattery's, in some unexplainable manner, located in Oswego where they lived for 25 years, when they removed to this city. Here they found employment for a time, but some few years ago went to Brownville to live. They had saved $100. With this they purchased the cabin which they loved to call home. There was a garden connected with the house and this land the family planted and cultivated, selling a portion of the produce and storing the rest for their own use.
During the past year the aged trio became so feeble as to be unable to even contribute to their own support, so the townspeople, who had ever been charitable toward the colored people, were called on oftener.
There were only three rooms on the lower floor of the house, a sitting room, kitchen and woodshed. The garret was used as a kind of store house. In the sitting room was a double bed and this apartment was used as a sleeping room by the brothers, while a cot bed in the kitchen furnished a sleeping place for the aged sister. The single stove which furnished warmth was a range, and it occupied a place in the kitchen.
Saturday night a week ago was not a particularly could night and the brothers took advantage of the change in weather to go to the village. it was late when they returned. The family retired. A coal fire was burning in the range in the kitchen. About 9 in the morning William was awakened by a stifling in his throat. He could hardly breathe, he was choking. He managed to crawl to the door and open it. He knew that escaping coal gas was filling the house. Then the aged darky, revived somewhat by the pure morning air, heroically dragged his decrepit frame to the kitchen. A pail of water stood by the stove. Raising the lid, William managed to raise the water pail and pour its contents on the seething coals. Then he started to get another pail of water, to do which he would have to go to a neighbor's house. Just as he reached the door he fell exhausted and the pail rolled form his grasp.
Meanwhile, Charles had been roused by the choking sensation in his throat and being revived somewhat by the air coming through the open door, attempted to rise from the bed. He nearly succeeded when he fell to the floor. The deadly coal gas had been too long in his lungs.
A villager passing the house at noon discovered the form of William across the threshold of the open door. Suspecting that something was wrong, he entered and rousing the exhausted "darkie," asked him the trouble. Before he received an answer he caught sight of the prostrate form of Charles. The villager then rushed into the kitchen. On the floor lay the body of Celia, cold in death. She too had tried to escape bu could only roll from the cot to the floor. The odor of the deadly coal gas filled the room. A physician was called, Charles and William were roused from their stupor. They could only mumble a disconnected story. The coroner viewed the remains. There was no inquest as asphyxiation was plainly the cause of death. The body was laid to rest in the village cemetery.
William and Charles were near the point of death and it was necessary that they should receive proper treatment. The authorities decided to remove them to the county house, but when the colored people, relatives and friends, heard of the intended action they protested. A physician was employed and nurses from their own race volunteered to care for the brothers rather than have then undergo what they considered the disgrace of being taken to the poor house. So the aged darkies, emaciated and decrepit, exhausted and chilled from exposure, tried to battle with death. For five days they lingered and then death conquered.
Today the funeral was held and it was attended by many colored people of Watertown and Brownville. The two brothers were interred by the side of their sister's unmarked grave and in the spring one gravestone will be sufficient to mark their resting place.
In 1865, Celia and her brother Charles were living with their mother, Ann (aged 70) in Brownville. Census showed Ann born in NY City and Celia and Charles born in Jefferson County. Charles and Celia (or Cecelia) were listed in Brownville through the 1880 census.
The following article from the Watertown paper following the death of Celia and her two siblings appears to be only partially accurate based on the census records described above which show the family was in Brownville for over 30 years and in Jefferson county for even longer.
Watertown Daily Times - March 7, 1896
The Rattery Family, of Brownville, Extinct - A sister and two brothers, colored, reach the end of long lives by asphyxiation
Three freshly-dug graves side by side in the village cemetery at Brownville mark the resting place of the last of the Ratterys, Celia, William and Charles. Within a few days the brothers and sister passed away suddenly, their death hastened by exposure to the cold on that eventful Sunday morning when Celia was asphyxiated and the aged brothers weakened unto death. Thursday night William died and a few hours later Charles followed him into the other world.
The Ratterys resided in a tumble-down cabin-like structure on the Main street of the village. They were familiar figured in the town, where their bent forms were often seen passing from house to house in search of a little work to do or selling vegetables. Celia, although her hair was whitened with age and her shoulders carried the weight of 80 years of toil, was content to earn a livelihood by any manner of housework. William was a man of all work. His age was 70. He was a general window washer and chore man for anyone who could pay him. He was a unique character.
Charles was a representative "darkie", born and reared a slave. His occupation was coachman and body servant. After the war ended, the Rattery's, in some unexplainable manner, located in Oswego where they lived for 25 years, when they removed to this city. Here they found employment for a time, but some few years ago went to Brownville to live. They had saved $100. With this they purchased the cabin which they loved to call home. There was a garden connected with the house and this land the family planted and cultivated, selling a portion of the produce and storing the rest for their own use.
During the past year the aged trio became so feeble as to be unable to even contribute to their own support, so the townspeople, who had ever been charitable toward the colored people, were called on oftener.
There were only three rooms on the lower floor of the house, a sitting room, kitchen and woodshed. The garret was used as a kind of store house. In the sitting room was a double bed and this apartment was used as a sleeping room by the brothers, while a cot bed in the kitchen furnished a sleeping place for the aged sister. The single stove which furnished warmth was a range, and it occupied a place in the kitchen.
Saturday night a week ago was not a particularly could night and the brothers took advantage of the change in weather to go to the village. it was late when they returned. The family retired. A coal fire was burning in the range in the kitchen. About 9 in the morning William was awakened by a stifling in his throat. He could hardly breathe, he was choking. He managed to crawl to the door and open it. He knew that escaping coal gas was filling the house. Then the aged darky, revived somewhat by the pure morning air, heroically dragged his decrepit frame to the kitchen. A pail of water stood by the stove. Raising the lid, William managed to raise the water pail and pour its contents on the seething coals. Then he started to get another pail of water, to do which he would have to go to a neighbor's house. Just as he reached the door he fell exhausted and the pail rolled form his grasp.
Meanwhile, Charles had been roused by the choking sensation in his throat and being revived somewhat by the air coming through the open door, attempted to rise from the bed. He nearly succeeded when he fell to the floor. The deadly coal gas had been too long in his lungs.
A villager passing the house at noon discovered the form of William across the threshold of the open door. Suspecting that something was wrong, he entered and rousing the exhausted "darkie," asked him the trouble. Before he received an answer he caught sight of the prostrate form of Charles. The villager then rushed into the kitchen. On the floor lay the body of Celia, cold in death. She too had tried to escape bu could only roll from the cot to the floor. The odor of the deadly coal gas filled the room. A physician was called, Charles and William were roused from their stupor. They could only mumble a disconnected story. The coroner viewed the remains. There was no inquest as asphyxiation was plainly the cause of death. The body was laid to rest in the village cemetery.
William and Charles were near the point of death and it was necessary that they should receive proper treatment. The authorities decided to remove them to the county house, but when the colored people, relatives and friends, heard of the intended action they protested. A physician was employed and nurses from their own race volunteered to care for the brothers rather than have then undergo what they considered the disgrace of being taken to the poor house. So the aged darkies, emaciated and decrepit, exhausted and chilled from exposure, tried to battle with death. For five days they lingered and then death conquered.
Today the funeral was held and it was attended by many colored people of Watertown and Brownville. The two brothers were interred by the side of their sister's unmarked grave and in the spring one gravestone will be sufficient to mark their resting place.
The following article from the Watertown paper following the death of Celia and her two siblings appears to be only partially accurate based on the census records described above which show the family was in Brownville for over 30 years and in Jefferson county for even longer.
Watertown Daily Times - March 7, 1896
The Rattery Family, of Brownville, Extinct - A sister and two brothers, colored, reach the end of long lives by asphyxiation
Three freshly-dug graves side by side in the village cemetery at Brownville mark the resting place of the last of the Ratterys, Celia, William and Charles. Within a few days the brothers and sister passed away suddenly, their death hastened by exposure to the cold on that eventful Sunday morning when Celia was asphyxiated and the aged brothers weakened unto death. Thursday night William died and a few hours later Charles followed him into the other world.
The Ratterys resided in a tumble-down cabin-like structure on the Main street of the village. They were familiar figured in the town, where their bent forms were often seen passing from house to house in search of a little work to do or selling vegetables. Celia, although her hair was whitened with age and her shoulders carried the weight of 80 years of toil, was content to earn a livelihood by any manner of housework. William was a man of all work. His age was 70. He was a general window washer and chore man for anyone who could pay him. He was a unique character.
Charles was a representative "darkie", born and reared a slave. His occupation was coachman and body servant. After the war ended, the Rattery's, in some unexplainable manner, located in Oswego where they lived for 25 years, when they removed to this city. Here they found employment for a time, but some few years ago went to Brownville to live. They had saved $100. With this they purchased the cabin which they loved to call home. There was a garden connected with the house and this land the family planted and cultivated, selling a portion of the produce and storing the rest for their own use.
During the past year the aged trio became so feeble as to be unable to even contribute to their own support, so the townspeople, who had ever been charitable toward the colored people, were called on oftener.
There were only three rooms on the lower floor of the house, a sitting room, kitchen and woodshed. The garret was used as a kind of store house. In the sitting room was a double bed and this apartment was used as a sleeping room by the brothers, while a cot bed in the kitchen furnished a sleeping place for the aged sister. The single stove which furnished warmth was a range, and it occupied a place in the kitchen.
Saturday night a week ago was not a particularly could night and the brothers took advantage of the change in weather to go to the village. it was late when they returned. The family retired. A coal fire was burning in the range in the kitchen. About 9 in the morning William was awakened by a stifling in his throat. He could hardly breathe, he was choking. He managed to crawl to the door and open it. He knew that escaping coal gas was filling the house. Then the aged darky, revived somewhat by the pure morning air, heroically dragged his decrepit frame to the kitchen. A pail of water stood by the stove. Raising the lid, William managed to raise the water pail and pour its contents on the seething coals. Then he started to get another pail of water, to do which he would have to go to a neighbor's house. Just as he reached the door he fell exhausted and the pail rolled form his grasp.
Meanwhile, Charles had been roused by the choking sensation in his throat and being revived somewhat by the air coming through the open door, attempted to rise from the bed. He nearly succeeded when he fell to the floor. The deadly coal gas had been too long in his lungs.
A villager passing the house at noon discovered the form of William across the threshold of the open door. Suspecting that something was wrong, he entered and rousing the exhausted "darkie," asked him the trouble. Before he received an answer he caught sight of the prostrate form of Charles. The villager then rushed into the kitchen. On the floor lay the body of Celia, cold in death. She too had tried to escape bu could only roll from the cot to the floor. The odor of the deadly coal gas filled the room. A physician was called, Charles and William were roused from their stupor. They could only mumble a disconnected story. The coroner viewed the remains. There was no inquest as asphyxiation was plainly the cause of death. The body was laid to rest in the village cemetery.
William and Charles were near the point of death and it was necessary that they should receive proper treatment. The authorities decided to remove them to the county house, but when the colored people, relatives and friends, heard of the intended action they protested. A physician was employed and nurses from their own race volunteered to care for the brothers rather than have then undergo what they considered the disgrace of being taken to the poor house. So the aged darkies, emaciated and decrepit, exhausted and chilled from exposure, tried to battle with death. For five days they lingered and then death conquered.
Today the funeral was held and it was attended by many colored people of Watertown and Brownville. The two brothers were interred by the side of their sister's unmarked grave and in the spring one gravestone will be sufficient to mark their resting place.
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