6. Charles R. Webster, (the R. is supposed to stand for Richard), b. at Hartford, Ct, Sept. 30, 1762, a twin brother of George, mar. at Hartford, Ct., Monday, Feb. 17, 1787, Rachel, daughter of Ashbel and Rachel (Skinner) Steele, b. at Hartford, in 1763. Her father, Ashbel Steele, died at Albany, July 8, 1790, aged 59, and her mother Rachel (Skinner) Steele died at Albany, May 21, 1804, aged 66.
Charles Richard Webster, mar. (2) at Albany, April 2, 1796, Cynthia Steele, a sister of his first wife, who was b. Sept. 19, 1770.
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Charles B. Webster had some part in the Bevolutionary War as shown by the following. In the year 1818, at Albany, N. Y., he certified that he was a printer; that in 1778 and 1779, he lived in Hartford, Ct., and was a member of an artillery company, raised in Hartford, Capt. Samuel Mattock. This company performed guard duty to Gen. George Washington and French officers at Hartford and Wethersfield when the interview took place prior to Arnold's treason. Was one of the firm (1818) keeping a book store in Albany.
When the militia of Conn, was called out in 1781, Charles B. Webster, then 19 years of age, became one of the members of Capt. Hezekiah Wyllys' Co., and went with the Co. to New Haven, Ct., where he served for 15 days.
Charles B. Webster was known as the Father of Printing at Albany, N. Y., where he and his twin brother George Webster carried on the Printing and Book Publishing Business for many years, having associated with them for a large part of the time, three of the sons of their sister, viz: Elisha W., Hezekiah and Daniel Skinner.
The father of Charles B. became surety for a stranger, an Englishman, and was compelled to make good the amount of his endorsements, by which means he lost all his property, being compelled to sell even his cow, and Charles B. then at the age of seven, was apprenticed to Hudson and Goodrich, printers of the Connecticut Courant, at Hartford, Ct., to remain until he should be 21 years of age.
In 1782, he removed to Albany and entered into partnership with Solomon Balentine, whose printing material (as Webster often said) consisted of as many types as a squaw could carry in her bag. He at once established a printing office at Albany, it being the first one started on the Hudson higher up than Fishkill. As Balentine was not a congenial partner, Webster separated from him in 1783 and went to New York City, before the city was evacuated by the British, where he commenced the publication of the New York Gazette, but after the close of the war, Balentine having left Albany, and Webster's friends there urging his return, he again established himself in Albany. Soon after, his twin brother George united with him in the business, and not long after that, the three nephews, (Skinners) above named, were taken into the partnership.
In 1784, the firm issued the first number of the Albany Gazette, which paper continued its existence to 1845, when it was the oldest paper in the State. In Nov. of the same year they published the Webster Calendar or Albany Almanac, which has since been annually issued, and about the same time they published the New England Primer. In 1788 they published the Albany Journal, or Montgomery, Washington and Columbia Intelligencer. They also published the first Albany Directory, which was for the year 1813.
When he first went to Albany the Yankees were not generally liked by the old Dutch and other residents of that place, but Webster at once became quite popular, and was ever after prominent in almost every business and benevolent enterprise of that city. He was one of the originators of the Albany Mechanics' Society, of which he was President from 1799 to 1824, and later he was prominent in originating the Lancastrian School and the Apprentices' Library. He was also a member of the Washington Benevolent Society. He was a Trustee of the Albany Savings Bank, a Director of the Albany Insurance Co., was one of the Board of Commerce and Improvement, was a Trustee of the Presbyterian Church, and his wife Cynthia was one of the managers of the Albany Ladies' Society. HHe was Capt. of the Albany Independent Art'ly Co., of which his brother George was a Sergt. and he tendered the service of his Co. to President Adams, at the time of the anticipated war with France.
Through all the great political convulsions, amid the hurry of an increasing business, and under the burden of continual and engrossing cares, he retained all his early habits. He rose at four and came home at nine, and laid down before ten; his diet was plain; he was strictly temperate, remarkably laborious and of unwearying activity. No day found him so busy that it prevented him from reading, before breakfast, a chapter in the Bible, and uniting with his family in prayer.
He was said to be 6 ft. in height, erect and easy in manner, a high forehead, fair complexion, black hair, which turned silver gray in later life, eyes a light clear gray and lively and full of intelligence. He was dignified and full of courtesy and benevolence. His conversation was interesting, instructive, and pure. He died at Saratoga Springs whither he had gone for his health. His last words were, "The aim of my life has been to have my heart right with God and my trust in the merits of my Redeemer." (See the Annals of Albany for a full Biography and many references to Charles R. Webster.)
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He died at Saratoga Springs, N. Y., July 18, 1834, and is buried at Albany, N. Y.
His wife Rachel died at Albany, March 31, 1794, aged 30 years and 10 months, and his widow at Albion, N. Y., Dec. 22, 1848, aged 78.
