Charles Fox and Mary Traynor

Fox stone farm house on rt. 7 in Pittsford, VT

Charles John Fox was born Nov 17, 1881 in Chittenden, Vermont. He died April 20, 1932 in Pittsford, Vermont. Occupation: Farmer. He married Mary Gertrude Traynor, daughter of William Traynor & Bridget Kelly, Feb 14, 1910 in Rutland, Vermont. Mary was born Feb 22, 1885 in Rutland, Vermont. She died Feb 10, 1960.  Charles and Mary are buried at St Alponsus cemetery.

During their courtship, Mary and Charles wrote numerous letters to each other. Mary saved all her letters from Charles. The letters tell of a sweet and loving courtship between them. On April 28, 1907 Charles writes "I will just write a few lines so that I may get a letter from you soon, not that I wouldn't enjoy writing to you, but that I can't express my thoughts in words, much less on paper. But you know who my thoughts are of without my expressing them. Of course mine are very dear to me with my little love to think of. I would much rather be with you than to be thinking of you."

I want to say a special thank  you to my great uncle James Fox for kindly coping all the letters for me. Unfortunately the letters Mary wrote to Charles do not seem to have been saved.

 
Hyde Manor

Before marrying Charles, Mary worked at Hyde Manor in Sudbury, Vermont (click thumbnails above). Based on the replies Charles makes in his letters to Mary, work at Hyde Manor was difficult. For example, on August 26, 1909 Charles wrote, "I received your welcome letter yesterday, but was very sorry to hear that you hadn't been well. Why do you stay there [Hyde Manor] if the work is so hard." A lady who worked at the Manor in the 1950s wrote: "If you ever saw the kitchens, dining rooms, and pantries, etc., you would definitely know that she had to work hard. The place is enormous! I had also heard that Mrs. Hyde was very hard to work for. In the heyday of the Manor, they had to have a huge staff to be able to do all the services they provided."

While Mary worked at Hyde Manor, Charles sought out work, with his cousin Charlie Wilkinson, in Flint Michigan, Ilion, New York and Chicago, Illinois. He eventually came back to Pittsford Vermont, where he bought the Stone house and dairy farm on route 7.

From Ilion Charles writes to Mary, "I started in running the automatic screw machines. They are used for making screws and pivots for the Remmington Type Writer. The largest ones I have made yet are about 1/2 in. long and about 1/8 in. in diameter, so you see it isn't heavy work. There are five machines that I have to watch and put in new stock when it runs out. Lots of time I sit around and dream. Some of the fellows go off and sleep for an hour or two and let their machines go. But I'd just be lucky enough to get caught at that so I won't try it."

The Rutland Herald ran an obituary for Charles on April 21, 1932

"Charles J Fox died at his home on Brandon Road tonight after a brief illness of pneumonia. He was born in Chittenden, Nov 17, 1881, son of Matthew and Anora Fox. The survivors are his widow Mary Traynor Fox, three daughters May T., Anna B., Fidelis I Fox and seven sons, John M., James J., William S., Charles S., Irwin C., and M. Dan Fox, all of Pittsford; three sisters Mrs. W. R. Mullen and Mrs W. F. Bradley of Detroit, Mrs J. B. Candon of this town, and twin brothers Edwin Fox of Rutland and William Fox of Pittsford. The funeral will be held Friday at St Alphonse Church."

The Rutland Herald ran an obituary for Mary on Feb 13, 1960

"Rites for Mrs. Fox of Proctor Funeral services for Mrs. Mary G. Fox of 8 Pearl Street, who died Wednesday morning at her home were held Friday at 9 a.m. at ST. Dominick's church. The Rev. Frederick Crowley, pastor, celebrated the Requiem High Mass. Mrs. John Curtis was organist and John Bresnahan vocal soloist. Bearers were John Fox, Edwin Fox of Pittsford, Charles Fox of Contoocook, NH: grandsons Robert Canapa and Richard Austin of Proctor and Harold Stone of Renasselaer NY. Entombment was in Evergreen Cemetery vault in Pittsford. Burial will be in St. Alphonsus cemetery in spring."

Charles and Mary had the following children:

1. John Matthew Fox - Nov. 17, 1910 - Oct 1, 1990 Pittsford. He married Elizabeth Montgomery
2. William Bud Steven Fox - Dec 30, 1911 - 12 1971. He married Agnes Pomainville
3. Irwin "Ike" Charles Fox was born Nov 15, 1914. He married Rosemary Victor
4. Morice Daniel Fox -  Sept 2, 1916 - Nov 7, 1992. He married Marie Doris Schlamp
5. Mary Traynor Fox - Feb 23, 1919 - 1984. She married Justin Redoutey.
6. Anne Beatrice Fox - Oct 15, 1920. She married John Arthur Michael McCarron
7. Fidelis Irene Fox - April 16, 1922. She married Robert Joseph Austin Sr
8. Charles Sheridan Fox - July 7, 1923. He married Theresa Castello. He then married Patricia Smith
9. Edwin Francis Fox - August 5, 1925. He married Eileen Tyo
10. James Joseph Fox - August 30, 1927. He married Patricia Clarey
11. Matthew Bernard Fox was born Pittsford, Vt April 29, 1932. Matthew died July 1, 1960 Pittsford, Vt

     
Mary Traynor            Charles Fox

1910 Charles Fox with a friend probably cousin Charles Wilkinson	Mary Traynor
Anne, Mary and Fidelis Fox taken June 1934	Bowser The family dog

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Susan Fox 2005�