The Charles Family can trace it's roots back to Charlesmond Charles.
Charlesmond Exavier was born to Charles and Marie Exavier in 1894, in Gachinat, a locale in the outskirts of Port-De-Paix where many of his children and grandchildren were born and raised. He had one brother and eight to ten sisters. With the exception of his brother, Cimeus Charles, who left the hometown and moved to Aux Cayes, he and his sisters remained in Gachinat. The family lost contact with that brother and so Charlesmond in essence became the only male figure head among his siblings.
Charlesmond was described as a quiet man. Granddaughter, Angelere Noel, recalled him smoking a big pipe while sitting on a favorite chair and drinking "sauce pois" or extremely sweet coffee. The two had a really special relationship.
Better known as "Pamon" to his children and grandchildren, Charlesmond had 17 children, four daughters and thirteen sons: Adilia, Anseyo, Antoine, Armand, Celima, Delome, Elinet, Exalus, Genita, Jeannette, Joseph, Julien, Maurice Ago, Mondesir, Nouvela, Solomon, and Vertulia. The generations of Anseyo and Celima are excluded because the family lost contact with members of those branches. Elinet and Solomon are excluded because they did not have children.
Maurice Ago, Charlesmond Charles' first child was born in January 19, 1919. His birth name was Domage but it was suggested he changed it while in school because the name sounded "tros andeyo." He was a good student who attended L'ecole Chattard and studied agronomy. He eventually worked as an agent in Damien. He traveled throughout the provinces of Haiti as part of his work and reportedly had over 40 children. He is said to have had a cunning sense of humor and was a sharp dresser who was liked by everyone. He died in December 17, 2004.
Julien was known as the family entertainer who was a lead vocalist in a band. He was a slim man and a heavy smoker. He worked along side his brother Maurice Ago in Damien as an assistant helper.
Jeanette is the youngest daughter, and family members say her sense of humor is one of her best traits. According to her daughter Emmanuella, she enjoys cooking and cleaning. While in Haiti, she sold textile materials in "Mache Durmasais Estime" and also "LaCroix." She had been living in Florida since December 1995. She passed away
Mondesir (Ton-Ton Monde) was a dedicated family man. He did not immigrate to the Bahamas because of his children. He worked as a farmer, his health permitting, and is described as a passionate planter of tomatoes, cabbage, and egg plants. He traveled to Vital and Andro to farm. He also made and sold straw hats. He suffered from severe asthma and was often unable to work. He died at the young age of 49 in May 13, 1969 living behind six children and his dedicated wife, Sylvina Joseph (Mansoule). She has been a committed wife who cared for her husband throughout his illness and struggled to provide for her children. Niece Marie Nicole Ogilus described Ton-Monde as a good uncle who together with his wife took care of her while her mother was in the Bahamas. She fondly remembers that they enrolled her in school. Ton-Monde was a devoted husband who had no children outside of his marriage.
Delome Charles worked as a cultivator and "argent agricol"as a helper to Maurice in Damien. He also spent time working in Latorture. His nieces and nephews remember him as the uncle we often gave them "pain avek tablet." During his stay in the Bahamas, his home served as a rooming house where he willingly welcomed his brothers, nephews, and nieces. He eventually returned to Haiti.
Solomon was a caring uncle who cherished his nieces and nephews for he did not have children of his own.
Adilia was a "petite commercante" who sold merchandise such as textile materials in "Mache Durmasais Estime." She is said to have been a generous and sensitive person who cared for her family.
Armand Charles was born Joseph Exavier Dit Armand Charles on December 27, 1922. He was a farmer who traveled to the Bahamas in the 1960's to work and provide for his family back in Haiti. He returned to Haiti in the 1970's and started traveling again in the mid 1980's, this time as a visitor to the United States. Armand had five with Belicia Augustin Louis and eight children with his wife Odamise Bouquet. While it is reported he had a total of 17 children, the family suspected he had more children. Armand was known as a strict disciplinarian who also showed a lot of love for his children. He seems to have led the way in making it possible for the women in the family to pursue formal education. At a time when girls' and women's education was not valued, he sought to provide an education for his daughters. Given this, his third child, Ginette was among the first (if not the first) woman in their community to go to Brevet, higher education. "Pere Armand" had a special relationship with his grandchildren who adored him and they came to know him as a sweet, mild-mannered personality. He died in Haiti on April 4, 2001 after returning from an extended stay in the U.S. He is survived by 13 of the original 17 children, 31 grandchildren, and 11 great grandchildren.
Exalus, as his nick name implies Ton-Za is a man of short stature who is passionate about his work and many businesses. He planted coffee, owned a store where he sold "liqueur, cigarettes, avek chow." He started working at the tender age of 12 along side his father on the farm. He went to LEcole Rurale d'Aubert Elementary School. Since he was a bright student, his brother Maurice convinced his father to send him to Verrette to a professional school where he studied masonry. He later married his sweetheart Analia. He is an ambitious businessman, landowner, landlord who has achieved financial success. While known for his frugality, he is also willing to assist family members in financial crises.
Genita (Manga), the daugther of Camelia Pierre and Charlesmond Charles, was born in July 29, 1927. Camelia was also the mother of Mondesir and Antoine. During a phone interview in 2003, she recalled the family was well known and lived more comfortably than others in the town because of his involvement in business. They had several sewing machines and made and sold clothes. In the store, they sold goodies such as "dous makos, tablet glasse, etc . She reported the most popular item in the store as a bottle of honey sold for "dis kob." Despite the businesses, times were difficult because of impoverished conditions in the country. She attended "L'Ecole des Souers de Port-De-Paix." She was a "petite-commercante" who migrated to the Bahamas in March 1963 and later immigrated to Florida where she died on November 18, 2004.
Joseph (Ton-Joe) was a Gendarme as a young man. He lived in the Bahamas for most of his adult life. He currently lives in Florida where he works as a taxi driver.
Nouvela, the youngest son, presently lives in the Bahamas with his wife and children. He attended St. Martin Archille and became a Gendarme as a young man.
Celima lived in the deep mountains of Port-De-Paix and stayed away from Gachinat for many years. He had one daughter, and he passed away at a young age.
The Charles Family reunion was established in August 2005 for members to remain connected and to form new relationships. The reunion is also an opportunity for older members to reminiscence about their past and teach younger members about the family history.
The members who initially conceived this idea, Betty DuVerger, Yolande Pierre-Louis, and Judith Monestime firmly believe it is essential for older generations and newer generations to know each other and have meaningful relationships despite the physical barriers of living in Haiti, Arizona, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Georgia, Florida, Ohio, North Carolina, Texas, Kansas, Canada and the Bahamas. This reunion is a way to honor our past and make sure our children and their children understand the significant role that the family plays in their lives.
Every two years, the Charles Family will plan a reunion of celebration. This celebration will be an occasion of reminiscing, forming new bonds, and strengthening our relationships.
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