But, the New Year began badly for the Blakes. According to the Syracuse Courier, “Their honeymoon was brief. After the elapse of a few days, he returned his bride to her home, and told her that he should see her never more. In tears she implored him not to forsake her, but he was obdurate, and left her a blighted life.” Then Charlie returned home to his father, John Blake, in the town of Ira. The Foster family was bewildered by Blake’s behavior.
The very next day Delanson wrote in his diary, “I have been to church and up to J. E. (John E.) Blake’s.” The two fathers met five times over the next two weeks, ostensibly to break down any barriers to connubial bliss between Charlie and Bettie. Delanson’s only other noteworthy entry during that time was on Jan. 8, 1881. “Pleasant and cold. I and Bettie went up to Mr. Upcraft’s,” (the father of yet another girl).
Born in England in 1835, Charles Upcraft immigrated at age 10 to the town of Scriba. He married Mary Ann Hadden and moved to the town of Sterling, where their oldest child, Anna was born. Later, they relocated to South Hannibal, where by all accounts, Anna’s appearance turned many heads. Charlie Blake’s was no exception, as he had grown up there, too.
According to court documents, Charlie came to court Anna frequently from the time she turned 16 on Jan. 12, 1880, six months before he first visited Bettie Foster. The two often exchanged their “attention and affections.” Charlie asked her to marry him on April Fool’s Day. Anna agreed and “it was mutually understood…that they should be united in marriage.” Charlie “continued to visit and wait upon” Anna all year. That should have stopped when Charlie married Bettie on Dec. 30, 1880. But according to the Courier, it didn’t.
On New Year’s Day, 1881, the very same day that Charlie abandoned Bettie, “He proceeded to the residence of Miss Upcraft and desired her to elope with him. The young lady’s mother objected and insisted that he should marry her daughter in her own domicile. He consented to the proposition and Mr. Upcraft obtained Elder Cross of South Hannibal to perform the ceremony.” The parents assembled some 60 guests to witness the blessed event.
The Courier continues. “On entering the residence…and receiving an introduction to the contracting parties, (Elder Cross) was shocked to recognize in the would-be-bridegroom, the gentleman whom scarce three days since he had pronounced the husband of Miss (Bettie) Foster. He refused to tie the knot and explained the consequences of the law should he do it...Blake retired despondent.”
Unfortunately for Charlie, the same preacher had been called for both weddings. And according to Article 255.15 of the New York State Penal Laws, “A person is guilty of bigamy when he contracts or purports to contract a marriage with another person at a time when he has a living spouse, or the other person has a living spouse.” Bigamy is punishable by up to four years in prison. But, Blake’s bad luck didn’t end there.
Charles Upcraft soon filed a civil suit on Anna’s behalf in Oswego County Supreme Court. It stipulated that on Jan. 1, 1881, Charlie “called upon (Anna) at about noon and it was…mutually agreed…that they should be united in marriage….(Charlie) then stated and represented to (Anna) that he was not married to any other person, whereupon (Anna) and her parents proceeded to make arrangements for such marriage in the evening….”
“In the evening...after the guests were assembled at (Anna’s) house to witness the marriage ceremony…(Elder Cross) ascertained…that (Charlie) had on or about the 30th day of December 1880 been duly married to one Betsy Foster and…thereby rendered incompetent to marry (Anna).” Charles Upcraft demanded judgment against Charlie Blake for $2,000, besides costs.
According to the Courier, “Blake’s friends, either doubting his sanity, or seeking to shield him from the terrors of a breach of promise suit, had a trio of physicians make a diagnosis of his case.” They concluded that he was insane. His symptoms included “loss of memory concerning recent events; sleeplessness; melancholy; delusions; unnatural hatred of relatives; incoherency; and (his) appearance in general.” This could describe almost anyone on a bad day. Nevertheless, on Jan. 20, 1881, Delanson’s diary entry reads, “This afternoon I and Clarinda went up to Mr. Blake’s. They took Charlie to the asylum yesterday.”
Was Charlie Blake crazy? Or, was he simply amorous or avaricious? Anna Upcraft was indeed beautiful, perhaps the prettiest girl in Hannibal. But, she was only 16. And according to the Courier, “Miss Foster was an heiress.” But, her grandfather Foster bequeathed to Bettie just a small sum when he died in 1875, much less than the $2,000 Charlie stood to lose in the lawsuit.
Anna Upcraft ultimately married Frank Piguet and had two children, Mabel and Leon. Bettie Foster married Grove Willer. Their only child, Ray Delanson Foster Willer, died of diphtheria at age 10. After he was released from the asylum (some time before 1885), Charlie Blake married twice more. Charlie and his second wife, Mary Quade, had just two children, both of whom died in childhood. As I said last week, young life was just as fragile as young love back then (as it is today), a lesson Charlie Blake learned all too well.
Looking Backward will appear in the Messenger every other week, as long as there are stories to tell. If you have questions about this story or suggestions for future ones, including any local historical images or information, please contact me via e-mail at bvillehistory@earthlink.net.
Bettie Foster, center, whom Charlie Blake abandoned on New Year's Day, 1881, two days after their wedding day. She is shown here circa 1875 with her brother's family who lived across the Plainville-Lysander Road from the one that she shared with her parents, Delanson and Clarinda Russell Foster. Included (from left) are Bettie's niece Carrie Foster, brother Albert Foster, sister-in-law Rosa Burr Foster and nephew Alvah Foster.
