Charles H. Natsch

The family appear on the 1880 census living in Brooklyn, New York at 765 Atlantic Avenue which is where Charles’ father died just over a year later on 9 October 1881 aged 38 due to enteritis and asthenia.Charles was married in 1899 to Elizabeth Henderson Nicoll Machan (b. 2 October 1874), a Scottish-born woman who had come to the United States as an infant from her native Monifieth, Angus. She was the daughter of Robert Nicoll Machan and Caroline Mitchell Robertson. The newlyweds settled in Brooklyn and appear on the 1900 census living at East 7th Street with his widowed mother Louisa, he described as a clerk. Sadly, Louisa died on 31 January 1903. They went on to welcome four children: Helen Carolyn (b. 12 August 1900), Jean Lois (1902-1983), Evelyn Dorothy (1904-1957) and Henry Halsey (1905-1984). They lost their eldest child Helen to diphtheria when she passed away on 17 October 1907 aged 7. The 1910 census shows the family residing at 503 East 7th Street, Brooklyn with Natsch described as a speciality grocery merchant. By 1912 they were living at 503 East 7th Street and Natsch was well known in social and athletic circles in his community. He was also a gifted solo tenor vocalist and is frequently quoted in local media for his amateur performances. Natsch left for Europe on 30 March 1912 on a business trip on behalf of his employers, Lamont, Corliss & Co., a successful food import and marketing firm. Whilst in Amsterdam he wrote to his family. He embarked Titanic at Cherbourg (ticket number 17596, costing £29, 14s) and during the voyage occupied cabin C118.