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- [S55] New York Times (New York Times Company: 229 West 43rd Street, New York, NY 10036.), p. 16, 30 Mar 1946.
- [S1138] C (Scott) McDannald, "," e-mail message from [e-mail for private use] ([street address for private use]), to , ., George Constant Louis Washington; EMail; 16 December 2010; John Deitz.
My understanding is that John, the father[to George Washington] was married 1st to Marie Louise Tant about 1868. Amongst other children, (6 others) she was the mother of George Constant Louise Washington. You refer to him as George Washington, Sr. As I understand, John, the father never divorced # 1, but decided to hook up and start another family with Elizabeth Blanche Chargois, marrying her about 1898. When the father originally wanted to migrate to America, there were issues, so they sailed to Guatemala first and the family lived there for some time. Neither of John's wives were the traveling sort and I understand they both passed in Belgium. George whilst in Guatemala invented/founded what today is known as instant coffee. From there they migrated to America, settling in Brooklyn, NY. As I understand George was the consummate inventor type and very successful at that. He started patenting his inventions in 1899. In 1904 he Patented "Hydrocarbon Incandescent Lamps" In fact, I recall my grandfather saying how George's home was a veritable zoo! Is this the house you are referencing?
Okay, back on tract, Robert, brother to Clotilde, worked for his step-brother in the coffee business until the business was ultimately sold. I don't know what the laws were around the early 1900's with respect to parent deaths but, the father, John, passed in 1912. Although Elizabeth, the mother of Robert, Leon & Clotilde didn't pass until 1928, (I don't know if she ever came to America) someone had to take legal responsibility for her minor children. At that time they were ages 7-13 and all born in Belgium. George, their step-brother was 41 at the time of his father's death so I think he may have adopted or just took over raising them. I never heard of it ever being legally done. He certainly needed to step in to raise the children. I believe John, the father, died in Guatemala, so I don't necessarily see any legal requirements from a probate standpoint.
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