The Sanders family of Schenectady, whose line is here recorded, are of old English ancestry.
The family is an ancient one in England where for generations they were members of the guild or trade of jewelers. This trade has been adhered to in the United States and seems inherent in the blood. The first to come to the United States were the children of Charles Sanders, born in London, England, in 1775, died in Schenectady in 1861. He learned the jewelers' trade from his father, who lived and died in London. He married ————, who died in London at the age of thirty-seven years, leaving four children. The family in England were all members of the Established Church. Children of Charles Sanders:
- Rebecca, born in 1796; she married in England, James Wise; came to the United States 1829; they located on a farm near Schenectady where they were both killed by a New York Central train, July 7, 1863; they had no issue.
- Clara, born 1798, was always known as "Doctor" Clara, being a well known neighborhood nurse and charitable worker in homes and hospitals; she married William Edwards, of London; came to the United States, settled in Amsterdam, New York, where both died in 1873; he was a florist and horticulturist, whose home in Amsterdam was widely noted for the beauty of its surrounding grounds; he died at the age of seventy-nine years, she at the age of seventy-seven; no issue.
- James, see forward.
- Charles, born 1802, married (first) in England, and had daughter Matilda, deceased; after coming to the United States he settled on a farm in Glenville where he married (second) Rose Matthews; they both lived to be quite old; children:
- Lizzie, married Teunis Vrooman, of Schenectady, deceased, leaving issue;
- Charles, lives on the old homestead in Glenville, others not recorded.
(II) James, eldest son of Charles Sanders, was born in England, February 24, 1800, died in Amsterdam, New York, February 26, 1886. He learned the jeweler's trade with his father in London; married, and about 1830 came to the United States. He settled in Johnstown, Fulton county, New York, thence went to Albany and in 1845 settled in Schenectady where he established a jewelry store that he successfully operated until a few years prior to his death, when he retired, and turned the business over to his son, James W. He was reared in the Episcopal church, but in the United States became identified with the Presbyterian church. He was a Republican and a great admirer of Horace Greeley and the New York Tribune. He bought the first issue of the paper and continued a subscriber and daily reader until his death. He married, in England, Emma Winter, born at Brambury, near London, in 1803, died October 9, 1874, in Schenectady. She died in the Episcopal faith. Children:
- Emma, married Lawrence Shuler, whom she survives, a resident of Newark, New Jersey.
- Lizzie, died unmarried.
- Rebecca, married Jeremiah Miller, of Schenectady; they left sons, James and Franklin, of Schenectady.
- Charles, married Rebecca E. Devoe, and left issue.
- James Winter, see forward.
- Clara, born in Amsterdam, New York, 1843; married Alexander McMillan; connected with the American Locomotive Works of Schenectady.
(III) James Winter, son of James and Emma (Winter) Sanders, was born in Amsterdam, New York, August 10, 1834, died October 12, 1910. He attended the public school until he was fifteen years of age, when he began learning the jeweler's trade with his father. He became not only a skilled workman, but mastered also the details of management, and on his father's retirement succeeded to the business in partnership with his brother Charles. At the death of the latter he became sole owner.
Of late years he has surrendered much of the responsibility and management upon younger shoulders. His life was a successful one and full of honor. He was a member of the Presbyterian church and an adherent of the Republican party. He married, March 20, 1878, Hattie M. Clancy, born in Charlton, Saratoga county, New York, died in Schenectady, March 28, 1897, daughter of Rev. John Clancy, a Presbyterian minister, born in Scotland, came when a young man to the United States, was ordained a minister and for forty years preached the Gospel in the various churches of his denomination in Saratoga county. He died at the age of eighty-three years, the oldest member of the Albany synod. He married, in Saratoga county, Martha A. Adams, born in 1800, died July 25, 1875, a descendant of the Massachusetts Adams family of President John Adams. Her life, like her husband's, was spent in church work. They had one son and three daughters, of which Mrs. Hattie M. (Clancy) Sanders, was the only one who married. Like her parents Mrs. Sanders is devoted and active in church and benevolent work.