[Opening shot of the logo of Montreal Capital City, with the logo of Pointe-à-Callière museum at the bottom of the screen. Wide shot of Lesley Charters, member of the Charters family.]

Lesley Charters:
James Charters was my great -great -grandfather. In 1773, he was born in Wooler, Northumberland, a small town in Britain near the Scottish border. As a young adult, James moved north to Edinburgh and married Margaret Anderson. They had one child, Edward Charters, born in 1825.

[A portrait of Edward Charters appears on screen. His date of birth is 14 September 1825, and he died on 13 November 1893, at age 68. It is followed by another portrait, of Catherine Andreson, spouse of Edward Charters. She was born on 24 June 1831 and died on 6 January 1911, at age 79.]

Lesley Charters:
 In 1833, he moved to the port of Montreal with his wife and son. He was a butcher by trade. He leased a stall in St. Anne's Market as it opened for business in 1834. 

[A virtual rendition of the St. Anne's Market appears on screen. It shows a butcher's stall, filled with choice cuts of meat. Two butchers stand at the entrance in white aprons. A visitor in period clothing passes by.]

Lesley Charters:
In 1846, at the age of 73, he died and his 21-year-old son continued the butcher business, leasing stalls in St. Anne's Market from 1846 until his death in 1893. Because of the affluence associated with his butcher activities, Edward prospered. He raised a family of 11 children. Five sons were trained in the business and became Montreal butchers.

[An ancient black and white picture of the Charters Store appears on screen. The store has a checkered black and white floor and is empty. The workers stand behind the refrigerated meat counter in the back. The picture is titled "Charters Store, Sometimes Known as 'Charters Meat Market'. St. Catherines Street West, Montreal. Serving Their Many Westmount Customers. ca. 1930".]

Lesley Charters:
Edward's original business continued after the market closed in 1901. 

[An ancient black and white picture of a delivery truck appears on screen. The delivery truck is black and reads "Alex. A. Charters Reg'd, Meat Market, 'Purveyor To Royalty'. Choice Meats, Fish & Poultry". The picture is titled "Charters Store Delivery Truck. Montreal Quebec. ca 1930-1934".]

Lesley Charters:
It was a 148-year enterprise that finally closed its doors in 1982. 

[A picture of the Charters storefront appears on screen. The store has a large blue and white sign that reads "Charters". The picture is titled "Charters Store at Closing. 1909^St Catherine St. W., Montreal. 1982."]

Lesley Charters:
There is an interesting story about how the pitcher came into the family. 

[A picture of a blue and white porcelain pitcher appears on screen. The words "James Charters 1845" are painted on the pitcher. The picture is titled "Water Pitcher of James Charters".]

Lesley Charters:
James was near the end of his life, an older man ready to retire. This was probably well known. At his death a year or two later, his son, living at home, became the custodian of the family's possessions. Likely the pitcher was a gift, from a prominent client whom James Charters had served for many years. The pitcher resided within the family until Edward's widow, Catherine Charters, died in 1911. She had moved to a Westmount home on St. Catherine Street with three of her remaining sons. The youngest son, Herbert, was the executor of her estate and acquired the family belongings, including the pitcher. At his death in 1947, the family belongings passed to his daughter, Mona Charters. 

[A black and white picture of Mona Charters appears on screen. Mona Charters is an old lady with glasses. The picture is titled "Mona Charters (1910-1992) Discussing the Charters Family History. Sutton, Quebec, Summer 1979".]

Lesley Charters:
She died in 1992. The pitcher became a part of the estate acquired by Daniel Charters, Mona's nephew. It is Dan who has loaned the pitcher to the museum. It is an artifact reminiscent of a past time and place. a nostalgic family reflection. 

[Closing shot of the logo of Montreal Capital City, with the logo of Pointe-à-Callière museum at the bottom of the screen.]