Christopher C. Yates

Christopher C. Yates was born in May 1779. He was the last child born to the marriage of Albany blacksmith Christopher J. Yates and his wife Catharina Lansing Yates. He grew up in a large family in the countryside outside of Albany.

This individual was a politically active medical doctor who would replace Dr.Jonathan Eights as city physician in 1820.

In 1810, his Albany household first appeared on the census and included two boys, three men, a young girl, his wife, and a slave. Beginning with the first edition in 1813, the city directories identified him as a physician and then as "physician and surrogate" at 71 North Pearl Street. His yellow brick home was an Albany landmark.

Beginning in 1806, he was a prominent member and officer in the nearby Masonic Lodge. He may have presented and published a Masonic oration as early as 1801.

He treated soldiers stationed in the Albany area during the War of 1812. In 1813, he published a medical treatise entitled An essay on the bilious epidemic fever, prevailing in the state of New-York.

In November 1802, he married Ann Muller at the Dutch church in Claverack. Their children were christened in Albany in 1805 and 1806. Following her death, Yates married the younger widow Emma Hart Willard in 1838. He gave up his practice and moved with her to Boston. The marriage was short-lived as she left him after nine months. They finally divorced in 1843.

Dr. Christopher C. Yates died at Parishorough, Nova Scotia in September 1848.

Sources: The life of Christopher C. Yates is CAP biography number 4463. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.