He was brought up in Newcastle where his father died when he was five years old, but his mother remarried the foreman of Old Long Benton pit whose name was Fraim. Charles suffered an unfortunate injury when he was seven years old.
Siya ay nagdala sa Newcastle na kung saan ang kanyang ama kapag namatay siya ay limang taon gulang na, ngunit ang kanyang ina remarried ang katiwala ng Lumang Long Benton hukay na ang pangalan ay Fraim. Charles suffered isang kapus-palad pinsala sa katawan kapag siya ay pitong taong gulang.