This section deals with the Croft Family who lived in the area of Claughton known as "West End".
Claughton West End
Claughton West End lies about half a mile south west of Claughton Hall, connected by the main road (now the A683). Nowadays, the Claughton Brickworks is the main occupier of the area, but prior to the construction of this around the beginning of the 20th century, the main buildings at West End were Higher and Lower West End Farms (High West End was rebuilt during the 1700s and part of it was renamed Claughton House – all is sadly now gone). There are documents which name people living at West End during the 17th and 18th century in properties other than the two farms mentioned, so it’s fair to assume that West End in those days was a more highly populated area.
The branch of the Croft family who lived at West End is the most interesting of the Claughton branches, as this line did not die out, and there are people still living in the area today who can trace their line back to them.
The Lancaster Gazette published an interesting series of articles in 1889, entitled “Round Lancaster Castle”, looking at the history of villages and notable families around Lancaster. The author of these articles talks at some length about the Crofts of Claughton, and at one point he says “The sixteenth and seventeenth century Crofts were what is usually termed a “wild lot.” An illegitimate line of Crofts descend from Gabriel Croft of West End, cousin of Thomas Croft, settled at Farleton.” At another point in the article, the author confirms the relationship between all the various Croft familes in the area; “At one time there were three contemporary Crofts, each named Henry, and they were thus designated, “Little Henry of Claughton, Long Henry of Littledale and Like Henry of Farleton,” all cousins.”
The Lancaster Gazette published an interesting series of articles in 1889, entitled “Round Lancaster Castle”, looking at the history of villages and notable families around Lancaster. The author of these articles talks at some length about the Crofts of Claughton, and at one point he says “The sixteenth and seventeenth century Crofts were what is usually termed a “wild lot.” An illegitimate line of Crofts descend from Gabriel Croft of West End, cousin of Thomas Croft, settled at Farleton.” At another point in the article, the author confirms the relationship between all the various Croft familes in the area; “At one time there were three contemporary Crofts, each named Henry, and they were thus designated, “Little Henry of Claughton, Long Henry of Littledale and Like Henry of Farleton,” all cousins.”
The earliest member of this West End family who is mentioned in records is Gabriel Croft. The exact ancestry of Gabriel is again unclear, but in his will of 1698 he is described as “Gabriel Croft of Upper West End”, and in an indenture from 1666 there is a mention of his mother, Frances.
The indenture is between himself on the one part and Henry Croft and his son Nicholas (both of Claughton) on the other part. Henry and Nicholas must be the Henry of Claughton Branch One, who died in 1671, and his younger son Nicholas. In the indenture, Gabriel Croft is selling the tenancy of a piece of land called The Skeare and Skeare Meadow in Claughton for the sum of £20 plus an annual rent of 6 shillings. As previously mentioned, the indenture also mentions the mother of Gabriel Croft – Frances Croft. She is mentioned as having have had dower right on the land, and the indenture agrees that this is released on the transfer of the land to Henry and Nicholas. So while Gabriel’s mother, Frances, was still alive in 1666, his father evidently was not. Unfortunately I can find no mention of the name of Gabriel’s father.
Gabriel Croft had further financial dealings with his cousin Nicholas; the datestone over the door of Low West End Farm reads: 1678 NC GMC. These are the initials of Nicholas Croft and Gabriel Croft and his wife Margaret. Nicholas apparently never married, but he and Gabriel were evidently business partners and rebuild Low West End together. The will of Richard Thornton of Deep Clough in Caton (1673) , mentions “£40 owed by Nicholas and Gabriel Croft at West End.”
Nicholas Croft died in 1692, and further work on Low West End Farm was undertaken by Gabriel alone, as an inscribed keystone in the barn reads: GMC 1695.
The indenture is between himself on the one part and Henry Croft and his son Nicholas (both of Claughton) on the other part. Henry and Nicholas must be the Henry of Claughton Branch One, who died in 1671, and his younger son Nicholas. In the indenture, Gabriel Croft is selling the tenancy of a piece of land called The Skeare and Skeare Meadow in Claughton for the sum of £20 plus an annual rent of 6 shillings. As previously mentioned, the indenture also mentions the mother of Gabriel Croft – Frances Croft. She is mentioned as having have had dower right on the land, and the indenture agrees that this is released on the transfer of the land to Henry and Nicholas. So while Gabriel’s mother, Frances, was still alive in 1666, his father evidently was not. Unfortunately I can find no mention of the name of Gabriel’s father.
Gabriel Croft had further financial dealings with his cousin Nicholas; the datestone over the door of Low West End Farm reads: 1678 NC GMC. These are the initials of Nicholas Croft and Gabriel Croft and his wife Margaret. Nicholas apparently never married, but he and Gabriel were evidently business partners and rebuild Low West End together. The will of Richard Thornton of Deep Clough in Caton (1673) , mentions “£40 owed by Nicholas and Gabriel Croft at West End.”
Nicholas Croft died in 1692, and further work on Low West End Farm was undertaken by Gabriel alone, as an inscribed keystone in the barn reads: GMC 1695.
Gabriel Croft was married to Margaret (his second wife - we know she was not his first wife, as in his will he describes her “my now wife”). He had two sons, Henry and John (Henry, his eldest son, by his first wife whose name is not recorded, and John, his second son much later by his second wife) and five daughters, Margaret, Anne, Mary, Deborah and Elizabeth (Eldest daughter probably again by his first wife, and other daughters by his second wife).
Gabriel died in 1698. In his will he leaves £60 to each of his five younger children (a total of £300), the rest of his goods and property being left to his eldest son, Henry. We know from information on a surviving gravestone that this eldest son, Henry, was born in 1677 so if we assume that Gabriel was in his mid twenties when his first son was born (his eldest daughter was also over 21 in 1698 and so Henry could have been his second child), then that would mean that Gabriel was only in his late forties when he died and would put his birth at around 1650.
Gabriel’s wife, Margaret, was also born around 1650, as when she died in 1727 she is stated to be about 77 years old.
Gabriel died in 1698. In his will he leaves £60 to each of his five younger children (a total of £300), the rest of his goods and property being left to his eldest son, Henry. We know from information on a surviving gravestone that this eldest son, Henry, was born in 1677 so if we assume that Gabriel was in his mid twenties when his first son was born (his eldest daughter was also over 21 in 1698 and so Henry could have been his second child), then that would mean that Gabriel was only in his late forties when he died and would put his birth at around 1650.
Gabriel’s wife, Margaret, was also born around 1650, as when she died in 1727 she is stated to be about 77 years old.
Gabriel’s inventory was valued at £276, and is the usual mixture of animals, farm equipment and household items. This confirms Gabriel as quite a wealthy farmer.
Both Gabriel’s sons, Henry and John, married and had families can be traced down through the generations.
Both Gabriel’s sons, Henry and John, married and had families can be traced down through the generations.
Henry Croft – born around 1677, died 1760
As eldest son, Henry inherited Higher West End. He married Margaret Moore and they had two daughters, Margaret and Mary. The Croft name ended here in this particular branch of the family, as Henry had no sons; eldest daughter Margaret Croft married John Thompson of Hornby in 1750, and younger daughter Mary Croft married Rev. Thomas Knowles (Rector of Claughton) in 1734.
When Henry Croft died in 1760 (his wife having predeceased him 33 years earlier), he was no longer living at West End, but in Hornby, a few miles away (he is described in his will as "now of Hornby in the parish of Melling").
As eldest son, Henry inherited Higher West End. He married Margaret Moore and they had two daughters, Margaret and Mary. The Croft name ended here in this particular branch of the family, as Henry had no sons; eldest daughter Margaret Croft married John Thompson of Hornby in 1750, and younger daughter Mary Croft married Rev. Thomas Knowles (Rector of Claughton) in 1734.
When Henry Croft died in 1760 (his wife having predeceased him 33 years earlier), he was no longer living at West End, but in Hornby, a few miles away (he is described in his will as "now of Hornby in the parish of Melling").
He still owned Higher West End, however, as he is described as "of Higher West End" in the burial record, and also bequeathed it in his will. The will states that “I give and demise unto my daughter Margaret, now wife of Mr John Thompson of Hornby, and also unto the said John Thompson, all my freehold and fee farm messuages tenements and lands situate and being at West End or in the parish of Claughton”. He goes on to say that after the death of both of them, then all the property should go to “my grandson, Henry Knowles, and to his heirs...”
So Higher West End passed in this way to Henry Knowles (who never lived there as far as I can tell – he married Elizabeth Talbot in London in 1773, and died there in 1802) and after his death to his eldest daughter Mary Knowles, who married Samuel Sandford Still in 1795.
From Samuel and Mary Still, the property passed to their eldest daughter, Emma Frances Still, who married James Barton Nottage, Surgeon of Liverpool in 1838.
The name of Nottage still remains at Claughton West End – there is a house on the road running through Claughton called Nottage House, and the crag at the top of the hill where West End Farm originally stood is now called Nottage Crag (still called Westend Crag on the 1845 OS map).
So Higher West End passed in this way to Henry Knowles (who never lived there as far as I can tell – he married Elizabeth Talbot in London in 1773, and died there in 1802) and after his death to his eldest daughter Mary Knowles, who married Samuel Sandford Still in 1795.
From Samuel and Mary Still, the property passed to their eldest daughter, Emma Frances Still, who married James Barton Nottage, Surgeon of Liverpool in 1838.
The name of Nottage still remains at Claughton West End – there is a house on the road running through Claughton called Nottage House, and the crag at the top of the hill where West End Farm originally stood is now called Nottage Crag (still called Westend Crag on the 1845 OS map).
Despite the Croft name dying out in Henry’s line, it endured in the line of Gabriel Croft’s younger son, John.
John Croft – born around 1690, died 1728.
John married first to Jane Park at Tunstall on 2nd December 1721. Sadly Jane died less than two weeks later, buried on 13th December 1721.
John married again on 25th April 1724 to Jane Wildman at Melling. Jane Wildman was actually a distant cousin of John Croft, as she was the eldest daughter of Richard Wildman of Barkin Gate (a farm in Roeburndale, a couple of miles from Claughton) who had married Jane Croft of Claughton.
John and Jane lived at Barkin Gate after their marriage, and had two sons. Their first child, Henry, was baptised 27th November 1724, but died very young and was buried at Claughton on 2nd Feb 1725, aged 9 weeks.
Gabriel Croft, John and Jane’s second child was born in December 1725, baptised at Melling.
John Croft – born around 1690, died 1728.
John married first to Jane Park at Tunstall on 2nd December 1721. Sadly Jane died less than two weeks later, buried on 13th December 1721.
John married again on 25th April 1724 to Jane Wildman at Melling. Jane Wildman was actually a distant cousin of John Croft, as she was the eldest daughter of Richard Wildman of Barkin Gate (a farm in Roeburndale, a couple of miles from Claughton) who had married Jane Croft of Claughton.
John and Jane lived at Barkin Gate after their marriage, and had two sons. Their first child, Henry, was baptised 27th November 1724, but died very young and was buried at Claughton on 2nd Feb 1725, aged 9 weeks.
Gabriel Croft, John and Jane’s second child was born in December 1725, baptised at Melling.
John Croft, Gabriel’s father died in August 1728 when Gabriel would have been less than three years old.
John Croft did not make a will, but the administration documents for his goods make interesting reading. There is an inventory of his goods, and two administration bonds, in which John is described as “of Heversham Hale in Westmorland”. His wife Jane however, who is named as the administrator of his goods, is not described thus, but rather still “of Barkin Gate”, so it seems that the two were no longer living together. In one administration bond Jane is sworn to properly administer all of John’s goods, and in the other bond she is sworn to properly bring up John’s son Gabriel. Both bonds are countersigned by her brother, Edward Wildman.
The inventory of John’s goods, which was carried out by Henry Croft (a cousin) and Edward Wildman, was totalled at £472, a large sum for the time; it seems that John was living very comfortably in Heversham Hale up until his death. I have no evidence showing how John made his money; he had inherited the sum of £70 on his father’s death, so perhaps he had used this wisely in the following thirty years, enabling him to be so well off by the time he had reached his late thirties. This is purely speculation though, it could equally be the case that Jane Wildman was from a wealthy farming family and had brought a good dowry with her when they married.
Jane Croft, Gabriel’s mother did not survive much longer than her late husband, dying the following year in March 1729. This of course left Gabriel orphaned at the age of three.
John Croft did not make a will, but the administration documents for his goods make interesting reading. There is an inventory of his goods, and two administration bonds, in which John is described as “of Heversham Hale in Westmorland”. His wife Jane however, who is named as the administrator of his goods, is not described thus, but rather still “of Barkin Gate”, so it seems that the two were no longer living together. In one administration bond Jane is sworn to properly administer all of John’s goods, and in the other bond she is sworn to properly bring up John’s son Gabriel. Both bonds are countersigned by her brother, Edward Wildman.
The inventory of John’s goods, which was carried out by Henry Croft (a cousin) and Edward Wildman, was totalled at £472, a large sum for the time; it seems that John was living very comfortably in Heversham Hale up until his death. I have no evidence showing how John made his money; he had inherited the sum of £70 on his father’s death, so perhaps he had used this wisely in the following thirty years, enabling him to be so well off by the time he had reached his late thirties. This is purely speculation though, it could equally be the case that Jane Wildman was from a wealthy farming family and had brought a good dowry with her when they married.
Jane Croft, Gabriel’s mother did not survive much longer than her late husband, dying the following year in March 1729. This of course left Gabriel orphaned at the age of three.
The inventory of Jane’s goods and effects made after her death was totalled at £428, quite a similar sum to that of her late husband John when he died the previous year, so we can perhaps assume that the majority of this sum in Jane’s inventory is a result of her inheriting from him! This is borne out by the fact that over £340 in the inventory is money in cash or security, rather than goods.
Regarding her son Gabriel, Jane left her entire personal estate to him in trust. She appointed her father, Richard Wildman and her brother Edward as guardians and trustees for Gabriel until he reached adulthood.
I have found no documentary evidence relating to Gabriel’s childhood, other than an epitaph (which I shall come to later) which states that as a youth he went to Liverpool with the intention that he would become a merchant. This would suggest that Gabriel’s guardians, his grandfather and uncle, were bringing him up well, as merchants in the 18th century were generally highly regarded and wealthy individuals.
Gabriel did not become a merchant, however. For reasons unknown he decided that this was not the life for him, and returned to live in Claughton. As previously discussed, Higher West End had been passed down via Henry Croft to his daughter Margaret and her husband (John Thompson), and from them it had passed to their nephew Henry Knowles. It would seem however, that Henry Knowles had not wished to live at West End, preferring a life in London; his cousin Gabriel leased the property from Henry, and is variously described as “of Upper West End”.
Gabriel never married, preferring the bachelor life, however he did have two children. His first child was Jane Croft, daughter of Dorothy Croft of Farleton (a distant cousin of Gabriel’s). Gabriel and Dorothy appear in the Compert Book of 1753-54 (Compert Books are a record of the Archdeacon's court held before the Archdeaconry's Commissary), where there is a deposition by Robert Armistead, curate at Claughton concerning the penance of Gabriel Croft and Dorothy Croft for fornication, to be carried out at the Sunday service at Claughton church on 2 Sep 1753; there is a subsequent confession by Gabriel Croft that he did not perform his penance as required, when he appeared before Divine Morning Service in front of only 4 people and not "in fullness of the congregation" and so he has to do it again.
Regarding her son Gabriel, Jane left her entire personal estate to him in trust. She appointed her father, Richard Wildman and her brother Edward as guardians and trustees for Gabriel until he reached adulthood.
I have found no documentary evidence relating to Gabriel’s childhood, other than an epitaph (which I shall come to later) which states that as a youth he went to Liverpool with the intention that he would become a merchant. This would suggest that Gabriel’s guardians, his grandfather and uncle, were bringing him up well, as merchants in the 18th century were generally highly regarded and wealthy individuals.
Gabriel did not become a merchant, however. For reasons unknown he decided that this was not the life for him, and returned to live in Claughton. As previously discussed, Higher West End had been passed down via Henry Croft to his daughter Margaret and her husband (John Thompson), and from them it had passed to their nephew Henry Knowles. It would seem however, that Henry Knowles had not wished to live at West End, preferring a life in London; his cousin Gabriel leased the property from Henry, and is variously described as “of Upper West End”.
Gabriel never married, preferring the bachelor life, however he did have two children. His first child was Jane Croft, daughter of Dorothy Croft of Farleton (a distant cousin of Gabriel’s). Gabriel and Dorothy appear in the Compert Book of 1753-54 (Compert Books are a record of the Archdeacon's court held before the Archdeaconry's Commissary), where there is a deposition by Robert Armistead, curate at Claughton concerning the penance of Gabriel Croft and Dorothy Croft for fornication, to be carried out at the Sunday service at Claughton church on 2 Sep 1753; there is a subsequent confession by Gabriel Croft that he did not perform his penance as required, when he appeared before Divine Morning Service in front of only 4 people and not "in fullness of the congregation" and so he has to do it again.
I can find no evidence of Gabriel’s daughter Jane marrying, however she is mentioned in her father’s will in 1795, so definitely survived to adulthood (she would have been 42 years old by then).
Around 1768, Gabriel had another child, this time a son who was named James. I can find no baptism record for this child, and no mention in any document of the name of his mother, which is odd considering the fact that Gabriel owned up readily to being the father of his first illegitimate child, Jane, and was even named as the father in the baptism record. However, there is circumstantial evidence indicating Gabriel’s housekeeper, Isabel Seward, might have been the mother. She is treated quite generously in Gabriel’s will, and I have been told that in her own will she names James Croft as a beneficiary, which would be an odd thing to do if he were merely the son of her ex-employer. (I still need to get the will)
Around 1768, Gabriel had another child, this time a son who was named James. I can find no baptism record for this child, and no mention in any document of the name of his mother, which is odd considering the fact that Gabriel owned up readily to being the father of his first illegitimate child, Jane, and was even named as the father in the baptism record. However, there is circumstantial evidence indicating Gabriel’s housekeeper, Isabel Seward, might have been the mother. She is treated quite generously in Gabriel’s will, and I have been told that in her own will she names James Croft as a beneficiary, which would be an odd thing to do if he were merely the son of her ex-employer. (I still need to get the will)
Gabriel Croft died in July 1795.
On his grave in Claughton churchyard is an epitaph in Latin, which translated reads:
Gabriel Croft of West End who in his youth was carried to Liverpool to pursue a life as a merchant.
Remarkably learned in the Greek and Latin languages, having a desire more for books than for wealth, he quickly returned to spend his life in rural leisure with Homer Virgil and Horace, and was himself a blessed farmer and poet.
“Blessed is he who is far from business, just as the ancient race of men, works his families fields with his oxen. Or in a secluded valley watches over his wandering herds of cattle, or stored thick honey in clean vessels, or shears his tender sheep”
He lived splendidly, particularly on his own, and died unmarried on 6th July 1795, Age 71
Gabriel left a very comprehensive will, running to three pages in all. In his will, “Gabriel Croft, Gentleman”, makes the following bequests (I have quoted only the relevant parts here):
To my much respected friend and kinsman Thomas Wildman Esquire, one Gold Mourning Ring....in token and as a memorial of my great regard for him.
As to my termhold estate or other right and interest in the farm at West End held by me in lease under Mr Henry Knowles, together with my farming stock, cattle, sheep, husbandry gear, instruments of husbandry and my household goods and furniture, I do give and bequeath the same to my reputed and adopted son James (usually called James Croft who now lives with me).
All the remainder of my estate and effects whatsoever I do devise and bequeath unto John Dowbiggin of Lancaster Attorney at Law, upon trust. That is to say, as to my freehold, messuages tenements and land at or near a place called Caton Green in the township of Caton with Claughton part whereof are now in my own occupation and the other part whereof are let to Thomas Brown and Thomas Saul, I will, direct and devise the same to be in trust for my said son James Croft.
And as to my messuages, lands and hereditaments in Brookhouse or near thereto in Caton, and as to my messuages, lands and hereditaments within the parish of Bentham and all other my real estate, and as to all my said personal estate not hereintofore particularly disposed of, I do direct that the said John Dowbiggin shall stand possessed therof in trust at such times and in such manner either by publication or private sale shall seem meet to sell and dispose of and convert into money such parts thereof as the said John Dowbiggin shall think fitting, in the first place to pay all my debts and funeral and testamentary expenses and also the several legacies and annuity by this my will given to the several persons hereinafter mentioned.
That is to say, to my reputed daughter Jane, the daughter of “Jane” (should be Dorothy) Croft of Farleton, the sum of one hundred pounds.
Alice, wife of Christopher Skivvons of Hale house – ten guineas
My godson John Whitendale of Mason Gill Barns – five guineas
Elizabeth, wife of Thomas Jackson shoemaker of Sedbergh – five guineas
My goddaughter Ellen Crossfield of West End – five guineas
My godson Richard Dobson – twenty guineas
To Isabel Sewart, my housekeeper, I do direct the said John Dowbiggin to pay yearly by three equal payments, during her natural life the annuity of fifteen pounds.
And as to all and whatsoever shall remain, the said James Croft to have receive and take the rents, income, produce and proceeds thereof during the term of his natural life. And after his decease by sale of such hereditaments as remain unsold to convert the whole of my residual estate into money to pay, divide and distribute the same equally among the children of the said James Croft.
While there is no surviving inventory of Gabriel Croft’s property and effects, it is evident from the will that he died a wealthy man, owning property in Caton Green (where he was living at the end of his life), Brookhouse and Bentham, as well as holding the tenancy of Higher West End (which he held from his cousin Henry Knowles who, as previously mentioned lived in London).
His son, James Croft, inherited the tenancy of Higher West End, along with the majority of his other property. James would have been around 27 when his father died, and at this time he was still unmarried. Now a reasonably wealthy farmer, presumably farming at Higher West End, James married Jane Crosfield (daughter of Thomas and Alice Crosfield of Claughton) in March 1796.
Gabriel Croft of West End who in his youth was carried to Liverpool to pursue a life as a merchant.
Remarkably learned in the Greek and Latin languages, having a desire more for books than for wealth, he quickly returned to spend his life in rural leisure with Homer Virgil and Horace, and was himself a blessed farmer and poet.
“Blessed is he who is far from business, just as the ancient race of men, works his families fields with his oxen. Or in a secluded valley watches over his wandering herds of cattle, or stored thick honey in clean vessels, or shears his tender sheep”
He lived splendidly, particularly on his own, and died unmarried on 6th July 1795, Age 71
Gabriel left a very comprehensive will, running to three pages in all. In his will, “Gabriel Croft, Gentleman”, makes the following bequests (I have quoted only the relevant parts here):
To my much respected friend and kinsman Thomas Wildman Esquire, one Gold Mourning Ring....in token and as a memorial of my great regard for him.
As to my termhold estate or other right and interest in the farm at West End held by me in lease under Mr Henry Knowles, together with my farming stock, cattle, sheep, husbandry gear, instruments of husbandry and my household goods and furniture, I do give and bequeath the same to my reputed and adopted son James (usually called James Croft who now lives with me).
All the remainder of my estate and effects whatsoever I do devise and bequeath unto John Dowbiggin of Lancaster Attorney at Law, upon trust. That is to say, as to my freehold, messuages tenements and land at or near a place called Caton Green in the township of Caton with Claughton part whereof are now in my own occupation and the other part whereof are let to Thomas Brown and Thomas Saul, I will, direct and devise the same to be in trust for my said son James Croft.
And as to my messuages, lands and hereditaments in Brookhouse or near thereto in Caton, and as to my messuages, lands and hereditaments within the parish of Bentham and all other my real estate, and as to all my said personal estate not hereintofore particularly disposed of, I do direct that the said John Dowbiggin shall stand possessed therof in trust at such times and in such manner either by publication or private sale shall seem meet to sell and dispose of and convert into money such parts thereof as the said John Dowbiggin shall think fitting, in the first place to pay all my debts and funeral and testamentary expenses and also the several legacies and annuity by this my will given to the several persons hereinafter mentioned.
That is to say, to my reputed daughter Jane, the daughter of “Jane” (should be Dorothy) Croft of Farleton, the sum of one hundred pounds.
Alice, wife of Christopher Skivvons of Hale house – ten guineas
My godson John Whitendale of Mason Gill Barns – five guineas
Elizabeth, wife of Thomas Jackson shoemaker of Sedbergh – five guineas
My goddaughter Ellen Crossfield of West End – five guineas
My godson Richard Dobson – twenty guineas
To Isabel Sewart, my housekeeper, I do direct the said John Dowbiggin to pay yearly by three equal payments, during her natural life the annuity of fifteen pounds.
And as to all and whatsoever shall remain, the said James Croft to have receive and take the rents, income, produce and proceeds thereof during the term of his natural life. And after his decease by sale of such hereditaments as remain unsold to convert the whole of my residual estate into money to pay, divide and distribute the same equally among the children of the said James Croft.
While there is no surviving inventory of Gabriel Croft’s property and effects, it is evident from the will that he died a wealthy man, owning property in Caton Green (where he was living at the end of his life), Brookhouse and Bentham, as well as holding the tenancy of Higher West End (which he held from his cousin Henry Knowles who, as previously mentioned lived in London).
His son, James Croft, inherited the tenancy of Higher West End, along with the majority of his other property. James would have been around 27 when his father died, and at this time he was still unmarried. Now a reasonably wealthy farmer, presumably farming at Higher West End, James married Jane Crosfield (daughter of Thomas and Alice Crosfield of Claughton) in March 1796.
James and Jane had nine children, five boys and four girls, (born between 1796 and 1812). Their first child, a son they named Henry died as an infant in November 1796, but when their second child was born a year later in November 1797, they named him Henry as well. Two of James and Jane’s daughters also died as infants, but the rest of their children seem to have survived to adulthood. Their first six children, up to 1807, were all baptised at Claughton, and on two of the baptism records James and Jane are identified as “of Higher West End”. However, their last two children, born in 1810 and 1812, were baptised at Caton. This indicates that sometime between 1807 and 1810 they had moved from Higher West End to Caton. This is borne out by the fact that when their eldest son married in 1817 he is described in the marriage register as “of Caton”, and the same is true on the marriage of one of their younger sons in 1825. The census returns from 1841 onwards show one of James and Jane’s sons still in Caton, living and farming in Caton Green. This makes sense as it was here that Gabriel Croft had property which he bequeathed to his son James in 1795, and was where he himself (Gabriel) was living at the time of his death. The following map shows the location of Caton Green and its proximity to Claughton and West End.
James’s wife Jane died in 1822, at the age of about 56, but James lived another 21 years, dying in 1843 at the age of 74 (according to his gravestone in Claughton churchyard, where both he and Jane are buried).
James did not die in Claughton or Caton however, but in Barbon in Westmorland. In the 1841 census he is living there with his youngest daughter, Margaret (age 27, unmarried). He is described as “of Independent Means” indicating that he was relatively wealthy. Unfortunately there does not seem to be a will left by James (at least not one that has survived), so we cannot know how much money or property he left, and to whom. It was usual for the eldest son (or daughter) to inherit the majority of any wealth in those days, and looking at the differing fortunes of James’ children in adulthood, that does seem to be the case here.
Regarding James and Jane’s two daughters who survived to adulthood, as previously mentioned Margaret was still unmarried in 1841, living with her father. I have not been able to find any record of her fate after this. Her sister Jane, born in 1807, also survived beyond infancy, marrying William Gerrard in Lancaster in 1831. The 1851 census finds her in Lancaster, widowed (William Gerrard died 1847), and a Grocer by trade, with three daughters, Jane, Margaret and Milicent.
James and Jane’s four boys, in order of birth, were Henry, John, Thomas and William; I shall discuss them here in order from youngest to eldest.
James and Jane’s four boys, in order of birth, were Henry, John, Thomas and William; I shall discuss them here in order from youngest to eldest.
Youngest son William Croft, born in 1803, married Elizabeth (I cannot find the marriage, so her surname is unknown to me). They are in Preston in the 1841 census with William working as a carter. Ten years later in the 1851 census they are still in Preston; William described as “Labourer” at this point. As far as I can tell they had no children. William died in Preston in 1853, and Elizabeth died in 1864.
Thomas Croft, James and Jane’s third son, was born in 1801. He married Bella Metcalf in Lancaster in 1823, and they remained in Caton Green where they had six children. Thomas is described as “Farmer” on the baptisms of his first four children (1825 to 1830), but as “Labourer” on the baptisms of his last two (1833 and 1838). He is also an “Agricultural Labourer” in both the 1841 and 1851 censuses. Thomas died in 1852, but his wife Bella lived until 1876, ending up as a shopkeeper in Morecambe.
Thomas and Bella had six children, four boys and two girls. Eldest daughter Alice is in the 1841 census as a 10 year old, but I cannot find her in the records after this. Youngest daughter Mary married Robert Graham in 1861. She was living in Morecambe at the time, and they moved up to barrow in Furness where they settled and had a family. In the 1871 census, Robert Graham is a steamship fireman, while Mary is described as “Dressmaker”.
Of Thomas and Bella’s four sons, James (the youngest) died at the age of 20.
Richard and Edward, the two middle sons, both lived well into adulthood. Richard married in 1865 at the age of 38, (his bride, Alice Sumner was already a widow, age 41), but they had no children, and by 1881 Richard was living in Barrow, a widow, with his sister Mary and her family. Edward spent his life working as an agricultural labourer, moving from farm to farm, and ended up in the Workhouse in Farleton (a few miles from where he was born in Caton). He never married, and died in 1905.
Gabriel, Thomas and Bella’s eldest son, led a very individual life. In the 1841 census, at the age of 15, he is still living with his family in Caton Green, but ten years later in the 1851 census he is found living at the Greyhound Inn in Claughton, described as a “Cadger”. By the age of 35, in 1861, he was variously in the Caton Workhouse as well as living rough in the area. Another decade later, he is found in the 1871 census in Farleton, described as a “Cattle Drover”, and sleeping rough in the barn of one of the farms. Gabriel never married, living a vagrant lifestyle, and died in November 1878. He seems to have been a well known and respected figure in the area, as his death was extensively reported in the Lancaster Gazette the following week.
Thomas Croft, James and Jane’s third son, was born in 1801. He married Bella Metcalf in Lancaster in 1823, and they remained in Caton Green where they had six children. Thomas is described as “Farmer” on the baptisms of his first four children (1825 to 1830), but as “Labourer” on the baptisms of his last two (1833 and 1838). He is also an “Agricultural Labourer” in both the 1841 and 1851 censuses. Thomas died in 1852, but his wife Bella lived until 1876, ending up as a shopkeeper in Morecambe.
Thomas and Bella had six children, four boys and two girls. Eldest daughter Alice is in the 1841 census as a 10 year old, but I cannot find her in the records after this. Youngest daughter Mary married Robert Graham in 1861. She was living in Morecambe at the time, and they moved up to barrow in Furness where they settled and had a family. In the 1871 census, Robert Graham is a steamship fireman, while Mary is described as “Dressmaker”.
Of Thomas and Bella’s four sons, James (the youngest) died at the age of 20.
Richard and Edward, the two middle sons, both lived well into adulthood. Richard married in 1865 at the age of 38, (his bride, Alice Sumner was already a widow, age 41), but they had no children, and by 1881 Richard was living in Barrow, a widow, with his sister Mary and her family. Edward spent his life working as an agricultural labourer, moving from farm to farm, and ended up in the Workhouse in Farleton (a few miles from where he was born in Caton). He never married, and died in 1905.
Gabriel, Thomas and Bella’s eldest son, led a very individual life. In the 1841 census, at the age of 15, he is still living with his family in Caton Green, but ten years later in the 1851 census he is found living at the Greyhound Inn in Claughton, described as a “Cadger”. By the age of 35, in 1861, he was variously in the Caton Workhouse as well as living rough in the area. Another decade later, he is found in the 1871 census in Farleton, described as a “Cattle Drover”, and sleeping rough in the barn of one of the farms. Gabriel never married, living a vagrant lifestyle, and died in November 1878. He seems to have been a well known and respected figure in the area, as his death was extensively reported in the Lancaster Gazette the following week.
Sad to say, the idea of a stone to the memory of “Old Gab” seems not to have been taken up, however the following article appeared in the Lancaster Gazette the following April (1879).
John Croft, James and Jane’s second son, was born in April 1799, and has a rather unfortunate history.
In 1815, at the age of 16, John was bound to a solicitor in Lancaster named John Dowbiggin for five years as a trainee Clerk. The following year, this apprenticeship was transferred to another solicitor, Robert Hadwen, for the remaining four years. So John was on the path to become an Attorney or Solicitor on completion of his five year training, however something seems to have gone badly wrong at some point. Whether John actually completed his training and became a solicitor is unknown, but in the 1841 census he is in Lancaster Prison. This, of course is over twenty years after he would have completed his law training, and John’s life could have taken its downward turn at any time during this period. Ten years later in the 1851 census he is in the workhouse at Caton, described as an Agricultural Labourer, and also married, but I have found no record of the marriage so the identity of his wife is unknown. In the 1861 census John is still in Caton, a “Farm Worker”, and still married, though still not with his wife. John died in 1864.
So, as we can see, James Croft’s younger children certainly did not benefit from any wealth he may have bequeathed when he died in 1843. However, his eldest son Henry led a noticeably different life from his siblings, and through his line the family can be traced to the present day.
In 1815, at the age of 16, John was bound to a solicitor in Lancaster named John Dowbiggin for five years as a trainee Clerk. The following year, this apprenticeship was transferred to another solicitor, Robert Hadwen, for the remaining four years. So John was on the path to become an Attorney or Solicitor on completion of his five year training, however something seems to have gone badly wrong at some point. Whether John actually completed his training and became a solicitor is unknown, but in the 1841 census he is in Lancaster Prison. This, of course is over twenty years after he would have completed his law training, and John’s life could have taken its downward turn at any time during this period. Ten years later in the 1851 census he is in the workhouse at Caton, described as an Agricultural Labourer, and also married, but I have found no record of the marriage so the identity of his wife is unknown. In the 1861 census John is still in Caton, a “Farm Worker”, and still married, though still not with his wife. John died in 1864.
So, as we can see, James Croft’s younger children certainly did not benefit from any wealth he may have bequeathed when he died in 1843. However, his eldest son Henry led a noticeably different life from his siblings, and through his line the family can be traced to the present day.
Henry Croft, James and Jane’s eldest son, was born in 1797, and married Mary Scott in Lancaster on 29th December 1817. He is described as a Husbandman (farmer), of Caton, on the marriage register.
Henry and Mary had three children; Alice (born 1819), Betsey (born 1821) and James (born 1823). All three were baptised at Caton, and Henry is described as “Yeoman” in the registers. This implies that Henry owned the property he was farming (as opposed to a Husbandman who was generally a tenant farmer). This is a little confusing, as only two years earlier he had called himself Husbandman in the marriage register. His father James was still alive at this time, so he hadn’t inherited yet, so why the change?
In the 1841 census Henry and Mary have moved to Halton Green, a few miles away, and Henry is a “Gamekeeper”. His son, James is also in Halton Green working as an agricultural labourer. When James married three years later, in 1844, his father Henry is still described as “Gamekeeper”, so it seems he held this occupation for some years.
Ten years later, in the 1851 census, Henry and Mary are back in Caton. This time Henry is described as “Land Owner”. This does seem like very changeable fortunes for Henry over the years, but it must be remembered that his father James Croft had died in 1843, and it is quite possible that Henry had inherited wealth at this point. This is reinforced by the fact that his daughter Alice married in this year, a few weeks after the census was taken, and in the marriage register her father is actually described as “Gentleman”; perhaps a little poetic licence could take “Landowner” to “Gentleman.”
Mary, Henry’s wife, died in 1859, and the 1861 census finds Henry living alone in Caton, a “Landed Proprietor”. Henry remarried in 1862 to Agnes Shaw. The marriage took place in West Derby, a suburb of Liverpool, where it seems Henry was living at the time. On the marriage register Henry again describes himself as “Gentleman”, and states that his father was James Croft, also “Gentleman”.
The residence in Liverpool may have been temporary, as in the 1871 census Henry and Agnes are found back in Caton, living at Rose Cottage, and Henry is again described as “Land Owner”.
Henry Croft died in 1878. Whether or not he ever truly attained the status of Gentleman, he certainly lived a comfortable life, and was certainly considerably wealthier than any of his siblings during his lifetime. Henry left a will, the index to which describes him as “Yeoman” of Rose Cottage, Caton. His personal estate was valued at under £20, so whatever wealth Henry had, it would appear he had very little left by the time of his death. Henry’s widow, Agnes remained living in Caton and died in 1888. Interestingly, Henry is buried in Claughton churchyard, alongside his first wife Mary, while Agnes was buried at Caton. I assume Henry must have specified his wish to be buried there in his will.
Henry and Mary had three children; Alice (born 1819), Betsey (born 1821) and James (born 1823). All three were baptised at Caton, and Henry is described as “Yeoman” in the registers. This implies that Henry owned the property he was farming (as opposed to a Husbandman who was generally a tenant farmer). This is a little confusing, as only two years earlier he had called himself Husbandman in the marriage register. His father James was still alive at this time, so he hadn’t inherited yet, so why the change?
In the 1841 census Henry and Mary have moved to Halton Green, a few miles away, and Henry is a “Gamekeeper”. His son, James is also in Halton Green working as an agricultural labourer. When James married three years later, in 1844, his father Henry is still described as “Gamekeeper”, so it seems he held this occupation for some years.
Ten years later, in the 1851 census, Henry and Mary are back in Caton. This time Henry is described as “Land Owner”. This does seem like very changeable fortunes for Henry over the years, but it must be remembered that his father James Croft had died in 1843, and it is quite possible that Henry had inherited wealth at this point. This is reinforced by the fact that his daughter Alice married in this year, a few weeks after the census was taken, and in the marriage register her father is actually described as “Gentleman”; perhaps a little poetic licence could take “Landowner” to “Gentleman.”
Mary, Henry’s wife, died in 1859, and the 1861 census finds Henry living alone in Caton, a “Landed Proprietor”. Henry remarried in 1862 to Agnes Shaw. The marriage took place in West Derby, a suburb of Liverpool, where it seems Henry was living at the time. On the marriage register Henry again describes himself as “Gentleman”, and states that his father was James Croft, also “Gentleman”.
The residence in Liverpool may have been temporary, as in the 1871 census Henry and Agnes are found back in Caton, living at Rose Cottage, and Henry is again described as “Land Owner”.
Henry Croft died in 1878. Whether or not he ever truly attained the status of Gentleman, he certainly lived a comfortable life, and was certainly considerably wealthier than any of his siblings during his lifetime. Henry left a will, the index to which describes him as “Yeoman” of Rose Cottage, Caton. His personal estate was valued at under £20, so whatever wealth Henry had, it would appear he had very little left by the time of his death. Henry’s widow, Agnes remained living in Caton and died in 1888. Interestingly, Henry is buried in Claughton churchyard, alongside his first wife Mary, while Agnes was buried at Caton. I assume Henry must have specified his wish to be buried there in his will.
Moving on to Henry’s three children:
Alice (born 1819) was working as a house servant in Everton, Liverpool in the 1841 census, and by the 1851 census was a nurse at Lancaster Hospital. She married Thomas Gardner, an innkeeper from Preston, in April of the same year, and Alice and her husband moved to Liverpool where they settled and had a family, Alice unfortunately dying in 1866 at the age of 46.
Henry and Mary’s youngest daughter, Betsy (born 1821), married John Newhouse, a husbandman, in 1836 in Halton when Betsy was still only 15 years old, and continued in the area farming and raising a family.
Henry and Mary’s son James Croft (born 1823) was living in the household of Laurence Bradley, farmer, in the 1841 census (a few doors away from his parents in Halton Green). He was age 17, working as an agricultural labourer. Also in the same household were Alice Bradley (similar age to Laurence), as well as Elizabeth Bradley and her brother William and his wife. Laurence Bradley was not the father of either Elizabeth or William, as their parents were William and Elizabeth Bradley (shown on their marriages); Laurence and Alice Bradley were actually their uncle and aunt (brother and sister of William Bradley, all born in Quernmore).
James Croft married Elizabeth Bradley on 1st June 1844 in Halton. A couple of interesting points here; at the time of their marriage James would have been 21 years old, while Elizabeth Bradley was 35. While this is not totally unusual, perhaps their marriage was at least partly due to the fact they had just had a child together. As already mentioned, they had known each other for some time, living in the same household for several years, and Elizabeth became pregnant and had a son. He was baptised Lawrence Croft Bradley on 9th June 1844 at Halton church, a week after the marriage, but in the baptism records it states that Lawrence is the son of Elizabeth Bradley, Single Woman. Either the date on the marriage is incorrect, or the priest insisted on recording the baptism details as they were when the child was born (which was presumably before the marriage).
James and Elizabeth had five children, two in Halton and then three more in Caton.
The 1851 census shows James and his family back in Caton Green, with James a farmer of 19 acres of land. Also living with them is Alice Bradley, Elizabeth’s aunt; Lawrance Bradley had died in 1850.
Ten years later, in the 1861 census, James and his family are still in Caton Green, at Greenbank Farm. He is now a farmer of 100 acres.
James and Elizabeth remained in Caton Green their rest of their lives. Elizabeth died in 1886, after which James took a step back from farming; in the 1891 census he is still at Greenbank Farm, but his eldest son Lawrence is now the head of the household, and James is described as “Retired Farmer”.
James died in June 1900, aged 77. The probate of his will valued his effects at £2308.
James’s children were:
Lawrence born 1844
Henry born 1846
Mary Alice born 1849
William born 1852
James born 1855
Alice (born 1819) was working as a house servant in Everton, Liverpool in the 1841 census, and by the 1851 census was a nurse at Lancaster Hospital. She married Thomas Gardner, an innkeeper from Preston, in April of the same year, and Alice and her husband moved to Liverpool where they settled and had a family, Alice unfortunately dying in 1866 at the age of 46.
Henry and Mary’s youngest daughter, Betsy (born 1821), married John Newhouse, a husbandman, in 1836 in Halton when Betsy was still only 15 years old, and continued in the area farming and raising a family.
Henry and Mary’s son James Croft (born 1823) was living in the household of Laurence Bradley, farmer, in the 1841 census (a few doors away from his parents in Halton Green). He was age 17, working as an agricultural labourer. Also in the same household were Alice Bradley (similar age to Laurence), as well as Elizabeth Bradley and her brother William and his wife. Laurence Bradley was not the father of either Elizabeth or William, as their parents were William and Elizabeth Bradley (shown on their marriages); Laurence and Alice Bradley were actually their uncle and aunt (brother and sister of William Bradley, all born in Quernmore).
James Croft married Elizabeth Bradley on 1st June 1844 in Halton. A couple of interesting points here; at the time of their marriage James would have been 21 years old, while Elizabeth Bradley was 35. While this is not totally unusual, perhaps their marriage was at least partly due to the fact they had just had a child together. As already mentioned, they had known each other for some time, living in the same household for several years, and Elizabeth became pregnant and had a son. He was baptised Lawrence Croft Bradley on 9th June 1844 at Halton church, a week after the marriage, but in the baptism records it states that Lawrence is the son of Elizabeth Bradley, Single Woman. Either the date on the marriage is incorrect, or the priest insisted on recording the baptism details as they were when the child was born (which was presumably before the marriage).
James and Elizabeth had five children, two in Halton and then three more in Caton.
The 1851 census shows James and his family back in Caton Green, with James a farmer of 19 acres of land. Also living with them is Alice Bradley, Elizabeth’s aunt; Lawrance Bradley had died in 1850.
Ten years later, in the 1861 census, James and his family are still in Caton Green, at Greenbank Farm. He is now a farmer of 100 acres.
James and Elizabeth remained in Caton Green their rest of their lives. Elizabeth died in 1886, after which James took a step back from farming; in the 1891 census he is still at Greenbank Farm, but his eldest son Lawrence is now the head of the household, and James is described as “Retired Farmer”.
James died in June 1900, aged 77. The probate of his will valued his effects at £2308.
James’s children were:
Lawrence born 1844
Henry born 1846
Mary Alice born 1849
William born 1852
James born 1855
Mary Alice Croft, only daughter of James and Elizabeth, was born in 1849 in Caton Green. She married James Jackson (the sub post master in Caton) in 1879. They had two daughters, but in the 1901 census Mary Alice is no longer living with James. She is still living in Caton, with her youngest daughter, and is the head of her own household. She is described as “Living on Own Means”. Her husband James is still in Caton, still the sub post master, and has their eldest daughter living with him. Mary Alice died in 1909 aged 60.
James Croft, youngest son of James and Elizabeth, was born in 1854 in Caton Green. He married Margaret (Maggie) Fleming in Kirkby Lonsdale in 1879. In the 1881 census James, though married, is at Caton Green Farm with his parents (and brother’s family). His wife Margaret meanwhile is at her parents’ house in Kirkby Lonsdale, along with their 2 month old baby, Adam.
In 1882 at the time of their second child’s birth (a daughter, Mary Ann) James and Margaret were living in Torrisholme near Lancaster, and James was a Gamekeeper. This was also the case for their next two children’s births in 1884 and 1886 (two more daughters, Margaret, and Elizabeth Bradley).
The 1891 census finds Margaret Croft (James’ wife) back with her parents in Kirkby Lonsdale together with her three daughters (Adam, their son, is in Lancaster living with his aunt and uncle at this time). James Croft is yet again to be found back at Greenbank Farm in Caton with his brothers and family, now working as an agricultural labourer.
James and Margaret had another daughter the following year in 1892 (so perhaps their separations were purely for the sake of work).
The 1901 census tells the same story again – James is in Caton Green at the family farm, now working as a “Horseman”. With him is his youngest daughter Alice, aged 8. His wife Margaret is nowhere to be found in this census!
The 1911 census finds James and Margaret together with eldest daughter Polly (Mary Ann) and two younger daughters living in Bentham, just over the county border in Yorkshire. James is now employed as a “Chip Shop Dealer”. His son Adam was also in Bentham at this time, working for a coal dealer, and boarding in the household of the Coates family. Although unmarried, Adam has a young girl with him there, Rose Croft aged 4, so it seems that he has a daughter. There is no sign of the mother though.
James Croft died in 1930, aged 75.
In 1882 at the time of their second child’s birth (a daughter, Mary Ann) James and Margaret were living in Torrisholme near Lancaster, and James was a Gamekeeper. This was also the case for their next two children’s births in 1884 and 1886 (two more daughters, Margaret, and Elizabeth Bradley).
The 1891 census finds Margaret Croft (James’ wife) back with her parents in Kirkby Lonsdale together with her three daughters (Adam, their son, is in Lancaster living with his aunt and uncle at this time). James Croft is yet again to be found back at Greenbank Farm in Caton with his brothers and family, now working as an agricultural labourer.
James and Margaret had another daughter the following year in 1892 (so perhaps their separations were purely for the sake of work).
The 1901 census tells the same story again – James is in Caton Green at the family farm, now working as a “Horseman”. With him is his youngest daughter Alice, aged 8. His wife Margaret is nowhere to be found in this census!
The 1911 census finds James and Margaret together with eldest daughter Polly (Mary Ann) and two younger daughters living in Bentham, just over the county border in Yorkshire. James is now employed as a “Chip Shop Dealer”. His son Adam was also in Bentham at this time, working for a coal dealer, and boarding in the household of the Coates family. Although unmarried, Adam has a young girl with him there, Rose Croft aged 4, so it seems that he has a daughter. There is no sign of the mother though.
James Croft died in 1930, aged 75.
William Croft, James and Elizabeth’s third son, was born in 1852 in Caton Green. In 1871, at the age of 19, William was living in Everton, Liverpool, working as a “Cow Keeper”. His sister Mary Alice was also living there at the time. This area of Liverpool does seem to have some connection with the family, as it has cropped up a couple of times before; Alice Croft, William’s Aunt was living in Everton in the 1841 census, working as a house servant, and Henry Croft, William’s grandfather, had married his second wife Agnes Shaw in West Derby in 1862, a couple of miles from Everton.
In 1876 he married Elizabeth Ann MacDougall. Although the marriage was in Caton, Elizabeth was from Liverpool, so perhaps they had met during the time William was living there.
William and Elizabeth’s first two children were both born in Caton; on the baptism of the first child, a son named Lawrence in January 1877, they are living in Caton Green (presumably at the family farm) and William is a farm bailiff. The details on the baptism of the second child, a daughter named Mary Annie in October 1878 show that they were still in Caton, with William working as a labourer.
By the time of the 1881 census William and Elizabeth are living in Torrisholme, near Lancaster. Their daughter Mary Annie had died only a few weeks old, but as well as their son Lawrence they now have a son James who had been born in 1879 in Torrisholme. William’s occupation is given as “Gamekeeper.” This of course is the same as his brother James, who had also moved to Torrisholme in 1882 and found employment as a gamekeeper. Perhaps William and his brother worked together at this time.
By 1891 William and his family had moved on and were living in Burrow near Kirkby Lonsdale. William is still a gamekeeper, and they are living in the Gamekeepers Cottage in Over Burrow. Their family has expanded to seven children.
Another decade later in 1901, William is no longer a gamekeeper, but is farming at Higher West End in Claughton! Bearing in mind that it was his great grandfather James Croft who had last lived and farmed there almost a century before, I wonder if William had any idea about the family connection with the place.
William continued farming at West End for the rest of his life, and died in 1927, aged 75. His wife Elizabeth lived another 13 years, dying in 1940.
In 1876 he married Elizabeth Ann MacDougall. Although the marriage was in Caton, Elizabeth was from Liverpool, so perhaps they had met during the time William was living there.
William and Elizabeth’s first two children were both born in Caton; on the baptism of the first child, a son named Lawrence in January 1877, they are living in Caton Green (presumably at the family farm) and William is a farm bailiff. The details on the baptism of the second child, a daughter named Mary Annie in October 1878 show that they were still in Caton, with William working as a labourer.
By the time of the 1881 census William and Elizabeth are living in Torrisholme, near Lancaster. Their daughter Mary Annie had died only a few weeks old, but as well as their son Lawrence they now have a son James who had been born in 1879 in Torrisholme. William’s occupation is given as “Gamekeeper.” This of course is the same as his brother James, who had also moved to Torrisholme in 1882 and found employment as a gamekeeper. Perhaps William and his brother worked together at this time.
By 1891 William and his family had moved on and were living in Burrow near Kirkby Lonsdale. William is still a gamekeeper, and they are living in the Gamekeepers Cottage in Over Burrow. Their family has expanded to seven children.
Another decade later in 1901, William is no longer a gamekeeper, but is farming at Higher West End in Claughton! Bearing in mind that it was his great grandfather James Croft who had last lived and farmed there almost a century before, I wonder if William had any idea about the family connection with the place.
William continued farming at West End for the rest of his life, and died in 1927, aged 75. His wife Elizabeth lived another 13 years, dying in 1940.
William and Elizabeth’s children, in summary, were:
Lawrence born 1876 in Caton. Married Mary Ann Bush in 1901 and moved to Woolley in West Yorkshire where he was a carpenter. He died in 1966.
Mary Annie born 1878 in Caton (died same year)
James born 1879 in Torrisholme. I cannot trace him in his adult life.
Henry born 1881 in Torrisholme. He became a tailor, never married, and died in 1914.
Lavinia born 1883 in Burrow. Married John Hodgson in Lancaster in 1914, and died in Wray in 1918, shortly after the birth of her second child.
William born 1885 in Burrow. I cannot trace him in his adult life.
Arthur Bradley born 1887 in Burrow. Married Kathleen Hodgson in 1915 (the sister of John Hodgson who Lavinia had married in 1914). He continued to farm at
West End, and died in 1953, aged 66.
Elizabeth Mabel born 1889 in Burrow. I cannot trace her in her adult life.
Ruth born 1894 in Burrow. She never married, and was living in Morecambe with her mother at the time of the 1939 census; she died in 1966 aged 71.
Mary Annie born 1878 in Caton (died same year)
James born 1879 in Torrisholme. I cannot trace him in his adult life.
Henry born 1881 in Torrisholme. He became a tailor, never married, and died in 1914.
Lavinia born 1883 in Burrow. Married John Hodgson in Lancaster in 1914, and died in Wray in 1918, shortly after the birth of her second child.
William born 1885 in Burrow. I cannot trace him in his adult life.
Arthur Bradley born 1887 in Burrow. Married Kathleen Hodgson in 1915 (the sister of John Hodgson who Lavinia had married in 1914). He continued to farm at
West End, and died in 1953, aged 66.
Elizabeth Mabel born 1889 in Burrow. I cannot trace her in her adult life.
Ruth born 1894 in Burrow. She never married, and was living in Morecambe with her mother at the time of the 1939 census; she died in 1966 aged 71.
Henry Croft, James and Elizabeth’s second son, was born in 1846 in Halton. He married Mary Ann Preston in 1869. The marriage took place in Everton, Liverpool, and Henry’s occupation is given as “Cow Keeper”. This is the same as his brother William of course, who was also living in Everton at this time, working as a Cow Keeper. Their sister Mary Alice, who was also living with William in Everton at the time, is a witness to Henry’s marriage.
Henry and Mary Ann’s first child, a son named James, was born in Everton in October 1870, and in the 1871 census they are still living there.
Their second child, another son, this time named Joseph Preston, was born in Everton in July 1873. He was actually baptised in Caton in August 1873, but in the register Henry and Mary Ann’s residence is still given as Liverpool, so perhaps they were visiting Henry’s parents at the farm in Caton Green, and decided to have Joseph baptised while they were there. Henry and his family did move back to Caton Green at some point in the 1870’s, but unfortunately Henry’s wife Mary Ann died in July 1877 in tragic circumstances. The incident was reported in the Lancaster Gazette.
Henry and Mary Ann’s first child, a son named James, was born in Everton in October 1870, and in the 1871 census they are still living there.
Their second child, another son, this time named Joseph Preston, was born in Everton in July 1873. He was actually baptised in Caton in August 1873, but in the register Henry and Mary Ann’s residence is still given as Liverpool, so perhaps they were visiting Henry’s parents at the farm in Caton Green, and decided to have Joseph baptised while they were there. Henry and his family did move back to Caton Green at some point in the 1870’s, but unfortunately Henry’s wife Mary Ann died in July 1877 in tragic circumstances. The incident was reported in the Lancaster Gazette.
Following the terrible death of his wife, Henry never remarried. In the 1881 census he is boarding with a family in Bleasedale, about 13 miles south of Caton Green, working as a gamekeeper; his two sons, aged 11 and 7, are in Caton Green at the family farm with their grandparents. Ten years later in the 1891 census Henry himself is back living at the farm in Caton Green; his occupation is given as Agricultural Labourer. Henry died in 1898 aged 52.
Henry’s younger son, Joseph Preston, became a Draper, married Edith Reid (in Norbury, Derbyshire) and had a son Alan. Joseph died in Sheffield in 1959.
Henry’s eldest son James worked as a post office clerk in Lancaster as an adult. He married Matilda Grace Moore, the daughter of the post mistress in Halton, in 1899, and they had a daughter Ellen in 1903. Sadly Matilda died in 1909, leaving James to bring up his daughter alone. James remarried in 1915, to Clara Elizabeth Meek, but had no more children. He died in 1956.
Moving on to Lawrence Croft, James and Elizabeth’s eldest son, born in Halton in 1844. Lawrence married Alice Brockbank on 25th May 1880 in Levens, Westmorland (where Alice was from). Lawrence had been brought up living on the farm in Caton Green, and he carried on living there with Alice after they married. By 1891 Lawrence was running the farm; as well as his wife and five children, also living there were his father James, now retired, and Henry and James his two brothers. This was still the case ten years later when the 1901 census was taken, and in 1911 everyone is still there except Lawrence’s eldest daughter.
Lawrence died in 1920, aged 76, and Alice died in 1926, aged 80.
Lawrence’s children, all born in Caton Green, were:
Elizabeth Alice born 1881 - I cannot trace her after the 1901 census, aged 19
James born 1883 - Married Martha Wilson in 1921 (Lancaster), and had a daughter Constance in 1923. James continued to farm at Greenbank Farm in
Caton Green, and died in 1958.
Mary Hannah born 1885 - Married Thomas Thompson in 1916, had a daughter Agnes in 1922, and continued to live in Caton. Mary died in 1956.
William born 1887 - Married Emma Richmond in 1919 in Barnsley and had four children, Alice, Mary, Isabel and Lawrence. William farmed at Marybank
farm in Caton Green, and died in 1973.
Bessie born 1890 - Married Tom Richardson in 1920, and had two children Mary and Gerald. They moved to Silverdale, north of Lancaster, where Tom
was a dairy farmer at Gibralter Farm.
Lawrence died in 1920, aged 76, and Alice died in 1926, aged 80.
Lawrence’s children, all born in Caton Green, were:
Elizabeth Alice born 1881 - I cannot trace her after the 1901 census, aged 19
James born 1883 - Married Martha Wilson in 1921 (Lancaster), and had a daughter Constance in 1923. James continued to farm at Greenbank Farm in
Caton Green, and died in 1958.
Mary Hannah born 1885 - Married Thomas Thompson in 1916, had a daughter Agnes in 1922, and continued to live in Caton. Mary died in 1956.
William born 1887 - Married Emma Richmond in 1919 in Barnsley and had four children, Alice, Mary, Isabel and Lawrence. William farmed at Marybank
farm in Caton Green, and died in 1973.
Bessie born 1890 - Married Tom Richardson in 1920, and had two children Mary and Gerald. They moved to Silverdale, north of Lancaster, where Tom
was a dairy farmer at Gibralter Farm.