References to "Chilockford" and "Ockford" in Census reports (see below) suggest he was born in what is now generally called Child Okeford (about 6 miles north-west of Blandford Forum), Dorset, probably about 1816. But in 2012 a descendant said he was born in Tarrant Keyneston (about 4 miles south-east of Blandford) on the 3rd of October 1813.
1841 Census
Charles Crane (who would have been about 25 years old in 1841) was in India when this Census was taken, so naturally there is no direct information about him here. However, an Emanuel Crane, Agricultural Labourer, and a Theodora Crane, both 30 (no relationship shown, but possibly brother and sister), were living in "The Barracks", Child Okeford. They may have been related to Charles Crane — perhaps she was his elder sister — since he called his first-born daughter Theodora, a relatively uncommon name even at this time (see below).
A short way along the street, two other families named Crane could also possibly be relatives. His parents may have been the Agricultural Labourer Samuel Crane, 60, and Betty Crane, 67. Charles called his first-born son Samuel.
Also living nearby are a John and Mary Crane, and their young children (including a 3-year-old Charles and 5-year-old Emanuel). John, aged 30, (Theodora's twin?) is also listed as an Agricultural Labourer. [PB]
Enlisted at Salisbury on the 20th of September 1835.
Age: 19.
Height: 5' 9".
Trade: Labourer.
Appearance: Fair complexion. Hazel eyes. Sandy hair.
[PB: It is interesting to note that Charles Crane enlisted in the 4th Light Dragoons the year after farm labourers in nearby Tolpuddle (the "Tolpuddle Martyrs") were arrested, found guilty and transported to Australia for joining together in a "Friendly Society". They had sworn an (illegal) oath that they would refuse to work for less than 10 shillings a week — at a time when the absence of alternative local employment (Dorset was far from major cities or centres of industrial production) meant that wages in agriculture had descended to little more than six shillings a week.]
[PB: According to Wendy Leahy, Charles and Susan embarked for India aboard the "Grenelle" on the 16th of March 1839, and disembarked 10th of July 1839. Judging by ages given in later Censuses, Susan would have been about 19 and Charles about 23 years at this time.>
Their first-born child, Henrietta Grenelle Crane (notice her middle name, subsequently sometimes mispelled in official documents), was born on board ship 3rd of May 1839, and baptised 8th of September 1839 in Kirkee, India.
A second daughter, Eliza, was born and baptised in Kirkee on the 23rd of September 1841, and died on the 29th September 1841.
[Source: http://shadowsoftime.co.nz/4ths/dragoonc/crane1.html (accessed 11.11.2013).]
Returned from India aboard the "Repulse" on the 27th of March 1842, having left Bombay on the 28th of December 1841.
[PB: Wendy Leahy gives slightly different dates for the Repulse — embarked Bombay 6th of November 1841, disembarked Gravesend, 28th of March 1842. Another source gives embarkation 12th November 1841, and the comment "14 deaths (12 men, one soldier's wife and one child), and one birth (4H)". CHECK.]
Marriage registered
Charles Crane married Susan Ashdown [sic: but this name is from GRO records and not the actual marriage certificate], June Quarter 1842, Hollingbourne [near Maidstone, Kent].
[PB: This date is slightly puzzling, because it appears to be shortly after the couple's return from India (when the regiment were in barracks in Canterbury, not far from to Susan's birthplace) by which time they had a child, Henrietta. Were they not actually married when they set out for India, or did they have a second ceremony?]
At Varna on the 20th of September 1854.
Sent to Scutari on the 26th of October.
He rejoined on the 24th of November but was sent back to Scutari on the 27th of December 1854.
Transferred to the 5th Lancers on the 1st of April 1858. Regimental No. 290.
Discharged from Newbridge on the 29th of November 1859: "Own request, to pension after 24 years' service".
Served 24 years 292 days.
In Turkey and the Crimea: 1 year 10 months.
India: 2 years 5 months.
Aged 43 years on discharge.
Conduct and character: "very good". In possession of five Good Conduct badges.
He was never entered in the Regimental Defaulter's book. Never tried by Court-martial. Granted a pension of 1/1d. per day.
The muster roll for the period shows him as "On service in Scinde". From this he could well have been entitled to the medal for Ghuznee.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Balaclava, Inkerman and Sebastopol.
Documents confirm the award of the Crimean medal with four clasps (the medal roll does not credit him with Alma), the Turkish Medal and the Long Service & Good Conduct medal.
Awarded the Long Service & Good Conduct medal on the 9th of July 1855, with a gratuity of £5.
Remained a civilian groom to Captain Robert Portal, 5th Lancers, then at Newbridge.
Entitled to the medal for Ghuznee.
His name was included in the 1877 list of members of the Balaclava Commemoration Society, but not in the 1879 revised list.
[PB: But surely he had died in 1872?]
1861 Census
East Cavalry Barracks, Aldershot.
Charles Crane's name is immediately below those of Lieut-Col Robert Portal, now commanding the 5th Lancers, and his wife.
Charles Crane, Groom, 45, born Chilockford, Dorsetshire.
S[usan]. Crane, wife, Laundress, 41 [sic], born Hollingband [? — presumably Hollingbourne, near Maidstone], Kent.
Five children shown [initials only given]:
S[amuel]. Crane, Unmarried, 17, Son of Groom, born Ipswich, Suffolk.
H[enry]. Crane, Unmarried, 11, Son of Groom, Scholar, born Dublin, Ireland.
T. Crane [sic? Presumably Theodora = Dora], Unmarried, 9, Daughter of Groom, Scholar, born Ipswich, Suffolk.
C. Crane, Unmarried, Son of Groom, 7, born Dorset.
F[rancis]. Crane [sic?], Unmarried, Son of Groom, 2, Infant, born Newbridge, Ireland. [CP/PB]
1861 Census
Surrey, Aldershot, 5th R. I. Lancers and East Cavalry Barracks.
Lieut-Col Robert Portal, 41, Lieut-Col 5th Lancers, born Whitchurch, Hants.
Mrs Eliza C.S. Portal, Wife, 34, Lady, born St John's Wood, London.
Notice the name of Robert Portal's Groom Charles Crane (formerly 747 Charles Crane, 4th Light Dragoons) and his family immediately below.
Charles Crane, Groom, Married, 45, Groom, Chilockford, Dorsetshire
S[usan] Crane, Wife of Groom, Married, 41, Laundress, Hollingband, Kent
S[amuel] Crane, Son of Groom, Unmarried, 17, Groom, Ipswich Suffolk
H[enry] Crane, Son of Groom, Unmarried, 11, Scholar, Dublin Ireland
T. Crane [sic? Presumably Theodora = Dora. Or is it "F."?] Crane, Daughter of Groom, Unmarried, 9, Scholar, Ipswich Suffolk
C. Crane, Son of Groom, Unmarried, 7, Scholar, Dorset, Dorset
F[rancis] Crane, Son of Groom, Unmarried, 2, Infant, Newbridge, Ireland
H. Phipps, Visitor to Groom, Unmarried, 12, Scholar, Aldershot, Hants
C. King, Servant to Colonel, Unmarried, 42, Cook, Sanford, Devon
Mrs Sharpe, Servant to Colonel, Unmarried, 34, Lady's Maid, St Mary, Wilts
J. Mason, Servant to Colonel, Unmarried, 18, Housemaid, Hursley, Hants
E. Enderson, Servant to Colonel, Unmarried, 19, Footman, Bridestowe, Derry
Mrs. Louisa Trotter, Visitor with Colonel, Widow, 54, Lady, Madras, India
Miss Louisa Trotter, Visitor with Colonel, Unmarried, 24, Lady, Edinburgh, Scotland
Miss Mary Trotter, Visitor with Colonel, Unmarried, 20, Lady, Edinburgh, Scotland
H[enrietta] Crane, Servant to Visitors, Unmarried, 23, Lady's Maid, On Board `The Grenelle'
[PB: The last-named, Henrietta, must be Charles and Susan Crane's child, born en route to India, who seems now to be a servant to the Portals' guests, the Trotter family. Notice the widowed Louisa Trotter was herself born in India.
In 1868 Charles Crane was working with his son Samuel as a Coachman, but was running a pub in 1871.
1871 Census
Windmill Tap [next to the Windmill Hotel], Farnham Royal.
[Actually in Salt Hill, Slough, near Salt Hill Park.]
Charles Crane, 54 [sic], Licensed Victualler, born Dorset, "Ockford".
Susan Crane, 54 [sic], born Hollingbourne.
Three children are shown:
Francis, 12, Scholar, born Ireland.
Dora, 18, born Suffolk, Ipswich.
Henry 21, Servant, born Ireland, Dublin.
Death Registered
Charles Crane, aged 57, December Quarter 1872, Eton.
In the 1870s some of the family appear to have moved north to the Birkenhead area, where Susan has remarried but is widowed again.
Marriages registered
Theodora Crane married Andrew Thompson, December Quarter 1876, Birkenhead.
Henry Crane married Ruth Waters, September Quarter 1879, Swansea.
1881 Census
4, Oxton Road, Birkenhead.
Susan Evans [wife], 66, widow, mother-in-law, born Hollingbourne.
One child shown: her son Francis Crane, 21, Railway Clerk, born Ireland.
__________
Feniscowles, Livesey, Blackburn, Lancs.
Andrew Thompson, 33, Gardener.
Theodora [daughter], 28, born Ipswich.
Three children shown: James 3, Emily 2, and Thomas 8 months.
__________
School House, Swansea.
Henry Crane [son], 31, Butler and Domestic Servant, born Ireland.
Ruth Crane, 23, born Glamorgan.
One child shown: Henry 7 months.
With many thanks to a descendant of Charles Crane who alerted the EJBA to new and corrected "Life after service" information.
A number of registrations of deaths and marriages, and Census information for 1861, 1871 & 1881, kindly provided by Chris Poole.
In November 2013, the EJBA was contacted by New Zealand-based Wendy Leahy, whose remarkable website (Shadows of Time) includes detailed information about the 4th Light Dragoons in the nineteenth century. It was she who alerted us to Charles and Susan Crane's two children, Henrietta and Eliza, born en route to or in India. We are very grateful to her for bringing this to our attention.
[PB, 3.2.2016: By 2016, Wendy Leahy had added considerably to her account.]
SURNAME:
Crane
FORENAMES:
Charles
BORN:
Dorchester
OCCUPATION[S]:
Labourer
ENLISTED:
21 01 1835 Salisbury
ATTESTED:
04 02 1835
RANK:
1835: Private
1839: Private
1841: Private
1855: Private
1858: Private
MEDALS:
List dated 07 01 1855:
Crimea:
Inkerman, B. At Varna 20 Sept
EMBARKATIONS:
16 03 1839 Glenelg England
06 11 1841 Repulse Bombay India
DISEMBARKATIONS:
10 07 1839 Glenelg India
28 03 1842 Repulse Gravesend England
TRANSFERRED TO:
5th Lancers 01 04 1858
1st WIFE:
Susan
1st CHILD:
Henrietta [Glenelg] Crane
BORN:
03 05 1839 on the Glenelg en route to India
BAPTISED:
08 09 1839 Kirkee India
MARRIED:
Henrietta Glenell Crane, 4Q/1886 Birkenhead to Edward Burrow Wildman
DIED:
Henrietta G. Wildman, 2Q/1919 Birkenhead, aged 79
NOTES:
Daughter of Charles Crane Private 4LD and Susan
2nd CHILD:
Eliza Crane
BORN:
23 09 1841 Kirkee India
BAPTISED:
23 09 1841 Kirkee India
DIED:
29 09 1841 Kirkee India
1861 CENSUS:
Reference: RG9/431.
Surrey, Aldershot, 5th R. I. Lancers and East Cavalry Barracks
Lieut. Col. Robert Portal, Married, 41, Lieut. Colonel 5th Lancers, Whitchurch, Hants
Mrs Eliza C S Portal, Wife, Married, 34, Lady, St. John's Wood, London
Charles Crane, Groom, Married, 45, Groom, Chilockford, Dorsetshire
S. Crane, Wife of Groom, Married, 41, Laundress, Hollingband, Kent
S. Crane, Son of Groom, Unmarried, 17, Groom, Ipswich Suffolk
H. Crane, Son of Groom, Unmarried, 11, Scholar, Dublin Ireland
F. Crane, Daughter of Groom, Unmarried, 9, Scholar, Ipswich Suffolk
C. Crane, Son of Groom, Unmarried, 7, Scholar, Dorset, Dorset
F. Crane, Son of Groom, Unmarried, 2, Infant, Newbridge, Ireland
H. Phipps, Visitor to Groom, Unmarried, 12, Scholar, Aldershot, Hants
C. King, Servant to Colonel, Unmarried, 42, Cook, Sanford, Devon
Mrs. Sharpe, Servant to Colonel, Unmarried, 34, Lady's Maid, St Mary, Wilts
J. Mason, Servant to Colonel, Unmarried, 18, Housemaid, Hursley, Hants
E. Enderson, Servant to Colonel, Unmarried, 19, Footman, Bridestowe, Derry
Mrs. Louisa Trotter, Visitor with Colonel, Widow, 54, Lady, Madras, India
Miss Louisa Trotter, Visitor with Colonel, Unmarried, 24, Lady, Edinburgh, Scotland
Miss Mary Trotter, Visitor with Colonel, Unmarried, 20, Lady, Edinburgh, Scotland
H. Crane, Servant to Visitors, Unmarried, 23, Lady's Maid, On Board `The Grenelle'
1871 CENSUS:
Reference: RG10/1402, Buckinghamshire, Farnham Royal, Burnham, District 7, Schedule 43
Windmill Tap
Charles Crane, Head, Mar, 54, Licensed Victualler, Dorset, Ockford
Susan Crane, Wife, Mar, 54, Kent, Hollingbourne
Francis Crane, Son, 12, Scholar, Ireland
Dora Crane, Daughter, Unmarried, 18, Suffolk Ipswich
Henry Crane, Son, Unmarried, 21, Servant, Ireland, Dublin
1871 CENSUS:
Reference:
685/60/16
St Georges District, St Cuthbert Edinburgh, Midlothian
11 Melville Street, St Cuthbert Edinburgh
Louisa Trotter, Head, Wid, 63, Annuitant, Madras India
Mary Trotter, Dau, Unm, 30, Amslie PS Midlothian
Henrietta Crane, Servant, Unm, 31, 1840, Ladysmaid, At Sea
Other servants
1881 CENSUS:
Reference:
RG11/3580
Cheshire, Birkenhead, District 27
Schedule 330
4 Oxton Road
Thomas Evans, Head, Married, 37, Draper, Flintshire, Re[fshillt]
Emily A Evans, Wife, Married, 34, Lancashire [W. Chichr]
Thomas G Evans, Son, 8, Scholar, Denbighsh., Wrexham
Edward [S.C.] Evans, Son, 4, Cheshire, Bhead.
Susan L Evans, Mother in Law, W, 66, Kent, Hollingbourne
Francis Crane, Brother in Law, Unm, 21, Railway Clerk, Ireland
Margaret Lynch, Serv, Unm, 18, Domestic Serv., Lancashire Lpool.
1881 CENSUS:
Reference:
RG11/51
London, St Mary Abbott Kensington, District 27
Schedule 108
52 Cornwall Gardens
Duncan McLaren, Head, Married, 81, Independent Means D.L. Magistrate, Scotland
Priscilla McLaren, Wife, Married, 65, Scotland
Henrietta Crane, Servant, Unmarried, 41, Ladysmaid Domestic Servant, India British Subject
Others
1881 CENSUS:
Reference:
RG11/1257
Hampshire, Church Oakley, District 8
Schedule 4
Malshanger Stables
Samuel Crane, Head, Married, 36, Coachman, Suffolk, Ipswich
Marina A Crane, Wife, Married, 44, Coachman's Wife [crossed out], Devonsh. Ashburton
Charles H Crane, Son, 12, Scholar, Hants, Church Oakley
Samuel H Crane, Son, 10, Scholar, Middlesex, Paddington
Marina A Crane, Dau, 1, Hants, Church Oakley
Emily E Crane, Dau, 4 mths, Hants, Church Oakley
Caroline Malow, Serv, 13, General Dom Servant, Hants, Everton
John Lewis, Lodger, Unm, 19, Groom, Hants, Hurstborne Priors
Lloyd Eckett, Lodger, Unm, 17, Groom, Hants, East Oakley
1901 CENSUS:
Reference:
RG13/3395
Cheshire, Birkenhead, Tranmere, District 5
Schedule 93
20 Frodsham Street
Edward B Wildman, Head, M, 70, Bookseller, Own Ac, Giggleswick Yorks
Henrietta G Wildman, Wife, M, 61, On board Ship Glennell, BS
1911 CENSUS:
Reference: Cheshire, Birkenhead, Tranmere, District 5, Schedule 224
54 Frodsham St, Higher Tranmere
Edward Burrow Wildman, Head, 79, Married for 24 Years, 7 Children, 3 Alive, 4 Deceased, Bookseller, On my A/c, Parish of Giggleswick, County of York
Henrietta Glannel Wildman, Wife, 72, Married for 24 Years, Housewife, Born on board ship Glannall or Glanell at sea on the way to India
TNA SOURCES:
WO/12/644
WO/12/648-649
WO/12/651
WO/12/663
WO/180/24
BL SOURCES:
IOR/N/3/14-15
[Source: http://shadowsoftime.co.nz/4ths/dragoonc/crane1.html (accessed 3.2.2016).]