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LIVES OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE
The E.J. Boys Archive


Last amended 21.3.12

747, Private Charles Crane — 4th Light Dragoons

Birth & early life

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]

Enlistment

Enlisted at Salisbury on the 20th of September 1835.

Age: 19.

Height: 5' 9".

Trade: Labourer.

Appearance: Fair complexion. Hazel eyes. Sandy hair.


Service

Returned from India aboard the "Repulse" on the 27th of March 1842, having left Bombay on the 28th of December 1841.

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.

Service

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.

Medals & commemorations

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.

Life after service

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'

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 & burial

Death Registered

Charles Crane, aged 57, December Quarter 1872, Eton.

Further information

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.

References & acknowledgements

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.

Notes to follow up

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).]

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