Frank Crawford (1859 - 1938)

Born 16 Jan 1859 in Wainfleet All Saints, Lincolnshire, England

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah Ann (Stainfield) Crawford — married 16 May 1878 in Boston, Lincolnshire, England

Husband of Martha Louisa (Stainfield) Crawford — married 1902 in Boston, Lincolnshire, England

Descendants

Died 25 Apr 1938 at age 79 in Boston, Lincolnshire, England

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Frank Crawford was born in England.

Genealogically Defined

Biography

Frank Crawford was born January 16, 1859 at Wainfleet All Saints, Lincolnshire, England. He was the son of David Crawford and Susan Davy.^[1]

Frank was the youngest son, and third child of four in the family. His older brothers were George and Fred. His younger sibling was sister, Susan.^[2]

Frank's mother, Susan, died in 1863 when he was only four years old.^[3] A few years later in 1866, his father, David was remarried to a woman named Betsey Taylor.

On May 16, 1878, Frank was married to Sarah Ann Stainfield at St. Leodegar Church, the parish church at Wyberton, Lincolnshire. Both Frank and Sarah signed their names in the register. Witnesses to the marriage ceremony were John Pearl, who made his mark, and Sarah Hilton, who made her mark.^[4] Nine months later, almost to the day, Frank and Sarah's first child, a girl, was born on February 21, 1879. They named her Fanny.^[5]

Frank started working at about age 13 years as an agricultural labourer.^[6] At the time of his marriage to Sarah, he was employed as a general labourer.^[4] This was the lowest class of worker in Victorian England. It seems Frank may have had a hard time finding and keeping steady employment. The Crawford family moved frequently. This was likely due to Frank's employment situation.

In 1881, Frank, Sarah and daughter, Fanny were living at No. 11, Kings Court, Boston. Frank was a labourer.^[7] Three years later, in 1884, their second daughter, Martha Louisa was born.^[8] Frank and Sarah only had two children. This was likely due to Sarah's poor health. Sarah suffered from phthisis, more commonly called consumption at that time - what is known today as tuberculosis. Cramped living conditions, inadequate nutrition and poor air quality from living in the industrialized city of Boston probably contributed to Sarah's failing health. Fanny most likely cared for her sick mother, and younger sister, Martha, while Frank worked as a coal merchants labourer. Just before Christmas on December 16, 1890, Sarah finally succumbed to the disease that was wasting away her body. She died at the age of 34 years from phthisis pneumonalis and exhaustion .^[9]

By the following spring, March, 1891, Frank and his daughters had moved to No. 43 Norfolk Place in Boston. At the time of the 1891 census, it seems that Frank was not at home to complete it. The information provided was not accurate, and daughter Martha was erroneously enumerated as 'Bertha.'^[8] Who was going to help Frank take care of his household and his daughters? The most likely person was Sarah's unmarried sister, Martha Louisa Stainfield.

By 1901, Frank seemed to have settled down and taken life more seriously. He was gainfully employed as a railway worker, and had moved to No. 5, Irby Place in Boston. His daughters, Fanny and Martha were not living in his household. However, Martha Louisa Stainfield was.^[10] She was enumerated as Frank's housekeeper. The Marriage Act of 1836 made it illegal at that time for Frank to marry his wife's sister.

Nonetheless, Frank and Martha decided to marry anyway in 1902, five years before the Deceased Wife's Sister's Marriage Act 1907. The couple were married July 27, 1902 at St. Botoloph's Church in Boston, Lincolnshire. Both Frank and Martha signed the marriage register. Witnesses at the wedding were James Pease [signed], and Frank's daughter, Martha Louisa Crawford [signed]^[11]

In 1911, Frank and Martha were still living at No. 5, Irby Place, Boston. Frank was employed as a railway watchman. It seems he had continued to hold this position for over ten years, and was a member of the National Union of Railwaymen in 1913. ^[12]

In the winter of 1938, Frank's second wife, Martha died at the age of 78 years.^[13] Shortly thereafter, Frank was admitted to the Boston Union workhouse. It was there that Frank died of heart disease at age 79 years on April 25, 1938.^[14][15]He was buried by friends on April 28, 1938.^[15][16]

Children

1. Fanny Crawford^[17]
2. Martha Louisa Crawford^[8]

Timeline of Events for Frank Crawford

• January 16, 1859: Born in Wainfleet All Saints, Lincolnshire, England.^[1]
• 1860: Birth of sister, Susan Crawford.
• April 7, 1861: Frank Crawford, age 2 years, was living in the household of his parents, David and Susan at Mouse Lane, Wainfleet St. Mary, Lincolnshire, England. ^[2]
• 1863: Death of mother, Susan Crawford.
• 1866: Marriage of his father, David to Betsey Taylor.
• 1870: Birth of half sister, Annie Elizabeth.
• April 2, 1871: Frank Crawford, age 13 years, was residing in the household of his father, David, and his stepmother, Betsey along with his brother, Fred; his stepbrother, Thomas, and his half-sister, Annie Elizabeth, at Thoresway Rectory, Thoresway, Lincolnshire.^[6]
• May 16, 1878: Married to Sarah Ann Stainfield at Wyberton, Lincolnshire.^[4]
• February 21, 1879: Birth of daughter, Fanny. Frank and family resided at No. 6, Kings Court, Boston. He worked as a groom.^[5]
• April 6, 1881: Frank Crawford, age 24, labourer, was living at 11 Kings Court, Boston, Lincolnshire with his wife, Sarah, and their daughter, Fanny.^[7]
• 1884: Birth of daughter, Martha Louisa.^[8]
• December 16, 1890: When his wife, Sarah died, the family was living at No. 43, Norfolk Place, Boston, and Frank was working as a coal merchants labourer.^[9]
• April 5, 1891: Frank Crawford, age 39, was a widower, and working as a general labourer. He and his two daughters, Fanny and Bertha [sic][Martha] were living at 43 Norfolk Place, Boston, Lincolnshire.^[8]
• 1899: Frank was a witness at the marriage ceremony of his daughter, Fanny to Herbert Lake. At that time, Frank resided at No. 5, Irby Place, Boston, and worked as a groom.^[18]
• March 31, 1901: Frank Crawford, age 44 years, was working as a Railway labourer. He was living at No. 5, Irby Place, Boston. In his household was Martha Stainford [sic], his housekeeper.^[10]
• 1902: Marriage to Martha Louisa Stainfield.
• 1907: Daughter, Martha emigrated to Canada.
• April 2, 1911: Frank, age 52, and Martha, age 52, were living at No. 5, Irby Place, Boston. Frank was employed as a railway watchman.^[19]
• 1913: Member of National Union of Railwaymen^[12]
• June 1926: Daughter, Fanny and her family emigrate to Canada.
• March 1938: In the first quarter of the year, Frank's wife, Martha died at age 78 years.^[13]
• April 25, 1938: Frank died, age 79 years, at the Boston Union Workhouse.
• April 28, 1938: Frank was buried at Boston Cemetery.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} England, birth certificate for Frank Crawford, 1859; citing 7a/509/163, Spilsby registration district, Wainfleet all Saints subdistrict; General Registry Office, Southport.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} “1861 England, Wales & Scotland Census,” database, Find My Past (www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 30 Jun 2016), entry for Frank Crawford (age 2), Mouse Lane, Wainfleet St. Mary, Lincolnshire, England ; citing England, Surrey, Kew: The National Archives, PRO RG 9/2373, folio 109, p. 17, Spilsby registration district, Wainfleet All Saints subdistrict, ED 8, schedule 87. Image available at Find My Past.
3. ↑ "Lincolnshire Burials," digital images. Find My Past (www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 17 Jul 2017), entry for Susan Crawford, 1863, England, Lincolnshire, Friskney; citing England, Lincolnshire, Lincolnshire Archives, Lincolnshire Burials, Friskney, 1863, p. 176, No. 1404. Image available at Find My Past.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2} England, marriage certificate for Frank Crawford and Sarah Ann Stainfield, 1878; citing 7a/745/170, Boston registration district, Wyberton subdistrict; General Registry Office, Southport.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} England, birth certificate for Fanny Crawford, 1879; citing 7a/452/11, Boston registration district and subdistrict; General Registry Office, Southport.
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} “1871 England, Wales & Scotland Census,” database, Find My Past (www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 17 July 2017), entry for Frank Crawford (age 13), Thoresway Rectory, Thoresway, Lincolnshire, England ; citing England, Surrey, Kew: The National Archives, PRO RG 10/3422, folio 84, p. 4, Caistor registration district and subdistrict, ED 22, schedule 19. Image available at Find My Past.
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} “1881 England, Wales & Scotland Census,” database, Find My Past (www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 18 Jul 2017), entry for Frank Crawford (age 24), Kings Court, Boston, Lincolnshire, England ; citing England, Surrey, Kew: The National Archives, PRO RG 11/3218, folio 131, p. 15, Boston registration district, ED 16, schedule 76. Image available at Find My Past.
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4} “1891 England, Wales & Scotland Census,” database, Find My Past (www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 18 Jul 2017), entry for Frank Crawford (age 39), Norfolk Place, Boston, Lincolnshire, England ; citing England, Surrey, Kew: The National Archives, PRO RG 12/2573, folio 126, p. 21, Boston registration district, ED 8, schedule 136. Image available at Find My Past.
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} England, death certificate for Sarah Crawford, 1890; citing 7a/272/446, Boston registration district, Boston subdistrict; General Registry Office, Southport.
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1} “1901 England, Wales & Scotland Census,” database, Find My Past (www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 18 Jul 2017), entry for Frank Crawford (age 44), Irby Place, Boston, Lincolnshire, England; citing England, Surrey, Kew: The National Archives, PRO RG 13/3046, 112, p. 21, Boston registration district and subdistrict, ED 16, schedule 130. Image available at Find My Past.
11. ↑ "Lincolnshire Marriages," digital images. Find My Past (www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 19 Jul 2017), entry for Frank Crawford and Martha Louisa Stainfield, 1902, England, Lincolnshire, Boston; citing England, Lincolnshire, Lincolnshire Archives, Lincolnshire Marriages, Boston, 1902, p. 41, No. 81. Image available at Find My Past.
12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1} "Britain, Trade Union membership registers," digital images. Find My Past (www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 20 Jul 2017), entry for Frank Crawford, age 54, Boston, Lincolnshire, England; citing Modern Records Centre, "General Register" Apr-May 1914, p. 287. Image available at [dihttp://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=gbor%2ftradeunions%2fmss127_nu_or_2_28%2f00294&parentid=gbor%2ftradeunions%2f100414044 Find My Past].
13. ↑ ^{13.0 13.1} "England & Wales, FreeBMD Index: 1837-1983," database, FreeBMD (https://www.freebmd.org. : accessed 20 Jul 20170), death entry for Martha L Crawford; citing March [quarter] 1938, Boston, vol. 7a: 504.
14. ↑ "England & Wales, FreeBMD Index: 1837-1983," database, FreeBMD (https://www.freebmd.org. : accessed 20 Jul 20170), death entry for Frank Crawford; citing June [quarter] 1938, Boston, vol. 7a: 423.
15. ↑ ^{15.0 15.1} <"Lincolnshire Workhouse Deaths Transcription," database, Find My Past (www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 20 Jul 2017), entry for Frank Crawford, age 79, Boston, Lincolnshire, England; citing Lincolnshire Family History Society.
16. ↑ Lincolnshire Archives, "Boston Cemetery Register Index, 1900-1990"
17. ↑ England, birth certificate for Fanny Crawford, 1879; citing 7a/452, Boston registration district and subdistrict; General Registry Office, Southport.
18. ↑ England, marriage certificate for Herbert Lake and Fanny Crawford, 1899; citing 7a/541/240, Boston registration district and subdistrict; General Registry Office, Southport.
19. ↑ “1911 England, Wales & Scotland Census,” database, Find My Past (www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 18 Jul 2017), entry for Frank Crawford (age 52), Irby Place, Boston, Lincolnshire, England ; citing England, Surrey, Kew: The National Archives, PRO RG14PN19595 RG78PN1176 RD415 SD3 ED7 SN292. Image available at Find My Past.

Contributors

This profile was created by Kathryn Hogan, April 24, 2014.