Jeffray Cron (bef. 1751 - 1816)

Born before 6 Dec 1751 in Steilhill, Kirkpatrick-Fleming, Dumfriesshire, Scotland

Ancestors

Husband of Janet (Rome) Cron — married 2 Dec 1771 in Kirkpatrick-Fleming, Dumfriesshire, Scotland

Descendants

Died 18 Sep 1816 after age 64 in Smithfield, Kirkpatrick-Fleming, Dumfriesshire, Scotland

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Biography

Jeffray Crone was born to John Cron and Fanny Carlyle at Steilhill and baptized 29 on 6 Dec 1751 at the Kirkpatrick-Fleming Parish Church. Witnesses were John Hanna and William Halliday. ^[1]

Jeffray’s mother died when he was about 14. Likely older sisters managed the household after their mother’s death.

At about 13 or 14, Jeffray began his 6-7 year apprenticeship to become a blacksmith31, learning the craft from his father. His duties would have included cleaning out the forges; breaking up and hauling in about 2 bushels charcoal for the day; sweeping and picking up the tools and scraps of iron left on the floor from the previous day while the Master and Journeyman were eating breakfast. Then he would have started fires in the forges. As the fire got stronger, he would pump the paired bellows to heat up the forge. As the years went on, he would have learned how to use a hammer, anvil and chisel to shape the heated pieces of wrought iron. The Blacksmith would have hung a badge like this one on the exterior of the building to attract customers.

Jeffray married the nineteen year old Janet Rome on 2 Dec 1771 at the Kirkpatrick-Fleming Parish Church.^[2] Transcription error of husbands name.John Cron and John Rome were witnesses. Jeffray and Jennie had at least eight children including sons John and William who were four years apart. John and William both apprenticed to be blacksmiths with their father.

In 1772, Jeffray and Janet lived in Steilhill where Jeffray’s father lived. In 1780, a baptism entry for one of his children shows him to be “smith in Grahamshill”. Later, he lived in Newton and finally Smithsfield. These places were likely no more than half a mile apart or possibly the same place.

The Rev Mr. Alexander Monilaws describes the parish of Kirkpatrick-Fleming in the 1791-9 Statistical Accounts as having an appearance “which gently rises from the South towards the North by a gradual succession of waving swells, presents at the same time no unpleasing variety and a most striking contrast. In several parts, the lands are in a high state of cultivation , enclosed and sheltered with natural woods and plantations; while here and there large tracts of uncultivated ground, still retaining its original heath, meet the eye….Of woods and plantations, there may be an average 290 or 300 acres…The soil varies exceedingly

…The wretched mode of cultivation, which formerly prevailed all over the country, begins now gradually to disappear and a more extensive and liberal system of agriculture has been adopted. The intelligent farmer is now fully convinced that a well-chosen rotation of crops and regular cessation of tillage, by laying his fields out under grass, are of the outmost importance in husbandry. With a view to render this more general, the chief heritors in this parish have prescribed in lease a particular mode of rotation, which certainly has not been without effect. …the first crop is oats…Barley is sown the 2nd year; the following year is oats; and the 4th year it is in potatoes, turnips and fallow. The 5th year is barley...The crops to which the most attention is paid in this parish, and which indeed liberally reward the toils of the husbandman are oats, barley and potatoes. Of these, oats are the most general and perhaps, upon the whole, the most valuable crop; a very considerable part of peoples food depending on this grain. Yet notwithstanding what is exhausted in this way, and in feeding horses, a large quantity is annually furnished for the market…In the parish, there are:

255 draft horses

15 saddle and carriage horses

105 young horses

621 cows

862 inferior cattle

426 sheep

505 swine

Many of the inhabitants live to an extended age...The number of emigrants exceeds the influx of strangers...Many of the farms being formerly large have, by the respective proprietors, been divided into 2, 3 and some even more; and some farms have also been taken in from moors and commons, which were lately divided. The number of souls in the parish in 1792 was 1542 – males 720, females 822….An average of 40 births a year ; 21 deaths; 15 marriages; and 17 emigrants. Average children from each marriage – 7.

They are kind and hospitable to strangers; benevolent without ostentation; and when the occasion requires, ready to relieve the wretched. Enjoying all of them the necessaries, and many of them, in comfortable degree, the conveniences of life, though ambitious of improving, they see in general contented and happy in their present situation…The average number of scholars has been about 45….The number of poor in this parish is considerable and hath for some years been increasing. This is owing to the advanced age of day-labourers…as well as widows of labouring men. The roll is nearly 30. They are supported chiefly by the weekly Collections made in the church…There are 14 heritors, 7 of whom reside…There are 6 gardens in the parish, which, according to their style and cultivation, yield apples, pears, cherries, plums and the smaller garden-fruits in abundance” (33).

Jeffray died in 18 Sep 1816 at Smithfield in Kirkpatrick-Fleming Churchyard.^[3] His son John Cron (1782-1828) carried on the family smithy at Smithfield.

Research Notes

• The surname is recorded as "Crone" on Margaret's and William's christening documents.
• His first name on his headstone is spelled "Jeffrey". This has been verified by a Find a Grave member.

Sources

1. ↑ "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYM7-ZPK : 12 February 2020), Jeffray Cron, 1751.
2. ↑ "Scotland Marriages, 1561-1910", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XTG9-P6L : 11 February 2020), Janet Rome in entry for Johne Cron, 1771.
3. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images , memorial page for Jeffrey Cron (1753–18 Sep 1816), Find A Grave: Memorial #214107531, citing Kirkpatrick-Fleming Churchyard, Kirkpatrick-Fleming, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland ; Maintained by Ian Aitken-Kemp (contributor 48917789) .

Acknowledgement

• WikiTree profile Cron-10 created through the import of GEDcom file on Oct 23, 2012 by Katharine E.