William Crouch (1827 - 1888)

Born Aug 1827 in Catsfield, Sussex, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Husband of Caroline (Lambert) Crouch — married 9 Mar 1847 in Maitland, New South Wales, Australia

Descendants

Died 28 Apr 1888 at age 60 in Maitland, Colony of New South Wales

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Linda Hinchcliffe [send private message]

Biography

William CROUCH, son of Henry CROUCH and Sarah SMITH, was born in August 1827 in Catsfield, Sussex, England, United Kingdom, was christened on 20 January 1828 in Catsfield, Sussex, England, United Kingdom, died on 28 April 1888 in Bourke Street, Maitland, Colony of New South Wales at age 60, and was buried on 29 April 1888 in Methodist Section, East Maitland Cemetery, Colony of New South Wales.

William married Caroline LAMBERT, daughter of Levi LAMBERT and Jane TESTER, on 9 March 1847 in Wesleyan Church, Bolwarra, Colony of New South Wales.

Caroline was born about 1830 in Crowhurst/Hollington, Sussex, England, United Kingdom, died on 10 November 1918 in Maitland, New South Wales, Australia about age 88, and was buried on 12 November 1918 in Methodist Section, East Maitland Cemetery, New South Wales, Australia. The cause of her death was from senile decay and gallstones.

They had ten children: Jane, James, William, Miriam/Mariann, Ann, Elizabeth, Emily Matilda, Martha, and Albert Earnest.

Noted events in his life were:

• Immigration ~ 8 February 1840 ~ William immigrated to Sydney, Colony of N.S.W. aboard the "James Pattison", with his parents and some siblings. Others on board were the family of Levi and Jane Lambert. He married Caroline, from this family, in 1847. He took up land at the breakup of Bolwarra Estate in the 1860s.

Sources

Source: AGER Web Site

MyHeritage.com family tree

Family site: AGER Web Site

Family tree: 3757251-1

• Marriage - New South Wales births, deaths & marriages.
• Death - New South Wales births, deaths & marriages.
• Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 23 April 2021), memorial page for William Crouch (Aug 1828–28 Apr 1888), Find a Grave Memorial ID 48629266, citing East Maitland Cemetery, Maitland, Maitland City, New South Wales, Australia ; Maintained by Linda Hinchcliffe (contributor 49229532) https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/48629266/william-crouch

See also:

• "The Methodist Weekly Advocate", 19th April 1888
  OBITUARY--. Mr William Crouch. The late Mr William Crouch was born in Sussex, England, in August 1826. His parents were members of the Methodist Society, and as one of the household he was cradled in good religious influence. Early in life he came to Australia, the whole of his career as a colonist of 47 years standing being spent at Bolwarra on the Hunter River. In those days the land that is now a scene of smiling luxurience, and dotted with farms, was a dense jungle-like scrub, the clearing of which gave no small amount of trouble to the pioneer farmers. It was in those early days of settlement that Mr Crouch became identified with the progress of the district, and his death therefore, snaps one of the links which links the past with the present. In those early days the Methodist Church sent its first representitive in the person of Rev. Jonathan Innes, whose circuit extended from the seaboard to as far north as the population invited the labours of the preacher.
  During Mr Innes' superintendency, Mr Crouch was converted in a cottage prayer meeting at Bolwarra, under the prayer of his mother-in-law, Mrs Lambert. He joined the Society, and met in class, but in an evil hour, he fell away for a time, until a bout of sickness induced reflection and a determination to return like the prodigal to the Father's home and love. In some special services which were held in the old Bolwarra Church, by Mr Barmen, now of the Clarence, Mr Crouch surrendered himself afresh to God, and made a new start in the good old way. In his subsequent religious experience, he had ups and downs, and had occasion,as the best of us have, for self reproach on account of unfaithfulness. He was a strict observer of the Sabbath, and avoided everything that tended to degrade the Sabbath to the level of ordinary work days. He was a man of one book, and dearly loved the Bible. He was good natured and jocular in his ways, having a smile and a pleasant word for everyone. The little children, whom he loved, will miss him much. His liberality was well known and his purse was ever open, to every deserving cause religious or otherwise. No one knew better how to keep his left hand in ignorance of what his right hand did in the cause of charity, than our late friend, Mr Crouch. For many years he was a great sufferer, which made him look older than he was. On the occasion of the last attack of illness, which ended in his death, he had a presentiment that his days were numbered. When his old friend, Mr Charles Bowden, died some few months before, He said " I will not be long in following him", and when another neighbour was called away, he said "I shall soon meet her in Heaven". He had no desire to recover, but desired to depart and be with Christ. A little before the end came, he grasped the hand of his son-in-law and said "Glory be to God!, I am going home!". He often said to his minister "It is only just across the river". A little before the time came he tried to sing:" All hail the power of Jesus name, Let angels prostrate fall, Bring forth the Royal diadem, And Crown Him Lord of all." On the morning of the 28th April, death came and ended his terrible sufferings, and the spirit of William Crouch just went across the river, for Heaven is not far away to God's children, and with the blood-washed throng, cast his crown before the Master, lost in wonder, love and praise, singing what his poor strengh would not allow him to do here- "Crown Him Lord of All". The funeral was largely attended, and at the grave, Rev. M. Maddern gave an appropriate address. The memorial service in Bolwarra Church was crowded when a sermon was preached from Psalm 42. It was indeed a time of weeping, and the Spirit of God was sensibly present to bless.