Richard Crowl (abt. 1802 - 1878)

Born about 1802 in St Stephen in Brannel, Cornwall, England

Husband of Elizabeth (Nicholls) Crowl — married 1 Mar 1828 in St Austell, Cornwall, England

Descendants

Died 1878 at about age 76 in St Breward, Cornwall, England

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Birth and childhood

Richard Crowl was born in St Stephen in Brannel,commonly called St Stephens^[1] probably somewhere between 1802 and 1805. According to the details on the record of his second marriage, his father was John Crowl, a shoemaker, and it seems likely that he was the youngest son of a John Crowl and his wife Jane (nee Truscott) who lived in St Stephen in Brannel around this time. Richard's two eldest children were named Jane and John (see below) which may be another indication that John and Jane Crowl were his parents.

There is no baptismal record for Richard in the records for the Anglican church at St Stephens, although there are records for what are possibly his older siblings. Perhaps he was baptised elsewhere or in one of the non-conformist churches in the area.

At some point Richard moved to the Parish of St Austell, in Cornwall, and may have settled in the village of Trethurgy. He was a stone mason and perhaps there were more quarries in St Austell.

First Marriage and children

Also living in Trethurgy from about before 1811, were the family of Robert and Annas Nicholls, including their daughter Elizabeth, who had been born at Luxulyan about 1804-1806. She and Richard were married 1 March 1828 at the Church of England at St Austell, Cornwall. Witnesses were James Nicholls (probably the bride's brother) and William Cook^[2].

They were to have at least ten children, all of whom survived their infancy.

1. Jane Crowl, probably born at Trethurgy and baptised 3 August 1828 St Austell;^[3]
2. John Crowl, born 1 April 1830 again probably at Trethurgy, baptised 26 December 1831 St Austell;^[4]
3. James Nicholls Crowl, born probably at Canamanning about 1832 and baptised 26 May 1834 at St Austell;^[5]
4. Robert Crowl, born 14 November 1834 probably at Canamanning, baptised 29 May 1836 at St Austell with his younger brother Richard;^[6]
5. Richard Crowl, born probably at Canamanning, baptised 29 May 1836 at St Austell with his elder brother;^[7]
6. William Crowl, born 25 March 1839 probably at Trethurgy, baptised 6 June 1841 at St Austell with his sister Ann;
7. Ann Crowl, baptised 6 June 1841 St Austell, with her brother William;
8. Henry, born about 1842 probably at Trethurgy;
9. Elizabeth, born about 1844 at Trethurgy;
10. Mary, born about 1847 probably at Trethurgy.

Later life

1841 Census

Richard is listed in the 1841 Census^[8] as living at Trethurgy in the Parish of St Austell, Cornwall. His age is given as 30^[9] and his occupation as Mason. Although relationships aren't specified, the others in the household are; his wife Elizabeth, age 30, and their 7 children; Jane, age 13, John, age 12, James, age 8, Robert, age 5, Richard, age 4, Wm, age 2, Ann, age 6 months.

1851 Census

Richard is again living at Trethurgey in the civil Parish of St Austell in the 1851 Census^[10]. His age is given as 46 and his occupation as a Stone Mason, and his birthplace as St Stephens in Bran(nell), Cornwall. The other occupants of the household are; his wife Elizabeth, age 45, born at Luxulyan, and nine of their children; Jane, age 22, John, age 21, a Stone Mason; James, age 19, also a Stone Mason; Richard, age 15, a Stone Mason Apprentice; William, age 11, a Scholar; Ann, age 9, a Scholar; Henry, age 8, a Scholar, Elizabeth, age 6, a Scholar, and Mary, age 3. All the children are listed as being born in St Austell.

Move to St Breward

At some point after the date of the 1851 Census and before 27 April 1855, Richard, Elizabeth and most of their children moved to the Parish of St Breward in northern Cornwall. Probably only the eldest two, Jane and John, remained behind in the St Austell area. It seems as if the family settled initially in Higher or Upper Lank and then moved to Lower Lank, two very small settlements just south of St Breward village and Richard and his sons, James, Robert, Richard and William, who were all stonemasons, perhaps worked at the De Lank Granite Quarries, which are still producing granite today.

The baptisms of Richard and Elizabeth's two youngest daughters, Elizabeth and Mary at the Church of England, St Breward on 27 April 1855^[11] is the first evidence we have for their settling in this region.

Widowed and second marriage

Elizabeth, Richard's wife had developed consumption, (perhaps this disease prompted the move to the higher altitude of St Breward) but she died on 4 December 1856 ^[12], aged 52, probably only a year or two after their arrival and was buried at St Breward on 7 December 1856^[13].

Eighteen months later, Richard planned to marry the widow Harriet Runnalls (maiden name unknown) and Banns were called at St Breward on 2nd, 9th and 16th May 1858 but for some reason the marriage didn't take place. However Banns were called again on 17th 24th and 31st October 1858^[14] and this time Richard and Harriet were married at St Breward Parish Church on 15 November 1858. Richard is described as being aged 53, a Stonemason and the son of John Crowle, a shoemaker. Harriet is a widow, aged 44, also living at Lower Lank.^[15]

1861 Census

Richard in the 1861 Census^[16] is living at Higher Penquite in the civil parish of St Breward. He is aged 56, a Stone Mason and born at St Stephens. For some reason he is not living with his second wife, but is listed as a visitor in the household of Joseph Harris, age 50 a retired Ag(ricultural) Lab(ourer) and his wife Mary.

1871 Census

The 1871 Census^[17] has Richard living at Higher Trevanny in the civil parish of Luxulyan, Cornwall. His age is given as 67 and he is still a Stonemason, and born at St Stephens. He is living with his wife Harrriett, age 56, born at Blisland, and a granddaughter, Mary J. Palmer, age 6, born at St Breward^[18]

Death and burial

At some point after the 1871 Census, Richard and Harriet must have returned to St Breward and Richard retired, though there being no pensions or superannuation at this time, they probably became paupers. The years of working outside may have given Richard skin cancer, as his death certificate records his 'cause of death' as cancer of the face. He died at Church Town, St Breward on 25 January 1878, aged 76 according to the certificate and his occupation is "formerly a Stone Mason". The person providing the details to the registrar is his daughter-in-law, Sarah Susannah Crowl, also of Church Town, St Breward, who records she was present at his death.^[19] He was buried in St Breward on 28 January 1878.^[20]

Harriet Crowl as widow

1881 Census

Harriet Crowle is listed in the 1881 Census as living at Row Village in the Parish of St Breward, age 69 and her occupation is given as Pauper. Her birthplace is again Blisland in Cornwall. She has living with her 2 grandsons; Samuel Crowle, age 8, a Scholar, born in Wales, and William Crowle, age 6, a Scholar born in Tywardreath, Cornwall.^[21]

Death and burial

Harriet died in late 1890, age 79^[22] and was buried at St Breward 11 December 1890^[23]

Footnotes

1. ↑ See Census of 1851, 1861 & 1871 below
2. ↑ Cornwall OPC, transcribed by Myra Novello Davey, viewed 24 Feb 2011
3. ↑ Julia Mosman transcriber, Cornwall OPC
4. ↑ Julia Mosman transcriber
5. ↑ Julia Mosman transcriber, Cornwall OPC
6. ↑ Julia Mosman, Cornwall OPC
7. ↑ Julia Mosman, Cornwall OPC
8. ↑ FreeCEN, ref HO107/146/4, Folio 15, pg 22, viewed 23 Feb 2011
9. ↑ but this census rounds the ages of adults down to the nearest '5'
10. ↑ FreeCEN, ref HO107/1907/1g, folio 94, pg 23, schedule 75
11. ↑ Parker, St Breward Parish: Baptisms 1830-1866
12. ↑ FreeBMD, registered Dec Qtr 1856, Camelford district, Cornwall, vol 5c, pg 10, viewed 26 Feb 2011
13. ↑ Parker, St Breward Parish:Burials 1700-1892 A-J
14. ↑ Parker, C., "St Breward Parish: Parish records", online database, (http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~chrissystbrewardopc/index.htm : viewed 31 March 2013), Banns 1823-1920, entries for Richard Crowle & Harriet Runnalls; transcribed by Chrissy Parker.
15. ↑ Parker, C., "St Breward Parish: Parish records", online database, (http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~chrissystbrewardopc/index.htm : viewed 31 March 2013), Marriages, 1850-1920, entry for Richard Crowle & Harriet Runnalls 15 Nov 1858.
16. ↑ FreeCEN - ref RG9/1516/6, folio 69, pg 8, schedule 45
17. ↑ FreeCEN, ref RG10/2246/4, folio 41, pg 7, schedule 23
18. ↑ I'm not sure at this stage whether she is Richard's granddaughter, or perhaps Harriett's granddaughter from her first marriage
19. ↑ England, death certificate, Richard Crowl 25 January 1878, Camelford Union registration district, Camelford sub-district, Mar [qtr] 1878, vol. 5c, p. 9, no. 443; General Register Office, Southport.
20. ↑ Parker, St Breward Parish:Burials 1700-1892 A-J, viewed 24 Feb 2011
21. ↑ FreeCEN, RG11/2273/6, folio 73, pg 11, schedule 61, viewed 26 Feb 2011
22. ↑ FreeBMD, registered Dec Qtr 1890, Camelford district, Cornwall, vol 5c, pg 10
23. ↑ Parker, St Breward:Burials 1700-1892 A-J

References

1. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks
2. FreeCEN: UK Census online, [online database], http://www.freecen.org.uk/
3. Parker, Christine (Chrissy), St Breward Parish, [online databases], http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~chrissystbrewardopc/
4. Trustees of FreeBMD, FreeBMD, [online database], http://www.freebmd.org.uk/