Hercules Shaw Crozier (1832 - 1908)

<i> Re: Croziers from Ireland Posted by: margaret goss (ID *****9468) Date: September 18, 2005 at 13:36:18 In Reply to: Re: Croziers from Ireland by scott Crozier of 881

My great-grandfather was Hercules Shaw Crozier, supposedly born in Ireland, 8-14-1832, in Wexford County. Prior to 1848, after being pestered by a young priest to return to the Catholic Church (the family was staunch protestant - French Huguenot), Hercules shot the priest and the family had to leave Ireland in a bit of a hurry. We have been told that due to immigration restrictions, our branch of the Croziers - Hercules, mother, Mary Shaw Arnold Crozier (b. 1797 in either Ireland or possibly England - a widow with other children), father, Thornton Crozier (b. 1804- Wexford, Ireland) (shown as residing in Columbia County, Wisconsin in 1850 Census), brother Jacob Benjamin Crozier (b. 1835 - Ireland)and sister, Essie Crozier, b. 1838, Ireland) came in thru Canada, crossed the country and entered the U.S. in Wisconsin, where they settled for several years (Thornton supposedly taught at the University of Wisconsin). Hercules and brother Jacob Benjamin were in St. Charles, MO by 1860. Here, they both sighed up with the Union Army and were on their way to what would be the Battle of Wilson's Creek near Springfield, MO when Jacob became very ill, and Hercules was given a leave of absence to care for his brother. However, his discharge was not given until 1865. A family story says that he followed Sterling Price (Confederate) thru Missouri! When searching for Civil War records, Hercules was shown as having served in several units (pension approved for his widow). The Civil War records for his "brother", Jacob Benjamin Crozier, claim that he was born in New York and was an alias for "John M. Jackson". We now wonder if Jacob really was a brother, and if they were indeed, from Ireland. Several family members have traveled to Wexford (New Ross near Innescorthy) and tried to research family records. The records are located in a small Catholic Church in New Ross,Wexford,Ireland and all records have been denied to family members. Additional information that my father was able to find was that Thornton Crozier's (b. 1804 - Wexford County, Ireland)parents were Matthew Crozier (b. 1780 - Wexford) and Catherine Thornton(b. 1782 - Ireland). Family stories indicate that Thornton Crozier had attended Eaton and Oxford or Cambridge, and that Hercules had attended at least Eaton. He received training at the University of Wisconsin as a horticulturist. His farm, located near Humansville, MO was a show place for botanical diversity. He was also a stone-mason and had built a number of stone barns in Polk and Cedar Counties in Southwest Missouri. I have pictures of Hercules and his wife, Margaret Emily Hopper, whom he met and eventually married on 7-12-1863 in Polk County, MO. The home that he built in the 1860's is still standing as is a stone barn, built entirely without concrete. Remnants of his stone yard are still in place with stones that were worked but never finished. If ANYONE can give me any more information on this family I would really appreciate it !!! Contact at [email address removed] </i>