Gin Lane by William Hogarth 1671

This page is dedicated to notes, snippets, newspaper items, articles of interest and other minor memorabilia of our ancestors. They may well be found hidden in the depth of the database but are the sort of memory that you would need to know about to know where to look. These are short paragraphs which would not command a full feature or "Wanted" article.

If you have any similar remembrances that could be included on this page, please let me know by email.

TWO VIEWS OF THE CAR PARK

It is interesting to recall incidents of humour or coincidence which have caused little ripples of intrigue through the fabric of our family history. Here is one such occurrence made all the more fascinating by the retelling from both sides of the story.

Henry Craxford (1894-1980)
‘We didn’t know any other Craxfords in our part of the world (Leeds and Yorkshire). My father was always interested in cars and originally trained as a mechanic. When jobs were hard to come by he became a chauffeur and drove quite long distances during the 1920s and 1930s. He always recalled the time when he was visiting some premises in the South West (Taunton,I think) for the Electricity Boad. He drove into the car park and discovered a space reserved for “Mr Craxford”. He later learned that this was Frank Craxford and that they were third cousins.’
Ivor Craxford talking about his father. June 2005

Frank Craxford (1902-1972)
‘Frank left school at 14 and became an apprentice gas fitter, He went to evening classes and passed all his City & Guilds exams. He worked in the gas industry all his life (Birmingham, Halifax, Bath, Taunton - where he was district manager) and then returned to Bath to work on the South West area staff.
He knew a Henry Craxford who lived in Follifoot near Harrogate in Yorkshire and who had a son and a daughter. They thought they were third cousins.’
Thelma Ramsey (nee Craxford) talking about her father. February 2002

Small Ad: The Times

This small advertisement appeared in the "Want Places" column of The Times on Thursday January 4th 1855. (Issue 21942 Page 12 reference CS201493540). We have seen many references to 8 Suffolk Street, Pentonville in census returns and on BMD certificates. Almost certainly the incumbent at the time this advertisement was placed was Nathaniel James Craxford.

Robert Craxford returns thanks to his friends for favours received and begs leave to inform them that he has resigned the business to John Hollidge at the Cross Keys Huntingdon for whom he solicits a continuance of their favours. And John Hollidge begs leave to inform the friends of Mr Craxford and the public in general that he will take care that every part of that business will be performed with the utmost punctuality and their favours most gratefully acknowledged.
ROBERT CRAXFORD, JOHN HOLLIDGE - March 3rd 1791
The Times. March 4th 1791 1 C Issue 1493

From the LONDON GAZETTE. Whitehall. July 30.
Robert Craxford of Huntingdon, carrier; to surrender August 16; 17 and September 10 at eleven at the White Hart Inn, Cricklade. Attorney Mr Gill, Cricklade, Wilts.
The Times. August 1st 1791 1 C Issue 2090

Ruth was one of my father's sisters - the fourth eldest in fact. She married Sid Inwood in 1920 and had two daughters - Joan and Vera. Over all the years I remember they always had a shop. In the 1930/40s it was a hardware and cycle repair shop in an industrialised part of Birmingham. In the early 1950s they moved to Sandwich in Kent and opened a newsagents and tobacconists. Then in the 1960s they moved to the Coventry area and opened another hardware store until they retired. She worked hard all her life and was the driving force. She was the custodian of Grandma Craxford's Bible. The Bible itself is quite plain and battered but it is precious to me because it is so old and belonged to her.
Maureen Bird (nee Craxford)

"Another inquest was held at the Peacock Inn, in the above town (Market Harborough, Leicestershire) on Wednesday last before the said coroner (John Gregory jnr., Esq.) on view of the body of Thomas Craxford, a waggoner in the employ of Mr Myers, of Gretton, in this county, who fell from the waggon shaft on which he was incautiously riding, when the wheels passed over his body: He was conveyed to the above Inn where he expired in a short time. Verdict - Accidental Death. The deceased has left a wife and family."
The Northampton Mercury. Saturday October 11 1834.

George Craxford served as a gunner with the 200th HAA battery (68th HAA Regiment) of the Royal Artillery during the Second World War (1940 - 1945). During that time he kept a journal, handwritten in notebooks, documenting his life and experiences of service in North Africa and Italy. After his death his diaries and other medals and memorabilia were donated to the Archives of the Department of Documents at the Imperial War Museum, London.
Alan D Craxford

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