Children of Joseph Ors Crane and Catherine Williams
Sandra Hildreth Ball
June 4, 2015
I decided to look for the sons of Joseph in case some other relative may
have information such as letters, bible record, etc.
This paper summarizes the research to this point on the possible
whereabouts of the children of Joseph Ors Crane and Catherine Williams as
listed in the Clove Valley Dutch Reformed Church records:
Aaron Crain(Crane) b 7 Sep
1788 baptized 29 Jan 1792 in Wantage, NJ
John Crane b 25
Mar 1791 baptized 29 Jan 1792 in Wantage, NJ
Sarah Crain(Crane) b 27 Jun
1793 baptized 3 Nov 1793 in Wantage, NJ (my ancestor)
Samuel Crane b
18 May 1799 baptized 13 Oct 1799 in Wantage, NJ
I have not cited all the census records at this point --they
are easily obtained on Ancestry.com
1. Aaron Crane
(Crain), son of Joseph and Catherine was born 7 Sep 1788 and baptized 29
Jan 1792 in Wantage, New Jersey.
There is an Aaron Crain buried in Millcreek Cemetery,
Scioto, Delaware County, Ohio. The
gravestone is inscribed "Aaron Crain died
Aug 7, 1844 age 55."
This places his birthdate about 1788.
This is not conclusive evidence but a very
good possibility.
The following excerpt from History of Delaware and Ohio.
D.G.
"Aaron and Elizabeth Crain... came from New Jersey to
Ohio in an early day."
I've not listed the detail of the following census' at this
point
1820 Census Jackson, Muskingum, Ohio
1830 Census Violet, Fairfield, Ohio
1840 Census not found
1841 "1841 - Carr, Benjamin from Aaron Crain, Vol. 22,
p.53, Quit Claim,"
1842 Postmaster - Little Mill Creek from 03 Feb 1842 to 24
Oct 1843 (Age 53) Ostrander, Delaware, Ohio, USA
Aaron died 7 Aug 1844, buried in Millcreek Cemetery, Scioto,
Delaware County, Ohio.
There has been an ongoing discussion about whether a different Aaron Crane/Crain is the son of Joseph Ors Crane.
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2. John W. Crane,
son of Joseph and Catherine, was born 25 Mar 1791 in New Jersey and baptized 29
Jan 1792 in Wantage, New Jersey.
John W. Crane's gravestone at Balcom Cemetery, Berlin
Center, Ionia County, Michigan is inscribed "Died John W. Crane, Nov __
1858, age 67 years 8 months 2 days. Sarah J, his wife died Mar 4 1876 age__ 11
mo 12 days".
Given the birthdate from Clove Dutch Reformed Church of our John Crane as 25
Mar 1791 and using the age of John W at death, the death date is Nov 27, 1858.
This is convincing evidence that this John
W. Crane buried in Michigan is the same John Crane, son of Joseph and Catherine
Crane.
1830 Census, Hartland, Niagara County, New York: John W.
Crane. We know he was here because his
land purchase entry below states he was from Niagara County, New York.
16 Oct 1835
"John W. Crane of Niagara County, New York" purchased 40 acres
in Oakland County Michigan.
1840 Census Novi, Oakland County, Michigan
1850 Census Novi, Oakland County, Michigan. Record
enumerates him as born in New Jersey.
Crain John 59 1791 M New Jersey (note transcription shows New
York) R/E
$2000
Crain Sarah 58 1792 F New York
Crain Aaron 24 1826 M New York
Crain Louisa 14 1836 F Michigan
John died 27 Nov 1858, probably Ionia County or Oakland
County, Michigan. Buried in Balcom Cemetery, Berlin, Ionia, Michigan.
In the book "Portrait and Biographical Album of Ionia
and Montcalm Counties, Michigan," Chicago, Chapman Bros., 1891, p. 763-65,
sketch of John W. Crane's son-in-law, William P. Mitchell (husband of Louisa S.
Crane), it says: ...Mrs. Mitchell's father, a stonemason was born in New
Jersey, and her mother was a native of New York. They came to Michigan in 1834
and settled in Novi Township, Oakland County, upon a raw farm which he
proceeded to improve and lived there until his death in 1858. His wife survived
him until 1877. Of their eleven children
seven are now living. Mrs. Mitchell was the tenth in order of birth."
I have written the person who was looking for his parents. She provided the land purchase record and the
above description. She was excited that
she finally knew who his parents were.
I haven't verified the children of John, yet, but Deb says
he had children named, Aaron, Catherine and Sarah. She has information on 8 of
the 11 children, which I am following up on.
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3. Samuel M. Crane, son
of Joseph and Catherine Crane was born 18 May 1799 in New Jersey and baptized
13 Oct 1799 at the Clove Valley Dutch Reformed Church at Wantage, New Jersey.
His gravestone in Boughton Cemetery, Riley, Clinton,
Michigan states "Samuel M. Crane
Died Mar 23, 1856, age 56 yrs 10 mos 5 dys".
The name on the gravestone is difficult to read in the picture on findagrave.
The
date and age at death exactly coincides to his birthdate.
1840 Census, Novi, Oakland County, Michigan living next door
to John W. Crane
1850 Census Westhalia, Clinton County, Michigan
Crane Samuel M 51 Male New
Jersey R/E 600
Crane Sarah 49 Female New
Jersey
Crane Ira 10 Male Michigan
Crane Charlotte 8 Female Michigan
Crane James E 5 Male Michigan
The children are so young, it should be verified that these
aren't grandchildren. Sarah would have
still been within child bearing age.
Perhaps she was a second wife and they got married later or they are
adopted. Research will continue at some
point on the children.
Samuel died 23 Mar 1856 -- no place listed yet--he was
buried in Boughton Cemetery, Riley, Clinton County, Michigan.
I have contacted various people who may be related, but have
had no answer as of yet.
4. Francis W. Crane
(son or grandson?)
Francis W. Crane was born 1 Feb 1811 according to his
gravestone and listed as b in NJ about 1812 in census records, all listed
below.
He married Polexany Burton 8 Feb 1838 Detroit, Wayne,
Michigan.
He is enumerated next door to Samuel M. Crane (above). Perhaps he is a brother? We don't know if Joseph and Catherine had
more children and who they might be?
Could he be son of Aaron (b 1788) who would have been 24 when he was
born? John W. Crane (b 1791) would have
been 20 when Francis was born. My guess
is he is either a son of Aaron Crain or of father Joseph Ors Crane. Could the W stand for Williams, mother's
maiden name? Note that Francis has a son named Joseph O Crane. To me, this may point to Francis being a son
of Joseph Ors Crane rather than a grandson.
1850 Census, Westhalia, Clinton County, Michigan next door
to Samuel M. Crane
Crane Francis W 38(b
1812) Male b. New Jersey (no real estate)
Crane Polexany 33 Female b. New York
Crane Nancy 16 Female b. Michigan
Crane Abigail 11 Female b. Michigan
Crane Mary L 8 Female b. Michigan
Crane Joseph O 5 Male b. Michigan
Crane Francis 2 Male b. Michigan
Mortality
schedule shows Francis Crane (age 2 in 1850) died Apr 1860 in Lyons, Ionia, Mich
of pleurisy.
1860 Census Lyons, Ionia County, Michigan
Crane Francis W 48 Male b New
Jersey R/E 1500 Pers 500
Crane Electa 43 Female b New
York
Crane Abigail 20 Female b Michigan
Crane Joseph O 15 Male b Michigan
Crane Margaretta 5 Female b Michigan
Francis W. Crane died 18 Apr 1869 probably Ionia County,
Michigan
Inscription:
Francis W. Crane
Born
Feb 1, 1811
Died
April 18, 1869
Amiable and beloved husband farewell! Thy years were few but thy virtues were
many; they are recorded not on the perishing stone, but in the book of life,
and in the hearts of thy affectionate children.
As mentioned earlier, I will continue to research these
"sons" in hopes to find other relatives, but will spend most of my
time on Joseph Crane in the near future, since I'm going to New York in the
fall.