The Crichton/Creighton branches of my family tree include centuries of military service in England and in Halifax, Nova Scotia. I was surprised to learn that my 2nd great-grandfather Charles Douglas Crichton (1846-1910) was only 14 years old when he enlisted in the Royal Artillery (1859) in Portsmouth, England!
My Haligonian cousin has been researching the Crichton/Creighton branches for many decades and here is what I have learned about Charles Douglas Crichton (1846-1910) from my cousin.
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| The Creighton/Crichton family tree |
1846
Charles is Born in Portsmouth, England
My 2nd great-grandfather Charles Douglas Crichton's (1846-1910) story begins in England and ends in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
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| Source: England & Wales, Birth Index, 1837-2005 MyHeritage.com [online database]. Lehi, UT, USA: MyHeritage (USA) Inc. https://records.myheritagelibraryedition.com/research/collection-10442/england-wales-birth-index-1837-2005 |
"Portsmouth is a port city and naval base on England’s south coast, mostly spread across Portsea Island. It’s known for its maritime heritage and Portsmouth Historic Dockyard." (Source: Wikipedia)
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| Source: Google map: Portsmouth, England |
1831
Robert Crichton Marries Jane Storey Dewer
Charles' parents (my 3rd great-grandparents) Robert Crichton (born 1805, Bothwell Castle, Scotland; died 1849 South Sea Castle, Southampton, England) and Jane Story Dewer (b. 1814, England; died 1871) were married on the 15th of August, 1831 at St. Luke's church in the parish of Charlton, County of Kent, England.
1849
Robert Crichton Dies of Cholera
Robert Crichton Marries Jane Storey Dewer
Charles' parents (my 3rd great-grandparents) Robert Crichton (born 1805, Bothwell Castle, Scotland; died 1849 South Sea Castle, Southampton, England) and Jane Story Dewer (b. 1814, England; died 1871) were married on the 15th of August, 1831 at St. Luke's church in the parish of Charlton, County of Kent, England.
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| Sources: Marriages: St. Luke's Church; parish of Charlton; County of Kent, England. |
1849
Robert Crichton Dies of Cholera
Charles' Scottish father (my 3rd great-grandfather) Robert Crichton died of cholera in 1849 at South Sea Castle while he was a Warder. His son Charles was only 3 years-old.
Of note, Robert Crichton's Attestation papers say he was in the Royal Artillery from 1823 – 1846. He was medically discharged because of Chronic Rheumatism.
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| Source: England & Wales, Death Index, 1837-2005 MyHeritage.com [online database]. Lehi, UT, USA: MyHeritage (USA) Inc. https://records.myheritagelibraryedition.com/research/collection-10444/england-wales-death-index-1837-2005 |
Robert Crichton’s (1805-1849) final resting place. They wrote:
"I have found the burial place of Robert Crichton, unfortunately it was in Mile End Cemetery, which no longer exists. This was a private cemetery with an imposing colonnade, which, because it had been in private ownership, became neglected by the 1950s. Many of the remains were moved to Kingston cemetery, the largest in Portsmouth, and the ground was laid out as a rest garden. The area was developed in the 1970s, and was incorporated into the Continental Ferry Port in 1978. He is listed as being buried on August 31st 1849, the date of death looks like 30th rather than 13th and his age given as 44 years." Source: The Portsmouth History Centre: Ref : PHC14/581
1851
Jane (Dewer) Crichton remarries
Our 3rd great-grandmother, Jane (Dewar) Crichton remarried in 1851 (two years following the death of her husband Robert Crichton) to
William Craig. William Craig was also in the Royal Artillery. Perhaps young Charles was a
handful and that's why his mother and step-father decided to send him to Artillery School at the young age of fourteen years?
1859
Charles Enlists in the Royal Artillery
at Fourteen Years-Old
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| Attestation Papers: Source: The National Archives London, England |
On Page 1 of his Attestation Papers (above), Charles Douglas is unable to write
Age apparently: 14 years
Height 4 feet 6 1/4 inches
Description on discharge:
On Page 2 of his Attestation Papers (below), we see that not only has Charles Douglas married (January 11, 1877 at St. Mary's Basilica, Halifax, Nova Scotia ), but he has also grown one full foot in the twenty-two years since he first enlisted in 1859:
Age: 36 years 6 months
Height: 5 feet 6 3/4 inches
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| Attestation Papers: Source: The National Archives London, England |
1861 Census
In the 1861 census below (age 15), he was listed as a Trumpeter for the Royal Artillery.
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| Source: Public Record Office, London, England; RG 9/405 |
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| Standing Orders, Dress Regulations, and Trumpet and Bugle Sounds, for the Royal Regiment of Artillery 1864 Google Books |
Marriage 1877
On Page 2 of his Attestation Papers (above), we learned that Charles Douglas Crichton married Catherine Power
- Frederick David - born 24 May 1879, Nova Scotia
- Albert Ernest - born 1882, Malta
- Charles Robert - born 1884, England; died 1911
- Mary - born April 1888, Nova Scotia; died 5 Jul, 1923(married Ernest Leo Schroeder)
The St. Mary's Rectory on the right (below) is where Catherine Power lived with her
children (Frederick David, Albert Ernest, Charles Robert and Mary) in
the 1891 census.
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| St. Mary's Basilica. Our 2nd great-grandparents Charles Douglas Crichton and Catherine Power were married 11 Jan 1877 |
1896
In the McAlpine's Nova Scotia Directory for 1896, Halifax, Halifax County, there is a listing for a Charles D. and a Frederick living at 18 Cunard, Halifax, Nova Scotia and Charles is working at the Sugar Refinery in Halifax (the ten storey concrete and brick building was completely destroyed in the Halifax Explosion 1917)
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| Source: Library and Archives Canada: McAlpine's Nova Scotia Directory for 1896, Halifax, Halifax County; Page 277 |
1899-1902
Catherine (Power) Crichton Dies and Charles Remarries
Charles' wife Catherine (Power) Crichton died on the 30th of May, 1899 at forty-three years-of-age (Source: Nova Scotia Historical Vital Statistics; 1899 Page: 221 - Number: 1)and Charles Douglas Crichton remarried widow Emma Johnston (1880-1945) in Halifax, Nova Scotia on the 13th of October, 1902. (Source: Nova Scotia Historical Vital Statistics; Registration Year: 1902 - Book: 1820 - Page: 29 - Number: 430)
Catherine (Power) Crichton is buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery, but not with her husband Charles Douglas Crichton. Catherine is buried in the Power family lot (her brothers lot.)
From the union of Charles Douglas Crichton and Emma Johnston, the following children were born:
- Robert Ernest Crichton (31 Jul 1903-8 Jan 1947)
- Edward Douglas Creighton (16 Oct 1904 - ??)
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| Undated photograph that includes Robert Ernest Crichton Robert Ernest Creighton is the second from the left. The photo was the property of his son, Verdon Ernest Creighton who wrote above that character "My Father". Source: Robert William Creighton, Halifax, Nova Scotia |
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| The Creighton brothers (Source: Barb (Creighton) Huston photo archives) |
1910
Charles D. Crichton Dies
Charles D. Crichton Dies
Charles Crichton died on the 4th of August 1910 at sixty-three years of age after being ill for one month with cardiac issues.
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| Death Certificate: Charles Douglas Crichton; 4 Aug 1910; Halifax, Nova Scotia |
He was living at 130 Maitland St. Halifax at time of death. Occupation at time of death listed as laborer at sugar refinery. He is buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery (common burial ground)
Is It "Crichton" or "Creighton"?
"The family name of Charles Douglas Crichton changed to Creighton after 1911.Charles Douglas registered and signed his marriage record as CRICHTON. Charles Robert married Effie Alberta Tomlin, d/o Samuel Tomlin and Emily Nickerson, in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He also registered and signed his marriage record as CRICHTON. Charles Robert baptized his 2 boys, Frederick Douglas and William Frances at St. George's Church in Halifax, Nova Scotia and registered them as CRICHTON. When Charles Robert died in a Dockyard accident 28 December 1911, Effie registered his death as Charles Robert CREIGHTON and registered their two boys at school after the death as CREIGHTON. Hence the family name changed from Crichton to Creighton."
Links
- Portsmouth History Centre and records office https://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/ext/libraries/portsmouth-history-centre-and-records-office
- Royal Artillery https://wiki.fibis.org/w/Royal_Artillery
- Standing Orders, Dress Regulations, and Trumpet and Bugle Sounds, for the Royal Regiment of Artillery 1864 Google Books.
- The SeaWatch Bed & Breakfast in Halifax, Nova Scotia is owned and operated by a descendant of this Creighton family.
I like the way you brought this "timeline" alive with photos, documents, and commentary. And it's really helpful to follow along with your thinking and the process for researching these ancestors. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteOur best guess is that Robert Ernest Creighton is the second from the left. The photo was the property of his son, Verdon Ernest Creighton who wrote above that character "My Father". Robert William Creighton.
ReplyDelete