Charles D. Crichton/Creighton (1846-1910)

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. 

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.

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

Charles was born in Portsmouth Hampshire (aka Portsea Island), England in December of 1846. He was the son of Robert Crichton (1805-1849) and Jane Storey Dewar (1814-1871) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portsmouth)

"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)

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.

 

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.

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

The Portsmouth History Centre assisted my cousin who was trying to locate our 3rd great-grandfather

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 

Attestation Papers: Source: The National Archives London, England

Description on enlistment:
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

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.
 

Source: Public Record Office, London, England; RG 9/405

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

on January 11, 1877 at St. Mary's Basilica, Halifax, Nova Scotia. From this union, the following children were born (Source: Year: 1891; Census Place: Ward 5a, Halifax City, Nova Scotia; Roll: T-6314; Family No: 237 ):

1. Frederick David - born 24 May 1879, Nova Scotia
2. Albert Ernest - born 1882, Malta
3. Charles Robert - born 1884, England; died 1911
4. 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.

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)

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:

1. Robert Ernest Crichton (31 Jul 1903-8 Jan 1947) 
2. Edward Douglas Creighton (16 Oct 1904 - ??) 

The descendants of Robert Ernest Crichton have added information to our GENI Family tree including this interesting photograph of Robert Ernest Creighton.

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

The Creighton brothers (Source: Barb (Creighton) Huston photo archives)

1910  
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.

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."

Source: http://www.genealogy.com/ftm/c/r/e/Bruce-Creighton-Dartmouth/index.html

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.

52 Ancestors #45 - The Curds of Dover, England.

No Story Too Small has issued a New Year's Challenge: "Have one blog post each week devoted to a specific ancestor. It could be a story, a biography, a photograph, an outline of a research problem — anything that focuses on one ancestor.” 

This weeks post is about Dorothy (Moreland) Creighton's mother Florence Mary Curd 1886-1915  from Dover England

Florence Mary (Curd) Moreland (1886-1915) with
daughter Dorothy (Moreland) Creighton (1909-2000)

1886 Birth Record

Birth Register 1886

Florence Mary Curd was born March 1886 in Dover, England to parents Alfred Curd (1862 - 1911) and Jane Ann Wellard (1866-1907).

1891 Census

1891 Census Dover
14 West Street, Charlton, Eastry, Kent, England

In the 1891 census, Florence is listed as a scholar meaning at 5 years of age she was attending school. Florence's father is listed as a "Carter". A carter is someone who "carries or conveys goods in a cart".

I have not been able to locate the Curd family on the 1901 census. I did locate some of the family on the 1911 census but by this time both parents had passed on and Florence had left England for Canada.

1908 Emigration & Marriage

Florence Curd travelled from Liverpool to Halifax
March 12, 1908
aboard the S.S. Dominion (Dominion Line) 

It is said that: "Florence met John "Jock" Moreland while he was stationed with the Royal Garrison Artillery (RGA) at Dover (Dover Castle) and they fell in love. He left for Halifax in 1907 and sent for Florence to join him in 1908.

Below is the passenger list from the S.S. Dominion showing "Florrie" Curd (22 years of age) aboard March 12, 1908

Florence's Mother Jane Anne (Wellard) Curd had died in  June 1907 at the early age of 41 years.

On April 15 1908 she married John Moreland in Halifax Nova Scotia. 
The other information we learn from Florence and John's Halifax marriage record is that John Moreland (26y) is listed as a "gunner" and his father Charles Moreland is listed as a "seaman". Florence Curd's (22y) father Alfred Curd is listed as a laborer.

Marriage record for Florence (Curd) Moreland & John Moreland
Purchased from www.novascotiagenealogy.com

1909 - Dorothy (Moreland) Creighton Born

On the 14 of March 1909, the first child of Florence and John Moreland, Dorothy was born. Pictured below

1915: Florence Dies From Tuberculosis

Florence (Curd) Moreland died on February 3, 1915 of tuberculosis at 29 years of age (see her death certificate below). She had been suffering with the illness for two years.

Death record for Florence (Curd) Moreland edited
Purchased from www.novascotiagenealogy.com

Florence's two daughters, Dorothy (my grandmother)  and Florence, were removed to a foster home while their father John Moreland was overseas fighting with the Royal Canadian Garrison Artillery (RCGA) as a gunner in World War 1(1916-1918). 

Notably, the foster family's home was devasted in the Halifax Explosion but the family survived because they were visiting friends outside the city that day - December 6, 1917. 

Florence (Curd) Moreland is one of few women buried at the Military Cemetery in Halifax (Fort Massey Cemetery site 1013) with their son Charles (site no 1175) who died at birth 1 May 1913. 

Fort Massey Cemetery, Halifax, Nova Scotia

1968 Reunion with Dover Curds

My grandmother Dorothy (Moreland) Creighton visited her Curd relatives in England in 1968.

Here are some photos from Nana's visits to England.

Dorothy (Moreland) Creighton in red dress holding hands with cousin Dorothy Knight (behind Dorothy Knight is her husband, Charlie Knight).
The young couple holding the two girls are Dorothy and Charlie’s daughter Diane, her husband and their two children.
The man standing in the doorway is Will Chandler (married Clara Alice, known as Alice).
Standing behind Dorothy Creighton is Dorothy Knight’s son

Far left: Dorothy's Aunt May (Curd) Daniel (b 1902-1989),
Ken Chandler (Alice and Will Chandler’s son)
wife and two sons.

Curd descendants Peter and Wendy (and friend Alan)

Dorothy (Moreland) Creighton seated at centre of Curd family descendants.
Dorothy Knight (left of Dorothy Creighton) and Dorothy's daughter, husband and children.

The Curd Family Tree

In September 1968, The Curd family reunited with the Canadian Moreland-Creighton clan and one of the "England cousins" drew this lovely family tree as a remembrance of the occasion. I have covered over the names of all living descendants for privacy reasons.

1968 Commerative Curd Family Tree

FYI: The Carrier Arms Pub

14 West St. Dover, England today

If ever I visit England, I want to have a drink at the Carriers Arms Pub (12 West St Kent) pictured here two doors away from 14 West St where Florence Curd lived with her family in 1891.

The Carriers Arms Pub was established in 1871 and has remained there ever since. When we found the Curd family on the 1891 census, Richard Beechum was the "Beer House Keeper".

Other Dover England Links:

• Dover-Kent Archives
• Old Dover in Words and  Pictures
• The Battle of Britain pub (now The Carriers Arms)