William Cranfield

341

Maureen Withey on 27th April 2023

(Yesterday) Another inquest was held at Walter's Inn, Camden, on the body of William Cranfield, who met with an accident, on Thursday last. Deceased had been drinking for weeks, but was said not to have been what is called drunk at the time of the accident. Our roads are bad, and riders require to be cautious, but deceased and party rode off at the usual pace, his horse fell, threw him off, rolled over him it appears, and caused internal injuries, of which he died, on Sunday night last. Verdict accordingly. He has left a widow and 5 young children, the youngest being only 4 weeks old. Empire, Sydney, 6 Sep 1860. --------------------------------------------------------------------- The death of his first wife. Died. On the 30th September, at her residence, the Burton Inn, Cowpasture, Mary Ann, the beloved wife of Mr. William Cranfield, aged 37 years. Bell’s Life in Sydney, 2 Oct 1852.

341

Maureen Withey on 27th April 2023

Robert Bradnum, Wm. Cranfield, and Thomas Wright, were charged with a burglary in the house of Mr. George Bickford, farmer, of Glemsford, in the night of the 10th of December, 1822. The prosecutor, an old man, very deaf, deposed that he went to bed about 9 o'clock, and fastened up his doors and windows as usual. Between one and two in the morning, three men came into his bed•room ; two having their faces very black, and the other not quite so black. They had large sticks with them. One of them said they came for money, and money they have. Witness told them be had no money, and they might knock him on the head; he resigned himself to them. They then went to his hutch and took his coat, which witness took from them again, and threw to his wife. They took 3. 6d. in money from a pint mug standing in the corner-cupboard. Witness went with them to every part of the house. The tallest man carried away with him a cask of elder wine. They also took a waistcoat. As they were going away, Bradnum came back for a dog which they brought with them, and witness trying to prevent his re-entering, he struck witness violently on his his hand, and it has been of no use to him since. Wm. Russell, in December last, in consequence of a suspicion falling upon Wright of stealing a pig from the prosecutor on the anniversary of the day on which the burglary was committed, went to search his house, and there found a cask, smelling strongly of elder wine; when he went the next day the cask was gone. John Cranfield, a brother of the prisoner, deposed, that in December, 1822, he breakfasted with his bother and the other prisoners, at his father's house, on the day after the robbery, and heard him say he blacked his face. Bradnum was also present, and said he went in first, and his brother followed him. His brother also gave him a glass of elder wine—he saw Wright's wife burn the cask when the constable left.—James Mansfield, an accomplice, was then called, who deposed that he and the prisoners agreed to go out poaching, but could get nothing. Bradnum said they would have something, and he knew where they could get money. They then blacked their faces and went to Mr. Bickford's and committed the burglary as before stated. It appeared, in his cross-examination, that this witness was 37 years of age, whilst Bradnum and Wright were only 26, and Cranfield even now only 16. The prisoners were all found Guilty but Cranfield was recommended to mercy on account of his youth. Bradnum and Wright were condemned: sentence of death was recorded against Cranfield. British Mercury, 14 April 1824. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Colonial Secretary Index. CRANFIELD, William. Per "Mangles", 1824 1824 Oct 30 On list of convicts landed from the "Mangles" and forwarded to Parramatta for distribution (Reel 6013; 4/3512 p.646) 1824 Dec 17 On list of prisoners assigned (Fiche 3290; 4/4570D p.16) -------------------------------------------------------------------- NSW Convict Assignments. 17 Dec 1824. William Cranfield, per Mangles, assigned to John Wild, resident at Cawdor. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Absconded prisoners. 2. Cranfield Wm. Mangles, Shepherd, 20, Essex, 5 feet 2 ¾, grey eyes, brown hair, fresh comp. From J. Wild, Cawdor. Sydney Gazette, 9 Apr 1827. -------------------------------------------------------------------- 1828 NSW Census Index. George Cranfield, per Mangles, 24 Iron Gang, Windsor district. (the first name is incorrect, but very likely to be him, having been punished for absconding, and sent to a Iron Gang) --------------------------------------------------------------------- Ticket of Leave, No 36/590. District, Camden; Tried, Suffolk Ass. Conditional Pardon, 1 Jan 1842. No 43/015. --------------------------------------------------------------------- In the Supreme Court of New South Wales. ECCLESIASTICAL JURISDICTION. In the Will of William Cranfield, late of Spring Creek, in the County of Camden, in the Colony of New South Wales, farmer, deceased. NOTICE is hereby given, that at the expiration of fourteen days from the publication hereof, Elizabeth Cranfield, of Spring Creek, in the County of Camden aforesaid, widow, and Executrix of the above named deceased, intends to apply to this Honorable Court, for probate of the said Will.—Dated this 25th day of September, a.d. 1860. HOLDEN & .MCCARTHY, Proctors for the Executrix, 125, Castlereagh-street, Sydney. NSW Govt Gazette, 25 Sept 1860.

221

D Wong on 11th May 2016

William was born in Essex and was 16 years old when convicted - (of Burglary) his accomplices were all hanged. 1836: TOL Camden 11/2/1842: TOL Passport, Picton Bench 1/1/1842: CP By 1841 he had his own farm at Spring Creek, later owned a hotel at Narellan.

4

Dale Williams on 11th May 2016

Death in 1860 was due to an injury received by a fall from a horse at Camden, NSW. His family in Australia continued to be involved with horses and his great-great grand-daughter has a horse stud at Goulburn, NSW. William Cranfield (my great-great grandfather) married twice - first marriage was 05/07/1835 at Cobbity, NSW, to Mary Ann Gittoes (nee Allen) and they had 7 children, and his second marriage was 25/05/1853 at Newtown, NSW, to Elizabeth Rourke and they had 4 children. I am a descendent of the Cranfield/Gittoes marriage and my great-grandfather was their 7th child, Charles.