Monday, 8 January 2007
Archelaus Cruse of St Botolph, Aldersgate
Michael Freeman has sent me a copy of the will of Archelaus Cruse. Archelaus was a newsvendor with a business in Little Britain in the parish of St Botolph, Aldersgate, in the City of London. He died in 1838 but his will was written four years earlier in 1834. His business seems to have been a very profitable concern as he left sizeable bequests to his children. The will is particularly informative as Archelaus mentions not just the names of his children but those of his grandchildren too. I have therefore been able to construct a detailed tree for this family. Archelaus's eldest son, Henry Simpson Cruse, was a bookbinder and stationer with a business at 5 Compton Street, Clerkenwell. Henry Simpson Cruse had a son, Henry who married Ann Brading in 1840 in Clerkenwell. Henry junior cannot be found in the 1841 census and is one of the candidates to be our South African shipwreck survivor.
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I have an Archelaus b 1761 in Rode and who also died in 1838, but I have him with a daughter, Jane (b 1796)in the parish of St. Botolph and a son, Archelaus (b 1806, St. Botolph)This Archelaus is mentioned in several editions of the London Times as having been the engraver of the paper. However, he appears not to have married and lives with his sister, Jane and neice Eleanor in Little Britain. He serves on a number of Juries at the Old Bailey in 1830, but has retired by the age of 54. He appears to have died not long afterwards. I wonder if there is a link to your Archelaus - the profession is very similar, indeed Archelaus' sister, Jane is given in 1851 as a newspaper agent, and, of course, both resident in Little Britain. I could have made a stupid error, of course, but two different Archelaus Cruses in Little Britain at the same time and in similar professions seems unlikely. What's going on?
Russell
I think they're one and the same person. I didn't have a baptism for Archelaus but it's interesting he was baptised in Rode, Somerset, as there are some other Cruses who appear in nearby Frome who are bookbinders. Archelaus actually married twice. Jane is his daughter from his first marriage. Eleanor is his granddaughter. She's the daughter of Archelaus's son from his second marriage Henry Simpson Cruse. Would you like to e-mail me via the "Contact me" link below my picture so that we can exchange information.
Russell
I sent you a report on Archelaus and his descendants together with a copy of his will on 1st February. Archelaus mentions all his children by name in his will, including his son Jeremiah. I also sent you some articles from The Times about Robson Cruse. Have you received any of these e-mails and attachments? From the e-mail I received from you tonight it would appear that you haven't seen any of these.
Russell
Can you perhaps try switching off your mailwasher or adding my e-mail address to your list of contacts. I've re-sent the will, together with my original e-mail and a report on Archelaus's descendants. There's too much to put on the blog and I haven't finished transcribing some of it.
Russell
Have you received all the attachments I sent you? I sent you Archelaus's will, two articles from The Times about Robson Cruse and a descendant report on Archelaus. Have my e-mails perhaps got caught in a spam/junk folder? If you haven't received them do you perhaps have an alternative e-mail address which will accept attachments as you're missing out on most of the story.
Hi, Debbie
I received everything except the times documents re Robson on Feb 6th. I mailed to thank you! My mailwasher is on manual so I am checking each one. It wouldn't be the first of mails to go astray lately, both in and out. Anyway, here's what I wrote:Hi Debbie
Thank you so much for your e-mail. I have developed quite an attachment to old Archeaus and his family! It's good to learn more about them. My daughter has spoken of naming one of her sons Archelaus - poor kid; though it would be nice to kick-start the old name again!
You have been very kind. If there is anything I can do to reciprocate, please let me know. Although I myself am from Sheffield, I now live close to Battle in Sussex, in which Thomas Cruse of Frome made his home around 1820, becoming a prominent (and therefore pretty well documented) member of the village community. If ever you need any donkey-work doing around here, please get in touch.
I'd be delighted to receive the Times documents, too!
All the best
Russell
Russell
I sent you The Times articles on Monday. Have you received them?
Russell
I've sent you three e-mails tonight to both your e-mail addresses. I've included the Times articles and some more info about Robson (I've now found three children). If this doesn't work let me have your address and I'll put it all in the post for you.
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