William Cruwys and Mary Jane Wonson

An enquiry from Mark Wonson has prompted some research into a previously unknown Cruwys line which has its roots in Brushford, Somerset. Mark has kindly sent me a copy of the marriage certificate of Mary Ann Wonson and William Cruwys, who married in 1856 in Bradninch, Devon. Mary appears as Mary Ann on her marriage certificate but in all other records her name is given as Mary Jane. She was the daughter of William Wonson, a farmer, and Elizabeth Broom. Mary Jane's husband William was one of three children born to William Cruwys, a farmer, and his wife Elizabeth Webber. William senior was born in 1793 in Brushford, Somerset, the son of John Cruwys and Margery Holcomb. John unfortunately died before the 1841 census and his place of birth is not known so it is not presently possible to take this line back any further.

William Cruwys and Mary Jane Wonson had four known children, all of whom were born in Wolborough, Devon (now known as Newton Abbott): William Henry, born in 1856, John Albert, born in 1858, Elizabeth born in 1859, and Lawrence born in 1861. They possibly had a fifth child, Mary Ann Cruwys, born in 1865. I have not been able to find any record of William Henry after the 1871 census. John Albert Cruwys moved to Bromley in Kent where he married Elizabeth Ann Bradford in 1886. He worked as a groom/coachman and later became a refreshment caterer. Elizabeth died in 1866 age 6. Lawrence moved to London and married Sarah Louisa Hicks in 1899 in Camberwell. Before his marriage Lawrence worked as a butler to William Walrond, baronet, of Bradfield House in Uffculme. Lawrence appears to have moved to London shortly afterwards to join the civil service. He qualified as a messenger to the Metropolitan Police Courts Service on 6th November 1896. By the 1901 census he was working as a police court usher.