Herbert Felix Cruse 1863-1921

Kit Elliott has sent me this lovely photograph of his ancestor Herbert Felix Cruse, who was more usually known by his middle name Felix. The photograph was taken in the garden of the family home at 3 Newby Terrace, Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham, and was sent by Felix as a Christmas greeting, presumably to family members, in 1915. Herbert Felix Cruse was the son of Edward Cruse (1807-1879) and Hannah Mary Brown (c.1826-1891). His father Edward was in his day a well-known organist and composer. Felix was born on 3rd August 1863 at 39 Buckingham Road, Brighton, Sussex. We understand that Felix was named after the composer Felix Mendelssohn. He also had an older brother named John Sebastian Cruse after J S Bach! The house in Brighton was known as Bach House for obvious reasons! Felix clearly inherited his father's musical talent and by the age of 17 he was working as an organist. Some time before 1891 Felix was appointed as the organist of St Peter's Church in Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham. The church was also the venue of Felix's marriage to Katherine Brown in 1894. Felix and Katherine had just one child, a daughter called Joan, who was born in 1896 in Stockton-on-Tees. Felix must have struggled to make money as an organist and by the time of the 1901 census he had taken on a job as a teacher of music to supplement the income from his organ playing. Felix died at his home at 3 Newby Terrace, Stockton-on-Tees, on 13th December 1921 at the age of 58 years. At the time of his death he was described as a chartered accountant's clerk. The reason for his change of career is not known.

The will of Elizabeth Olive, spinster of Frome, Somerset

Elizabeth Olive was the daughter of John Olive and Ann Rossiter. She was baptised on 25th September 1778 in Frome, Somerset. She did not marry and died in March 1845 in Frome. This will is of particular interest to Cruse researchers because Elizabeth’s niece Mary Olive (born about 1792) married John Cruse on 7th June 1815 in Devizes, Wiltshire. John Cruse was the son of Jeremiah Cruse the land surveyor (1758-1819) by his first wife Mary Masey (1760-1810). John was born on 23rd December 1788 in Frome and baptised on 12th April 1789 in Rode, Somerset. John Cruse and Mary Olive had five daughters, only three of whom seem to have survived to adulthood: Mary Ann, Henrietta and Frances. Elizabeth Olive leaves bequests in her will to her three Cruse nieces. The original will can be found in the Documents Online collection on the National Archives website (reference PROB 11/2018). This transcription is taken from an anonymous typed transcription which was kindly provided by Robert Cruse.

Proved 7th May 1845

Testator: Elizabeth OLIVE, Spinster of Frome Swd

£10 to my faithful servant Phillis HOBBS if living in my service when I die

19 guineas to The Frome Ladies Charitable Society

19 guineas to The Frome Sunday School under the direction of the Clergy of the Established Church

19 guineas to The Frome Infant Schools

19 guineas to The Church Missionary Society

19 guineas to The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts

all my furniture and other articles of domestic use in my house at Weymouth, also all my mourning and family rings to Rev. John OLIVE, Clerk of Hollingly, Sussex

my watch, my pianoforte and all my wearing apparel to my niece Mary Ann CRUSE, but if she dies before me my wearing apparel to be shared equally between her two sisters Henrietta CRUSE and Frances CRUSE

all my remaining trinkets to Frances SIMPSON w/o Rev. George Philip SIMPSON of Brent, Soms

all my books to be divided equally between the said Mary Ann CRUSE, Henrietta CRUSE and Frances CRUSE

the closes of land called Long Paddock and Edge Mead, which is divided into two paddocks, near but not immediately adjoining Long Paddock but adjoining Cuckoo Lane and in the occupation of Mr William STEEDS, and my other acre of land in common with other land in Birchell Lane, late in the occupation of James CLASE and now of Miss CLASE, all in the P[ari]sh of Frome, to the said Rev. John OLIVE

to my Ex[ecut]ors £1,000 consolidated stock in consolidate[d] bank annuities, part of a sum in my name in the Bank of England, on trust:

- to pay the dividends to Frances SIMPSON, and after her death to George Philip SIMPSON and after their death shared equally between any children of Frances SIMPSON as they reach 21 or die under that age having been married .to pay the interest on two of the Frome Turnpike Trust Tickets which I hold and £50 to the said Mary Ann CRUSE and after her death to any surviving husband she might have and for all her children as they reach 21

- a Black Son [?] ticket I hold and £50 on the same trusts in favour of Henrietta CRUSE

- the other ticket and £50 on the same trusts in favour of Frances CRUSE

all the residue of the estate and effects to the said John OLIVE of Beckington, the said Rev. John OLIVE and the said Edmund Crabb OLIVE on trust to invest it and pay the income to William OLIVE, Gentleman of Beckington, and after his death to his wife Mary Ann OLIVE, and after both their deaths to all William OLIVE's children as they reach 21 or die earlier having been married

Ex[ecut]ors may apply for the advancement in the world of any of the children presumptively entitled to the above legacies any sum up to half their presumptive share

Ex[ecut]ors: John OLIVE esq. of Beckington and Edmund Crabb OLIVE esq. of Frome Signed: 11 Aug 1842
Witnesses: William C. CRUTWELL, Sol[icito]r, Frome; Ambrose READ, Clerk to Messrs OLIVE & CRUTTWELL, Sol[icito]rs, Frome

Codicil: revoking the bequest of £ 1.000 stock in consolidated bank annuities to Ex[ecut]ors in trust for her niece Frances SYMPSON w/o George Philip SYMPSON, her husband and children, and bequeathing to her Ex[ecut]ors £800 of this stock on the same trusts
£66 13s 4d of this stock to each of her three nieces, Mary Ann CRUSE. Henrietta Cruse and Frances CRUSE
revoking the bequest of all her trinkets to Frances SYMPSON and giving them to her niece Mary Ann CRUSE
all the bed and table linen in Test[atr]ix's dwelling house to Mary Ann CRUSE

Signed: 13 Mar 1845

Witnesses: Alfred DANIEL, Clerk. Frome; James COLTER [?], Clerk to Mr CRUTWELL. Sol[icito]r, Frome

Proved: 7 May 1845 at Prerogative Court of Canterbury London by John OLIVE and Edmund Crabb OLIVE esquires, nephews and ex[ecut]ors

Attempted burglary in Frome

Robert Cruse has sent me a delightful newspaper cutting about an attempted burglary at the house of Henry Cruse of Frome in Somerset. The article was published in The Bristol Mercury on Saturday, July 23, 1836 and reads as follows:

FROME. – On Sunday night last an attempt at burglary was made on the premises of Mr. Harry Cruse, the actuary of the Frome Savings' Bank; but, fortunately, the thieves were defeated in their object. This is the second or third visit which Mr. C. has lately had from these midnight marauders. On a subsequent night some fellows entered the garden of Mr. Sperring, Keyford-terrace, with a view to depredation, but being seen by a neighbour, their purpose was also defeated.

The frequency of robberies at Frome has been lately the subject of much remark among strangers, but the evil probably arises in some measure from there being no resident magistrate in this large town, and also, that in a population of nearly 14,000 persons there are only four officers, who, although extremely active, cannot be supposed to effect all that is necessary either to prevent or to detect crime.

Henry Cruse was the son of Jeremiah Cruse and Mary Masey. He was born on 14th April 1784 in Warminster, Wiltshire, and baptised on 12th September 1784 in Rode, Somerset. Henry married Elizabeth Skinner in 1804 in Shepton Mallet, and they had thirteen children. Henry was a respectable member of the community in Frome, and he was for many years the parish clerk. He witnessed many of the weddings in Frome in the early 1800s, and his signature appears frequently in the Frome registers. Henry also served for a time as the churchwarden for the parish. Like his father and some of his brothers Henry was a freemason. He was admitted to the Royal Clarence Lodge in Frome on 30th April 1810.

The attempted robbery at Henry's home took place just a few months before his death. He died on 2nd October 1836 at the age of 52 and was buried on 7th October 1836 at the parish church in Frome. The following brief obituary was published in The Gentleman's Magazine:

Oct. 2. At Frome, aged 52, Mr. Harry Cruse. He was bailiff of the Hundred of Frome, parish clerk, and also confidential clerk and cashier, in the office of the Messrs. Wickham, solicitors for 36 years.

The Cruse family at Stonehenge

Mel McNaught has sent me a most wonderful photograph of the Cruse family at Stonehenge. The photo is believed to be of Thomas Cruse (born 20 April 1809 in Horningsham, Wiltshire), the son of Jeremiah Cruse and Elizabeth Knight, and his wife Ann Cruse née Brace (born 12th November 1809), the daughter of Joseph Brace and Harriet Bryant. Thomas descends from the line which originates in Rode in Somerset. Thomas and Ann Cruse lived in the High Street in Warminster, Wiltshire. Thomas was an estate agent and land surveyor who worked with the Warminster Turnpike Trust. He also served as the churchwarden at St Denys's Church in Warminster for 63 years. We are not too sure of the identity of the other people in the photograph, but Thomas and Ann's son Edmund Cruse (1848-1894) and daughter Maria Elizabeth (1845-1911) are possibly included in the group. Ann Cruse née Brace died in 1883 and Thomas died in 1889, so if they are indeed the elderly couple in the photograph then it must have been taken before 1883. Outdoor photographs from this period are very rare, as very few people owned a camera and most photographs were taken in studios. Mel is trying to locate the original photo album from which the scan was taken. If we are able to study the original photograph it should be possible to date it more precisely, and at the same time get a better-quality scan.Coincidentally Stonehenge has been very much in the news in the last week with the broadcast of the fascinating BBC Timewatch programme on Saturday about the recent archaeological dig at the site. There are some very interesting pages and video clips on the BBC History website about the dig which can be seen here. These days of course it is not possible to get close up to the stones as the Cruses did in the 1800s, and the monument can only be seen from a distance behind a low fence.

George Cruse the Crimean War hero

Robert Cruse has sent me some fascinating information about his great-great-uncle George Cruse of the 1st Royal Dragoons who served in the Crimean War with great distinction. Robert has written a brief biography about George which I am reproducing below in its entirety. He has also transcribed a selection of letters relating to George's career in the Dragoons. The most interesting item of all is a letter written by George from the Crimea to his father-in-law, Sam Woolley, in which he provides an eye-witness account of the events at the Battle of Balaclava on 25th October 1854. The letter was written just eight days after the battle.

George Cruse
Regimental No. 616
1st Royal Dragoons
George was the ninth of thirteen children born to Henry Cruse and Elizabeth Skinner. He was born on 21st June 1818 in Frome, Somerset, and baptised on 30th April 1819 in Frome. George became a career soldier at the age of 20 years. What made him choose a military life? Was he influenced by the fact that his father Henry was a member of the North Somerset Yeomanry Cavalry? Did he play with his father’s sword or musket, did he try on his father’s uniform, and did he go to the stables and get to know his father’s horse – perhaps even riding upon it? Whatever the motivation, George joined the 1st Royal Regiment of Dragoons on 11th July 1838 as a private. He served as a private until 30th June 1840 when he was promoted to Corporal. He was promoted to Sergeant on 1st December 1842, and served as such for well over five years until 31st March 1848.

On the 1st April 1848 George was promoted to Troop Sergeant Major on the retirement of Sam Woolley from the army. Sam Woolley was to become George’s father-in-law as George married Eliza Woolley on 13th April 1848 at the Church of Cahir, County Tipperary. George and Eliza had a daughter named Mary Anna, who was born on 1st February 1849 and baptised at the Parish Church, Leeds.

On 21st May 1854 George sailed from Liverpool on the sailing ship Arabia for service in the Crimea. The sea journey lasted 42 days.

In the Crimea, George served under Lord Raglan and General Simpson. He saw active service at:

- The Battle of Balaclava on 25th October 1854
- The Battle of Inkerman on 5th November 1854
- The Battle of Sebastapol October 1854 – April 1855

For his service he was awarded the Crimea Medal on 20th September 1855 with clasps for Inkerman, Balaclava and Sebastapol. Later, in March 1859, he was awarded the Turkish Medal.

George was promoted from Sergeant to Troop Sergeant Major on 1st April 1848 and he served as such for well over six years until 4th November 1854. While serving in the Crimea he was promoted to Regimental Sergeant Major on 5th November 1854. This promotion caused his Commanding Officer, Major Wardlaw, some anxiety as his letters seemed to get lost and he had to write on at least three occasions. (See below.) To qualify for promotion he had to have a medical which showed he was "in good health and fit for active service". There is no record of George sustaining an injury during his service in the Crimea.

During his service in the Crimea, from May 1854 to March 1855, George wrote 63 letters to his family. (The original letters are at the National Army Museum.) These letters show that George was posted to the following places

- Scutari and Buykdere in the Bosphorus (Istanbul, Turkey);
- Varna (Camp Adrianople Road), Devnya, Kanajusin/Kana Hussin, and Calasnya (Bulgaria)
- Balaclava and and a "Camp near Sebastapol" (now in the present-day Ukraine)

On 16th March 1855 George was promoted to Riding Master (without purchase) and served in this post until August 1871. (The promotion is recorded in the London Gazette.) On 9th August 1871 he was made an Honorary Captain and retired on half pay.

A remarkable career – from Private to Captain, all on his own merit.

George retired to Huntley House, 15, Elliston Road, Redland, Bristol. It is possible that George bought the house new as the house was built in the late 1860s and he retired in 1871. The house is quite large and has four floors. The ground floor – which leads into the garden - was the kitchen. The present house has two large reception rooms on the first floor, two large bedrooms on the second floor and other rooms on the third floor which no doubt were bedrooms and living quarters for the servant. These appear to have been altered and therefore do not reflect how the house looked when George owned the house. George no doubt had a servant and perhaps her rooms were on the third floor – the attic. When George’s daughter Mary died, she left the house and a mahogany military chest-of-drawers (George’s chest?) to her servant Elizabeth Napper.

George died on 9th February 1878 and his wife Eliza received arrears of George’s pay totalling £46. George was buried at Westbury-on-Trym Church, Bristol. The inscription on the Memorial reads:

In memory of
Captain George Cruse
Who served for 33 years
In the Royal Dragoons
And died at Redland on the 9th February 1878
Aged 59 years

Erected by brother officers
As a mark of their esteem

There is a further inscription on the side of grave which reads: "Also in memory of Eliza wife of Captain George Cruse who died in February 1908".

George's daughter Mary Anna never married and died in 1936 in Bristol.

The following was letter was sent by George Cruse to his father-in-law, Sam Woolley, from the Crimea. The letter is dated just eight days after the Charge of the Light Brigade.

Camp before Sebastapol
Nov 2nd 1854

My Dear Father

I posted a letter yesterday for dear Lizzie, but I have just acclaimed that the mail does not leave until tomorrow, so I have taken the opportunity of scribbling a few lines to you as I am quite certain you will all be anxious to get the latest intelligence from me, and knowing you to be fond of Military affairs and also able to comprehend any little tactic which I may be enabled to describe I have enclosed a rough sketch of the action before Balaklava on the 25th Oct and though it is a rough affair in every sense of the word ? as I said before, I think it will be rather interesting to all my dear friends at Peterborough. I will now endeavour to explain the movements of the troops on that day and describe the little sketch as well as my poor abilities will admit. You will see our encampment was nearly at the end of a large plain about 3 miles from the height – near the village of Kamara and between the two roads leading to Sebastapol.

The 93rd Highlanders were posted on our right front so as to protect the road leading to Balaklava, there was also a larger body of Turks on the right of the Highlanders. The heights round about Balaklava are well defended by Sailors and Marines so that the Russians will have a difficult job to retake that place. The Russian army was posted some few miles behind the height which were defended by the Turkish redoubt, and the whole of the heights round about that spot and near the village of Kamara had picquets and videttes(?) posted on them. We thought ourselves in a pretty decent position forgetting that our own Countrymen did not defend the Redoubts. As I mentioned in my former letter, we were always saddled and mounted by three o’clock in the morning; so on the morning of the 25th, about half past five we were roused by hearing the guns from all the redoubts open fire, and several of the picquets were sent in to give intelligence that the enemy was advancing in great force. Of course we were not long in advancing at a smart trot to the positions described in the sketch in rear of the redoubts defended by Turks and which the Russians were attacking in great force – our horse artillery was sent forward between the two large redoubts and opened a brisk fire but were soon obliged to retire as the Russian guns quite overpowered these and they lost several men and horses. The Russian guns began to advance and several round shot fell into ranks, breaking the legs of two horses and one large ball struck a man named ‘M’ right in the face, of course killing him instantly. I have marked the spot where he fell. The shot began to fall so thick around us that the men began to bob their heads which made ‘L’ and I pitch into them for being so foolish, just as if they could avoid a 32lb shot by moving their heads one side or another. Just about this time, the Turks fled in confusion down the hill towards us, abandoning the redoubts in a shameful manner.

The Russians came up in dense masses and bringing up their heavy guns with them, besides moving those the Turks had abandoned. They opened such a fire upon us that we could do nothing but retire, which we did about half a mile behind our encampment. Our tents had in the meantime been struck, but of course in the confusion they could not be packed up, and we had the pleasure of galloping over all our little property. We did not know at first whether the Russians would advance to us or not, but in about half an hour we saw an immense body of cavalry approaching, preceded by a cloud of Cossacks. One wing of them prepared to charge the 93rd, which you will see by the sketch, while the other wing prepared to charge us. It appears they had mistaken the 93rd for Turks, but when they came within 100 yards of them they were soon convinced of their error, for the highlanders (without forming a square), poured in such a volley upon them that they were glad to retire. Meanwhile, the other body came down in a very compact manner to attack us, but as we charged them, as you see by the sketch (Royals and Greys leading), they soon retired in great disorder leaving many on the field, but we did not follow them. They retired in great haste to the other side of the heights, and as our generals went to reconnoitre, they found the Russians strongly posted in the position which I have endeavoured to sketch. We remained at the edge of this height for some time, meanwhile a message had been sent to Lord Raglan, and reinforcements of infantry began to arrive. Some little time after, Captain 'N' rode up and gave the order to drive the enemy from their position.

We advanced over the heights to attack them, the Light Brigade leading the Greys, and we following, and the other heavy regt. in the rear; nothing could be more bold and daring than the advance of the Light Brigade who darted forward at a tremendous speed. They galloped right up to the position and cut down the gunners of the 30 guns in front, but the immense body of infantry in rear of the guns poured in such volleys upon them that as we advanced to the support, I could scarcely see a mounted man returning. Lord Cardigan saw that we had rushed upon an overwhelming force with a mere handful, and he ordered us to retire, but meanwhile we had been halted just between the fires of the cross batteries, which were also well filled with riflemen, and it was just at this spot that our officers and men were cut down. We retreated in a very orderly manner and our men did not bob their heads as they did in the morning, but it was the opinion of all the old officers present that in no previous battle on record was a body of cavalry exposed to such a murderous fire. How we escaped (a single man of us), God alone knows, and I am sure I have reason to remember his mercies as long as I live, for bringing me safely out of such a carnage. I could describe the affairs much better than I can write a description of it, but as I am denied the pleasures of a fire-side chat, I hope you will be able to understand the rough manner in which I have sketched it. We retired to the edge of the heights, which the Russians had been driven from, and after lighting fires to deceive them, we retired to our old ground, packed up our tents, and drew our picquet poles and ropes and retired about two miles nearer to Sebastopol. It was twelve o’clock before we lay down, having been out twenty-one hours that day, the men had scarcely any refreshment for that day, but I began to look out for number one. We have shifted camp twice since then but we are now pretty close to Sebastopol, which has been bombarded now seventeen days; there is a rumour of its being stormed tonight, but I cannot vouch for the truth of it, and as my paper is now pretty full, I must say good night and God bless you my dear father, and believe me your affectionate son,

George Cruse


Letters from George’s Commanding Officer recommending his promotion:

Camp near Balaclava
11th December 1854

Sir,

In having been notified in the general orders of the 9th December that the Regiment under my command is to receive an augmentation of two troops by which augmentation it appears probable that the present riding master of the Royal Dragoons, being Senior Lieutenant and a Subaltern of 22 years standing, will be promoted to the rank of captain. I beg most respectfully to forward the name of a most deserving non-commissioned officer. No. 616 Troop Sergeant Major Cruse is excellently adapted to fill that appointment – I consider him to be a man of excellent ability, he has always been a very high character in the regiment and had received a superior education previous to his entering the army; has been through a course of instruction at the Riding Establishment under Major Meyers (?) from whom he obtained a very high certificate and he was ? Sergeant for nearly six years in the Royal Dragoons - I have therefore the honour to request that the Earl of Lucan will be kindly pleased to recommend Troop Sergeant George Cruse for the appointment of Riding Master to the Royal Dragoons in the event of that situation falling vacant – I should also add that he is equally qualified for the post of Adjutant.

[The rest of the letter concerns the recommendation for promotion of John Lees.]

I enclose a statement of service of both ??? officers and a medical certificate of their fitness for service.

I have the honour to be
Sir
Your most obedient
Humble Servant
Robert Wardlaw
Major Royal Dragoons

Lord Lucan
11 December 1854

Royal Dragoons
Troop Sergeant Major
Geo. Cruse

Regimental Sergeant Major
John Lee

Cavalry Camp
December 11th 1854

Sir

? ? ? to enclose
a recommendation from
Major Wardlaw commanding the
Royal Dragoons for two non-
Commissioned officers of
The Regiment under his command to
Be appointed commissioned to the cavalry
And that ? ? ?
? they to ?
? recommendations
to the favourable consideration
of the Field Marshall
? ……………………..

Camp near Balaklava
13th February 1855

Sir,

I had the honour to forward to you through the Lieutenant General commanding the Cavalry on this December last a letter recommending Sergeant Major George Cruse of the Regiment under my command for promotion to the appointment of Riding Master and requesting that the Commander in Chief would be pleased to ? his name to the Authorities at the Horse Guards. Finding that the General Commander-in-Chief had not received my recommendation of the above named non-commissioned officer on the 26th of January I beg again respectfully to recommend him as extremely well adapted for that situation and in every way worthy of promotion to the rank of a commissioned officer. In case of former documents having been mislaid I enclose a certified record of service and the proper medical certificate –
Trusting that the Commander in Chief may be pleased to forward this recommendation to the horse guards at an early opportunity.

I have the honour to be
Sir
Your most obedient Humble Servant
Robert Wardlaw
Major Royal Dragoons

The Military Secretary
Headquarters before Sebastapol

Camp near Balaklava
16th February 1855

Sir,

I had the honour in December last to forward to you through the Military Secretary to Field Marshal Lord Raglan a letter containing a strong recommendation on my part on behalf of Troop Sergeant Major (now Regimental Sergeant Major) George Cruse of the 1st Royal Dragoons for promotion to the rank of coronet and the appointment of Riding Master vacated by Captain Chamberlain on his succeeding to a troop in consequence of the augmentation – as it appears by a letter dated Horse Guards 26th January 1855 that "no recommendation on the part of his commanding officer had been received up to that date." I beg again most respectfully to bring before your notice this non commissioned officer as most deserving of promotion and most excellently qualified for the Riding Mastership having received a very good certificate from Major Meyers (?) when at Maidstone and having been rough riding sergeant for six years in the regiment. In my former letter I enclosed a medical certificate and record of service, and I have again done it through the Military Secretary here. Trusting that my anxiety to serve a non commissioned officer whose zeal and merits I have observed both at home and in the Crimea may excuse the liberty I have taken in again forwarding a recommendation in his favour.

I have the honour to be
Sir
Your most obedient and humble servant
Robert Wardlaw
Major Royal Dragoons

The Military Secretary
Horse Guards

More on Jeremiah Cruse the land surveyor

I have been advised that Jeremiah Cruse (1758-1819) has a few mentions in a recently reprinted book Memoirs of William Smith written by his nephew John Phillips in 1844. William Smith, the geologist, was in partnership with Jeremiah Cruse in Bath. The 2003 reprint of the book was issued by the Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution in a very limited edition in 2003. The reprint contains additional material compiled by Professor Hugh Torrens, recently retired Professor of Geology at Keele University, and the author of the article "A family's origins and an incredible coincidence: the Cruse family of Bath, Avon and Warminster, Wiltshire". The book also contains a photograph of the Trim Bridge property where Jeremiah worked with William Smith. Further details of the book can be found on the website of the Royal Bath Scientific and Literary Institution.

Alfred Brace Cruse of India and Ceylon

David Cruse has sent me some wonderful material about Alfred Brace Cruse which I am delighted to publish here. Alfred was born on 21st September 1843 in Warminster, Wiltshire, and was the son of Thomas Cruse, a land surveyor and estate agent, and Ann Brace. Alfred married Elizabeth Ann Fonseca on 23rd February 1864 in Blacktown, Madras, India. At the time of the marriage he was described as a coffee planter. Alfred and Elizabeth had two children: Annie Florence, born in 1874 in Ceylon (Sri Lanka), and Arthur Edmund Cruse, born in 1879 in Ceylon. Arthur's wife died of sunstroke on 25th April 1880 in India. On 7th September 1880 he married Emma May Luttriel. They were married for just four years before Alfred died of cholera on 7th October 1884. Alfred is another illustrious descendant of the tree which originated in Rode, Somerset. Melanie McNaught, Alfred's great-granddaughter, has very kindly supplied the photograph.

The following obituary, transcribed by David Cruse, was published in the Minutes of the Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers (Vol. Ixxxii. Session 1884-85. Part iv) and provides a fascinating account of Alfred's distinguished career.

Obituary
ALFRED BRACE CRUSE, born on the 21st of September, 1843, was the eldest son of Thomas Cruse, of Warminster, Wilts, land-agent and surveyor, and grandson of Joseph Brace, of Bath, who for many years was associated with Sir John Rennie, Past-President Inst. C. E. in engineering works. He was educated at Lord Weymouth's Grammar School, Warminster, and then entered his Father's office in which he remained until July 1860, when he sailed for India, under a three years' engagement with Mr. Alpin Grant Fowler, owner of coffee estates in the Neilgherry Hills. Having completed this engagement, and finding the position, after Mr Fowler's death, not altogether advantageous, he removed to the city of Madras, where he gained the notice of some influential friends, and through them a situation with the Madras Railway as Inspector of Works, being stationed for two years at Cuddapah. In November 1866 he entered the service of the Madras Irrigation and Canal Company, under Mr. J. H. Latham, M. Inst. C. E., the Chief Engineer, and was first employed on the surveys of the Nellore branch, 100 miles in length, and subsequently as Assistant Engineer on the construction of the Pennair Anicut; also in laying out the line and on the construction of 8 miles of navigable canal, with its connected aqueducts, locks, bridges, and culverts. In 1871 he left the continent for Ceylon, having obtained an appointment as Assistant Engineer in the Public Works Department. At this time his principal work was constructing tanks and canals near Matara, in the Southern Province, upon which many hundred coolies were employed. In 1872 he had charge of the construction of the Elle Halle Tank, in doing which he found it hard work to make the surveys, and run the levels, through thick jungle (abounding with leeches innumerable), and to follow contours of the hill-sides some 30 or 40 miles round. This tank contained 240 acres of water surface. In the following year he was in charge of 400 miles of roads, besides buildings, and five taluks. He afterwards went to Denegama, where he completed the Ellawela irrigation works; superintended those in Upper Gangaboda Pattuwa; improved Kekanadure channels, to facilitate the distribution of water, and by December 1876 finished the repairs of the Denegama Tank.

In 1878 a famine occurred in Ceylon, which greatly taxed the powers of those in authority in providing food and labour. In 1879 Mr. Alfred B. Cruse was employed on some surveys for village tanks near Panadura, in the Western Province. He had also charge of the relief works near Colombo, upon which about two thousand villagers were employed. The work (one of several schemes surveyed by him) was a flood-outlet at Talpitiya, about 19 miles on the road towards Galle, by which lands in the Ratnapura and Kalutara districts were drained, and rendered capable of being cultivated. In 1880 he was at Beregama, surveying for a channel 7 miles long, running through dense jungle.

Early in 1881 he was, at the instance of his old chief, Mr. J. H. Latham, appointed divisional engineer of the lower part of the Madras Irrigation Canal, 82 miles, then in thorough working order; but some masonry works, including a large wharf and warehouse, as well as divisional office, docks, and foreman's hut, were in progress. Next he became Local Fund Engineer at Cuddapah, and had charge of 63 miles of canal, which was used for both irrigation and navigation, and in 1883 accepted a similar appointment at Ongole, 75 miles from Nellore. In 1884 he removed in the same capacity to Ellore, and in October of that year he obtained an advanced post, and went to Cocanada to take over the charge of his new position; but on returning to Ellore he was seized with cholera, and died, after a few hours' illness, on the 7th of October, 1884, leaving a widow and two children.

Twenty-four years' continuous residence in the East, especially in unhealthy parts of Ceylon, had caused Mr. Cruse to become a victim to temporary attacks of neuralgia and fever, but few men of an English constitution could so long have endured the Indian climate, with the amount of labour and responsibility which he sustained. He was regarded as a hard-working, intelligent, and trustworthy officer, of unimpeachable character, and was a valuable acquisition on any staff. He was warm-hearted, and kept up constant communication with his home friends.

The following testimonials, again transcribed by David Cruse, are all in the collection of Melanie McNaught:

Reservoir Surveys, Bellary
Shemoga, May 3rd, 1869.

Mr. A. B. Cruse has on my recommendation been appointed Assistant Engineer on the Co.’s staff. He is very accurate and methodical in all he does and his stated facts can be thoroughly relied on. For the whole of the setting out of the Canal near Cuddapah, its anicut, aquaducts, in fact the whole of the work, whether masonry or earthwork, I relied and properly so on him, and he is as good in office as in out-of-door work, and his delineation of work on Paper is admirable. I speak from the experience of some Years.

(Signed) FREDERICK EAST
M. Inst. C. E.


Madras Irrigation and Canal Co.,
Shemoga, November 3rd, 1869

My Dear Roberts,

Cruse, whose name I think I must have mentioned to you, and who has been with me 3 years or more, wants your interest.

He is Assistant Engineer with our Company but wants to leave if he can make interest elsewhere. He is an Englishman, thoroughly understands all that has to be done in work, is very correct and is a first rate field hand. Can you get him something worth having with West or whoever has charge of the new lines, or in another way can you forward his views. I strongly recommend him.

Yours sincerely,
(Signed) FREDERICK EAST.


No. 520.
Madras Irrigation and Canal Co.,
Pennnair Division,
Adamapully, 29th April, 1870.

A. B. CRUSE, Esq.,
Assistant Engineer.

Sir,

Herewith I have the honor to forward to you two letters received from the Agent and Manager yesterday evening.

One of which, No. 111, is the usual form of notice that your services with this Company will terminate on the 31st October. I need scarcely add, how very sorry I am that such notice is rendered absolutely necessary on account of diminution of the Company's funds, and how very sorry I shall be to lose the services of so able an Assistant Engineer as yourself.

I have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
(Signed) WILLIAM RIDLEY,
Executive Engineer.


Madras Irrigation and Canal Co.,
Pennair Division,
Adamapully, 29th April, 1870.

I have had the pleasure of knowing Mr. A. B. Cruse for nearly three years, and during a portion of this time he has been serving on the above Works under me as Assistant Engineer.

I cannot speak too highly of his abilities. He is zealous, accurate, and painstaking in all his work. He is thoroughly competent to carry out the duties of an Assistant Engineer. I have had many opportunities of witnessing his energy and method of working. He is quite competent in laying out Works, Surveying and Levelling, and generally of Superintending Works. Some of the largest masonry works on this Division have been most creditably executed under his immediate superintendence. For more than twelve months he has had charge of over eight miles of Canal — including earthworks and masonry — and the manner in which this length has been conducted reflects the highest credit upon him.

The general reduction of the Staff of Engineers, owing to the approaching completion of the Works is the cause of his having to leave.

I feel confident that wherever Mr. Cruse is employed he will give the same satisfaction as he has hitherto done, not only to myself but to the other Engineers who have had charge of the Pennair Division under whom he has been serving — all of whom speak very highly of him.

(Signed) WILLIAM RIDLEY,
M. Inst. C. E.


Madras Irrigation and Canal Co.,
Chief Engineer’s Office
Kurnool, 6th May, 1870.
Memo.

Mr A. B. Cruse was appointed 28th November, 1866, as Surveyor on the Nellore Surveys, and was transferred from Nellore to Pennair on the 13th April, 1867, to assist in the construction of the Main Canal and Anicut across the Pennair. His salary was increase on the 17th February 1868.

Promoted from Surveyor to Assistant Engineer on the 17th August, 1868 with increased salary.

Salary increased again 5th March, 1869.

Mr Cruse fairly won his promotion by the success which attended his energy and care when engaged on Works in the Pennair Division.

His superior's wishes seem to me to have always been faithfully and prudently carried out, his field work has always been highly valued by his Divisional Engineer.

I regret that under present circumstances of the Company have not been able longer to defer his discharge.

(Signed) JOHN H. LATHAM


To A. B. Cruse, Esq.
Chief Engineer.
Ootacamund, 13th May, 1870

I have great pleasure in testifying herewith to the value of Mr. A. B. Cruse’s services. He has been employed on the 10th section for upwards of three years, a great part of which time he was my only Assistant. I always found him a most willing and zealous Engineer and shall be most happy to do anything in my power to obtain him further employment.

He is leaving this company’s services on account of the reduction of the staff, owing to the completion of the work.

(Signed) HARRY P. HIGGINSON
M. Inst. C. E.,
Executive Engineer, 10th Section
M. I. & C. Co.


Madras Irrigation and Canal Co.,
Agent’s Office
Madras, 16th May, 1870

My Dear Mr. Mackenzie,

As our Works are approaching completion we are obliged to dispense with the services of a great number of Engineers.

Mr. A. B. Cruse is one of those I am very anxious to be employed again.
He is one of our Assistant Engineers, and has been employed by us for three years and a half; during that period he has given great satisfaction, to all the Officers under whom he has worked.

He is a hard-working, intelligent, trustworthy Officer of unimpeachable character, and would be an acquisition wherever Works are going on. I understand that Engineers are likely to be required for the Carnatic Railway, with which you are connected, and I am sure that Mr. Cruse will be found a valuable Officer if a vacancy offers for him at this Work.

(Signed) FR. HARTWELL HENSLOW,
Agent and Manager


Kurnool, 15th August, 1870.

My Dear Mr. Cruse,

I am glad to hear that you commence your work on distribution to-day. I am very glad that you should have an opportunity, on a distinct piece of work, in gaining full credit for the care and diligence I am sure you have always bestowed on your work.

Yours very truly,
(Signed) JOHN H. LATHAM


Kurnool., 28th February, 1876.

My Dear Sir,

I have much pleasure in proposing you as an associate of the Institution.
Your letter would have been answered earlier had it been possible. I have been in camp and very busy.

I am not in a position to offer any permanent employment to you now. I am glad to see that you have had no idle time since you left.

Yours very truly
(Signed) JOHN H. LATHAM


A. B. Cruse, Esq.
Colombo, 15th May, 1877.

This is to certify that Mr A. B. Cruse has been for about 6 years in the Irrigation Branch of the Public Works Dept., Ceylon, during which time he has been in charge of two important Tanks, Halli Ella and Ela Vella, the works of which he has carried out extremely well, and especially the latter. The works consist in both cases of a high bund with sluice tower, culvert, and spill water. He has also been employed in the reconstruction of a bund at Denegama Tank, which had previously, when in other hands, twice failed, and his work here has been excellent, and, considering all the difficulties of a very bad site, cheap.

I give this certificate to Mr Cruse as I am about to resign my appointment under the Ceylon Govt in whose service Mr. Cruse still remains.

(Signed) C. WOODWARD, Capt., R. E.,
Asst. for Irrigation to the Director
Public Works, Ceylon.


No. 904
Colombo, 4th August 1879
From: THE PROVINCIAL ASST., P. W. D.,
To: THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS,
Ceylon.

Sir,

I have the honor to forward the enclosed application for an increase of salary from Mr Cruse of the Irrigation Department and to state that this officer has done good service in the construction of the Flood Outlet Channel at Talpitya, and at the Irrigation Works at Wean Watta Wewa.

(Signed) F. VINE.
Provincial Assistant,
P. W. D.

Robson Cruse and the Battle of Trafalgar

Russell Cruse has alerted me to an interesting website which has some fascinating information about the HMS Tonnant, the ship on which Robson Cruse served as a midshipman in the Battle of Trafalgar.

HMS Tonnant was fourth in line in Admiral Collingwood's column and was the only 80-gun ship in Lord Nelson's fleet at Trafalgar. She was at the centre of the action throughout the battle and fought at close quarters with the 74-gun Algesiras, the flagship of the French Admiral Magan.

Twenty-six men from the HMS Tonnant were killed at the Battle of Trafalgar. The National Archives has a list of the names of all the men killed in action. A further fifty men from HMS Tonnant were injured in the battle. Robson Cruse must have been an incredibly brave and lucky man.

The ship's captain, Charles Tyler, was severely wounded in the battle by a musket ball in his right thigh. Tyler was awarded the Naval Gold Medal for his valour and a sword of honour from the Patriotic Fund. His medal was auctioned by Bonhams in July 2005 and sold for £89,600. His Trafalgar Sword and Belt sold for the astonishing sum of £179,200. Also included in the auction was an intriguing item described as "The Glorious Victory of the 21" by Charles Tyler, Captain of HMS Tonnant, which sold for £4,800.

Lieutenant Robson Cruse of the Royal Navy

While following up on the tree of the Cruses of Rode, Somerset, I became intrigued by the story of Robson Cruse who had a short but very eventful life in the Royal Navy. There is much research yet to be done but I thought it would be helpful to provide a summary of what is currently known in the hope that other researchers will be able to add to the existing information.

Robson Cruse was the third son of Jeremiah Cruse the land surveyor and Mary Macey. He was born on 16th June 1785 in Frome, Somerset. He was baptised later that same year in Rode, though we currently have no record of the exact date of his baptism. Robson joined the Royal Navy and was at the first Battle of Copenhagen on 2nd April 1801 and at the Battle of Trafalgar on 21st October 1805. He is listed in the Trafalgar Ancestors database which tells us that at the time of the battle Robson was a 21-year-old midshipman on the HMS Tonnant.

Robson married Christiana Philoena Tresidder on 10th March 1814 in Falmouth, Cornwall. Christiana was born in Falmouth on 2nd November 1784. We have so far found records of six children from this marriage. Their eldest son, John George Tresidder Cruse, was baptised on 26th June 1816 in Falmouth. Their eldest daughter, Mary Philoena Cruse, was baptised on 29th December 1818 in Kingston Deverill, Wiltshire. By 1822 the family were living in Devon and Robson had been promoted to Lieutenant. Twins Emma Charlotte Teresa Cruse and Edwin Corfield Cruse were born on 2nd February 1822 in Torquay, and baptised on 13th February 1822 in the Parish Church of Tormoham. Edwin died just a few weeks later and was buried on 23rd March 1822 at Tormoham. Emma died the following week and was buried on 1st April 1822 at Tormoham. Two more children, again probably twins, Henry William Cruse and Sidney Edward Cruse, were baptised on 23rd August 1827 in Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight. It seems likely that further children were born on the Isle of Wight but the parish registers have not yet been checked.

Robson died on 3rd May 1831 in Speenhamland, Berkshire. His death was announced in The Times on 10th May 1831:

On the 3d last., at Speenhamland, Berks, in the 44th year of his age, Lieut. R Cruse, R.N. He displayed great bravery in rescuing the captain and crew of the Nightingale, wrecked on the Shingles off the Isle of Wight, the 7th of February 1829.

He was buried on 7th May 1831 at St Mary the Virgin in Speen, Berkshire. After Robson's death, Christiana moved back to Cornwall. At the time of the 1841 census she was living at Tyringsham Cottage in Lelant. By 1851 she had moved to The Terrace (later known as Tregenna Terrace) in St Ives. She spent the rest of her days in this house living with her unmarried daughter Mary Cruse and her servant Mary Ann Harris until her eventual death in 1875 at the age of 91 years.

After reading the brief lines in The Times about Robson's heroic act of bravery I couldn't resist checking to see if the newspaper had published a story of the rescue. I was delighted to find that the issue dated 13th February 1829 contained a long account of the disaster which I have transcribed below.

MELANCHOLY SHIPWRECK

YARMOUTH, ISLE OF WIGHT. – On the afternoon of the 7th instant, His Majesty's schooner Nightingale, commanded by Lieutenant George Wood, on her passage from Plymouth to Portsmouth, struck on the Shingles. A signal of distress was made, by firing guns &c and immediate assistance was afforded by Mr. Burnidge, pilot, of Cowes, and also by Lieut. Cruse, R.N., and his boats from Sconce Point coast guard station, who rendered every necessary assistance to get the anchors out at low water; a galley from the Stag revenue cutter also reached the vessel just in time to be of great assistance at low water. About 6 p.m., the wind being light from the N.W., and remarkably fine weather with smooth water, the vessel lying on her starboard bilge, no doubt was apprehended by those on board of the vessel's getting off without any damage; but on the flood tide making, the sea began to rise with the greatest rapidity, and the boats left the shoal and anchored in deep water in safety, ready to come alongside if required. All hands were employed on board in shifting the ballast from the run forward in the hold, securing the hatches and preparing to make sail, not doubting but she would get off. About eight p.m. the sea became so great, that it appeared dangerous for the boats to come alongside, and the foresail was hoisted on the foremast, in hopes it would assist the sea in lifting the vessel off into deep water, every eye on board anxiously watching the Hurst Lights, to see if the vessel changed her position, but to no effect; the chain was unshackled and veered out, the vessel striking hard on the ground; the sea became terrific, and now the vessel laboured much, the starboard bulwarks partly stove in, and the sea making a clear breach over the vessel, which alarmed the poor sailors who were working at the pumps; but being cheered up by the officers, they again went to work; but a heavy and frightful sea now struck the vessel, which washed every soul from one side to the other, the companion and fore-scuttle were washed away, and the vessel filled instantly; the shrieks on board at the instant were horrible, every soul expecting momentary death, and as she now fell on her beam ends, it was with the greatest difficulty all hands could gain the weather rigging. A halloo was made by every one on board as a signal for the boats, but for more than half an hour they were kept in a dreadful suspense, it being very dark and no boat seen; every one became hoarse, and being benumbed with cold and wet, the sea breaking over her in every direction, all hands gave themselves up to despair; at last the joyful sound was heard, "The boats are in sight," yet their crews were afraid to venture near the vessel until they were told there was no danger: but the tide running so rapid, and the poor men being so long in the boats they had the greatest difficulty in getting alongside, which they did one by one, the people lowering and throwing themselves down any how they could into them, being so overcome with joy, having been rescued from the jaws of death, which appeared inevitable; but the divine will of a most merciful Creator ordained it otherwise, and every soul appeared to express his grateful thanks in offering up short but sincere prayers to Almighty God for his safety.

The number of persons saved was 34, 30 of whom consisted of the officers and crew, and the remaining four persons were, Lieutenant Cruse, R.N., Mr. Bennett, chief officer of Hurst station, Robert Dixon, a deputed mariner of the Stag revenue cutter, and Mr. Burnidge, the Cowes pilot, whose vessel took all hands on board from the boats. It is a painful duty to state that the Commander's wife perished on board; the heavy sea which filled the vessel washed the surgeon, who had Mrs. Wood round the waist, from one side of the vessel to the other, and down the hatchway by the mainmast, where she perished; the Surgeon with the greatest difficulty saved himself. The poor Commander, who appears to be worn out in the service, being crippled in both hands, and having been more than 30 years a lieutenant, during which period he has fought many battles, and has been severely wounded (his dear wife sharing those dangers with him), endeavoured to extricate his wife, and got the assistance of a man to put a rope around her, but to no purpose, she was dead; her last words to her husband were, "Ah, my dear children, may the Almighty spare one of our lives for your sakes." Lieutenant Cruse endeavoured all in his power to persuade Mrs. Wood to leave the vessel in one of his boats, long before any danger was apprehended, and pointed out his house near the beach, but no, she would rather be with her husband. He then endeavoured to persuade her to go on board the pilot-boat, where she would be near; but these solicitations were not accepted, and the poor lady seemed determined to await the danger. She has left three children. A poor unfortunate Lieutenant Cole, of the Royal Navy, a passenger on board, and who was insane, was also drowned on board. Several of the officers and seamen, including the Commander, were very much wounded, bruised, and hurt – the latter person was with great difficulty saved. Much credit is due to that zealous officer Lieutenant Cruse, who was the principal instrument in saving the lives with his boats, and who did every thing in his power to get the vessel on, and ordered a sufficient number of boats to be in readiness, as the Nightingale's boats were leaky and unserviceable. Mr. Bennett also did every thing in his power, and was very zealous throughout this trying occasion, and did all he could do to get the vessel off. R. Dixon and all the boats' crews did their utmost, and deserve thanks for their services.

See also the follow up post on Robson Cruse and the Battle of Trafalgar.

Rev. Francis Cruse of Worthing, Sussex

I’ve now been in touch with Mel McNaught who is also descended from the Cruse family of Rode in Somerset. Mel’s great grandmother Annie Florence Cruse was born in Ceylon in 1874. Annie was the daughter of Alfred Brace Cruse, a civil engineer who went out to India in 1860. Alfred married Elizabeth Ann Fonseca in 1864 in Madras. I shall look forward to learning more about the Indian connection in due course.

Mel has kindly sent me this wonderful photograph of Francis Cruse, who was for many years the vicar of Worthing in Sussex.

Francis was born on 4th January 1823 in Warminster, Wiltshire. He was baptised on 1st January 1824 at St Lawrence, Warminster, along with his sister Frances Ann, who is probably his twin. Francis was the son of Jeremiah CRUSE (1781-1861) and Elizabeth KNIGHT (1783-1840) and the grandson of Jeremiah Cruse (1758-1819) the land surveyor.

Francis went to St Edmund Hall, Oxford University, where he matriculated on 5th March 1846 aged 23. He was awarded a BA in 1851. He took up a position as a curate in Earlstoke, Wiltshire, in 1851 and was ordained as a deacon later that same year in the Diocese of Salisbury. The following year he was ordained as a priest. From 1852 to 1856 Francis served as the curate of Great Warley in Essex. In 1853 he married Charlotte Augusta Brace in Bath. In 1856 he moved to London to become the curate of the parish of St Jude in Southwark, where he remained until 1864 when he was appointed as the vicar of Christ Church, Worthing, Sussex. Francis was awarded an MA from Oxford University in 1875. Presumably inspired by his studies Francis wrote a book in 1879 entitled A Few Facts and Testimonies Touching on Ritualism which was written under the pseudonym "Oxoniensis". If anyone is interested in reading Francis's masterpiece the Trinity Library in Toronto have a first edition of the book available online in their open libary. I would, however, not recommend it as bedtime reading!

We are most fortunate to have a contemporary description of the Reverend Francis Cruse and his wife Charlotte from Helen Roberts who lived in Deverell Cottage next door to the vicarage in Worthing. Helen contributed a story called 'The Parlour' to the Past Times Project in which she provides the following description of Francis and Charlotte:

The Vicar, the Reverend Francis Cruse, who had long white hair and a rather sheep-like voice, 'took' young gentlemen who were reading for the Universities. His wife had long grey curls, and must have been the last gentlewoman in Sussex to wear ankle length pantalets. When she walked down the road thus attired, holding her voluminous black skirts high in either hand, she created as much interest as the young gentlemen boarders. They would go down to bathe with bright coloured towel round their necks, or hurry to some tennis party in soft hats embroidered, 'Oscar-Wildely', with sunflowers.

Francis died in 1891 at the age of 67 years.

Jeremiah Cruse the land surveyor

Considerable progress has been made in the last few weeks with the history of the Cruse family of Rode, Somerset. Russell Cruse has sent me a most fascinating article about the serendipitous finding of Jeremiah Cruse's life insurance certificate. The article, by H S Torrens, is entitled "A family's origins and an incredible coincidence: the Cruse family of Bath, Avon and Warminster, Wiltshire" and was published in the Journal of the Bristol and Avon Family History Society in 1984 (volume 34, pp 14-15). Mr Torrens had no ancestral connections to the Cruse family but was interested in them purely in a professional capacity as a historian of geology because of their work as land surveyors. Jeremiah Cruse (1758-1819) was the first in the family to work as a land surveyor, and Mr Torrens had always been curious to find out more about Jeremiah's origins. In February 1978, on a visit to Cambridge, Mr Torrens acquired a letter on a completely unrelated matter and, while attempting to investigate the date of the postmark on the letter, he discovered that one of his colleagues, Dr. Brian Holdsworth, had a particular interest in pre-1840 postal history. The next day Dr. Holdsworth brought into the office a whole package of 1810-1820 items which he had recently sorted. By comparing the handstamp on Mr Torrens' newly acquired letter with other letters of the period Dr. Holdsworth was able to confirm that the letter was dated 1819. By an astonishing coincidence Mr Torrens noticed that one of the letters in the bundle was addressed to a Mr Cruse of 26 St James' Parade, Bath. The letter was a life insurance policy certificate for none other than Jeremiah Cruse! The contents were very brief but provided confirmation of Jeremiah's baptism in Rode, Somerset, a small village some twelve miles south of Bath. Dr Holdsworth had paid four shillings for the letter when a schoolboy many years before for the sake of its Bath Penny Post handstamp. It was apparently the only item in his collection which was of absolutely no interest to read! Mr Torrens does not tell us if he managed to persuade his colleague to part with the letter and its present whereabouts are unknown.

It is probably now an opportune time to provide some details about Jeremiah Cruse's life. No doubt further information will become available as the research progresses.

Jeremiah Cruse was baptised on 9th July 1758 in Rode, Somerset. He was the son of Jeremiah Cruse and Mary Beman. His father was for many years the parish clerk for Rode. Nothing is known of Jeremiah's education and training. The first record we have is that of his marriage to Mary Macey in 1779. Their first two children, Ann and Jeremiah, junior, were baptised in Rode in 1779 and 1781 respectively. The family then moved to Warminster, Wiltshire, where two more children were born, Mary in 1782 and Henry in 1784. The following year they moved back to Somerset, settling in the market town of Frome which was then an important commercial centre with a thriving wool and cloth trade industry. Three further children were born in Frome, Robson in 1785, Elizabeth in 1787, and John in 1789.

The first record of Jeremiah's professional career dates from his time in Frome. In 1785, in partnership with a Mr Battle, Jeremiah produced a manuscript entitled "A Particular Account of the Number of Families & Inhabitants Within the Town and Parish of Frome Selwood in the County of Somerset". The original manuscript is held by the Somerset Archive and Record Service, but a complete transcription has been published online on the Frome Local and Family History website. The document is in effect an early census of Frome (or Frome Selwood as it was then known) and provides information about the names of the masters or mistresses of each family, their occupation, the names of the owners of the houses, the number of males and females in each family and the number of cows kept by each farmer. In addition information was recorded about the number of scribblers and shearmen employed by each clothier, and the number of looms employed by each weaver. Jeremiah appeared in the census as a land surveyor living at the Horse and Groom. The property was owned by George Rabbits and there were four males and four females in Jeremiah's family.

In about 1792 Jeremiah moved to Warminster to take up employment with the Marquis of Bath. His son, Jeremiah, junior, then aged about 12, was also found employment on the Longleat estate. Jeremiah's plans for Longleat were published in 1792 and that same year he also produced "A Plan of the Division of that part of Road [Rode] Common which lies within the Manor of Road and North Bradley in the Counties of Somerset and Wilts". The original watercolour on parchment map is held by the Somerset Archive and Record Service.

Jeremiah was by now moving in influential circles and his status was no doubt boosted by his membership of the freemasons. He was admitted to the Royal Clarence Lodge in Frome on 7th September 1792. By this time he was described as a "gent".

In 1802 Jeremiah went into partnership with William Smith in a land surveying business called Smith and Cruse. William Smith (1769-1839) is often named as the Father of English Geology. Smith and Cruse were based at 2 Trim Bridge, Bath. The original premises still exist today and the shop is now a Grade II listed building. There is a photograph of the shop on English Heritage's Images of England website.

In 1803 Jeremiah was commissioned to produce a "Plan of Part of the Turnpike Road leading from Wells towards Bristol and also of a proposed New Road leading through Walcoomb and through the Lands of P. Sherston & C. Tudway Esquires to unite with the Present Road near the 2.d Mile Stone". This plan also survives in the collections of the Somerset and Archive Record Service.

In 1810 tragedy struck when Jeremiah's wife died at the relatively young age of 50. His period of mourning was however short-lived and on 1st January 1811 Jeremiah married Mary Portus in what was no doubt a very grand ceremony at Bath Abbey.

In 1812 Jeremiah produced a large plan of the Somerset Coal Canal. This fine example of his work is today preserved in Bath Reference Library.

In 1813 Jeremiah compiled a detailed map and survey of landholdings in the parish of Frome, Somerset, with the names of the owners and occupiers of the various properties. A full transcription of the survey together with a high-resolution image of Jeremiah's map can be found on the Frome Family and Local History website in the section on property.

1813 was a busy year for Jeremiah also drew a map of the manor of Buckland Dinham, which was then the undivided property of Sir Henry Strachey Baronet and Sir Charles Warwick Bampfylde Baronet. Jeremiah also worked on a survey and valuation of Sparkford, in collaboration with John Davidge of Castle Cary, in preparation for the making of a poor rate in July 1813. In 1815 Jeremiah was commissioned by Sir Henry Strachey to produce a map of the manor of Elm, and in 1818 he produced "A map of the parishes of Berkley and Standerwick in the county of Somerset on which are delineated the Allotments of the Open and Commonable Lands and Exchanges made under the act of parliament by me Jeremiah Cruse, the Commissioner". All four maps are preserved in the collections of the Somerset and Archive Record Service.

There are no doubt many other examples of Jeremiah's work which are held in private collections or public archives elsewhere.

Jeremiah died on 11th December 1819 at his house at 26 St James's Parade, Bath. He was buried on 16th December at St James's Church, Bath. An obituary was published in the Salisbury and Winchester Journal on 20th December 1819.

On the 11th inst. died at his house in Bath. Mr. Jeremiah Cruse, landsurveyor, aged 61: he will be long and sincerely lamented; he was for years the highly respectable head of the Frome Lodge of Freemasons, and was present at a late masonic festival, attended by his five sons.

Jeremiah's fifth son is at present a mystery as no record of his birth has yet been found. He was probably born in Bath and was the product of Jeremiah's second marriage to Mary Portus. Many of Jeremiah's children also had very distinguished careers. Jeremiah junior served for more than 67 years as a faithful clerk, conveyancer and accountant in the stewardship of the Longleat Estate. Henry became an accountant and served as the parish clerk for the parish of Frome. Robson was a lieutenant in the Royal Navy and fought at the Battle of Trafalgar. John became an attorney's clerk. Jeremiah's youngest daughter Marie Antoinette was a schoolmistress. Jeremiah, junior, Henry and John all became freemasons and, like their father, were members of the Royal Clarence Lodge in Frome. We will no doubt be returning to learn more of this illustrious family in the near future.

The Cruses of Rode, Somerset

Russell Cruse has been in touch concerning my posting about Archelaus Cruse the newsvendor of St Botolph, Aldersgate. Russell has been researching the Cruse family from Rode in Somerset. He has in his tree an Archelaus Cruse who was born in 1760 in Rode. It would appear that this Archelaus is the one who moved to Aldersgate and became a newsvendor. It is such an unusual name that it seems most unlikely that there could be anyone else of the same name living at the same time. The evidence seems even more convincing as the Archelaus born in Rode had a brother called Jeremiah born in 1758, and Archelaus the newsvendor named his second son Jeremiah, presumably after his brother.

Jeremiah Cruse from Rode was a well respected land surveyor and also the head of the Frome Lodge of Freemasons. His son Robson Cruse, born in 1785 in Rode, had a distinguished naval career. He was at the first Battle of Copenhagen on 2nd April 1801 and was a midshipman on the HMS Tonnant at the Battle of Trafalgar on 21st October 1805. He subsequently became a Lieutenant and was involved in the dramatic rescue of the officers and crew of the Nightingale when it ran into trouble off the coast of the Isle of Wight in 1829. One of Jeremiah's grandsons, George Cruse, born in 1818 in Frome, Somerset, served in the King's First Royal Dragoon Cavalry Regiment, fighting at the Battle of Balaclava on 25th October 1854 and later at the siege of Sebastapol.

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.