The Family of John Crack (1771 – 1824) of Whepstead and Bury St Edmunds

John Crack was baptised 17 January 1773 at Whepstead, a son of James Crack and Sarah.  This is the only John Crack baptised at Whepstead 1763 – 1783. 

 

He married Ann Bumstead 11 November 1799 at Whepstead. 

 

Their children were not baptised at Whepstead 1799-1819.  It is apparent that he and Ann moved to Bury St Edmunds after marriage for there are four children baptised there between 1800 and 1809 with the mother’s maiden name of Bumstead. 

 

In 1837 John Crack, Sexton of St Mary’s, was convicted of assault on Fred Canham and fined 1s and discharged.  In the election of 1835 monies had been given to the Tories and the Reform parties, which were to have been ‘parted’.  The Reform party had ‘parted’ theirs but the Tory party had instructed John Crack not to ‘part’ theirs, and a dispute arose (Bury and Norwich Post 8 November 1837).

 

In 1841 in Crown Street, Bury, John was aged 67 and sexton.  Ann was aged 67 and Sarah was aged 25. 

 

John Crack was buried at St Mary’s Bury 17 March 1842 aged 68.  He was sexton of St Mary’s. 

 

Ann was buried at St Mary’s 12 March 1850 aged 77.

 

John and Ann’s children were:

William Crack, born 2 September 1800 and baptised 2 November 1800 at St Mary’s Bury, a son of John Crack and Ann (late Bumstead).  He became Parish Clerk of St Mary’s in 1828, when he offered himself as a candidate  (Bury and Norwich Post 11 April 1828) but his vote, by virtue of being clerk, was judged ‘bad’ by commissioners (Bury and Norwich Post 2 October 1833).  In 1851 at 10 Honey Hill, Bury, William was aged 50, parish clerk of St Mary’s and carpenter and born at Bury.  His wife, Bridget, was aged 49 and born at Framlingham and their children were John B aged 21 a printer’s apprentice, William aged 17 a boot and shoemaker’s apprentice and Walter aged 14, all born at Bury.  William Crack had been clerk to St Mary’s church for 40 years and succeeded his father in the post.  He was noted for his civility, punctuality and his exemplary conduct and as an official of the church will be much missed.  (Bury Free Press 9 May 1868).  William and Bridget’s children were:

John Bumpstead Crack (1829 – 1908), born 24 October and baptised 15 November 1829 at St Mary’s, Bury, a son of William Crack (carpenter) and Bridget (late Clodd).  He married Mary Arnold in the June quarter 1865 in the Bury St Edmunds district.  In 1871 at 15 Whiting Street, Bury, John B was aged 41 a printer compositor born at Bury.  His wife, Mary, was aged 39 a milliner and born at High Wycombe and their children were Edith L.A. aged 4 and Ethel M.A. aged 2 both born at Bury.  There was a servant, Emma Hambling, aged 16.  In 1881 at 39 Abbeygate Street, Bury, John B. was aged 49 a printer (compositor) born in Bury.  His wife, Mary, was aged 49 a milliner etc employing 13 hands and born in High Wycombe.    Their children were Ethel M.A. aged 12 and Edward W.A. aged 9 both born at Bury.  There was also a shop assistant, Ellen Cowles aged 20 born at Stitton and a servant, Caroline Petch aged 18 and born at Culford.  In 1891 at 41 Abbeygate, Bury, he was aged 61 a press reader and agent born in Bury.  His wife was Mary aged 59 a milliner and fancy shop keeper born at High Wycombe.  Their children were Edith Louisa Arnold Crack aged 24 a shop assistant burler wool, Edward Walter Arnold Crack aged 19 an assistant librarian both born in Bury.  There were also Louisa Arnold, sister-in-law living on her own means and born at Thetford and a servant, Mary Percy aged 36 and born at Badwell Ash.  In 1901, at 41 Abbeygate Street, he was aged 70 a manager Bury Free Press, newspaper and born at Bury.  His wife was aged 69 running a needlework depot and born at High Wycombe.  Louisa Arnold was a visitor aged 66 and born at Thetford and there were Catherine M.S. Clarke aged 24 an assistant needlework depot born at Bishop’s Stortford and Florence Field a servant aged 15 and born at Stratford.  John’s death was registered in the June quarter 1908 in the Bury St Edmunds district aged 78.

Edith Louisa Arnold Crack, birth registered in the Bury St Edmunds district in the September quarter 1866.  In 1881 she was a boarder aged 14 in Emma Riche’s Ladies School, 7 Northgate, Bury.

Ethel Mary Arnold Crack, birth registered in the Bury St Edmunds district in the September quarter 1868. She married Arthur William Payne at St Mary’s, on ‘Thursday afternoon’ and they were both of Abbeygate Street and honeymooned in Edinburgh (Bury Free Press 31 August 1898).

Edward Walter Arnold Crack, birth registered in the Bury St Edmunds district in the September quarter 1871.

William Crack, born about 1833.

Walter Crack, born about 1836.

Ann Crack, born 14 August 1803 and baptised 28 August 1803 at St Mary’s, Bury, a daughter of John Crack and Ann (late Bumstead).

John Crack (1806 – 1862), born 9 December 1806 and baptised 24 May 1807 at St Mary’s, Bury, a son of John Crack and Ann (late Bumstead).  John Crack junior married Mary Frost, a daughter of the late Joseph Frost on Friday last (Bury and Norwich Post 15 July 1840).  John narrowly failed to win the election on Thursday last for Sexton of St Mary’s (Bury and Norwich Post 30 March 1842) – vacant by the death of his father.  The successful candidate was John Clark, hairdresser with 241 votes and John Crack had 223 votes.  In 1851 at 6 Crown Street, Bury, John was aged 44 a master baker employing 1 man and born in Bury.  His wife, Mary, was aged 49 and born at Harleston.  In 1861 at 6 School Hall Street, Bury, John was aged 54 clerk and Sexton of St St Peter’s Church and born at Bury.  His wife, Mary, was aged 59 and born at Harleston.  John Crack died on 6 March 1862 after a long and painful affliction.  He was of School Hall Street (Bury and Norwich Post 11 March 1862).  He was buried in the Cemetery after a funeral at St Mary’s 11 March 1862 and was aged 55.  Mary Crack, widow of John Crack was elected an inmate of Clopton’s asylum on Monday last (Bury and Norwich Post 2 September 1862).  She probably was buried in the Cemetery after a funeral at St Mary’s 27 February 1868 aged 68.  John and Mary appear to have had no children.

Mary Ann Crack (1809 – 1849), born 27 July 1809 and baptised 6 August 1809 at St Mary’s Bury, a daughter of John Crack and Ann (late Bumstead).  She married Mr Joseph Frost 12 September 1833 at St Mary’s, Bury.  In 1841 at Westgate, Bury, Joseph was aged 35 a currier.  Mary Ann was aged 30 and Daniel was aged 2.  All were born in the county.  She died on Monday 23 April 1849 aged 38. and was the wife of Joseph Frost, currier of this town and a daughter of the late John Crack, Sexton of St Mary’s (Bury and Norwich Post 25 April 1849).  In 1851, at 19 Britain Street, Portsea, Hants, Joseph Frost was a lodger and widower in the household of a lodging house kepper.  He was aged 47 a currier and born at Bury St Edmunds.  There were no other Frosts with him.  Three of his children were lodging at Bury, in the household of Abraham Leeks, a sawyer with three other lodgers.  They were Daniel Frost aged 13, Mary Ann Forst aged 9 and Catherine Frost aged 7, all born at Bury St Edmunds.  In 1861, at 28 Wellingborough Road, Northampton, Joseph Frost was a currier born at Harlston.  His wife, Harriet was aged 47 and born at Portsmouth, and his daughter Elizabeth, aged 19, a shoe closer, was born at Bury St. Edmunds.  In 1871 at 57 Brier Lane, Northampton, Joseph was aged 66 a currier born at Harlston, his wife Harriet was aged 56 and there was a visitor, Alfred Ball aged 43 a boot closer and born at St Pancras.  Joseph died 24 March 1879 at Northampton, a leather seller, formerly of Bury St Edmunds (Ipswich Journal 5 April 1879).  From FreeBMD he was aged 75.  Mary Ann and Joseph’s children were:

Daniel Frost, born 2 May 1839 and baptised 20 June 1839 at St Mary, Bury, a son of Joseph and Mary Ann Frost (innkeeper, late Crack).

Elizabeth Mary Ann Frost, born 10 August and baptised 9 September 1841, at St Mary Bury, a daughter of Joseph and Mary Ann (currier, late Crack).

Catherine Frost, born 10 October and baptised 17 November 1844 at St Mary, Bury, a daughter of Joseph and Mary Ann (currier, late Crack).

Sarah Crack, born about 1815.  On Monday last, Mr Thomas Frost, a son of the late Joseph Frost of Harleston married Sarah Crack a daughter of the late John Crack of this town (Bury and Norwich Post 28 December 1842).  In the censuses of 1851, 61, 71  and 1881, respectively at Churchyard, Crown Street, 42 Crown Street, and 41 Crown Street, Bury St Edmunds, Thomas was aged 41, 51, 61, and 71, currier and gardener of 6 acres employing 1 man, leather seller, currier and leather seller, currier and leather seller and always born at Harleston.  His wife, Sarah was aged 38, 49, 59, and 69 and born at Bury.  Their children were Sarah A. (in 1881 Sarah Amy) aged 6, 16, 26 and 36, a milliner, Elizabeth S. aged 4, 14, 24 and 34, no occupation and Mary J. aged 2 and 13, and then absent in 1871 and 1881, all born at Bury..  In 1871 additionally there was a lodger, George B Parnell aged 19 a banker’s clerk born at Chelsford.  Thomas was buried in the Cemetery, Bury, 13 February 1888 aged 78.  In 1891, at 11 Honey Hill, Sarah was a widow aged 79, Sarah Ann was aged 46 a milliner and dress maker and Elizabeth Sophia who was an epileptic from birth had no occupation.  All were born at Bury.  Sarah’s death was registered in the March quarter 1901 in the Bury St Edmunds district aged 89.  Thomas and Sarah’s children were

Sarah Ann Frost (1844 – 1922), born 18 June 1844 and baptised at St Mary 28 July 1844, a daughter of Thomas (currier) and Sarah (late Crack).  She lived with her parents until her mother’s death and then lived in her mother’s house.  In 1901, at 76 Lewin Road, Streatham, she was a visitor in the household of Ellen Watson a widow living on her own means aged 49 born at Ashfield, Suffolk and her family.  Sarah A was aged 56 and born at Bury St Edmunds.  In 1911 Sarah Ann was aged 66, living on her own at 11 Honey Hill, Bury in 5 rooms.  She was a dressmaker on her own account and born at Bury.  Her death was registered in the June quarter 1922 in the Bury St Edmunds district aged 77.  There is no entry for her in the probate index.

Elizabeth Sophia Frost (1846 – 1895), born 18 August and baptised 31 December 1846 at St Mary, Bury, a daughter of Thomas and Sarah (currier, late Crack, Crown Street).  She always lived with her parents and was an epileptic from birth and was buried in the Cemetery at Bury 7 September 1895 aged 49.

Mary Jane Frost, born 26 November 1849 (transcript, baptism register) but registered December quarter 1848 in the Bury St Edmunds district, and baptised at St Mary 1 July 1850 a daughter of Thomas (currier) and Sarah (late Crack) of Churchyard.  In 1851 and 1861 she was with her parents and is then absent.  No suitable marriage or death has been found.

 

Posted December 2016

Home Page