Thomas Crack was born 23 December 1805 and baptised 12 January 1806 at Whepstead, a son of Thomas Crack and Susan formerly Marshall.
He married Miranda Wade 29 May 1826 at Hawstead (next to Whepstead).
In 1841 at Bridewell Lane, Bury St Edmunds, Thomas was aged 40, a labourer, Marinder (or Mirander, the writing was unclear) was aged 40, Charles (female!) was aged 13, Mahala was aged 13, James was aged 8, William aged 6 and Susanna aged 2. All were born in the county.
Merander Crack was buried 13 April 1846 aged 44 at (and of) St Mary’s Bury St Edmunds.
In 1851, Thomas was an in-patient in the West Suffolk Hospital, Bury St Edunds. He was married, aged 48, a labourer born Whepstead.
Also in 1851, at 2 Pasques Yard, Bury St Edmunds, a James Crack (sic) was head of the household, a widower, age not known but 50 was circled, no occupation but absent had been written here, and no place of birth was given. His single children were Matilda (sic but probably Mahala) aged 20 a house keeper, James aged 18 and William aged 16 both agricultural labourers, Susan aged 13 and Moranda aged 6 months (sic), all born in Bury St Edmunds. The three children James, William and Susan prove that the head of the household was not James but the absent hospitalised Thomas.
Thomas Crack was probably buried in the cemetery of St Mary, Bury St Edmunds, 30 March 1861 aged 58.
Thomas and Miranda’s children were:
Charles Crack (1826 – 1894), baptised 30 July 1826 at Whepstead (Thomas and Mirander late Wade, labourer).
In 1851 at St Mary’s Square, Bridewell Lane, Bury St Edmunds, Charles Crack was a visitor in the household of John and Mariah Smith. Charles was aged 23, a labourer born at Whepstead. Also visiting was Mary Ann Clarry, an annuitant aged 24 and born in Bury St Edmunds.
Charles Crack and Mary Ann Clarry were married in the December quarter 1852 in the Bury St Edmunds district.
Mary Ann Crack died in the December quarter 1854 in the Bury St Edmunds district.
A Thomas Charles Crack married Mary Ann Jarvis 4 December 1857 at St Clement, Cambridge. The bride and groom were probably both of full age (no birth years given in the transcription). He was a widower and tobacconist of the parish and a son of Thomas, a labourer. She was a spinster of the parish and a daughter of Richard, a brazier.
In 1861 at 13 Thompsons Lane, Cambridge St Clement, there was a Thomas C. Crack aged 33, a tobacco cutter born at Whepstead with Mary A. his wife aged 23 and born at Soham, Cambs and their daughter Moranda E aged 3 and born at Cambridge. She was registered as Elizabeth Melinda in the March quarter 1858 in the Cambridge district – in all probability ‘Miranda’ was intended but it has metamorphosed into Melinda.
In 1871 in Thompsons’ Lane, St Clement, Cambridge, there was a Charles Crack, aged 42, a tobacco maker born at Whepstead with his wife, Mary A aged 33 and born at Soham and their children Elizabeth aged 13 and Mary A aged 9 both born at Cambridge. With them also was Richard Jarvis, father, a widower aged 68, a tinman born in Royston.
In 1879 Charles Crack of Thompsons Lane a tobacco maker was called to an accidental death of Elizabeth Stamford a neighbour, who had fallen downstairs with a chamber vessel. The vessel had smashed and apparently a piece had cut her throat and she died in hospital[i].
In 1881 at 3 Thompsons Lane, Cambridge, Charles was aged 53, a tobacco maker born at Whepstead. His wife, Mary A. was aged 44 and a Bed Maker (College) born at Soham. Their children were Elizabeth M aged 23, a laundress born at Cambridge and Mary A aged 19, a barmaid born at Cambridge. Also with them were Richard Jarvis, father-in-law, a widower aged 79 born at Soham and nephew Charles Jarman, a blacksmith aged 26 and born at Bury St Edmunds.
In 1891 at 3 Thompsons Lane (The Nine Pin), Cambridge was Charles Crack a widower aged 63, a publican born at Bury Wedstead with Rose Male, aged 26, a general servant born at Cambridge.
Charles Crack died 28 February 1894 (aged 69 and registered in the Cambridge district) and was of Ninepin Court, Cambridge, a retired publican. Probate was granted 5 June 1894 at Peterborough to William Carpenter, railway servant and George Chamberlain, cab proprietor [his two sons-in-law]. His effects were £26.10s.
Charles and Mary Ann’s children were
Elizabeth Moranda Crack (1858 – 1944), birth registered as Elizabeth Melinda in the March quarter 1858 in the Cambridge district. She was baptised as Elizabeth Moranda at St Clement, Cambridge, 28 March 1858 a daughter of Mary Ann and Thomas Charles Crack of the parish a tobacco maker. Elizabeth Morenda married William William Carpenter in the September quarter 1883 in the Cambridge district. In 1891 at 59 York Street, Cambridge, William was aged 29 a railway porter, Elizabeth M his wife was aged 33 and their children were Gertrude M aged 6, Charles W aged 4, William J aged 3 and Sykes J aged 3 months. All were born in Cambridge. In 1901 at 27 Thoday Street, Cambridge, William was aged 39 a checker GER Goods, Elizabeth M, 42, Gertrude M 16 a dressmakers apprentice, Charles W 14 an errand boy,Wiliam J 13, Margaret L 8 and Sidney B 7, all were born in Cambridge. In 1911 in six rooms at the same address William was aged 49 a checker GE Railway and Elizabeth Morenda 52. They had been married for 27 years and they had had 6 children one of whom had died. Their children were Gertrude Mary 26 a dressmaker working on her own account at home, Charles William 24 a blacksmith, Margaret Louise 18 a domestic at home and Sydney Bernard 17 a gardener. All were born in Cambridge. Elizabeth M. died in the March quarter 1944 in the Cambridge district aged 85. Their children were
Gertude Mary Carpenter, birth registered as Gertrude Mary in the Chesterton district in the March quarter 1885.
Charles William Carpenter, birth registered in the Cambridge district in the September quarter 1886.
William James Carpenter, birth registered in the Cambridge district in the March quarter 1888.
Sykes John Carpenter (1891 – 1891), birth and death registered in the Cambridge district 1891, in the quarters March and September (aged 0).
Margaret Louise Carpenter, birth registered as Margaret Louisa in the September quarter 1892 in the Cambridge district.
Sidney Bernard Carpenter, birth registered in the June quarter 1894 in the Cambridge district.
Mary Ann Crack, birth registered in the September quarter 1861 in the Cambridge district. She was baptised at St Clement, Cambridge 22 September 1861 a daughter of Mary Ann and Charles Crack, of Thompsons Lane, a journeyman tobacconist. She married William George Chamberlain in the March quarter 1885. In 1891 at 34 Thompson’s Lane, Cambridge William was 28 a cab proprietor and Mary A 29 and both were born in Cambridge. There were no others present. In 1901 at 1 Ninepin Court, Cambridge William G was 38 a cab proprietor working on his own account. Mary A was 39 and their children were Charles J 6, Ellen EM 4, Emma E 3 and William G 1. All were born in Cambridge. In 1911 at 4 Thompsons Lane in 5 rooms, William was 48 a cab driver on his own account. Mary was 49. They had been married for 26 years and had had 4 children all of whom were living (curiously none were born in the first 10 years of marriage - Percy John (Freebmd 1887) and Jack (Freebmd 1892) are children of another couple). With them were their children Charles 16 an errand boy booksellers, Nelly 14 at home, Emma 13 and William 11, all born at Cambridge. Also with them was a nephew, Charles Stubbings aged 31 a general porter, born at Cambridge.
Their children were
Charles John William Chamberlain, birth registered in the March quarer 1895 in the Cambridge district. He was baptised 4 April 1895 at St Clement a son of Mary Anne and William George Chamberlain a cab driver of Nine Pin Court.
Eleanor Emma May Chamberlain, birth registered in the September quarter 1896 in the Cambridge district. She was baptised at St Clement 23 October 1896 a daughter of Mary Anne and William George of Nine Pin Court a cab driver.
Emma Amelia Chamberlain, birth registered in the March quarter 1898 in the Cambridge district. She was baptised at St Clement 4 February 1898 a daughter of Mary Ann and William George of Nine Pin Court a cab driver.
William George Chamberlain, birth registered in the June quarter 1900 in the Cambridge district. He was baptised at St Clement 14 April 1900 a daughter of Mary Ann and William George of Nine Pin Court a cab driver.
Mahala Crack, probably born 8 February and baptised 17 April 1831. The first name of the child was blank but it was a child of Thomas Crack (labourer) and Miranda, late Wade, at St Mary, Bury St Edmunds. Her child was
Miranda Crack, born about 1850. She was buried 18 August 1856 in Bury St Edmunds Cemetery aged 6 a daughter of Mahala, Crack.
James Crack, born 8 November 1833 and baptised 23 February 1834 St Mary, Bury St Edmunds, (Thomas, labourer, and Miranda late Wade).
In 1861 at 22 Union Terrace, Bury St Edmunds, James was aged 26, an agricultural labourer born at Bury St Edmunds, his wife Lucy A. was aged 28 and born at Thelnetham and their children were Henry G aged 5, Frances A aged 3 and Myrander aged 14 days, all born at Bury St Edmunds. There were two visitors, Caroline Mann. Single aged 21 and William Mann aged 5 both born at Thelnetham.
William Crack, born 21 August 1836 and baptised 28 February 1837 St Mary, Bury St Edmunds, (Thomas, labourer, and Miranda late Wade)
Susan Crack, born 29 March and baptised 5 May 1839 St Mary, Bury St Edmunds, (Thomas, labourer, and Miranda late Wade)
Posted December 2016