The background

There is always a small frisson of excitement when a new reference to a previously unseen element pops into the public domain. So it was when the will of John Craxford of Middleton, 1760 (1), appeared in the miscellaneous document lists of the Findmypast website. The name, address and date all contributed to something of a conundrum as there was no immediate candidate in our database that would fit the description perfectly. It became an imperative to see the full text of the missive to determine its veracity.

From the outset, the narrative generated a confusion. The document is in two parts. The first, from February 1760, is the will itself; the second, its proof following his death in June the same year. Although written in a mid eighteenth century script, it is clear that each part was written by a different hand. It is also clear that, whilst the will is proved in the name of CRAXFORD, the will proper was written throughout as CROXFORD.

It is immediately apparent that John came from a large and extended family. He appears to have at least two brothers - one (named) with three daughters; another (not named) with three sons. He may well have had at least two sisters: one married to his "brother", Robert Robinson; the other to someone named Halford. He may also have been a relatively young man, perhaps suffering from a debilitating physical illness, as he does not deny that his wife, Mary, might marry again - and he has only one named child, a daughter who was under twenty one years of age at the time the will was written. There is also reference to his kinsman, a member of the Peach family. Describing himself as "labourer" it is perhaps unusual to have found a will at all. The amount of money involved (about £30), whilst not vast, would be worth about £2,200 at today's prices (2). John could not write his name, he signed his mark, and presumably could not read either.

The question is whether we can determine who John was and appoint him to the correct family.

The Evidence

It is known from the available Parish records that the surname Craxford first appeared in the village of Gretton, Northamptonshire around 1642 (3) with the baptism of Mary, daughter of Richard. Over the course of the next fifty years or so with decreasing frequency some entries were made with the surname spelled as Croxford. The population of the village at the time was in the region of 500 souls and it seems somewhat unlikely that these entries represent two distinct families. The Craxfords were in the main farm workers or peasant labourers and as far as we know remained in the vicinity of the village for the next 100 years.

Middleton is a hamlet situated about a mile east of Cottingham, a village lying in the shadow of Rockingham Castle. Gretton is a further three miles east of Cottingham along the Welland Valley. Over the years Militia lists were kept of all men aged between 18 and 45 who are liable to serve in the militia. The age range meant that it was not a complete listing of all men in a parish. For instance there is no listing for the surname Craxford in the volume published by the Northamptonshire Record Society relating to Northamptonshire militia lists for 1777. There are a few Croxfords listed but not in Gretton, Cottingham or Middleton.

Our explorations have shown that some members of the Craxford family did eventually move along the valley from Gretton to Middleton and subsequently Cottingham but our researches to date led us to believe this was not before about 1800. Discussions with researchers into the Croxford name place their families much further to the south of the county around Daventry and Towcester.

The Postulate

Our "best fit" candidate is John Craxford, who was born in Gretton to Robert Craxford and Mary Burbidge in 1724. John had three brothers and two sisters (that we know of) who lived to adulthood. His older brother Robert had two known daughters, Mary (born 1748) and Sarah (born 1750). His younger brother William had ten children, of which three of the boys were named Robert, William and John (although awkwardly our available records have all three born after John's death!).

We have discovered a "stray" marriage record between a John Craxford to Mary Strickland registered in Uppingham in 1745. Although unconfirmed, the dates and ages of the parties would be appropriate for our subject. Similarly a daughter born soon after that date would still be under 21 years of age by the time of her father's death. Indeed the Latter Day Saints IGI files do record the baptism of Mary, daughter of John and Mary Craxford in Cottingham in 1747 although again this is unsubstantiated.

The loose ends

John requested in his will that he be "buried in a Christian manner". The Parish records for Cottingham have not yet been seen in their entirety but the index files do confirm the burial of a John Craxford on May 28th 1760 (4). It is unfortunate that the graveyard plot index for St Mary Magdalene Church does not date back that far. It is however noteworthy that administration of John's will was granted to his widow, Mary, on June 10th 1760 and that he was "lately decdeased". We do not know what happened to his daughter, Mary, either but the same index lists the burial of a Mary Cracksfoot on November 25th 1773. Examination of the microfiche of Cottingham register 85p/4 confirms the name in question is Mary Cracksfoot although the version of the entry in the Bishop's Transcripts gives the name as Mary Croxford. It does seem that his wife did not remain alone for long. A recently seen entry in the Parish register notes the marriage at St Mary Magdalene between Richard Ashwell and Mary Craxford, a widow, on November 5th 1761.(5)

We should perhaps question the meaning of some of the relationships described in the will. In those days a brother could mean exactly that but could just as easily indicate a brother-in-law or a half- or step- brother. Sister almost certainly is not a reference to a nun, but could be used in the same way as brother. Nephew or niece could be the offspring of ones own siblings or of one's spouse's siblings. Similarly cousin could mean any relative other than brother, sister, parent, aunt or uncle. The term "kinsman" was used to mean a (usually male) blood relation not otherwise specified, a relative by marriage or a person from the same country or ethnic group (6) - depending on the circumstances. It has deeper religious and family connotations in Hebrew.

We are not certain of the relationship of "Kinsman" Robert Peach. Wilbarston is a village some two miles to the east of Middleton, over the border in Leicestershire. We are aware of a Peach family ten miles away to the north in Stoke Dry near Uppingham. A cousin, Elizabeth Craxford, married John Peach in Gretton in 1733.

We have not yet found a Craxford married to a Robinson in this time frame. The Parish records also note the marriage of a Dorothy Croxford to William Hawford in Gretton in 1726. Is this a coincidence of mis-spelled names? We also need to find brother Robert Craxford's daughter, Elizabeth.

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The Transcript

Will of John Croxford, Labourer of Middleton, proved 10 Jun 1760

In the Name of God Amen. The Twenty Sixth Day of February and in the Year of Our Lord 1760, I John Croxford of Middleton in the County of Northampton (Labourer) being sick and weak in Body, but of perfect mind and memory, Thanks be given unto God, Therefore calling unto mind the mortality of my Body, and knowing that it is appointed for all men Once to Die, do make and Ordain this my Last Will and Testament. That is to say principally and first of all I give and Recommend my Soul into the hands of God that gave it. And for my Body I Recommend it to the Earth to be Buried in a Christian like and Decent manner, at the Discretion of my Executrix herein after mentioned. Nothing Doubting but at the General Ressurection I shall Receive The Same again by the mighty Power of God; and touching such wordly Estate whetherwith it hath pleased God to Bless me in this life with: I gave, Devise and Disposed of the same in the following manner and form.

First I give unto my Nephew Robert Croxford the Sum of one shilling to be paid after my Wives Deceas; nextly I give until my Nephew William Croxfor the like Sum of One shilling after my Wives deceas. Also I give to my Nephew John Croxford the Sum of One shillling after my Wives deceas. Also in like manner I give unto my Brother Robert Croxfords three Daughters that is to say Elizabeth, Mary and Sarah to Each of them One shilling a peice after my Wives deceas. In like manner I give unto my Kinsman Robert Peach of Wilbarston the Sum of five pounds of good Lawful money of Great Britain after my Wives deceas. Nextly I give unto my Daughter Mary Croxford, the Sum of Twenty pounds of good Lawful money to be paid to her when coms to the age of Twenty one years old but in case my Wife should happen to Marry again before my Daughter coms to age Then my minde and Will is that my wife shall give to my Daughter the sum of Ten pounds more over and above the Twenty pounds. But in case my Daughter Dies before she coms to age and leaves no issue then her Thirty pounds Shall retourn back againe to her Mother for the term of her Natural Life, and after her Deceas, to be Devided Equally amongest my Sister Halfords children. In like manner I also give unto Mary my well Beloved wife, whom I likewise Constitute, make and Ordain my only Soul Executrix of this my last will and Testament; all my Household goods with all moveable and Stock and all Creditts to me belonging Together with Bills, Bonds and Noats, and all freely to be possesed and Enjoyed by her, She paying my Debts and the within mentioned Legacies and I do Ratifye and Confirm this, to be my last Will and Testament: In Wittness whereof I have hereunto Sett my hand and Seal the Day and Year above written.

Sign'd, Seal'd, Pronounced and Declared by the Said John Croxfor as his last will and Testament in the Presence of us the Subscribers.
[Signatures of:] William Chapman, Henry Darnell, John Spriggs
[Mark of:] John Croxford

June 10th 1760. Mary the Widow and Relict [*] of the within named Testator John Craxford lately deceased, was then sworn that she is the Executrix mentioned and appointed in the within written will, which is the last will and Testament of her late Husband, so far as she knowes and believes, and that she did well and truly Execute and administer the same by paying all the Legacies therein devised, and all the just Debts and Credits of the said Testator, and will give a true account of her Executorship when lawfully required: before me Wa: Tookey Surrogate

John Craxfords Last Will and Testament Feb 26th 1760.

* RELICT = surviving partner

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank the County Archivist and her staff at the Northamptonshire Records Office for their help in producing the copy of the will from their microfilm records, examination of burial record microfiches and for the preparing the translation. Copyright is held at the Records Office and is reproduced here with permission.

References

1. The Will of John Craxford, labourer of Middleton, proved 10 Jun 1760: Reference P Will 10/6/1760/Croxford: Northamptonshire Records Office
2. "Convert old money into new". Find out how yesterday's prices compare with today's: Currency Converter at The National Archives
3. Baptisms at the Parish Church of St James, Gretton: Gretton Local History Society
4. Burial of John Craxford: Surnames Index: Parish Registers (baptisms, marriages and Burials) 1748 - 1774 Cottingham 85P/4: Northamptonshire Record Office
5. Richard Ashwell to Mary Craxford, widow: Marriage Search: File: 91 FreeReg: UK Parish Register Information
6. "Kinsman": definition in The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004. Dictionary.com.

Added: July 16th 2009
Revised: September 22nd 2011