This page is dedicated to notes, snippets, newspaper items, articles of interest and other minor memorabilia of our ancestors. They may well be found hidden in the depth of the database but are the sort of memory that you would need to know about to know where to look. These are short paragraphs which would not command a full feature or "Wanted" article.

If you have any similar remembrances that could be included on this page, please let me know by email.

Mona G. Craxford - Mistaken identity

A song entitled "I Love You, Dear" (a duet) was published in 1927. An entry in the Music Collections (Vocal) catalogue of the British Library appeared to attribute the composition of a Mona Craxford. Family tree researches to date however had not uncovered an ancestor of that name. Intrigued, Newfloridian approached the British Library to set up a viewing of the manuscript. This prompted the following reply:
'It is just as well you did ask us to investigate further, because there was an unfortunate misprint in our online catalogue. When we finally unearthed the two versions of "I Love You, Dear", we discovered that the composer is actually Nona G. Croxford, not Mona G. Craxford. She published a number of songs in the late 1920s, several with words by Jesse R. Croxford. I do apologise for the confusion. At least one error in our catalogue has now been corrected!

If nothing else, we are happy to have been of service!

British Library: Integrated Catalogue. System No: 005087527 - May 2005

Elizabeth Atkinson, Theft: Pickpocketing

Tried by the first Middlesex Jury before Mr. RECORDER 16 Apr 1795.

ELIZABETH ATKINSON was indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 12th of March, a silver watch, value 40s. a steel watch chain, value 6d. and a base metal seal, watch key value 1d. and half a guinea, the goods and monies of John Craxford, privately from his person.

JOHN CRAXFORD sworn. "I am a livery servant; I was robbed on Thursday the 12th of March last, in the morning, about two or three o'clock; I cannot swear to the hour I was robbed; I was in liquor, coming down Holborn; this woman accosted me in Holborn, and asked me to go to her lodging. We called at a public house, and had a glass of spirituous liquors. I changed a French half crown. I went home with her to No. 4, Matton lane, Clerkenwell. I pulled off my boots and coat, and slept in the room, and in the morning I found this woman had left me, and I missed my watch, and likewise half a guinea in gold. With that, finding myself in the room alone, I called the watch, and the watch called the constable."

Prisoner. "I was rather in liquor, and I went to this house, because I knew it to be open. I wanted something to drink. This gentleman left his watch in the room. I took it to take care of it; and as to taking his watch to keep it, I did not. He has sent twice since I have been in confinement, if I could raise money he would not prosecute me at all, but I could not; I have no friends at all."

VERDICT: Not Guilty

The Proceedings of the Old Bailey
Ref: t17950416-51

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Sale by auction

A small advertisement which appeared in The Times on November 29th 1875. (Ref: CS33731965)

Obituaries

These notices record the passing of Alfred Lane Craxford in 1944 and his son, William Harold, ten years later. The variations in the spellings of the surname are clear in these records.

Lane Crauford Gives a lecture

DRAMATISTS £2 10s A WEEK

MEMORIES OF THE BRITANNIA HOXTON

Mr. Lane Crauford, lecturing to the members of the New Playgoers’ Club last night, on the old Britannia Theatre at Hoxton, said that it was erected in 1841 by Mr. Lane, and rebuilt in 1858 to the size of Drury Lane. The performance began at 7 o’clock and continued until 11.30, and a typical programme consisted of a play, an act from the Merchant of Venice, a ballet, a comic dance, two songs, and then a new drama. It could all be seen for 3d. in the gallery. They kept a stock dramatist, Colin Hazelwood, who turned out a new play once a fortnight, at a salary of £ 2 10s. a week. The artists practically lived at the theatre, and compared with them, modern actors did not know the meaning of the word "work." The best of the actors was Joseph Reynolds, who joined the company in 1851 and stayed for 36 years, playing over 1,000 parts.

The lecturer’s great aunt, Mrs. Sarah Lane, successfully controlled the theatre for 28 years after the death of her husband in 1871. She was known as the "Queen of Hoxton," and was beloved by the people of the district, who threatened to give her a truly regal funeral. The Britannia was the last London theatre to run a stock company.

This article appeared in The Times on January 5th 1921. The lecturer, Lane Crauford, is the son of Alfred Lane Craxford who wrote the novel "Sam and Sallie". The small circular photographs to the left of the purple banner are Sarah Lane and Lane Crauford. The original cutting can be seen on his biography page.

Abney Park Cemetery, Stoke Newington, London

The following Craxfords are reported buried at the Abney Park cemetery.

BURIAL No:	NAME	AGE	DATE	SECTION / INDEX
109958	Ada Isabella	29yr	02/11/1905	J06 5SO5
150658	Albert	45yr	07/11/1929	H02 7S14
039039	Ellen	25yr	22/04/1867	H08 2S01
089925	Herbert	2yr	24/03/1893	G06 4S02
047873	Mary Elizabeth	56yr	01/07/1869	G06 2S02
080282	May	14d	06/06/1887	3S07
069447	Robert	10m	23/05/1881	G06 2S17
073027	William	13m	26/03/1883	G06 3S02

(All ancestors listed have now been identified and their places confirmed in the database - Ed)

Page managed by Alan D. Craxford. Last updated July 21st 2011

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