Introduction

We have been aware of our family origin in the Northamptonshire village of Cottingham for many years. However our father (George William Craxford) was never forthcoming about his parents, aunts and uncles and never made any effort - at least in our life time - to establish contact with his remaining relations. It came as a surprise to find two letters (with father's reply) from Iris Snow written nearly twenty years ago. They provide some intriguing nuances and insights to complement the information that we already have.

Brenda visited Iris two or three times in Leicester while her husband, John, was alive and regularly exchanged Christmas cards and letters. Correspondence ceased about three years ago so we assume she has either died or moved to live with relatives. However we have recently visited some of our other long lost cousins in Cottingham. We have therefore been able to annotate the text where appropriate and to illustrate the article with some photographs of the people concerned. Scans of the original letters will be added in due course.

The first letter: James or Jim?

366 Welford Road
Leicester

7th Jan 1987

Dear George

Firstly I had better introduce myself. I am your Uncle Will's (1) eldest daughter - Iris

You will no doubt be surprised to hear from me, but recently I received a letter from Ottawa, from a lady (2) who is trying to trace the Craxford family tree. She has arrived at the year 1851 when a Sarah Craxford married a Charles Matkin of Uppingham. Sarah was married at Barrowden Baptist Church.

I am trying to obtain information regarding Grandad Craxford (3). Do you happen to know if his name was possibly Jim or James? and what did he do for a living? My father never mentioned his father, possibly because he died when dad was only about seven years old.

Trying to help this lady in Canada and finding it all rather interesting I wrote around the family. Louie, Aunt Annie's (4) daughter couldn't give much information apart from the fact that one of dad's brothers was murdered - I have a vague recollection of hearing about this from Mother many years ago

One of Aunt Lizzie's (5) daughters in Kent knows very little of the family history although her mother was grandma's eldest daughter.

All this is rather sketchy, but anything you can contribute will be gratefully received.

We tried to phone you but was informed that you no longer had a number. On going to your old address they referred us to Martina, your wife's hairdresser, who kindly furnished us with your address

We understand that you left Leicester only a few month's ago and hope you have settled into your new home and hope you will enjoy it for many years.

Wishing you and your family a Very Happy and Prosperous New Year.

Yours sincerely Iris.

NOTES:

1) William Craxford (1885 - 1967), son of John Craxford and Sarah Anne Claypole of Cottingham.
2) We are pretty certain this is a reference to Sidnee Day Spencer who lives in Utah (not Canada) who did considerable work on the Craxford family tree through the 1980s and 1990s.
3) John Craxford (1834 - 1898)- married Sarah Anne Claypole (b. 1844) in Cottingham in 1871
4) Sarah Anne Craxford, daughter of John and Sarah Anne Claypole; married a George Tansley
5) Elizabeth Craxford, daughter of John and Sarah Anne Claypole: married a Mr Hobbs around 1900

Scan of the first letter

Comments from George

These are extracts from father's reply dated January 11th 1987. By this time he was living in Whitley Bay in the North East of England

Thank you for your letter. It was certainly a surprise on more than one account. I did not know that you were married and lived in Leicester and the last as far as I remember was that either you or Joan or both went to Ireland.

Am I right in thinking that I met you at Gent's when I was a representative for an office stationery firm. I also remember calling at Conway Road and meeting your mother and father and they later came to tea at Fosse Road. My wife remembered Joan when she was working for the Red Cross during the war at THE YEWS, OADBY and she was staying at a house opposite in Stoughton Road. Is Joan still alive? and if so where is she living?

You wrote that "one of Dad's brothers was murdered" Well, that is news to me. What was his name and where was this supposed to have taken place?

My father's name was James Ernest ... I also have a studio photo of your father in his P.C. 168 uniform. Did you know that our fathers also had a sister? I can't think for a moment of her name but I stayed at her house at Corby on several occasions but I know that her husband's name was Harry Wright.

Continued in column 2...

The second letter: Murder most foul

366 Welford Road
Leicester. LE2 6E?

3rd Feb 1987

Dear George and Hilda

Thank you for your letter of 11th January. I am sorry for the delay in replying but have been waiting for information from relatives in Kent. There was little forthcoming from them as Aunt Lizzie's son is 95 years old and his sister is 90 years. However it does not appear to matter as from information since received it would seem that we are on the wrong branch of the Craxfords being sought (6)

You are quite right, we did meet at Gent & Co and I left there to be married. That was thirty odd years ago. Mother and Dad never left Conway Road. They would have been delighted to see you and Hilda again. Dad died twenty years ago last month.

It is not really surprising that you do not know about the tragedy. Dad never mentioned it. Grandma Craxford found the poor child hanging behind the door with his throat cut. Poor thing, it must have been a terrible shock for her. Mother (7)told me about it of course, she was born and brought up in Cottingham, so when we visited, which was often I had two Grandmas to see and numerous aunts and uncles and cousins. Grandma Craxford herself told cousin Louie all about the tragedy.

Grandma Craxford had three daughters and three sons (8). Lizzie, Annie and Hettie (9) Aunt Lizzie married and lived in Kent. Aunt Annie married and lived at Cottingham (I knew her quite well and her children). Aunt Hettie married Mr Wright but previous to that she had a son (Alf) who took the name Craxford. He came to live with us until he joined up in the Army near the end of the first world war. He kept in touch with us until he died two years ago at the Chelsea Hospital. Grandma's brother, great uncle William Claypole farmed at Cottingham and lived in Church Street

Well this is all for now. Do hope I have clarified a few things for you. We are pleased to know that you are both settled and happy "Up North".

Kind regards from my husband John and myself.

Iris

NOTES:

6) This coincides with our own explorations. Originally we thought we were directly related to the branch that included Sarah Craxford (Matkin). It was Sidnee Spencer who pointed out the error of our ways!!
7) Edith Tilley - married William Craxford in Cottingham, March 1912
8) We have so far traced four daughters - including Louisa (b 1877) and Sarah Anne (b 1879), but only two sons
9) Henrietta Craxford (1874 - 1933): married Henry Wright in Cottingham 1901

Transcribed by Alan Craxford and Brenda Eldridge - August 18th 2005

Scan of the second letter

Postscript

After further and protracted research the full story of the murder mentioned in Iris' letter can now be told. Please see: Death For Threeha'p'orth Of Suckers The Tragic Short Life of Thomas Christopher Claypole

Please contact us

If you have any questions or comments about the information on this site in general, or you have further information regarding this article, please Get in touch by leaving a message in our Guestbook. If you don't want the message to be added to the Guestbook, just say that in your text. We look forward to hearing from you.

Page added: May 1st 2007
Last updated: March 9th 2012

Return to Top of Page