CRANE
Jasper's Life in a Nutshell ||
4-Generations of Jasper Crane's Descendants
Excerpts from "CYCLOPEDIA
OF NEW JERSEY BIOGRAPHY" JASPER CRANE, FOUNDER OF AN IMPORTANT FAMILY
Jasper Crane, the first of his name so far as we know to set foot
in the new world, was born probably about 1605, somewhere near
Bradley Plain, Hampshire, England, died in Newark, New Jersey,
in 1681. His aunt was Margaret Crane who married Samuel Huntington,
whose child, Jasper's cousin, Margaret Huntington, married, May
2, 1592, John, son of Edward and Margaret (Wilson) Ogden, and
whose daughter, Elizabeth Huntington, Margaret's sister, married
Richard Ogden, the brother of John Ogden, who married Margaret,
and the father of John Ogden, the emigrant to Southhampton and
Elizabethtown. Jasper Crane's own daughter, Hannah, married Thomas,
son of Margaret and Simon Huntington, a brother of Samuel and
Margaret (Crane) Huntington.
June 4, 1639, Jasper Crane, who was one of the original settlers
of the New Haven Colony, was present at the meeting held at Mr.
Newman's barn, and signed the first agreement of all the free
planters. He took the oath of fidelity at the organization of
the government, together with Campfield, Pennington, Governor
Eaton, and others; and in 1644 he was "freed from watching
and trayning in his own person because of his weakness, but to
find some one for his turn." With Robert Treat he was a member
of the general court, and for many years he was a magistrate.
In 1651 he was interested in a bog ore furnace at East Haven;
and in 1652 he removed to Branford, where he was elected a magistrate
in 1658, having held the office of deputy for some years previous
to that date.
A tradition with regard to Jasper is that he came to Massachusetts
Bay in the ship "Arabella," with Governor Winthrop,
etc. etc. etc. (This biography is same wording as the Ellery B. Bicknell's Genealogy of the Crane Family
below)
The name dates back to the Hundred Rolls in the 13th century,
when on the records William de Crane's name appears in 1272. The
name is derived from town of Crannes, in Maine, a province in
northern France; its root is from the Gaelic Cran, meaning water.
18 Jul 1602 - A Jasper Crane is christened in Welwyn Parish, Welwyn, Hertfordshire, England. He was the son of Richard Crane. Apparent siblings were John (chr 25 Jan 1595), William (chr 4 Jun 1598) - Some of the other families listed in these parish records (for the same time period) were Geo. Byrd, Bigge, Best, Wm. Beech, Henry Bull, Thomas Campfield, John Cansbie, Jasper Casse, John/Robt./Geo. Edmond Clerk/Clark, Crawley, Deardes, Field, Gynn, Hale, Harper, Edw. Martin, John Paine (Eliz. 1613, Mary 1614, John 1618), Jasper Wakefield (31 Oct 1602), Wm. Wakefield (1605), Ralph Wakefield (1608), Thomas Ward, Wren
ROBERT CRANE, of St. Giles, Cripplegate, grocer. Son of Robert Crane, of Great Coggeshall, Essex, grocer, and brother of Margaret Crane, wife of Ezekiel Rogers, therefore uncle of Mary Rogers, who married Rev. William Hubbard, the historian. Robert Crane married Mary, daughter of Samuel Aldersey. He was present 13 May 1629. His will was proved 21 September 1646 [P.C.C. 131 Twisse (Reg. 41, 177.)] H. 25-li; Hub. 50-li
(H=Haven's entries in Massachusetts Records omitted in Shurtleff. 30 Mar 1629)
(Hub.=Hubbard, History of New England, p. 123)
SAMUEL ALDERSEY, of Allhallows, Lombard St., haberdasher. Son of John Aldersey of Aldersey, Cheshire, by Anne, sister of Sir Thomas Lowe, Alderman of London. He married first, Mary, dau. Philip Van Oyrle of Nornberg and Antwerp; second, Margaret, dau. Thomas Offspring and sister of Rev. Charles Offspring of St. Antholins, London, widow of William Kedward (she remarried Sir John Melton). Aldersey was a prominent Puritan who contributed to the Impropriations Fund in 1626 and was probably an active worker for St. Antholin's Feoffees as his brother-in-law, Charles Offspring, was rector of that Church. He was an early Adventurer and took active part in the Company's work.
By the marriages of his sisters and of his children he was closely connected with a number of persons interested in the settlement of New England. His sister Elizabeth married 1st, William Pitchford and 2nd Sir Thomas Coventry, the Lord Keeper. Allice married Thomas Moulson and her son Sir Thomas was the husband of Anne Ratcliffe, the patron saint of Radcliffe College. Her daughter Rebecca married Nicholas Raynton, famous as a London Puritan. Another sister of Samuel married Francis Webbe; Mary married Sir Thomas Knatchbull and Dorothy, as her second husband married Sir Henry Capel. Still another sister seems to have married Henry Parkhurst as his son, Sir Robert, mentions his aunt Aldersey and nearly all the married Aldersey sisters in his will in 1636. As William Spurstowe married Sir Robert's sister he was in a way connected with Alderey, as were also the Byfields.
Aldersey had one son, John and four daughters; Mary married Robert Crane of St. Giles, Cripplegate (see below), Anne married Robert Eyre of Salisbury, son of Robert Eyre one of the Feoffees for Impropriations; Elizabeth married Thomas Lee of Downhall; Margaret married Rev. Thomas Bletchingdon, Canon of Christ Church Canterbury.
Aldersey's will was proved 13 July 1633 (P.C.C. 61 Russel), by Robert Crane and his son John Aldersey. By it he left L20 to Mr. Davenport, the minister; he had witnessed this minister's signing of the Articles in 1628.
30 Mar 1628/9 - Subscribers to the Charter of the Massachusetts Bay Company
William Backhouse 25, Owen Rowe 25, John Bowles 25, Robert Crane 25, Daniel Winche 25, Joseph Caron 25, Richard Tuffnayle 50, John Davenport 25, Samuel Aldersey 75, Richard Peerye 25, Nathaniel Wright 25, Richard Davis 25, Increase Nowell 25, Edmond White 25, John Humfrey 25, Hugh Peter 25, Joas Glover 25, John Pococke 25, George Foxcroft 25, Daniel Hodson 25, Mrs. A.C. 25, William Crowther 25, John Venn 50, Richard Young 50, Thomas Hutchins 25, Nathaniel Manesty 25, Theophilus Eaton 25, Christopher Coulson 25, Charles Whitchcote 50, Edward Foorde 25, Samuell Vassall 50, Simon Whitcombe 85, Edward Ironside 25
Page 142
JOHN GLOVER OR JOSSE GLOVER. In Felt's list John Glover occurs and in Haven's Joas occurs. Possibly both were subscribers. Josse was the eldest son of Roger Glover and John, a younger son of the same, was a "Petter" Barrister of Lincoln's Inn and married Jane, daughter of Francis Dorrington; there was also a John Glover, of London, merchant. For Josse see usual sources. John: F. 50-li; FF. 25-li; Joas: H. 25-li
Page 162
THE FAMILIES GROUP. By marriage were related: Aldersey, Thomas Andrewes, Burnell, Crane, Crowther, Flyer, Foxcroft, Glover, J: Anson, Manisty, Oldfield, Spurstowe, Webbe, Winch, Whichcote, James Young. To these may be added others who were either emigrants or closely associated with the Company: Byfield, the Lord keeper Coventry, Eyre, Hubbard, Moulson, Offspring, Parkhurst, Ratcliffe, Rogers, Wyn. Perhaps there was a cousinship between Harwood, son of Elizabeth Greenham and Cradock, son of Dorothy Greenham.
20 May 1686, I Nathaniel Mickelthwaite the elder of London, Merchant,
give unto my wife Joanna L1250; to my son Nathaniel L1250, including
the lease of the messuage in Coleman Street wherein I now dwell,
or if he die I give the said messuage to my son Jonathan, or in
default to my friends Mr Thomas Cubben and Joseph Sibley and my
brother in law Mr. Francis Crane in trust for my daughter Sarah
Benson, wife of Joseph Benson. To my son Jonathan L1100 over and
above what I have given with him in placing him apprentice to
Mr Archer, my messuage in Pye Ally in Fanchurch Street to be reckoned
part of the same. My sisters Anne Knight alias Whiteman of New
England, Elizabeth Tue alias Coleman (elsewhere "Cole")
of London, widow, and Hester Crane, wife of the said Francis
Crane. My nephew William Tutty of Cheshunt, co. Hertford, baker.
Nathaniel Benson my grandson, son of my daughter Sarah Benson....
Gen. (maybe gentleman?) Josiah Crane, whose son Jasper
emigrated with his family from London to America at an early date,
and was one of the founders of Newark, NJ, in 1666, was related
to William Crane, who married, Margaret, daughter and co-heir
of Sir Andrew Butler, Knight. There were several branches of the
Crane family, the Cheshire and Chilton branches, became most noted
and numerous, who settled in the several counties of England,
and who were originally Franks, freemen, and related to, and holding
high positions under the long line of Pharamond Kings. The motto
of the Cheshire branch was Qui pascet corvus non oblivis citus
grus (He that feeds the crows will not forget the Crane.)
The home lot that fell to Jasper Crane at Newark was directly
north of the Essex county court house, and is now the site of
St. Paul's Episcopal church. The meeting house was nearby and
surrounded by a palisade, and in the cupola a guard of settlers
kept watch for hostile Indians, while the worship was in progress.
In the seventeenth century Coleman Street was "a faire and
large street, on both sides builded with diuerse faire houses."
John Davenport was the son of Henry and Winifred (Barneby) Davenport.
He had been baptized by Richard Eaton, vicar of Holy Trinity Church,
Coventry on Apr 9 1597. In 1622 he became a member of the Virginia
Co. of London. In 1624 he was elected as Vicar of St. Stephens
on Coleman St. in London, but before he could begin his duties,
he was charged with Puritanism by King James I, which he denied.
About 1630 Theophilus Eaton (son of Richard Eaton) took over the
house vacated by Sir Richard Saltonstall in Swanne Alley (off
Coleman St.) He had served as Deputy Gov. of the Eastland Co.
at Elbing. The group received a grant of territory from the Council
for New England and as "the Gov. and Co. of the Mass. Bay
in New England" on March 4 1629 received a charter from the
crown.
Mathew Cradock was appointed the first governor of the company.
Sir Richard Saltonstall, Samuel Aldersey, Theophilus Eaton and
George Foxcroft represented St. Stephens, Coleman St., in the
first court of assistants, and John Davenport, Robert CRANE, Owen
Rowe, William Spurstow, Edmund White, all living in Coleman St.,
and possibly Francis Bright of Swanne Alley represented the parish
among the commonality.
In Nov. of 1633, Davenport fled to Amsterdam to escape increasing
disapproval of the Crown where the group organized their move
to the New World. The group included: John and Elizabeth Davenport
(left infant son in care of noble lady); Theophilus Eaton, Anne
Eaton, dau. of George Lloyd, Bishop of Chester, and widow of Thomas
Yale, the second wife of Theophilus Eaton; old Mrs. Eaton, his
mother; Samuel and Nathaniel Eaton, his brothers; Mary Eaton,
the dau. of his first wife; Samuel, Theophilus and Hannah, the
children of his second wife; Anne, David and Thomas Yale, the
children of Anne Eaton by her former marriage; Edward Hopkins,
who on Sep. 5, 1631 had married Anne Yale at St. Antholin's in
London; and Richard Malbon, a kinsman of Theophilus Eaton. Also
many inhabitants of the parish of St. Stephen, Coleman St. Nathaniel
Rowe (son of Own Rowe who intended to follow); William Andrews,
Henry Browning, James Clark, Jasper CRANE, Jeremy Dixon, Nicholas
Elsey, Francis Hall, Robert Hill, William Ives, Geo. Smith, George
Ward and Lawrence Ward.
Others (probably from the neighborhood, but not members of St.
Stephens): Ezekiel Cheever, Edward Bannister, Richard Beach, Richard
Beckley, John Brockett, John Budd, John Cooper, Arthur Halbidge,
Mathew Hitchcock, Andrew Hull, Andrew Low, Andrew Messenger, Mathew
Moulthrop, Francis Newman, Robert Newman, Richard Osborn, Edward
Patteson, John Reader, William Thorp and Samuel Whitehead.
The group chartered the "Hector" of London. On June
26, 1637, John Winthrop recorded the arrival of the group from
London at Boston.
In Aug. of 1637, Eaton and several others traveled south to view
the area around the Long Island Sound. They left members of their
party there over the winter to retain possession. Many from the
Bay Colony chose to leave for New Haven with Eaton and Davenport:
Richard Hull, William Tuttle and William Wilkes of Boston; Anne
Higginson and her family, Jarvis Boykin, John Chapman, John Charles,
Timothy Ford, Thomas James, Benjamin Ling, John Mosse and Richard
Perry of Charlestown; John Benham, Benjamin Fenn, Thomas Jeffrey,
Thomas Kimberly, William Preston, Thomas Sandford, Thomas Trowbridge
and Zachariah Whitman of Dorchester; John Astwood of Stanstead
Abbey, Hertfordshire and Roxbury; Thomas Baker, John Burwell,
Jasper Gunn, John Hall, John Peacock, William Potter, Edward Riggs,
Thomas Uffot and Joanna and Jacob Sheaffe of Roxbury; Mark Pierce
of Newtown; and Nathaniel Turner of Lynn.
Another company headed by Peter Pruden was a notable addition
to the group. Perhaps the son of Thomas Prudden of King's Walden,
Hertfordshire and a kinsman of William Thomas of Caerleon, Monmouthshire,
Prudden was the minister of the Providence Island Company. In
1637 with fifteen Hertfordshire families - among them Edmund Tapp
of Bennington, Hertfordshire, James Prudden, William Fowler, Thomas
and Hanah Buckingham, Thomas Welsh, Richard Platt, Henry Stonehill
and William East - he left England for Massachusetts and went
with Davenport's group to Connecticut in March of 1638.
Staying behind in Massachusetts was Nathaniel Eaton, Nathaniel
Rowe, Edward and Anne (Yale) Hopkins and John Cotton. Eaton became
the "cruel" master of a new college in Newtown. Later
he and Anne migrated to Hartford, CT.
In 1641 a 3-year mortgage was given to George Fenwick of Saybrook,
John Haynes, Samuel Wyllys and Edward Hopkins of Connecticut and
Theophilus Eaton, Stephen Goodyear and Thomas Gregson of New Haven
for much of Long Island.
IRONWORKS IN NEW HAVEN & SOUTHOLD
Long interested in the production of bog iron in New England,
John Winthrop, Jr. (metallurgist & physician) visited the
New Haven Colony on a prospecting tour in the spring of 1655.
Discovering a convenient place for an ironworks and a furnace
between New Haven and Branford, he succeeded in interesting John
Davenport, Theophilus Eaton and Stephen Goodyear of New Haven
and Jasper CRANE of Branford in the project. On February 13, 1656,
John Winthrop, Jr., Stephen Goodyear, undertakers of New Haven
with John Cooper as their agent, and undertakers of Branford with
Jasper CRANE as their agent, organized an ironworks
company. New Haven and Branford granted the undertakers permission
to procure wood, water, ironstone, ore, shells for lime, and other
neccessaries within their limits, five-eighths from New Haven
and three-eighths from Branford. New Haven had long tried to induce
John Winthrop, Jr. to settled there. In order to direct the ironworks
from a nearby location, Winthrop bought the Malbon house and paid
for it in "goats". By spring of 1657 the ironworks were
in operation, but Winthrop left to become Governor of the Connecticut
colony. Interest in the ironworks lagged. Winthrop leased his
interest in the undertaking to Thomas Clarke and William Paine
of Boston.
After more than six years of endeavor, the founder of the New
Haven Colony was able to inform Winthrop that they were finally
ready to manufacture pots. The colony suffered more than it gained
from the enterprise, however, for not only were the neighboring
lands, highways and fences injured by the dam at the works, but
a group of turbulent, disorderly, non-assimilable workers was
introduced into the colony and remained there long after the jurisdiction
of New Haven had come to an end.
THE PHANTOM SHIP OF NEW HAVEN HARBOR
More daring than the ironworks was the attempt to build transatlantic
vessels on Long Island Sound. As early as 1644 Theophilus Eaton,
Stephen Goodyear, Richard Malbon, Thomas Gregston and perhaps
other merchants at New Haven entrusted the construction of an
ocean-going vessel to John Wakeman, Joshua Atwater, Jasper
CRANE and Richard Miles. Though ill built and very "walt-side,"
in due course the ship was completed. Entrusted with a cargo of
wheat, peas, hides, beaver and peltry and manuscript writings
of John Davenport at New Haven and Thomas Hooker at Hartford,
about the middle of January, 1646, the vessel ploughed its way
through three miles of ice in New Haven harbor and tackled the
stormy Atlantic. On board were Thomas Gregson, Nathaniel Turner,
George Lamberton, the wife of Stephen Goodyear, and Francis Austin.
After many months, a mirage of the ship was said to have appeared
over the harbor at New Haven, but the vessel itself neither reached
its destination nor returned to its port of departure. Despite
this initial setback, on October 7, 1646, a second vessel was
about to be launched at New Haven; in the summer of 1648 a third
vessel was under construction; and in the spring of 1661 Charles Glover laid
a fifty-foot keel at Southold. From REMINISCENCES OF MONTCLAIR
Jasper Crane, whose name heads the list of the first twenty-three
Colonists from Branford, Conn., emigrated from England and is
named as one of the New Haven Colony, June 4th, 1639. He is mentioned
as one of the most influential and active men in the new Newark
Colony. His name is the first of the list of signatures for the
original church in Newark dated January 20th, 1667. This church
building, in size thirty-six feet by thirty-six feet, was located
on the west side of Broad Street, south of Market Street, on a
six-acre lot set apart by the Colony for a church and burying
ground. This church building of frame was superseded about 1708
by a much larger one of stone with steeple and bell. The present
church edifice, the First Presbyterian Church of Newark, locate
nearly opposite the original buildings, was a bold undertaking
for those early days, but was carried through with heroic energy
at great personal sacrifice, a building of such proportions and
architectural taste that it is at this day an ornament to the
city of Newark. It was dedicated under the pastorate of Dr. MacWhorter,
January 1st, 1791.
Jasper Crane died in 1681. His will, dated 1678, mentioned his
children John, Azariah, Jasper and Hannah Huntington. He bequeathed
to his son John a silver bowl, which
afterward was inherited by his brother Azariah, who gave it to
the First Church of Newark and which is still in use in this old
church as a baptismal font. Azariah Crane, son of Jasper, married
Mary, daughter of Robert Treat, and
is later mentioned as living at his home place at the Mountain
(that is, now Montclair) in 1715. He was interested and active
in town and church development; a deacon in the Newark church
till his death. A deed conveying land to his son Azariah, Jr.,
dated "in the 26th year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord
George the Second by the Grace of God," may be seen hanging
in the public library of this town. He, with his brother Jasper
were evidently the first white settlers at the foot of the Mountain.
He died November 5th, 1730, in his eighty-third year. His children
were Hannah, Mariah, Nathaniel, Azariah, Jr., Robert, Jane, Mary
and John. Historic records state that Nathaniel, oldest son of
Azariah, was born in 1680 and settled near a spring at the foot
of the Mountain. The old house, about which I played in childhood,
was located on the Orange Road near to the present Myrtle Avenue,
about two hundred feet west from the road. It was a two-story
house with double pitched roof, large hall in the center with
rooms each side. At the rear of the house stood a small building
occupied in the early days by slaves and by their descendants
as family servants through several generations. At the south end
of the house stood the cut stone milk house built over the spring
mentioned above. On the shelves of this cool milk room, I remember
seeing the large pans of milk and rolls of new-made butter. The
clear stream flowing from this spring was one of the heads of
the brook now running across Church Street and Bloomfield Avenue
near Park Street. The last occupant in the family line of the
old Crane homestead was Major Nathaniel Crane, who died childless.
He was the fourth descendant from Nathaniel, son of Azariah. The
house was remodeled several times by successive owners after it
passed from the Crane family. In later years it was known as the
Frost house, Mr. Frost having owned and occupied it for a number
of years. It was taken down about 1900 to give place for new improvements,
with but little knowledge that it probably was the first house
building in Montclair. from NJ Colonial Documents, Calendar
of Wills
1678 Oct 1. Craine, Jasper, of Newark, aged in years; will of.
Sons -- John, Azeriah, Jasper; daughter Huntington; granddaughter
Hanah Huntington; children of dec'd daughter Bell, son (?-in-law)
Huntington. Real and personal estate (a silver "Bole" and
cup). Executors -- son John and son Thomas Huntington. Witness
-- John Ward senior and Michell Tompkins. N.J. Archives, XXI.,
p. 45, and Essex Wills. Excerpts from THE CRANE FAMILY OF
MONTCLAIR
The origins of Jasper Crane and his wife, Alice, are not certainly
known. In fact, there are no clues at all for Alice except that
she was the wife of Jasper, and therefore of the same geographical
area. With respect to Jasper there is a tradition that he came
from London or vicinity. Amos Crane's Trigonometry Book, now in
the possession of the Montclair Historical Society, includes a
handwritten page of the male descendants of Jasper and repeats
the phrase that Jasper came from London in 1637-8. Ellery B. Crane,
the Crane family genealogist of the late 19th century, added that
Jasper may have been the brother of John Crane who was recorded
in Boston by January 1637. As an aside there has also been speculation
that Stephen Crane of Elizabeth was a son of Jasper, since both
were in New Jersey and they used some common family names. There
is no supporting evidence to any of the above, except to say that
Jasper, as a man of affairs, had many normal business contacts
in London.
What we do know suggests that Jasper's origins may be found in
Hampshire County, England. The Ogden Family in America by William
Ogden Wheeler, published in 1906, brings to light the marriage
of Samuel Huntington and Margaret Crane. Their daughters, Margaret
and Elizabeth, married John Ogden of Bradley Plain, Hampshire
and Richard Ogden of Wiltshire. John Ogden was the progenitor
of the Elizabeth, N.J. Ogdens and his cousin Richard the progenitor
of the Fairfield, Connecticut and southern New Jersey Ogdens.
Margaret Crane, wife of Samuel Huntington, was according to Wheeler,
the Aunt of Jasper Crane and he quotes an unreferenced document
as follows: "Margaret Crane's nephew Jasper Crane, emigrated
to Newark, NJ and his daughter Hannah married Thomas Huntington,
son of Simon, who emigrated to Massachusetts, but died on the
passage from England to Boston in 16333." Wheeler does reference
the Berry Visitation of Hants, 1634 and a New York genealogist,
Gustave Anjou, as confirmation of the Ogden data from Hampshire.
With respect to the quote, we know that Jasper did not emigrate
directly to Newark and was certainly in Connecticut long enough
for his relations to be aware of his standing in New Haven. It
is true about the marriage of Hannah and Thomas Huntington the
nephew of Samuel and Margaret Crane Huntington. It may also be
significant that the records of Hampshire contain old Crane references;
particularly to a 14th century Sheriff named Hugo de Crane. Unfortunately
there were enough Cranes spread around England in Jasper's day
to make this lead inconclusive.
The first factual item we have concerning Jasper Crane is his
signature on the compact founding the Colony of New Haven signed
June 4, 1639 in the barn of a Mr. Newman. Even though New Haven
was founded by Puritans from the congregation of Rev. Davenport
of London this does not mean that Jasper was associated with them
previously or had emigrated with them. However, Jasper is said
to have been the steward of the Rev. John Davenport's property
in 1639.
We have considerable record of Jasper's public life which shows
him to be a well respected leader of the community in which he
lived. The record reads as follows:
Jasper Crane's personal and private life is as obscure as his
public life is open. Likely he was a sober, industrious and devout
Puritan, typical of his day. We can have some assurance of his
strong religious beliefs as religious control of political affairs
was a part of the Newark colonists desire to break away form the
Connecticut Colony.
Jasper was a surveyor and a merchant or trader. He and a Mr. Myles
were responsible for the layout of New Haven. In March 1641 he
was granted 100 acres of land in the East Meadow, and in 1643
his tax valuation was 480 pounds, a comfortable sum for those
days. In 1644 we find he was excused from "watching and trayning"
due to weakness, but he was required to furnish a substitute.
1644-5 he was granted 16 acres of upland in East Haven where he
removed. In 1651 he was known to have an interest in a bog furnace
in East Haven. Jasper sold the house and land in East Haven September
7, 1652 and moved to Branford where he joined with about 20 families
from Southhampton, Long Island under the leadership of Rev. Pierson,
and a group of families from Wethersfield led by Samuel Swaine.
Both groups had come to the area to escape the more liberal religious
policy of the Connecticut Colony. When New Haven was united with
Connecticut in 1662 many leaders were dismayed that their pure
government by the church would be corrupted. Through the leadership
of Robert Treat and some Elizabethtown settlers, many who had
come from Southampton, Long Island, a site was found for a new
settlement. In the Spring of 1666, 41 families, led by Robert
Treat took up the area now known as Newark. Included in this group
was Azariah Crane, son of Jasper. Jasper Crane, Rev. Pierson,
Samuel Swaine and 20 more families followed the next Spring. A
total of 64 families in all. The settlement was first named New
Milford, but soon changed to Newark in honor of Rev. Pierson's
former home in England.
In Newark, besides his public duties, Jasper was a merchant, and
had obtained permission to make and sell spirits in 1673. At the
drawing of home lots, February 6, 1667, Jasper was assigned lot
#49, located near the present Court House. May 26, 1673 he drew
lot #10 of 100 acres. August 25, 1675 Jasper received 168 acres
in 13 parcels including 20 acres at the head of Second River which
I believe is Toney's Brook.
Jasper made his will dated October 1, 1678, and died in 1681.
He may have been buried in the "old Burial Ground" of
Newark, which was taken over for business use in 1888, however
on Dr. Condit's list of 1847 there was no record of his stone
or marker. Nothing is known of his wife Alice's history. They
had seven children. From "THE GENEALOGY OF THE CRANE
FAMILY" JASPER CRANE OF NEW HAVEN, CONN., ALSO, NEWARK, NJ
JASPER CRANE was one of the original settlers of the New Haven
Colony, June 4, 1639, and signed the first agreement at a general
meeting of all the free planters held in Mr. Newman's barn. He
took the oath of fidelity at the organization of the government,
with Campfield, Pennington, Gov. Eaton and others. In 1644 he
was "freed from watching and trayning in his own person because
of his weakness, but to find one for his turn." Was a member
(with Treat) of the General Court, and many years a magistrate.
Was interested in a bog-ore furnace at East Haven in 1651. He
removed to Branford in 1652. He was elected a magistrate in 1658,
and held the office of deputy for some years previous to that
date.
In a note-book kept by Thomas Lechford, Esq., a lawyer in Boston,
Massachusetts Bay, from June 27, 1638, to July 29, 1641, we find
the following: "Samuel Searle of Quinapeage Planter in behalfe
of Jasper Crane of the same, Agent or Attorney for Mr. Roe Citizen
of London Demiseth unto Henry Dawson and John Search of the Same
one house and house lott and three acres of land lying in Boston
wherein William Herricke now dwelleth from 29 Sept. next for five
years four pounds ten shillings rent half yearly, to fence to
the value four pounds ten shillings, to repaire 21-6-1640."
This transaction, showing his connection with a gentleman of London,
England, would lead one to think that he certainly was known there,
and might have lived there. Whether or not the above record furnished
the foundation for the tradition that he came from London to America,
we do not know. But such a tradition has been cherished by some
of his descendants. Extensive research among the record offices
in London has thus far failed however of finding any trace of
him there. It is also said that he came over from England with
Winthrop in the ship Arabella.
But the date of Jasper Crane's birth, or the place in which he
was born, have not been fixed. Whether he came from parents occupying
high or middle stations in life can as yet only be determined
by the records revealed to us. He assuredly was one of the staunch
and active men among the first settlers of the New Haven Colony
as well as one of the fathers of the new settlement in New Jersey.
He, with Capt. Robert Treat, seemed to have a large share of the
weight of responsibility of that young colony upon their shoulders,
and its success at heart. Mr. Crane did not go, it is said, with
the first company to "Milford," as the first settlement
at Newark, NJ, was called, but signed, with twenty-two others,
the first contract in 1665. Jan. 20, 1667, he headed the list
of signers and church members of the first Church at Newark, and
became one of the most influential and active men of the new colony.
Jasper Crane and Robert Treat were the first magistrates in Newark.
It is said that Mr. Crane was dissatisfied at the New Haven Colony
becoming united with the Connecticut Colony; he preferred to have
the New Haven Colony remain separate.
He was a surveyor and merchant, as well as a magistrate, and with
Mr. Myles laid out the most of the New Haven town plot, located
grants, established division lines, and settled disputed titles.
It is said that he was steward of Rev. John Davenport's property
in 1639. In March, 1641, he received a grant of 100 acres of land
in the East Meadow. He was one of the New Haven Company concerned
in the settlement on the Delaware River in 1642, who were so roughly
handled by the Dutch. In 1643 his estate was voted at L480, with
three persons in his family, -- self, wife and son John. In 1644-45
he received a grant of 16 acres of upland, situated in East Haven,
upon which he built a house, in which his son Joseph was born.
While residing at this place he was in trade as a merchant, but
not being satisfied with the location he sold this place Sept.
7, 1652, and became one of the first planters of Branford, Conn.,
a new settlement then just being instituted by families from Wethersfield,
Conn., under the leadership of Mr. Swayne, and a few from Southampton,
L.I.
Jasper Crane, Esq., and Mr. Wm. Swayne were the first deputies
to the General Court of Electors from Branford in May, 1653, Mr.
Crane being returned during the four succeeding years. In May,
1658, he was chosen one of four magistrates for the New Haven
Colony and held the office by appointment until 1663; also one
of the magistrates called together by the Governor, at Hartford,
in 1665-67. In the union of the Colonies he was chosen one of
the assistants, was also Trustee of County Court, New Haven, 1644.
His house lot in New Haven was located on what is now Elm Street,
at the corner of Orange Street, the same now occupied by the Church
of St. Thomas.
The first Church of Newark was founded in 1667, and a building
erected, about 1714 or 1716, a second meeting-house was built,
and the third erected about 1787 to 1791. The people of Orange,
Bloomfield and Montclair communed with the Newark Church until
about 1716. In fact, for considerably more than a hundred years
after the founding of Newark the crest of the first mountain was
the western boundary of the town, and until the year 1806 the
town of Newark was divided into three wards: Newark Ward, Orange
Ward, and Bloomfield Ward. That year Orange became a separate
town, and six years later Bloomfield Ward became the town of Bloomfield.
This part of Newark took in the territory from the Passaic on
the east to the crest of the first mountain on the west, and as
this section was so thoroughly occupied by the descendants of
Jasper Crane it was early called Cranetown.
Jasper Crane, Sr. was one of the purchasers of the "Kingsland
Farms," an immense estate near Newark, now known as Belleville.
The exact date that Jasper senior took his leave of Branford has
not been definitely fixed. In the spring of 1666, the people of
Branford, becoming dissatisfied about the union of the New Haven
and Connecticut Colonies, and particularly on account of granting
the right of suffrage to the inhabitants not members of the church,
resolved at once to remove to New Jersey, as agents, who had been
sent thither, came back bringing favorable reports of the new
country. In October, after adopting a code of laws for their government,
Mr. Pierson with a portion of his congregation left Branford for
their future home, Newark, NJ. Jasper senior although one of the
original twenty-three who signed the first contract in 1665, still
was active in public affairs in Branford, holding the office of
assistant magistrate in 1666 and 1667. But in Jan. 30, 1667, he
headed the list of signers to a new covenant and disposing of
his property at Branford that year took up his permanent home
at Newark and became very prominent in all transactions of the
town, especially during the first fourteen years of its growth
and development. He was the first president of the town court,
and first on the list of deputies to the General Assembly of New
Jersey for several years. At the drawing of Home Lots, Feb. 6,
1667, Lot 49 fell to the senior Jasper Crane, No. 40 to Deliverance
Crane, and No. 62 to John Crane, they being his two eldest sons.
At a town meeting of Newark, held January, 1668, Jasper Crane,
with Robert Treat, were chosen magistrates for the year ensuing,
and also deputies or burgesses for the General Assembly for the
same year. This Robert Treat was the first recorder or town clerk
for Newark, and was exceedingly prominent in all public matters
while he remained in the settlement. But in 1671 he returned to
Connecticut, where he was held in high esteem, and for several
years was Governor of that Colony, proving a faithful and conscientious
worker for the interest of the inhabitants under his charge. From
January, 1668, until his death, Jasper Crane senior was given
a prominent part to perform in the settlement of Newark. May 20,
1668, he as one of a committee signed an agreement fixing the
dividing line between Newark Town and Elizabeth Town. July 28,
1669, he with Robert Treat was chosen by the town to take first
opportunity "to go to 'York' to advise with Col. Lovelace
concerning our standing. Whether we are designed to be a part
of the Duke's Colony or not, and about the Neck, and liberty of
purchasing lands up the river, that the Town would petition for."
Re-elected magistrate January, 1669, "and Deputy to the General
Assembly if there shall be any." He with Robert Treat were
chosen to be moderators of town meetings for the year ensuing.
Jan. 2, 1670, again chosen magistrate and deputy, serving in latter
capacity annually until 1674, and at the town meeting Feb. 20,
it was voted that the governor be requested to confirm Jasper
Crane and Robert Treat magistrates or justices of the peace. The
same honors were conferred in 1671, and in addition it was voted
Jan. 22, 1671, that "every man should bring his half bushel
to Henry Lyon & Joseph Waters and have it tried and sealed
when made fit with Mr. Crane's, which for the present is the standard."
Mr. Crane was also one of a committee to see to burning the woods
for a year. May 13, 1672, Mr. Crane and Lieut. Swain were chosen
representatives for the town to consult with other representatives
of the country to order matters for the safety for the country.
June 17, 1672, Mr. Crane was again chosen magistrate, and also
chosen "President of the Quarterly Court to be held in Newark
to begin September next." He was also given "liberty
to sell liquors in the town till the country order alter it."
At a town meeting July 1, 1673, Mr. Crane was chosen to serve
on a committee, with Mr. Bond, Mr. Swain, Mr. Kitchell and Mr.
Lyon, to consider with messengers from other towns about sending
a petition to the Lords Proprietors in England for the removal
of grievances; and July 5th the town agreed to pay for sending
the messenger to England, as the above committee had agreed with
Mr. Delevall about money to cover that expense.
August 4th the town chose Mr. Crane, Mr. Bond, Lieut. Swain and
Sergeant John Ward deputies to treat with the generals about having
a privileged county between the two rivers Passaic and Araritine.
August 12 again chosen magistrate; September 6th, on committee
to try and secure the "Neck" to add to the possessions
of Newark; and September 16th instructed by the town to "treat
with the generals, and, if they can, to buy it." It would
seem the committee were successful, for October 25th Mr. Crane,
Mr. Molyns and Mr. Hopkins were chosen to look after the confirmation
of the purchase of the Neck and sue for further easement in respect
to pay. November 17th Capt. Swain and Mr. Crane were chosen to
continue the trade for the Neck. The following year (June 29,
1674) the town voted to have Mr. Crane and Mr. Pierson, Jr., carry
the petition and present it to the Governor and Council at North
Orange to "obtain confirmation of their bought and paid for
lands." August 10, 1674, was again chosen magistrate. Mr.
Crane was now becoming quite advanced in years, and the important
and exacting services required of him by the town must have proved
a heavy tax upon his strength, for he now dropped out of political
office, while his sons, John, Azariah and Jasper, Jr. began to
work in. Feb. 19, 1678-9, it having been discovered that many
of the settlers had taken up lands contrary to a town agreement,
Mr. Crane stated at a town meeting that he would lay down all
lands so taken if others would, and March 10th following he was
chosen, with Robert Dalglesh and Jasper Crane, Jr., to lay out
Samuel Potter's lot again. This entry, so far as the public records
of Newark shows, closes the public life of the senior Jasper Crane.
If we may judge from the entries upon the Newark Town Records
we should say that, next to Robert Treat, Jasper Crane was the
most prominent figure in the early settlement of that town. After
Treat returned to Connecticut, Jasper Crane's name came first
in the filling by popular vote the highest and most responsible
positions of public trust in the settlement. That he held the
confidence of the people is clearly manifested by their returning
him annually for so many years, and until the infirmities of age
unfitted him for further public service. But the family name and
traits of character were appreciated, for no sooner than the name
of Jasper senior disappears from the proceedings of the town meetings
than the names of John, Azariah and Jasper, Jr., are brought into
recognition. The patents for land in Newark to Jasper Crane, Aug.
25, 1675, covering one hundred and sixty-eight acres, are as follows:
"House lot 14 acres, 17 a. his first division on great Neck,
11 a. in part for his second division on said Neck, 6 a. on said
Neck, 4 a. at bottom of the Neck, 20 a. for his second division
by Two Mile Brook, 26 a. his third division by head of Mile Brook,
20 a. for his third division at the head of the branch of Second
River, 14 a. of meadow for his first division at Great Island,
12 a. of meadow for his second division by the Great Pond, 14
a. for proportion of bogs, 5 a. of meadow near the Great Island,
1 a. of meadow at Beef Point, 4 a. of meadow near Wheeler's Point,
yielding 1/2 penny lawful money of England, or in such pay as
the country doth produce at merchants' price, for every one of
the said acres, the first payment to begin the 25th of March,
which was in the year 1670." These lands were taken up and
occupied some time prior to date of the patents. Another warrant
seems to have been issued to Jasper Crane, May 1, 1675, for 103
acres of land in Newark.
At a town meeting held Aug. 24, 1670, an agreement was made with
Mr. Robert Treat and Sergt. Richard Harrison to build and maintain
a sufficient corn-mill upon the brook called Mill Brook. They
were given sole privilege of this brook, with all the town grists,
and all stone within the town limits suitable for millstones,
with all the timber that was prepared by Joseph Horton for the
mill, and two days' work of every man and woman that holds an
allotment in the town, with all the lands formerly granted to
Joseph Horton. They were to hold this land as their own so long
as they held and maintained the mill, and not to dispose of the
mill without consent of the town. The town was also to give thirty
pounds in good wheat, pork, beef, or one-fourth in good Indian
corn, at such prices as would enable them to exchange it for or
procure iron, millstones, or the workman's wages, &c.: Winter
wheat 5 shillings per bushel; summer wheat 4s. 5d.; pork 3d. per
lb.; beef 2d.; Indian corn 2s. 6d. per bushel. As Mr. Treat was
to return to Connecticut, Jasper Crane assumed his portion of
the contract.
From Jasper Crane we have a large number of descendants -- one
branch of them located westward of Newark, and five or six miles
distant, calling the lace Cranetown. Some of his descendants located
four miles southward of Newark, at a place called Elizabeth Town.
Among those who settled here was Stephen Crane, who there is good
reason to believe was an elder son of Jasper, born in England
about 1630.
From these points members of the family pressed their way further
westward, crossing the Passaic River, settling Morris County.
They were all remarkable for frugality, honesty and piety, and
were mostly Presbyterians. It has been said by one, not a member
of the family, "no more respectable people, no better citizens,
are found in our communities than those who bear Crane blood in
them."
Oct. 30, 1666, at a meeting in Branford, Conn., the preliminary
agreement outlining the conduct of the proposed new settlement
upon the "Passiack River in the Province of New Jersey"
was signed by many Branford people, among them Jasper Crane senior
and his sons John and Delivered.* These three names appear among
the first proprietors of the town of Newark, and at the town meeting
held Feb. 6, 1667, Mr. Jasper Crane, John and Deliverance* appear
to have been present. Thenceforth for more than a century the
name of Crane occupied a conspicuous place in the annals of the
town, and scarcely a town meeting was held during a period of
one hundred years that there was not a Crane chosen to fill some
town office, and it was not unusual to elect to public positions
several of the name at one meeting. But March 13, 1759, the family
seemed to have reached the zenith of its popularity, for at that
meeting by vote of the town eight different offices were filled
by Cranes. As it appears, however, that John Crane was chosen
collector and John Crane to serve on a committee to settle a line
in the parsonage land, it may have required but seven Cranes to
fill the eight positions; so that the election held this day exceeded
but a trifle that held March 12, 1754, when six Cranes were elected
to fill seven public positions. Their names were: John, for collector;
Timothy and Ezekiel, surveyors of Highways; Elijah and William,
overseers of the poor; John, clerk of strays; Noah, on committee
to settle the line between the towns of Newark and Elizabethtown.
Jasper Crane's will, dated 1678, named children John, Azariah,
Jasper and Hannah Huntington, and granddaughter Hannah Huntington;
John to have his "silver bole." Mr. Crane was probably
born about 1605, and died 1681, his will having been proved that
year, and names wife Alice.
|
You are the [an error occurred while processing this directive] visitor to this page since 2/24/01
The Gene Pool | Quaker Corner | Oregon Genealogy | NJ Founders | Ball Room
AmeriSlang | Ye Olde English Sayings | What's the Meaning of This? | Surnames
Research Aids | Gifts from Forefathers | Favorite Websites | What's New | Guide