Rainham Builders

Joseph Crawford

Male 1827 - 1902  (74 years)


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  • Name Joseph Crawford 
    Born 22 Sep 1827  Ireland Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Died 3 May 1902  Lot 18 SLR, Houghton Township, Norfolk County Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I01077  Jacob and Barbara (Schenk) Hoover
    Last Modified 1 Apr 2014 

    Family Lydia Margaret Swarts,   b. 8 Mar 1830,   d. 11 Jul 1906, Lot 6 SLR, Houghton Township, Norfolk County Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 76 years) 
    Children 
     1. Margaret Crawford  [Natural]
     2. Samuel Crawford  [Natural]
     3. William Crawford  [Natural]
     4. Lydia Crawford  [Natural]
     5. James Crawford  [Natural]
     6. Frederick Charles Crawford,   b. 21 Oct 1870,   d. 1 Oct 1889  (Age 18 years)  [Natural]
     7. Joseph Crawford  [Natural]
     8. Gideon Crawford,   b. ABT. 1869, Selkirk, Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location  [Natural]
     9. Hugh Crawford  [Natural]
     10. Francis Henry Crawford,   b. 27 Jul 1873  [Natural]
     11. Grace Crawford,   b. 3 Nov 1878  [Natural]
    Last Modified 1 Apr 2014 
    Family ID F0450  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 

    • On the 1851 Census of Walpole, Haldimand, Ontario are:
      Joseph Crawford, Blacksmith, born Ireland, Baptist, aged 24
      Lydia Crawford, born Upper Canada, Baptist, aged 20
      Margaret Crawford, born Upper Canada, Baptist, aged 1

      On the 1881 Census of Houghton, Norfolk South, Ontario are:
      Joseph Crawford, Married, Male, Irish, aged 51, born Ireland, Blacksmith, Baptist
      Lydia Crawford, Married, Female, aged 50, born Ontario, Baptist
      Samuel Crawford, Male, aged 26, born Ontario, Baptist
      William Crawford, Male, aged 25, born Ontario, Blacksmith, Baptist
      Joseph Crawford, Male, aged 16, born Ontario, Baptist
      Gideon Crawford, Male, aged 14, born Ontario, Baptist
      Hugh Crawford, Male, aged 12, born Ontario, Baptist
      Charles Crawford, Male, aged 10, born Ontario, Baptist
      Francis Crawford, Male, aged 8, born Ontario, Baptist
      Margaret Crawford, Female, aged 28, born Ontario
      Lydia Crawford, Female, aged 18, born Ontario, Baptist
      Grace Crawford, Female, aged 3, born Ontario, Baptist

      On the 1891 Census of Houghton, Norfolk South, Ontario are:
      Crawford Joseph, Male, Aged 61, Married, Head, Born Ireland, Father Born Ireland, Mother Born Ireland, Baptist, Blacksmith
      Crawford Lydia, Male(sic), Aged 60, Married, Wife, Born Ontario, Father Born Ontario, Mother Born Ontario, Baptist
      Crawford Samuel, Male, Aged 32, Single, Son, Born Ontario, Father Born Ontario, Mother Born Ontario, Baptist, Farmer
      Crawford James, Male, Aged 30, Married, Son, Born Ontario, Father Born Ontario, Mother Born Ontario, Baptist, Blacksmith
      Crawford Joseph, Male, Aged 24, Single, Son, Born Ontario, Father Born Ontario, Mother Born Ontario, Baptist, Stone Mason
      Crawford Giden, Male, Aged 22, Single, Son, Born Ontario, Father Born Ontario, Mother Born Ontario, Baptist, Blacksmith
      Crawford Hugh, Male, Aged 19, Single, Son, Born Ontario, Father Born Ontario, Mother Born Ontario, Baptist, Blacksmith
      Crawford Francis, Male, Aged 17, Single, Daughter, Born Ontario, Father Born Ontario, Mother Born Ontario, Baptist
      Crawford Grace, Female, Aged 12, Single, Daughter, Born Ontario, Father Born Ontario, Mother Born Ontario, Baptist

      On the 1901 Census of Houghton, Norfolk South, Ontario are:
      Crawford Joseph, Male, Head of Household, Married, born September 22, 1827, aged 73
      Crawford Lydia, Female, Wife, Married, born March 8, 1830, aged 71
      Crawford Samuel, Male, Son, Single, born November 5, 1853, aged 47
      Crawford Grace, Female, Daughter, Single, born November 3, 1877, aged 23

      Norfolk Deaths, Houghton - Crawford Joseph, Male, 3rd May 1902, Aged 78 Years, Lot 18, S L R, Blacksmith, Married, Born Ireland, Cause of Death Pneumonia, Duration One Week, Physician George Stewart, Baptist, Informant Frank Crawford, Registered 4th May 1902, James Boyd Division Registrar of Houghton

      Norfolk Deaths, Houghton - Crawford Mrs. Joseph, Female, 11th July 1904, Aged 74 Years, Lot 6, S. L. R., Housewife, Married, Born Canada, Cause of Death Heart Disease, Duration 2 Years, Physician Dr. Hutchinson, Baptpist, Informant D. H. Hutchinson, Registered 15th July 1904, James Boyd Division Registrar of Houghton

      Norfolk Deaths, Houghton - Frederick Charles Crawford, October 1st, 1889, Male, aged 17 Years, Farmer, Born County of Haldimand, Drowned, Religion None, Rev. John H Kelly, Clear Creek, March 8th, 1890, None, A. C. Shapely. (Drowned off the ERIE WAVE as did Lewis Helka)

      The son Joseph, 16 years old on the 1881 Census, would survive the sinking of the "Erie Wave" in 1889. His brother Charles, 10 years old on the Census, would drown along with several others. One of three survivors, Joseph Crawford gave this interview:

      A NIGHT OF TERROR - Aylmer Sun

      Wreck of the "Erie Wave" as related to the "Aylmer Sun' by survivor Joe CRAWFORD

      Clear Creek October 12, 1889

      I was on board the Erie Wave when she capsized. The night was intensely dark and chilly, a heavy gale had sprung up and the waves raged furiously, rocking the schooner to and fro so violently that all on board became terribly sea-sick. About midnight the storm grew worse and the captain said to Bell & Soper, "I will out the cable and let her go on shore." They answered, "No let her ride it out." Scarcely had the words left their lips when she capsized. Being pretty full of water, for the pump had refused to work all night, she failed to right herself and lay rocking on her side, the heavy billows rocking over her until her spar went out. I expected every minute to receive a death blow, as I struggled in the darkness and chilling waves to secure a clinging position. After I had succeeded I asked the captain if all were on board. He shouted back he was. I asked "Is Charlie there?" He replied that he was just ahead of him. Just then I heard a cry for help beneath. It came from Geo. BELL who was suffering from rheumetism and unable to help himself. I aided him to a secure position and was about to go to help my brother when a wave swept me off. Fearing being struck or rocked under if I returned to the schooner, I resolved to make to shore. Then came a struggle which no words can describe. Only those who have had a similar experience know how much the mind is capable of thinking, the heart feeling and the body of enduring in a watery combat. Nerved with energy that desperation gives and buoyed by the hope of saving my brother and comrades, struggled fiercely in the raging waves. My heavy overcoat and woolen clothing burdened me, but I dared not pause a moment to strip. Over and under the water swimming in every imaginable way to save strength I at last began to get near shore. Even then had mine been the only life at stake, I would have gone down. Every nerve and muscle was straining to the utmost to resist the angry waves thar receded from the clay cliffs. Several times I almost succumed, but a strong determination got me ashore. There a precipitous clay cliff met me which I began to climb by digging one hole after another with my feet. I had almost reached the top when exhaustion overcame me and I fell back some 15 feet and laid a moment stunned. A cry for help reached me from the perishing ones and seemed to give me supernatural strength for immediately I scaled the cliff that I could not have climbed in daylight. Then I climbed up another gentle slope and met another steep projection from which I again reeled and fell another few feet. Making a mighty effort I again gained the lane. In my eagerness to find a dwelling I took no precautions and in the darkness violently ran into a fence, knocking me almost senseless. Rallying, however, I followed the fence and soon reached Daniel MOORE's residence. No time was lost in spreading the news. Light soon came, the lifeboat was sent for, but all was in vain, for nothing dared face the turbulent seas. When morning dawned, it was plain to see that none were aboard. My brothers, brother-in-law and myself immediately began to search for the bodies. We searched the beach day and night until we recovered six; deep grief wringing our hearts, as one by one we lifted them from their watery grave.