CRAVEN of Newport/Goole/Hull/Wakefield (Mariner) - Lookups Please

[lydiaann]

ken:  I'll need more information than that, please!  Do you have the FULL name and any specific dates.  The Craven name is rife throughout the north of England BUT 'my lot' do emanate from Wakefield so if you can supply any extra information you have - even of parents/siblings/offspring - that would help!

[kenbowley]

I must confess I am not a descendant  - i bought some quite rare handsomely bound leather books and "W.M Craven of Wakefield" is the name of the original owner inscribed inside. The books were first printed around 1800 but could have been bought after that I suppose.

They are on the topic of industry and production so would make sense that they belonged to William Craven of Bradley & Craven brickmakers - I wondered if you knew his middle name?

Sorry i dont have any other information but I am desperate to learn more about the original owner as i feel connected to him (or her) through time!

[lydiaann]

OK, that's a start.  There's a possibility he may be 'mine', but I'll have to dig around first.  I won't necessarily get to it today - the garden calls! - but I will have a go!  Give me a couple of days, please!

[chempat]

Richard Bradley, of Bradley and Craven, died in 1874 aged 66.  He left a family of 4 daughters and 3 sons.

Still looking for Craven.

[chempat]

William Craven, born around 1805 in Hunslet, died in 1882 in Wakefield, iron founder in censuses, married to Joan.  Personal estate £4,400 proved in 1883.  Cannot see him as William M anywhere, but this should help you find him in censuses yourself and see if he had a son W M Craven.

[kenbowley]

ok thanks!!

[lydiaann]

Hi, Ken:

I agree with what has been said about William Craven, b. Hunslet, etc. etc.  At first I was a little sceptical and had collected a number of censuses but finally found that Richard Bradley was also in the 1861 census (Alverthorpe with Thornes) listed as Iron Founder and part owner.  According to William's entry, they had 57 employees.  Can't see where the initial 'M' comes in at all but I've had that sort of phenomenon throughout all my trees.  I can say that this particular William is not one of my Cravens, although probably - as I said initially - the Craven name is especially common in the West Riding, so possibly there is a connection further back.  My direct line is hazy pre-1730-1750.  However, I will have a go at tracing 'down' the line.  Watch this space!

[lydiaann]

I've had a go at this.  It appears that William's son, John, took over the business as, in the 1881 census, he is the employer (of 140 men and boys, so it had grown somewhat).  John married Mary Horsley and had 2 sons - and many, many daughters! - John William (b. 1862 Alverthorpe) and James Horsley, (b. 1864 ditto).  However, in the 1891 census, both John Sr. and John William are noted as "Steam Engineer and Machine Maker", with no mention of being employers.  Then, in the 1911 census, John William is noted once again as being an "Iron Founder and Employer".  He had 3 daughters, and his brother was not an engineer.  So, unless we trace down the daughters' lines, I'm afraid it will be very difficult to find the 'owners' of your books.

this was only a basic search, you may be able to find more.  There is a member on Ancestry who has researched this family also but seems to have stopped at the 3 daughters too!

Best of luck with your search.  Stay safe in these troubled times.

Kind regards
lydiaann

[lydiaann]

As an afterthought, I read William Sr's Probate notice...and it would appear to give me a connection to 'my lot' (one of the executors was named 'Hardman', who feature strongly in my Craven line.  Strangely, they also appear in my paternal Taylor line, so quite exciting!)- so thanks for the original post, Ken!

lydiaann