Charles Crockford son of Joshua and Martha was baptised in Bedford 30 January 1774.
PCC will of Charles Crockford, seaman serving aboard HMS Romney was proved 10 October 1798. Administration granted to Joshua Crockford, of St Paul, Bedford, father. So Joshua and Martha's son is likely to be the person who joined the Navy.
However, the Northampton Mercury of 10 November 1792 carries an appeal for the return of Charles Crockford, apprenticed to Robert Taylor, whitesmith of St Neots, Huntingdonshire, who eloped from his master's service on the night of 17 October. He is aged "about 19" - so a similar age to the Charles Crockford from Bedford. The newspaper says that if he returns within fourteen days he will be forgiven, but after that anyone harbouring, or employing him will be prosecuted, "as the Law directs".
I haven't found any other record from his naval service, (apart from a previous will, in which he leaves everything to a woman named Sarah Brown, of Bedford) or of his death (HMS Romney, launched in 1762 wasn't lost until 1804.)
I've searched apprenticeship records on Ancestry and FindMyPast, but can't find anything referring to a Charles Crockford bound to Robert Taylor of St Neots.
If the two men are one and the same, how likely is it that Charles would get away with unlawfully leaving his apprenticeship and joining the Navy? If he had been discovered, would the Navy have been prosecuted?