Alfred J Croucher (1878-1960)

Dates

Birth: 14 October 1878, Port Carling, Ontario, Canada
Father: Samuel Croucher 1833-1910
Mother: Sophia Knight-Gregory 1835-1896

Christening: Unknown

Marriage: 27 July 1901 Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Wife: Sophia Helen (Vina) White 1881-1945

Death: 1960

Children

Lillian (Lilla) Croucher 1902-1994
Buryl (Beryl) Croucher 1903
Maxwell Croucher 1904
Donald Croucher 1905
Keith Croucher 1909
Beatrice Croucher a1911
Edward Croucher a1911
Theodore Croucher a1911

Notes

From private correspondence with Tom Croucher in Australia, Alfred Croucher was born on 14 Oct 1878 in Lake Muskoka, Ontario, Canada.

In 1881 census as Alfred Croucher aged 3, born in Ontario and living with his parents (Samuel and Sophia), three brothers (Henry S, John and Thomas) and sister (Amy) in Wood & Medora, Muskoka, Ontario, Canada.

There is an entry on RootsWeb for Alfred Croucher as a witness at the marriage of Thomas Bentley Croucher (his brother) and Jessie Ann Thomas (together with Louis Fowler) on 6 September 1899 at Mortimers Point, Muskoka & Parry Sound Dist, Medora, Ontario.

In the Canadian 1901 census as J Alfred Croucher (initials came before the first name on this page) aged 23, born on 14 October 1877 in rural Ontario, single, Church of England, employed for the previous 12 months not in a factory or at home and earned $300, can read, write and speak English, and lodging with B Thomas and A Jessie Croucher and their daughter (E Amey) at Medora & Wood, Simcoe, Ontario. (This would be his brother Thomas Bentley - another brother John Edward was living next door).

There is an entry on RootsWeb for the marriage of Alfred Croucher aged 23, a farmer of Port Carling, Canada, son of Samuel & Sophia and Vina White aged 19, born in Toronto, Canada, daughter of Henry White and Jane Walkinshaw on 27 July 1901 in Toronto and witnessed by Jane White of Glencairn, Ontario and W Harley Smith of Toronto. (I assume Vina was a nickname for Sophia Helen White).

In the Canadian 1911 census as Alfred C?roucher (in index), aged 33, born in October 1877 in Ontario, Anglican, employed as a carpenter?, did not state earnings, but had life assurance for $1500? at a cost of $50, and living with his wife (Saphina), three sons (Maxwell, Donald and Keith?) and two daughters (Lilla and Per?/Beryl?) at 63 Bailey? Street, Port Carling, Muskoka, Ontario (note much of the original is illegible). His brother Thomas and family was living next door (christian name Herman in the index but correct on the original).

The following information is extracted from RootsWeb WorldConnnect and Ancestry:

Born in 1877 in Port Carling. Apprenticed to a blacksmith after travelling in parts of England. In charge of the heavy amour plate shop in Portsmouth dockyard. He was aboard the HMS Thunderer when her boilers exploded, but escaped injury as he was on the deck. (This is incorrect as the explosion happened on 14th July 1876, and in fact it was Alfred born 1838 in Froyle). He married Sophia Helen White and had the eight children. In Canada he worked with his brothers Tom and John on the Hiawatha steam boat at Port Carling. He had a job taking care of Witcombs Island. With Tom he bought two houses on Bailey Street, and this is where he brought up his family. He died in 1960.