Amelia Croucher [Croft (Crofts)] (1785-1855)

Dates

Birth: 1785 Froyle, Hampshire, UK
Father: George Croucher b1760-1794
Mother: Ann Mills 1749-1819

Christening: 27 March 1785 St. Mary, Upper Froyle, Hampshire, UK

Marriage: Unknown
Husband: William Croft (Crofts) c1781-1821?

Death: September 1855 St Mary, Culford, Suffolk, UK
Burial: 13 September 1855 St Mary, Culford, Suffolk, UK

Children

John Croft 1809-a1851
Anne Crofts 1813
Elizabeth Crofts 1813
Louisa Croft 1819
Charles Crofts 1822

Notes

Christening of Amelia Croucher in the IGI on 27 March 1785 in Froyle, Hampshire, UK, parents Geo Croucher and Ann. There is also an entry in Froyle Baptisms for Amelia Croucher, daughter of George Croucher and Ann on 27 March 1785. Fern McLiesh has an entry in RootsWeb WorldConnect for the birth of Amelia Croucher on 27 March 1785, parents George Groucher and Ann Mills.

Tom Croucher in Australia has analysed the Will of Thomas Croucher (c. 1751-1822) made on 31st July 1822, and two Codicils dated 12th October 1822 and 1st November 1822. The second paragraph and first bequeaths reads:

"I will and direct that all my just debts and funeral expenses fully paid and satisfied, and after payment and satisfaction thereof I give and bequeath unto Thomas Croucher, of Froyle in the County of Hants (Hampshire) Schoolmaster; to John Croucher, of Bentley in the same County Innkeeper; and to Amy Croft, of Bury Saint Edmunds in the County of Suffolk, widow; the sum of ten pounds each." No relationship is stated, but Tom guesses that these may be related and may be John Croucher, born in 1777, Thomas Croucher born 1778, and Amy Croft who may be Amelia Croucher born 1785, a sister of the John and Thomas Croucher of Froyle (and children of George and Ann). The flaw is that I believe that both John and Thomas were servants/footmen and John died in 1823.

However the 1851 census has an entry for Amelia Croft aged 65, born in Froyle, Hampshire, a widow living with her son John Croft, his wife (Jane), their son (John Henry), and three daughters (Emily, Jane Mary, and Louisa Ann), a servant (Ann Dixson) and a visitor (John Grimely Lenny) at 19 Hatter St, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. John Croft was aged 42 and born in West Stow and the IGI has an entry for the christening of John Croft in 1809 at West Stow, parents William Croft and Amelia. However I can find no marriage of William Croft and Amelia so I cannot identify her maiden name, but a complete search of the Froyle Baptisms has only one Amelia christened at the right time and that is Amelia Croucher. There is an entry in FreeBMD for the death of William Croft in 1848 in Bury St Edmunds - if this was her husband she was not a widow at the date of the will. However there is an entry in FamilyHistoryOnline Suffolk Burials for William Croft on 29 June 1821 at Culford St Mary which means she would have been a widow at the time of the will.

The first three children were born in West Stow, but Anne and Elizabeth are spelt Crofts rather than Croft. Louisa was born in Suffolk. I am not sure whether Charles was Amelia's son - he was born in Culford, but the mothers name is given as Emily and there was a William Crofts and Emilia (spelt various ways) Small married in Bedford in 1812 who had several several children - I think she died in St Neots, Bedfordshire in 1856.

There is an entry in FreeBMD for the death of Amelia Croft in July-September 1855 in Thingoe (4a 270) which covered the area north of Bury St Edmunds including Culford. There is an entry in FamilyHistoryOnline Suffolk Burials for Amelia Croft on 13 September 1855 aged 70 at Culford St Mary.

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