Charles CRANE

Charles Samuel Crane, born 6th May 1833 to John and Betty Crane nee Browning of Middlezoy Somerset England. George Crane his Grandfather and John William Crane his father were carpenters. His brother Samuel was a sawyer in Middlezoy, brother John W.B.Crane left in 1852 for America where his Uncle William was settled in Dover Wisconsin, brother James went also but died with in a few years of settling. John became a successful farmer in Dover Wisconsin and the family were highly respected. Brother Joseph went to Prescott Arizona when it was the real wild west he was a blacksmith, barman, owner of the Diana saloon in Whisky Rowe then a Rancher in the Verde Valley.. His Character was in a book and film Sugar Foot, but History has him as well liked and respected Englishman. Charles youngest brother William Jenkins Crane also came to S.A. and lived at Crane's road Bloomberg. Charles was on the ship Gloucester where 23 people died on the voyage, he landed on the 12th of August 1852 and on the 27th of September boarded the barque Chatham for Melbourne then on to the Goldfields. His name is on the Miner Petition to Governor Latrobe in 1853. He returned to South Australia and went to Coromandel Valley where he carted timber into Adelaide with bullock teams owned by James and Thomas Ackland. Mary Hannah Ackland. born to James and Susannah Ackland born in Adelaide 31 December 1838. The Ackland Bros James and Thomas from Barnstable Devon they worked as timber cutters and farm labourers in 1852 they went to the Gold fields and were successful. James Ackland purchased six hundred and eighty acres at Flaxman's Valley. Mary Hannah was working for George Fife Angas and it seems Charles went to South Rhine following his Bride to be. he was employed by George Fife Angas to take mail to Adelaide as well as labourer. In 1854 he took up Section 147 in the hundred of Jutland. gradually building his acreage to over a thousand acres. On 5th March 1857 he married Mary Hannah Ackland at the Angas house Tarrawatta. Charles grew the property "Craneford" over the years and was in Dairying, bred stud sheep and fine cattle and horses. He was a special constable and first Councillor for the South Rhine Council area, from a young 18 year old to respected and influencial man. They had eleven children, William John, 1859. died William John 1860. Arthur 1862 Mary Ann 1864 Susan Caroline 1865 Rhoda 1868 Oliver 1870 he went to W.A. in the 1890's took up Farm land called Craneford Woodanelling. Harriet 1872 Samuel George 1874, died George Joseph 1875 Charles Samuel 1878. Craneford the township. In 1865 a subdivision of part 505 by Charles Crane and William Clark. The main house built on the property " Craneford'' was Thatched roof with redgum posts and rails covered with mud and straw and marked to look like large bricks. There was a Kitchen with two bread ovens where it seems locals came to make their bread, a cheese cellar and two room bedroom and school house and dairy and shearing shed and wash yards for cleaning sheep before shearing. The Blacksmith shop on Craneford employed blacksmiths for the needs of people in the area . The Post Office was on the property. Charles Crane died in Oct 13, 1914 and is buried in the family plot at Angaston cemetery. Mary Hannah Crane died 8th Nov. 1913.