Liverpool & South West Lancashire FHS - Forum

Looking for any current link with a family called Crean, once of Abercromby Square around 1914.
Seeking photo of John Fitzgerald Crean of Lancashire Hussars who died in 1918 as a result of war service and buried at St Mary's RC, Woolton.
daggers

Have you posted on the Liverpool Echo site? worth it since you are looking for living people. http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/

For anybody wanting to try to work forward.

From the CWGC site.
John Fitzgerald Crean was 41 years old when he died on 17/10/1918

Son of James and Kate Crean, of Liverpool; husband of Alice H. MacGrath (formerly Crean), of 25, Hornton St., Kensington, London.

Marriage of John F Crean to Alice H Lever Q1 1913 Birkenhead 8a 947

Only one child evident

Anette Ml' Crean Q3 1917 Wirral, Cheshire 8a 867

But also

David M MacGrath Q1 1924 Kensington Greater London 1a 138

both the above have mother's maiden name Lever

Mary
Thanks for the suggestion. I seldom read the Echo and overlooked its column. I shall have a think.
C married a niece of Lord Leverhulme, so Lever is her correct maiden name. I did not know about their daughter, as there is no reference on the Woolton memorial. The widow did marry again - deduced from the CWGC details.
D

Hi Daggers

Not sure if this is relevant or not, but also seeing you post recently about Liverpool Cricket Club.
In the late 1950s early 60s there was someone called Crean who used to play cricket at the club. My family were all members there and we used to go at the weekends to watch the matches. Think his name may have been Ken, but it was a very long time ago

Cheers
Erika

Erika
I may have seen you around, then! There was a good following of great cricket in those days, and a few even watched the 3rd & 4th XIs where I was.
The man you mention was Joe, but I know no more about him except that he was a good player. That gives me another line of thought which I will follow.
D

I mentioned the Liverpool Echo before I looked at the BMD's. If Alice moved to London and then remarried and had at least the one child, maybe that should be where you need to look.

I suppose there's always the possibility that he had siblings who may still be in Liverpool, so a post might still produce a result.

There are siblings, this is the 1901 census

1 Cavendish Terrace, Toxteth Park
All born Liverpool
James Crean Head M 48 Oil Refiner Employer
Katie Wife M 46
John F Son S 23 Oil Refiner Employer
Margaret M daur S 21
Kathleen T daur S 18
James H T son S 17 Student
Norah B daur 5
Mary Sheridan Serv. S 42 Cook Domestic America American Subject
Mary Roberts Serv. S 40 Housemaid Domestic Lancs St Helens
RG13; Piece: 3436; Folio: 72; Page: 45

I think John was the oldest child since in 1891 the family was living at 25 Balmoral Road, West Derby with
James Head M 38 Oil Merchant (Colour)
Catherine Wife M 35
John F 14, Margaret M 12, Kathleen T 10, James T 7, Gerald J 5, Walter P 4, Edward D 3
and Patrick Crean Brother S 36 Tallow Melter
Hannah Carroll is 21 year old Nurse Domestic born Cork Ireland
RG12; Piece: 2998; Folio 104; Page 41

Probable marriage is James Crean to Catherine O'Halloran in 1875 - possibly Catholic marriage or Register Office.

See if there's any chance of identifying any marriages

Kathleen T Crean to John B Noble 1905
Margaret to William H Woodcock 1912 - not positive as there is no middle initial, although it was another Registrar attended.

Birth of James Thomas H Crean Q3 1883, West Derby, so nothing unusual with his name that we can see, I was hoping for a middle name to stand out. Can't see a marriage in the transcribed indexes. It would have to be a search of the non transcribed ones.

There is a John J Woodcock (mother Crean) Q3 1916 West Derby 8b 396 so there's probably at least another one older.

Aha! Gerald, Walter and Edward are pupils at Ampleforth Abbey and College Yorkshire in 1901.

More or less definite that the marriage for Kathleen would be right as I don't see her at home later, although neithr are Gerald or Walter.

Ampleforth College is nowadays a mixed Catholic boarding school, so the marriages were probably Catholic rather than Register Office.

Unfortunately in the Liverpool Mercury Monday, October 21, 1878
Liquidations by Arrangement and Compositions with Creditors
William Charles Bustard and James Crean Oil Merchants and produce brokers, second meeting, at the Law Associationm Rooms, 14 Cook Street, Liverpool.

But on Tuesday, 10th December 1895, Mr James Crean (L) Oil and Tallow Refiner of 25 Balmoral Road, Liverpool was one of five men nominated to fill the vacancy in the representation of St Anne's Ward in the City Council

Wow! I turn my back for five minutes and you've conjured up not just a family but its saga as well. Too much to take in this late, but thanks to all, and back tomorrow.
D

Dear "daggers",
I would also be interested in a photograph or any further information on the John Fitzgerald Crean of the Lancashire Hussars. I have obtained Captain Crean's Colt 45 Automatic Pistol (engraved on the grip strap) but only have the meager information you have found as well. I am a military historian searching for J.F. Crean's biographical to include in an article for The International Arms and Militaria Collector magazine (www.skennerton.com). Hopefully you can help me. John Crean died in Liverpool but is listed as a "War Casualty". Do you know any of his WWI history including his injuries or illness resulting in his death?
Sincere regards,
Alan

Alan
Here is what I found about JF Crean,, which I have included in a summary of material about those named on the Liverpool Cricket Club and Liverpool Football Club (RU) memorial in the pavilion at Aigburth. No photo came to light.
I have a photo of the family gravestone if it is of any interest.
D
"The only yeomanry man to be named on the memorial.

Name: CREAN John Fitzgerald
Rank: Captain
Regiment: Lancashire Hussars
Age: 41
Date of Death: 17/10/1918
Additional information: Son of James and Kate Crean, of Liverpool; husband of Alice H. MacGrath, (formerly Crean), of 25, Hornton St., Kensington, London.
Cemetery: MUCH WOOLTON (ST. MARY'S) ROMAN CATHOLIC CEMETERY, Liverpool


LFC member. London Gazette :12/1/15 to be 2/Lieut from 10/12/14. LG: 8/12/16 to be temp Lieut 10/10/16. Also on Liverpool Exchange Newsroom Memorial [this is on Exchange Flags, behind the Town Hall.
Crean’s memorial is a private cross close to west side of the church with no reference to his war service.
From Liverpool Courier: 19/10/18: Eldest son of Col & Mrs Crean of Abercrombie Square. On 10th he became ill, having caught influenza, … expired at his residence at Gateacre. After Liverpool University entered his father’s business, importers and refiners of oil, became managing director. In France as a staff officer 1915-17. 3 brothers in army. Was given leave to return to his business, but expected a recall . He married a daughter of Lord Leverhulme’s brother. Col. Crean [i.e. his father] had a Volunteer decoration and was a JP.

His widow died on 4 July 1954 aged 67."

Dear "daggers",
Thank you very much for the information and your immediate reply! Immensely appreciated. I will be sure to credit the Liverpool Geneology Forum if the article is published. Many people do not know of the Great Flu Epidemic of 1918 which took more lives than the Great War, compounding what must have been seen by most as the end of humanity at the time.
Sincere regards,
Alan

A new forum member Suzie Vickery contacted me by pm

Capt Crean had three children, John Michael Fitzgerald, born 30.11.1913, Tony born in 1915 and Annette born in 1918.

I am John Michaels daughter and am trying to research his family, so have joined this site and am interested to learn things. My father died in 1995, his brother in 1958 and his sister in 2003, so have no one to ask about the family - although they were separated from it on Alices re marriage to David McGrath and maybe did not know too much.
Alice died in 1955 I think in London, know that my mother met her and she married my father in 1956.
Also trying to get hold of Alan Carriviou who wrote that he owned my grandfathers revolver - I have his sword and would love to be in touch with him if you know how I could do that.

I hope Alan reads this and makes contact with Suzie through this forum.

I have also had a pm from new member Suzie, and have told her what I know about the Creans I have looked into - I am not related to any [that I know of], but came across them when looking into names on a war memorial.
D