Diane and John's Family History Site - George Croasdale and Mary Ann Knowles

CROASDELL FAMILY HISTORY & GENEALOGY

CROASDELL FAMILY - POTTED HISTORIES - BRANCHLINES

George Croasdale and Mary Ann Knowles

George Cummings Croasdale was born at Tom Cragg, Finsthwaite and baptised at St Peter's Church on 18 March 1866, receiving his grandmother's maiden name as his second one. He moved to Haverthwaite as a child with his family and spent the rest of his life there. On 12 May 1891 George married Mary Ann Knowles, born in Langdale about 1863 and normally known as Polly, the daughter of Roger Knowles who was proprietor of the Swan Hotel at Newby Bridge. We know a great deal about their wedding as it received a splendid write-up in the local paper which conjures up a delightful picture of the ceremony and festivities. "The party emerging from the church were treated to a goodly shower of rice" and it's good to know that their presents were "both numerous, costly and useful" I wonder if there are any pictures of Polly in her slate coloured dress attended by four bridesmaids in silver grey? There is, however, a photo of the couple on honeymoon.

George was at home with his parents when the census was taken in 1871, 1881 and 1891 - just before his wedding. In 1901 George and Mary Ann (as she is recorded) were living at Bridgend, Haverthwaite with their first three children, all recorded as being at school and born at Bridgend. George was described as a Timber Merchant, a trade which he carried on all his life. He was also a renowned horseman, leading his teams of horses which drew the timber wagons.

Further information comes from George's grandson, Tom Park - "George continued the timber business after his father James. He also did some farming, though his brother Thomas Henry farmed at Haverthwaite. They did not always agree. .... George and his two sons used to fell timber all over Lakeland. The timber was hauled to the nearest railway station on long poled timber waggons with teams of magnificent shire horses. They were stabled under the barn at Bridge End. Clydesdale horses were used for snigging the felled trees down from the woods. His two sons had great difficulty in persuading him to mechanise with motor lorries and caterpillar tractors. George had one of the first motor cars in the district - a Maxwell - and his daughter Gertie used to drive him around."

George at Bridge End

George died at Bridge End House, Haverthwaite on 23 June 1947 at the age of 81 and was buried at Haverthwaite on 26th June. He left a will naming his two sons and John Knowles, retired corn-miller, as executors

Polly at Bridge End

Polly died on 19 December 1944 at Bridge End, also aged 81, and was buried at Haverthwaite on the 22nd

In Memoriam - Mary Ann click here

George and Polly had four children and they also helped to bring up George's nephew Henry Kirkby Croasdale for a few years. As some of George and Polly's grandchildren are alive now the details of their families have been kept to a minimum. But more information is available and further details from descendants would be welcomed. Family members are always invited and encouraged to add their own material, accounts, photos, reminiscences etc if they would like to do so.

Georges Grandchildren?
George's Grandchildren at Bridge End

James Preston 1892 - 1971

Born 19 October 1892 at Bridge End and baptised 13 November at Haverthwaite
Married Isabel (Belle) Park in 1920 in Ulverston Reg District
James and Belle had two sons: James Edward (Jimmy) and Henry Park (Harry) (1925 - 1979)
- Jimmy has 3 sons, two of whom are twins, Kenneth, James Francis and Norman and 3 Croasdale grandchildren - Kenneth's daughter and two sons
- Harry was a doctor in Harrogate, married to Pauline Alice Winder. They had two children, Linda and Anthony. Harry died on 15 February 1979 at Old Bilton, Harrogate. His will was made some years earlier in 1967
James died 25 May 1971 when living at Lincombe Nook, Mountbarrow Rd Ulverstone. He left a will dated 19 January 1971.
Belle died at Greenodd on 3 April 1963 leaving a will naming her two sons as executors.

Gertrude Margaret 1894 - 1981

Born 24 Aug 1894 at Bridge End and baptised at Haverthwaite on 4 September Married George Park on 27 April 1920 at Haverthwaite. George was brother to Isabel who married James Preston and he was born on 15 April 1896 at Arrad Foot, Ulverston. George Park farmed at Swarthmoor Hall near Ulverston where their first three children were born. Later the family moved to Thornton le Fylde where George began a varied and successful career in agriculture, including a partnership with his cousin-in-law James Croasdale importing and breeding Landrace pigs George and Gertrude had 5 sons: Robert Croasdale Park (1921 - 1997) a vet who served as an officer in Italy in the RAVC and later became a dentist. He had once met one of the Simpson Croasdells (see Myths and Legends) and provided some helpful family information; Thomas (Tom) Harling Park, a retired doctor - still a keen family historian and a provider of many splendid photos and information for this page; Roger Knowles Park, (1925 - 1996) a dentist with a practice in York; and George Park, a doctor now living in Ontario, Canada. Their 5th child William James died at 6 days old in September 1931 Gertrude died on 24 September 1981 at Acomb, York and George on 5 December 1977 at Easingwold, York. They are both buried at Pennybridge.
		Gertrude at 18
		Gertrude with Rob
		The boys as young men

George Cummings (II) 1895 - 1972

George & Molly's Wedding

Born 27 Sept 1895 at Bridge End and baptised at Haverthwaite on 10 November
Married Mary (Molly) Dickinson, the daughter of Clement Dickinson, a farmer, on 17 August 1921 at Haverthwaite. She had been born c 1895
George was a timber merchant and his occupation is featured in the book mentioned below.
George and Molly had 2 sons and a daughter: George Cummings III; Kathleen Mary and John Oswald (Jack) (1929 - 1998)
- George III has a daughter Jane; Kathleen married John Brian Hall, a civil engineer, and has 5 children; Jack married Kay and had 2 sons and a daughter and there are currently 4 Croasdale grandchildren ( 2 girls and a boy)
- Jack was a very keen family historian and carried out much research on his own family line. He provided me, and I'm sure many others, with invaluable information when I was starting out on my research. He also provided much material for a chapter in the book "Tales of Old Horsemen" - see below.
George died on 12 December 1972 at Ghyll Head, Widermere and left a will, proved the following year
Mary died on 27 December 1988 at Haverthwaite
This branch of the family have continued the wood working tradition in Haverthwaite and now run a leading business designing and producing wooden outdoor playground equipment. The Company web site is at www.playdale.co.uk. Jack and Kay's son John and daughter Gillian are Directors of the Company.
The family also feature in the book "Tales of the Old Horsemen" by Jennifer Davies, published by David & Charles 1997. The Chapter on Timber Horsemen covers The Croasdales of Haverthwaite pp 116 - 123 and includes several photos as well as fascinating accounts by Jack Croasdale about both the timber trade and the horsemen and characters who worked in it.

Eleanor Mary (Ella) 1905 - ??

Eleanor was born in 1905 and baptised at Haverthwaite on 14th May
Married William Clayton (Bill) Jarvis on 9 September 1930 at Haverthwaite
Ella and Bill had two children. a boy and a girl

Ella and Bill's Wedding

Sisters Ella and Gertrude

George's nephew was

Henry Kirkby (Harry) Croasdale 1884 - 1970 Son of Isaac Croasdale and Hannah Kirkby Born 16 March 1884 at Finsthwaite and baptised at Haverthwaite on 18 April, the day his mother was buried Orphaned at 5 years old Brought up firstly by his grandparents and then by his uncle George Later lived with his uncle James and trained as a chemist Worked for a chemist in Warwick where he met his daughter Madge born 1888 Married Marguerite Jane Holliday (Madge) in 1921 in Warwick Reg Dist Took over his father-in-law's business Lived in Welford-on-Avon, Warwickshire at Vine House and prospered Harry and Madge had no children Harry died on 21 April 1970 in Welford and Madge died shortly afterwards on 17 July 1970. Both left wills - Harry's contained 3 codicils.
		George driving with Harry
		Harry and Madge
		Vine House

Click here to return to George's father James