1864 –05/08/1937
Carpenter who emigrated with his family to Canada before returning and settling in Berkhamsted
Relatives
Research:
Plot 848 James Henry Crabb (1864-1937)
James was born in Greenwich in 1864, the eldest child of Richard Crabb, a joiner, and his wife Mary Ann (née Maddock), a dressmaker. Both had been born in Devon.
James was to have three brothers and a sister.
In 1871 the family were living at 4, Hungerford Road, Islington. By 1881 they were at 4, Marquis Road, St Pancras and 16 year old James was an apprentice carpenter, presumably working with his father.
James left home and the 1891 census, in April, found him as a lodger in Bromley and working as a builder’s joiner.
On 18 May 1891 he married Sarah Ann Maria Lewis, a school teacher, at Hornsea Parish church. They lived in Bow where daughter Beatrice was born December 1893 and son Herbert John in June 1897.
At the time of the 1901 census the family were at 79, Bow Road in Poplar and James was described as a builder and carpenter. On 2 April 1911 they were at 24, Mornington Road, Leytonstone, but on the 14th of that month the whole family, and James’s nephew Frank Crabb, embarked on the SS Victoria, sailing from Liverpool to Halifax, Nova Scotia. They landed on 23 April and gave their destination as Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, half way between Calgary and Winnipeg.
The 1916 Canadian census gives their address as 146, Athabasca Street. Sarah and Beatrice were at home, but not James or Frank, and Sarah is designated head of Household.
However, James was back with his family in June 1921 at 31, Fairford Street West. James was employed as a janitor. However on 28 November that year Sarah and Beatrice arrived at Liverpool on the SS Canada from Montreal. They had travelled alone.
On 4 March 1922 Sarah and Beatrice landed at New York having sailed from Liverpool on the SS Baltic. They both gave their last permanent address as Moose Jaw. Beatrice returned to the UK in November 1922.
Then on 30 July 1924 James and Sarah arrived together at Plymouth on the SS Andania from Montreal. They had travelled 3rd Class. James was described as a carpenter.
It has not been possible to trace James and Sarah after this date but at some point they moved to 11, Park Street, Berkhamsted where they were living at the time of James’s death in August 1937, aged 73 at Hempstead House, Hemel Hempstead. He was buried 9 August.
Sarah, who remained at Park Street, died December 1940 aged 75 and was laid to rest with him here.