The Hadwen Family of Lancashire

Dalton News 22 October 1921

Obituary

DEATH OF CAPT. CREWDSON

AN ULVERSTON WORTHY

NEARLY SIXTY YEARS AT SEA

Another link with the past in Ulverston has been severed by the death of Capt. James Crewdson which occurred on Saturday at Sir John Barrow's Cottage, Dragley Beck, Ulverston. The deceased who had reached the advanced age of 83 years, had the misfortune to fall and break his thigh on the Tuesday previous, and this accident no doubt hastened his death. Until then he had been out and about, though increasing feebleness prevented him from walking far. He was one of a group of ild sea captains whose number has been gradually diminishing until he and Captain Higham were about the last survivors in Ulverston and the two were fast friends. Going to sea at the age of fifteen years he had long and interesting experience of maritime life. The boats he served in were practically all sailing craft and included the Ann Crewdson (built in Ulverston), the J H Barrow (still running), the Mary Barrow, and others from 250 to 300 tons. With these he did many long jouneys to such places as South America, the West Indies, etc., and though never actually shipwrecked, he naturally met with adventures, on one occasion coming home on a long voyage with a crew of two. He was also engaged in much coastal trade, taking iron ore from Barrow before the docks were built there, and once he took a boat up to Greenodd. In his day Ulverston was a port where shipping was brisk, boat building, sail making, etc., being carried on on the canal banks and a customs house was situated in the town. Conditions have changed in that respect. The aged captain had seen many changes in his time including the growth of Barrow and the decline of his native town as a port, also the advent of the railway into the district. He retired in 1912 so that he led an active and responsible life until well past seventy, having spent almost sixty years at sea.

As a boy he was a scholar at the old Town Bank Grammar School. About the year 1916 Capt. Crewdson was appointed by the Urban Council keeper of the Sir John Barrow Monument on Hoad Hill and he went to reside in the cottage at Dragley Beck in which Sir John was born where he lived alone, his wife having died in 1914 at the age of 72 years. The deceased, who was well known and highly respected, is survived by two sons and four daughters. One son is in Ulverston and the other in Pennsylvania, the daughters being in Cork, Barrow, Osset (near Leeds), and one in Africa. The late Capt. Crewdson had been a Freemason of the Grand Lodge of Ireland since 1864, and was transferred to the Furness Lodge in 1914.

The interment took place at the Ulverston Cemetery on Tuesday, a very large number of friends attending, and the service was conducted by the Rector, the Rev J S Rimmer, MA, assisted by the Rev S H Maycock. The chief mourners were Mr and Mrs J Crewdson, son and daughter-in-law, and Miss Ethel Crewdson, grand-daughter, Mr and Mrs S woods (Cork), Mr and Mrs Lawrence (Ossett), Mr and Mrs W S Wilkins (Barrow), sons and daughters-in-law; Misses May and Gladys Crewdson, grand-daughters; Mrs Taylor (Whitefield, Manchester), Mrs Mortimer (Broughton, Manchester), Mrs Eccles (Wigan), sisters; Mr John Crewdson (Ramsbottom), Mr and Mrs R Park (Barrow), Mrs Davies (Cark), Mrs Eccles, Mrs Robinson (Manchester), Mrs R Crossley (Cark), nephews and nieces.

[then a long list of other mourners headed by the Furness Freemasons, then members of the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows, Capt. Crewdson being one of the oldest members of the Morecambe Lodge. The bearers were Messrs J R McLester, GWilson, H Pernie and W Parke.

Last leader in Local Notes

(verbatim)

Capt Crewdson

In laying the body of Capt Crewdson to rest the rector of Ulverston truly spoke of him as "one of nature's gentlemen" and his death as the breaking of a link with the past. His passing has recalled to the minds of older people a tragedy that occurred in the late captain's family rather more than forty years ago, his daughter, then about seventeen, being drowned whilst skating on the Ulverston canal. Two young men were drowned with her, and the three were buried side by side in the cemetery. The old gentleman was laid to rest near their burial place. A native of Ulverston, he had spent a long life on the ocean, having visited such distant places as South America and the West Indies. In his young days Ulverston was quite a busy port whilst docks were non-existent at Barrow and the railway had not been extended across the sands. Ships were the principal means of transport to and from this district in those days. The late captain was one the last survivors of the old school of sailing craft masters in Ulverston, his bosom friend Capt Higham being left somewhat lonely in that respect, though there are a few old sea dogs left who are not in the same category.

Crewdson was a mason, though a mason of Ireland from 1864 tranferring to Furness in 1914....

(gist of remainder)

He retired in 1912 and was made keeper of the John Barrow monument by Ulverston UDC in 1916. The cottage that came with the job was Sir John Barrow's cottage at Dragley Beck. His career was virtually all in sailing craft of 250-300 tons. Three of these were Ann Crewdson, J H Barrow, and Mary Barrow. He sailed to South America and the West Indies and carried iron ore in the Furness coastal trade.