General Notes

[basham.ged]
Information From Bonnie Crane Moore Correspondence
Genealogy Of The Crane Family By E B Crane, 1900 Page 11-15
Benjamin Crane was in Wethersfield, Conn., as early as 1655, and m
ay ha ve been there a few years earlier.  According to the Records of t
he Partic ular Court, held at Hartford, March 1655, he is a defenda
nt in a civil su it with John Sadler, pltf.; also in June 1656, he is a de
fendant in anoth er suit with Richart Montague.  He was born about 1630; w
as made freeman M ay 12, 1658 at Wethersfield.  It is not posi- tively kno
wn from when ce he came to Wethersfield, but Hinman in his "History of Con
necticut Sett lers" seems to think that he came from Massachusetts, whi
ch statement a ll investigations thus far seem to warrant.
February 24, 1656 the town gave him a home lot of 2 1/2 acres, mo
re or le ss, bounded by the Common N W, a brook and the home lot of John G
rav es N E, the Common S E, the highway S W.  He also bought John Dixon
's or D ickenson's land in the West Field, Sept 14, 1664.  The latter is s
aid to h ave removed to Hadley 1659 or 1660.  It appears that this last me
ntioned t ract of land was that on which the late home of Sam'l Coleman, d
eceased, s tands, on Mud Lane.  It was there when Mr Crane built his dwell
ing-house a nd tanneries.  The house was one of the six houses fortifi
ed by vote of t he town in 1704.  The town also gave him three acres of la
nd on Beaver, n ow Tando's, Brook, in 1660; served as juror 1664; drew la
nd in the allotme nt of 1670, and purchased land of Daniel Rose, Dec 8, 16
71.  January 15, 1 673 he is rated among inhabitants of Wethersfield to p
ay the town 0-1-5 1/ 2; acquires more land next south of Job Whitcomb'
s,  February 22, 1680, Ma rch 25, 1680, July 13, 1680; under latter date t
he land is located on t he Connecticut River on road to Middletown and ro
ad to Rocky Hill.
May 1682 Benjamin Crane with others petitioned the General Court for l
ib erty to "erect a plantation in the Wabaynassit country" (Windham Coun
ty ).  It was propsed to have a "Town Grant" ten miles square. He marri
ed Ma ry Backus, Daughter of William and Sarah (Charles) Backus on April 2
3, 165 5, and carried on the tanning business about a mile below the villa
ge on t he Middletown road.  The spot for many years has been known as "O
ld Crane 's Tannery Place."  At his death, May 31, 1691 his son John succe
eded to t he business.  She died July 8, 1717. August 22, 1689 To all Chri
stian pers ons to whom this present writing shall come, Greeting, Kn
ow ye that Benjam in Crane senior of Wethersfield co Hartford in his mages
tics Territory a nd Dominion of New England in America, husbandman, for a
nd in considerati on of the love and affection that he hath and beare
th to his beloved son J ohn Crane of Wethersfield afore- said, Tanner, a
nd for and in considerati on that the said John Crane shall pay unto the s
aid Benjamin Crane the fu ll and just sum of three pounds in good and merc
hantable corn or pork at t he current price yearly every year during the n
atural life of said Benjam in Crane and for and in consideration that if t
he said Benjamin Crane sha ll see cause to build a well on his own land f
or the conviency of his n ew dwelling house at any time before his or h
is wife's decease that the sa id John Crane is to bear and pay half the ch
arges and cost of the same a nd for divers other good causes and considera
tion herein the said Benjam in Crane hereunto hath given, granted, bargain
ed, assigned set over and co nfirmed and doth by these presents fully clea
rly and absolutely give, gran t, bargain assign, set over and confirm un
to the said John Crane and un to his heirs and assigns forever all the est
ate right, title, interest, us e, property, possession, claim and demand w
hatever the said Benjamin Cra ne hath or to come might, ought or should ha
ve in or to one piece of la nd situated in the bounds of Wethersfie