596327

[3104.ftw]

[Brøderbund WFT Vol. 22, Ed. 1, Tree #3104, Date of Import: Dec 9, 1998]

!ref:Crane Gen. publ by Ellery B Crane, p.262; Gen.Dict.N.E.Vol.1
!Hist of Anc.Wethersfield 2:256; Gen.of Conn Families p.492
!"Hist of Anc.Wethersfield"p.262: Benjamin Crane m. Mary Bachus 23 Apr 1655
Wethersfield, Ct; On 24 Feb 1656 the Town gave him a home lot of 2 1/2 acres, bound by the Common N.W.; a brook and John Graves, N.E.; the Common, S.W.; the highway S.E. Bought John Dickenson's land in West Field 1659-60. This was in Mud Lane and where he built home and tanneries. Was fortified in 1704. Town granted him 3 acres land next to Beaver's Brook 1663; drew land in 1670
allotment. Bought land of Robert Rose 1670. Freeman 12 May 1658 Wethersfield, Conn.
Crane Geneal:p.39:"By this time the territory comprising this plantation had come by ligitimate purchase from its Indian owners, into the possession of a company of individuals, known as the Thirty-four Men or Proprietors who had entered into an agreement or partnership, certainly by 1639, with the rest of the Town and with the Church by virtue of which both town and church were 'let in' to occupy such portion of the land as might be necessary for their respective wants: and each seems to have had and exercised the right of granting land to members of the community. Benjamin Crane was on of those granted land by the Town.
Savage states Benjamin Crane (p.262) he was first from Medfield; that he m. 12 Sep1656, Elinor Breck of Dorchester, MA; then rem. to Wethersfield; but Wethersfield Records, establish the fact that he m. Mary Backus 23 Apr 1655; ......Isreal, son, drew land in 1694, collector 1700, d.1708, leaving 4 children of wh. Johna Belding was guardian, owned the Northernmost land on Wright's Island. Had brother Benjamin b. ca. 1635

Geneal. of Grane Family: As to the ancestry of Benjamin and Henry, whom we find in Wethersfield 1655, and whom we claim to have been brothers, the records are neither complete or satisfying. Benjamin testified on 15 May 1653 at Fluching "That he had lived some time at Dedham with Mr. Joseph Clark (9 yrs) and with Mr. Howard of Dorchester (1 yr), then aged 24 yrs. Also that he lived up Hudson River 10 miles with one Mrs Vandunkes dau Mr. Daughty that his Mrs. could speak good Indian, and that she shold him 3 Sagamores that lived up the country said that the Dutch Gov. had hired them to cut off all the Eng. and kill all they could, for which they were to have a shipload of powder, kettles, etc. Putting this with the tradition that has long existed in the family, that they were descendants from John Crane, and supported by the fact that the families who settled Wethersfield went there mainly from the Eastern part of MA, it would rather lead us to connec them with John Crane of the "Muddy Brook" section of Boston or Brookline, where 8 Jan 1637 he was the possessor of 16 acres of land adjoining the homes of Ben. Ward and Robert Houlton. This John Crane was, about 1642, recorded as having 26 acres in Roxbury. He must, however, have died or reeturned to Eng., for the lasted date in which his name appears is 1649 as Deputy to the Great and Gen. Court
At this time Benjamin was about 20 yrs of age and Henry about 14. They doubtless were either bound out to serve until they were of age, or taken into the family of some friend who should properly care for them during their minority.
Henry Crane, b. about 1635, was first engaged in business with his brother Benjamin in Wethersfield, as farmers, and tanners and curriers of leather. About 1663 he m. Concurrence, dau. John Meigs, who removed from New Haven, first to Guilford, his residence fronting on the public green or Burying Ground.
vol II:1900
Benjamin Crane was in Wethersfield, CT as early as 1655, and may have been there a few years earlier. According to the Records of the Particular Court, held at Hartford, Mar 1655, he is defendant in a civil suit with John Sadler. He was b. ca. 1630; freemahn 12 May 1658 at Wethersfield. It is thought that he came from Massachusetts. 21 Feb 1656, the town gave him a home lot of 2 1/2 acres, more or less, bounded by the Common N.W., a brook and the home lot of John Graves NW, the Common SE, the highway SW; he also bought John Dixon's or Dickerson's land in the West Field 14 Sep 1664. The latter is said to have removed to Hadley 1659/1660. it appears that this last mentioned tract of land was that on Mud Lane. It was there when Mr. Crane built his dwelling-house and tanneries.
The hoouse was one of the 6 houses fortified by vote of the town in 1704. The town also gave him 3 acres of land on Beaver Brook in 1660; served as juror 1664; drew land in the allotment of 1670; and purchased land of Daniel Rose 8 Dec 1671. 15 Jan 1673, he is rated among inhabitants of Wethersfield to pay the town 0/4/5 1/2; acquired more land south of job Whitcomb's 22 Feb 1680, 25 Mar 1680, 13 Jul 1680; under latter date the land is located on the Connecticut River on road to Middletown and road to Rocky Hill.
May 1682 Benjamin Crane with others petitioned the General Court for liberty to erect a plantation in Widham Co. It was proposed to have a Town Grant 10 miles square.
He m. Mary Backus, dau. William & Sarah (Charles) Backus, 23 Apr 1655 and carried on the tanning business about a mile below the village on the Middletown road. The spot for many years has been known as "Old Crane's Tannery Place." At his death, 31 May 1691, his son John succeeded to the business.