THE CROSBY'S

Compiled by Russell Malcolm Crosby

 

Crosby / Crosbie / Crossbie / Crossbee / Crossbey / Crossbi/ Crossebi / Crosbj / Crobie

Crosby family crest

The Crosby Coat of Arms

Another version

A knight's helmet with crossed swords above a shield and the Latin motto,"Indignante florebit justus invidia" (The just man will flourish despite envy and indignation).

 

INTRODUCTION

The earliest recorded written history of the human race has for its beginnings the Old Testament records wherein Adam and Eve are designated the first people to ever live on earth - having been specially created by the Lord God, creator of heaven and earth.  Their descendants multiplied upon the earth to a numerous multitude. 

Scriptural records indicate all except 8 people perished in the Great Flood  - the survivors being Noah, his wife and their 3 sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth, and their wives.  Therefore, according to the Old Testament documents, these eight people were the progenitors of all the racial diversity presently observed on earth today.

Of the sons of Noah, his son Japheth is the ancestor of all Indo-European peoples.  You can read about Japheth's descendants here. The Crosby family appears to be of northern European descent - presently traced (albeit tentatively) to Norway.  How they got to Norway from Mount Ararat is a story yet to be told. 

Our story picks up in Norway.  Events in Jerusalem involving a cross some 2000 years ago significantly influenced the Crosby's in Norway in 800 AD - and continues to this very day from Norway to France to England, Scotland & Ireland to Canada/USA 

THE NAME

CROSBY takes its name from the Norse for ‘village with crosses’ or 'someone from the village with the cross'.  And, in England, it is mentioned in the Domesday Book as belonging to Uctred. 

Some have also interpreted the name as meaning "The House at the Cross Roads; and also as a "dwelling place near a cross".

The name Crosby is variously spelled - depending on the educational level and ability to write of the person bearing the name and of those doing the spelling.  These are the variations so far discovered: Crosby / Crosbie / Crossbie / Crossbee / Crossbey / Crossbi/ Crossebi / Crosbj / Crobie

It is interesting to note that many English names end in "by", as compared to "j" or "i" or "ie" or 'ey" - the differences in the spelling of the Crosby name being probably correctly attributable to those who were doing the writing at the time. However, it must be noted that anywhere that has a name beginning with grim-, or ending in –by, -ness, or -thwaite is considered to be Viking (or Norse)in origin. Similarly, anywhere that has a name ending in –ham, -ton, or ley is Anglo-Saxon in origin. Celtic (or Ancient British) names often start with pen-, wal-, or eccles and sometimes end in –keth.

NORWAY TO FRANCE (~880 AD) - Our Viking & Normandy French Heritage

Note 62a from Edgar’s History of Dumfries -1746; Edited by R.C. Reid and 350 copies printed by J. Maxwell & Sons -1915

In France, in the Lyon Office, there is a copy of a printed pedigree compiled by Capt. Howard Herries-Crobie, Resident Magistrate in Doalgal.  He traces descent from Sir John de CROSEBI, a man of Norse origin, whose ancestors settled in Normandy with Rollo,  at a place named Corbie in Picardy. The name was then spelled Crosbj. Rollo apparently was born in Norway at  Mære, Nord-Trøndelag, Norway. [There are two places in Nord-Trøndelag that are called Mære. One is located just north of the town Stjørdal and one is just south of the town of Steinkjer.]  These provide approximate starting places to locate possible Crosbj's. General notes about Rollo.  Other sites of general interest.  History of Normandy

 Dudo of St. Quentin's THE NORMAN HISTORY (Gesta Normannorum)

The family of Crosby appear to be Vikings who can lay claim to at least Norman descent.

Excerpt from a letter of 20 Feb 2003 to Russell from the Norwegian Tourist Information Bureau:

"Sounds like lots of fun. Well, I have been doing a little research myself on Rollo, or Gange Rolv as he is called in Norway, and what I can find is that he was born on Giske or Vigra just outside of the town of Ålesund in the county of Møre & Romsdal. You can find some info on:
www.giske.kommune.no/touristinfo.htm     Otherwise you should search on
Google or Yahoo on Gange Rolv. I found a lot of stuff there."

Best regards
NORWEGIAN TOURIST BOARD

Harald Hansen [email protected]

 

FRANCE TO ENGLAND (~1066 AD)

William Duke of Normandy, The Conqueror, crossed the English Channel and won the Battle of Hastings on October14th, 1066 along with a kingdom.  William's heirs were known as the Plantagenets, and they reigned over Normandy and England.

In 1189, Richard the Lionheart divided the double crown and all his life he would fight against Phillippe Auguste, king of France, who kept a wary eye on bountiful Normandy.

Coming to England with William, John De Crosby was granted lands, which he called Crosbie after himself, at the mouth of the Mersey River,

He had four sons: 

Simon founder of the Lancashire Crosby family, [that's us!] 1610 Map  1786 Map 1818 Map 1829 Map of Lancashire at the Mouth of the Mersey River.  (Look for the Cuerdley area down near the Mersey River.)

Robert, founder of the Cumberland Crosby family; 

Adam and Thomas, founders of the Berwickshire Crosby family.

Adam is said to have received a grant (unrecorded) of lands in Annandale and to have had three children who were Ivo, Richard and Emphemia. 

Emphemia married Robert de Brus, 2nd Lord of Annandale.

Ivo is said to have married a natural daughter of Robert de Brus, 1st Lord of Annandale.

These two marriages may have been what cemented the relationship of Crosby as a Sept to Clan Brus (Bruce).  A Sept has all of the privileges and responsibilities of a full clan member.

His son Adam de Crossbi is mentioned in an escambion of land in Cumsmertress.  He married Mathilda de Hereis and left three sons: Robert de Crossbi, born circa 1187, Ivo, and Richard both of whom witness a Brus Charter of land in Dripdale.

Robert seems to have been a man of prominence, as there are many references to him in charters of the period. He married Juone de Dincordi and left one son Robert who received a Brus grant of commonty in the wood of Stapleton.

This Robert was succeeded by Robert de Crossbie, the husband of Ada, sister of Edno de Carbol.

They had two sons, Robert and John, a cleric, who was presented to the Church of St. Mary in the Forest, 1298.  Robert, the elder brother married Maud de Kirkpatric by whom he had seven sons all of whom fought at the Battle of Bannockburn on 24 June 1314. Five of the sons were killed at that battle.

 

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Now Jumping Forward in Time to 1769

Ancestors to John James Crosby, b. Aug 25, 1881, d. Dec 25, 1949, Hawkesbury, Ontario; m.. Alice Whitmore, June 15, 1910 Hawkesbury, Ontario, Canada 

These three following names are the only ones in the International Genealogical Index showing a marriage between John Crosby and Mary. The John Crosby I am searching for may or may not be one of these.

1. JOHN CROSSBEY - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Marriage: 25 DEC 1777 Leyland, Lancashire, England
3. JOHN CROSBY - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Marriage: 16 NOV 1763 Cathedral, Manchester, Lancashire, England
8. JOHN CROSBY - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Marriage: 19 AUG 1776 St Peters, Liverpool, Lancashire, England

Son of John Crosby and Mary

Of all of the John Crosby christening accounts located in the International Genealogical Index/British Isles, in a 2 year span centred on the year 1800, four references, based on the Farnworth location, appear to be the best ones relative in time to the marriage of John Crosby/Alice Norman in 1837.

These four records, namely Nos 10, 13, 14, & 18 are all described as Christenings.  From each of these records, the name of John Crosby's parents are given as John Crosby (Record #10 gives his birth 'about 1769 of Farnworth, Lancashire, England') and Mary (Record #10 gives her birth 'about 1773 of Farnworth, Lancashire, England') (see search results)..

Birth?:  JOHN CROSBY - International Genealogical Index / BI
Gender: Male Christening: 20 APR 1800 Farnworth Near Prescot, Lancashire, England

Christening?:  JOHN CROSBY - International Genealogical Index / BI
Gender: Male Christening: 30 AUG 1801 Farnworth Near Prescot, Lancashire, England  

It may be that this John Crosby was christened twice or, alternatively, the first account is really his birth since there appears to be no birth record.  Another explanation, although somewhat unlikely that two people with the same name would be born at the same place 16 months apart, is two people with the name John Crosby were born at Farnworth.

Cro-1 John Crosby m. Alice Norman 10 April 1837 Farnworth Near Prescot, Lancashire, England. . (Ref:  Ola Crosby, Hawkesbury, Ontario – family Bible; International Genealogical Index  Farnworth was a chapelry (now a parish) in Prescot parish.

They had 6 sons and 5 daughters as follows:

Cro-1-1 William Crosby  b. 11 Jul 1838 d. 8 May 1872

Cro-1-2 Mary Crosby b. 12 Sep 1839
Cro-1-3 Sarah Ann Crosby b. 11 Jun 1841

Re: Lancashire and Yorkshire Crosbys
Posted by: John Humphreys (ID *****7937) Date: December 28, 2003 at 04:20:35
In Reply to: Lancashire and Yorkshire Crosbys by Russell Crosby of 2037


Hi Russell: My 2x Gt grandmother was Sarah Ann Crosby (b. 12 June 1841 in Cuerdley). She was an elder sibling of your John James Crosby's father, Ralph. Sarah & Ralph had 8 siblings. Their parents were John Crosby & Alice Norman. They all lived at Crosby's Farm (later to become Marsh End Farm, Cuerdley) - which is where I was born and brought up. I have more info if you require it - and pictures of the farm taken in the past few years.


Cro-1-4 Ellen Crosby b. 1 Jan 1843 m. Thomas Jackson on 21 Oct 1861
Cro-1-5 Elizabeth Crosby b. 26 Jun 1845
Cro-1-6 John Crosby b. 12 Feb 1847
Cro-1-7 Joseph Crosby  b. 23 Nov 1848
 Cro-1-8 Ralph Crosby b. 8 Apr 1850 (Warrington Registration District Ref # Sankey 2/462), d. April 3, 1888 (Warrington Registration District Ref # Sankey 5/345),  , m. Betty Taylor, 6 Feb 1877 
Cro-1-9 Elias Crosby b. 8 Mar 1852, d. 15 Mar 1858
Cro-1-10 Thomas Crosby b. 16 Nov 1853, d. 15 Mar 1858
Cro-1-11 Alice Crosby b. 27 Dec 1855, d. Nov 9,

Cro-1-8 Ralph Crosby b. 8 Apr 1850, d. 3 April 1888, m. Betty Taylor (6 Feb 1877). Born at Cuerdley, Lancashire, England, he was a farmer of 75 acres, employing 3 labourers. Their dwelling was at Cross Lane, Cuerdley. It is presently (2003) known as Marsh End Farm.   They had 7 children, 4 girls and 3 boys. [1881 UK Census: Family History Library Film # 1341906.  Public Office Records Reference:  RG11.  Piece/Folio:  3790/55, Page 1]. Ralph and Betty are both buried at St. Luke's Church, Farnworth   Ralph died early as a result of an accident with a horse. Apparently the horse swung its head, striking Ralph on the side of his head, causing some kind of injury from which he died. He and Betty were living on and running a dairy farm at that time. One of her duties was to deliver the milk to her customers. Her daughter Sarah was living with her and looked after her in her later years.

Cro-1-8-1 Sarah Anne Crosby b. Dec 9,?1878, d. Jan 24, 1953, m. Herbert Hodgkinson In 1927 she was looking after Betty Crosby (nee Taylor) her mother. She managed the money sent by John James to his mother at Chapel Lane Farm, Higher Blackley, Lancashire.

Cro-1-8-2 Ethel Crosby b. May 29,1880, d. 1950, m. Frank Crabbe
Cro-1-8-3 John James Crosby b. Aug 25, 1881, d. Dec 25, 1949, Hawkesbury, Ontario; m.. Alice Whitmore, June 15, 1910 Hawkesbury, Ontario, Canada.   John James Crosby is buried in the Hillside Cemetery at Hawkesbury, Ontario, Canada. (HILLSIDE CEMETERY HILL SIDE CEMETERY BOARD 486 GORDON STREET HAWKESBURY K6A 1S7 Telephone:613-632-3066) Alice had cancer and died of a heart attack in a Montreal hospital where she was undergoing some form of electric treatment for the cancer.  She was 47 years old. She is also buried in the Hillside Cemetery.

Cro-1-8-4 William Henry Crosby b. July 3, 1883, d. 1927 in Canada, m. Milly Ann Pendlebury Canada
Cro-1-8-5 Mabel Alice Crosby b. 1885, d. 1886 1973 (Warrington Registration District Ref # Sankey 5/325)

Cro-1-8-6 Ada Ellen Crosby b. 1888, died in infancy  (Warrington Registration District Ref # Sankey 5/423)

Cro-1-8-1 Sarah Anne Crosby b. Dec 9,?1878, d. Jan 24, 1953, m. Herbert Hodgkinson.

Their children are:
Cro-1-8-1-1 Arthur Hodgkinson b. May 29, 1905, d. Nov 12, 1935, never married
Cro-1-8-1-2 William B. Hodgkinson b. Aug 18, 1907, d. Dec 29, 1953
Cro-1-8-1-3 Ellen Beatrice Hodgkinson b. Sept. 19, 1909, m. John Fieldsend (they had one child who died young).  This is cousin Beatrice with whom Ralph William Crosby frequently corresponds. She presently lives in Devon, UK in a special care home for the elderly near Budleigh-Salterton.  The Old Vicarage, Ropers Lane, Otterton, Budleigh Salterton, EX9 7JF  Tel: 01395 568208
 

Cro-1-8-2 Ethel Crosby m. Frank Crabbe They lived in Calgary, Alberta and then relocated to Vancouver, British Columbia. Frank was a ticket taker on one of the ferries plying the strait between Vancouver and the islands. Ralph William Crosby visited them in August 1936, staying until November - on the return train trip, his railway pass (no berth) had expired and he got kicked off at Glen Robertson Ontario, a 19 mile branch line to Hawkesbury, when they were in Calgary. The family living next door to the Crabbe's were the Reids. Their daughter had just got her driver's license and they decided to go on a picnic to Banff together with Frank Crabbe, who Ralph chummed with most. It was at this time they got to swim in the hot springs in Banff National Park. This was depression time and no rain. The land was very dry and wheat farmers had little to no yields. The Crabbe's had three boys.  They were:

Cro-1-8-2-1 Frank Crabbe
Cro-1-8-2-2 Leonard Crabbe
Cro-1-8-2-3 Bud (nickname) Crabbe
We have lost contact with this family.

ENGLAND TO CANADA (~1903)

Cro-1-8-3 John James Crosby was born in Cuerdley, Lancashire, England.  As a young man he was a horseman in the British army, possibly as a member of The Manchester Regiment,  More Manchester regiment, and was sent to South Africa to fight for the British against the Boers (Afrikaaner farmers - mostly Dutch and German) in the 2nd Anglo Boer War (1899-1902). More Boer War. Anglo - Boer War Museum. The medal. with 3 bars, he received for his Boer War efforts was given, after his death, to his son Elmer. After the war he came to Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, where he met Alice Whitmore.

They married June 15, 1910 and settled in Hawkesbury, Prescott Township, Ontario. He worked for the CNR railway. He is buried in the Hillside Cemetery at Hawkesbury, Ontario.

Parents of Alice Whitmore are Thomas William Shields Whitmore from Briton on Trent and Ellen Phillips from Worcester near the Malvern Hills in England. Thomas’s father was a master baker.  Thomas, a railway engineer with the Grand Trunk Railway (GTR) until Canadian National Railway (CNR) took them over, was nicknamed ‘Chubby’ Whitmore as he weighed over 300 pounds at one time. He had an interesting and potentially fatal incident in 1910 - as reported on the front page of the April 22 edition of the Vankleek Hill Echo, a local newspaper.  Unbeknownst to him and his fireman, as they were traveling along the 19 mile spur line near their home, a freight train had stopped ahead of him just around a sharp bend, out of sight.  It was too late.  Thomas could not stop his train in time.  There was a collision with much damage.  Thomas and his engineer jumped off their engine in time to save their lives.  Thomas was quite badly injured while his fireman escaped injury.

Russell Malcolm Crosby, John James's grandson, remembers the day he died for the Ralph William Crosby family was visiting for Christmas at the family home at 592 McGill Street, Hawkesbury, Ontario.  Russell was 3 1/2 years old at the time and was playing at the feet of John James while he rocked in his rocking chair after Christmas dinner at the noon hour.  John James lit his pipe, took a few puffs and apparently fell asleep. He in fact passed away right then when his heart stopped.

John James Crosby and Alice's children are:

Cro-1-8-3-1 Ola Ellen Crosby b. Apr 11, 1911 Hawkesbury Ontario.  Ola did not marry.
Cro-1-8-3-2 Ralph William Crosby b. Sep 6, 1913 Hawkesbury Ontario.  m. Alice Lorna Mitchell Feb 21, 1942 (Montreal South (now part of Longueuil), Quebec, Canada)
Cro-1-8-3-3 John Elmer Crosby b. April 29, 1917  m. Margaret Elma Morrison __________  d. Jan. 21 1998
Cro-1-8-3-4 James Gordon Crosby b. ________________ d. _______________  He is buried at the Hillside Cemetery in Hawkesbury, Ontario. Gordon did not marry.
Cro-1-8-3-5 Walter Roland Crosby b. ____________m. Jacqueline Johnston May 31, 1953

Picture of John James, Alice and their boys Walter, Gordon, Elmer and Ralph. Ola is missing from the picture.  The car is a 1928 Graham Paige auto.

Picture of the whole Crosby family, John Crosby, Grandmother Ellen Whitmore, Grandfather Thomas Whitmore, Nellie Simmonds (nee Whitmore) (sister of Alice Crosby), Alice Ellen Crosby (nee Whitmore), Ola, Ralph, Elmer, Gordon and their cousin Alice Simmonds. Picture taken by Eddie Simmonds before 1926 as Walter is missing (not having been born yet)

Cro-1-8-4 William Henry Crosby b. July 3, 1883, d. 1927, m. Milly Ann Pendlebury. He worked for the CPR railway for a while but Millie's parents, who arrived in Canada as United Empire Loyalists, left her the farm.  She convinced William to become a farmer near Farnham in the Eastern Townships of Quebec.  Their children:

Cro-1-8-4-1 Mason Henry Crosby m. Ruth Campbell (one child Myrna Ellen Crosby m. Major John MacKenzie,  one child Jay MacKenzie who is now - 2003 - serving with the Canadian Armed Forces)))
Cro-1-8-4-2 Ada Ellen Crosby b. May 19, 1911 died of burst appendix shortly after marriage
Cro-1-8-4-3 Douglas Crosby  Continued farming with his brother Ralph at the homestead until he passed away, after which Ralph sold the farm. Ralph then married Eleanor Soule. 

Cro-1-8-4-4 Ross Crosby (died young)
Cro-1-8-4-5 Ralph Crosby  m. Eleaner Soule 1998 (United Church - Mystic, PQ) Married after he sold the farm.  They bought a ~40 acre property at 258 Rue Goudreau in Brigham.
Cro-1-8-4-6 Arnold Crosby b. Jan. 24, 1926, drowned in 1948. He went for a swim in the Yamaska River with some fellow employees at the bank where he worked and drowned. That was a very sad time for the family as Arnold was the most educated of the children and for whom their parents had the highest hopes.

Cro-1-8-3-2 Ralph William Crosby m. Alice Lorna Mitchell.   Ralph is an avid gardener, his property being a floral showpiece every summer.  E-mail Ralph.  Their children:

Cro-1-8-3-2-1  Russell Malcolm Crosby b. April 24, 1946, Montreal; m. Dawna Raye Darke  (of Deer Island, NB), July 3, 1971 in Fredericton, NB. Russell, B.Sc, M.Sc, a geologist, graduated from the University of New Brunswick. His work and travels have taken him all around the world.  He is also at the forefront of the glycomic revolution in which glyconutritionals are restoring and preserving wellness to hundreds of thousands of people. He resides in Fredericton, NB. E-mail Russell.

Their children

Cro-1-8-3-2-1-1  Rebekah Dawn Crosby b. March 17, 1977  (Adopted daughter)  Rebekah (B.Sc., 2000, Biology, University of New Brunswick) is Maritime Regional Trainer for Wal-Mart & Customer Service Manager at the local Fredericton Wal-Mart store.  She hopes to soon complete her B.Ed degree and teach in Africa.  E-mail Becki

Cro-1-8-3-2-1-2  Richard William John Crosby b. Nov 8, 1981  (Adopted son) Richard is pursuing a B.A (Media Studies) at Saint Thomas University in Fredericton, NB.  E-mail Richard

Cro-1-8-3-2-2  Donald Gordon John Crosby b. July 26, 1949  m. Carol Anne Bowden of Lachine, QC (b. August 28, 1950 at Montreal) December 12, 1972.  Donald graduated from McGill University 1972, BSc(Agr), worked 31 years for Canada Department of Agriculture in Ottawa writing food regulations, now retired and living on a small farm outside Russell, ON  E-mail Donald

Their children:

Cro-1-8-3-2-2-1  Benjamin Jason Crosby, b. February 19, 1974

Cro-1-8-3-2-2-2  Janice Marie Crosby, b. June 17, 1976, m.____________  Mathew Aman of Ottawa, ON

Cro-1-8-3-2-2-3  Michael Daniel Crosby, b. Aug.30, 1979, m. Stacey Ruff, Boston, MA, USA

Cro-1-8-3-2-2-4  Oliver Anthony Crosby, b. November 16, 1982

 

Cro-1-8-3-3 John Elmer Crosby b. April 29, 1917  m. Margaret Elma Morrison __________  d. Jan. 21 1998

                Cro-1-8-3-3-1  Ronald John Crosby b. Dec 23, 1949 m Susan Kathleen Harris    ___date______ (b. Jan 21, 1955)

                        Cro-1-8-3-3-1-1  Bryan Kenneth Crosby  b. Dec. 14, 1981 Bryan's website

                        Cro-1-8-3-3-1-2  Jonathan Paul Crosby b. Nov. 24, 1984

                        Cro-1-8-3-3-1-3  Allison Leah Crosby b. Aug. 28, 1987

                Cro-1-8-3-3-2  Kenneth ______Crosby b. Jan. 25, 1952 d. Nov. 30, 1980   Calgary  Alberta, at age 27 of an asthma attack

Cro-1-8-3-5 Walter Roland Crosby b. May 01, 1926 in Hawkesbury, Ontario   m. Jacqueline Carol Johnston May 31, 1952 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. She is the daughter of CHARLES JOHNSTON and EFFIE
TRACY.  She was born March 04, 1932 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Family Picture of the Walter Roland Crosby Family as of December 2003. Back row left to right:  Gayle Ola Llewellyn (nee Crosby) - daughter, Walter Roland Crosby, Stuart Crosby - son, Jacqueline Crosby (nee Johnston, of Tracy, NB) - wife; front row left to right:  Patrick Llewellyn, Gregory Llewellyn, Jonathan Llewellyn and Jocelyn Llewellyn.

Children of WALTER CROSBY and JACQUELINE JOHNSTON are:
        Cro-1-8-3-5-1. GAYLE ELLEN5 CROSBY, b. March 19, 1955, Halifax, NS.
        Cro-1-8-3-5-2. STUART ALAN CROSBY, b. March 08, 1959, Ottawa, Ont..
 

                Cro-1-8-3-5-1  Gayle Ellen Crosby b. March 19, 1955 in Halifax, NS. m. PETER ROSS LLEWELLYN. ______________  He was born October 10, 1956 in Charlottetown, PEI.  E-mail Gayle

Children of GAYLE CROSBY and PETER LLEWELLYN are:
                        Cro-1-8-3-5-1-1  JOCELYN OLA6 LLEWELLYN, b. February 06, 1981, Montague, PEI.
                        Cro-1-8-3-5-1-2  JONATHAN CROSBY LLEWELLYN, b. June 02, 1983, Charlottetown, PEI

                    Cro-1-8-3-5-2  Stuart Alan  Crosby b. March 08, 1959 in Ottawa, Ont m. JACQUIE MICHELLE BENTEAU November 05, 1983.  She was born August 03, 1960.


Children of STUART CROSBY and JACQUIE BENTEAU are:
                        Cro-1-8-3-5-2-1  PATRICK BRANDON6 CROSBY, b. April 24, 1987.
                        Cro-1-8-3-5-2-2  GREGORY DANIEL CROSBY, b. February 01, 1990.
 

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