ALFRED GALEN CRAWFORD

Hiram's brother "Fred", Alfred Galen, born March 21st 1847 was just 6 years old when Hiram sailed for Australia. Alfred who lived at home with his mother and worked as a Clerk, enlisted during the American Civil War on August 18th 1864 in Co.D, 4th Mass. Heavy Artillery, and was stationed at Arlington. During the greater part of his service he was detailed as a musician. He returned to Oakham at the close of the war, mustering out, June 17th 1865. He had been enlisted under the name of Frederick Galen Crawford into the 20th Mass. unattached Heavy Artillery which was afterwards made into the 4th Mass. Heavy Artillery Co. Along with other unattached companies, Alfred was sent to Washington D.C. in early September 1864. After being organised into the 4th regiment in November, it continued in service as attached to the 3rd Brigade, DeRussy's Division of the 22nd Army Corps, and was engaged in garrison duty around the defense of Washington. This regiment lost 23 men and 2 officers to disease but none were killed or mortally wounded.

On 15th October 1866 in Boston Alfred married Jane Wilson. They moved to New York City, where Alfred was employed by the Street Railroad Company until 1875. The couple had a daughter Cora born 25th April, 1867/68, who married Hugo Dollman and went to Lorain Ohio to live. Cora, had a daughter named Vera. Alfred moved to Australia, in 1875 when Hiram was returning from a visit to the United States. It would seem that his wife and daughter did not come to Australia with Alfred.

Alfred had six more children in Australia to a Elizabeth Jane Gunn - Florence Gertrude born 1882 married in 1900 a James Joseph Devitt, Alfred Gunn born 1883, Ruby Lillian born 1885, Arthur Richmond who born 1887 died 1888, Herbert Galen born 1893, Horace Allen b 1897 d August 15th 1936 Qld married 1915 Elsie May Banfield but divorced in 1934 in Queensland. They had a child called Horace Allen born 1915 in Carlton. Each of these births has been registered twice, with the letter R indicating this duplication. Each child was registered in the name of the mother, Gunn, and the father, Crawford. This indicates to genealogists that the parents Alfred and Elizabeth never married and this seems to be the case as Alfred_s death certificate shows Jane Wilson and Cora as being wife and daughter. A funeral notice on 16th April 1895 relating to a Mr. John Gunn, and refers to his daughter, Mrs. A. Crawford of "Alvira", 109 Lennox Street, Richmond. Elizabeth, born 1861 in Cavendish Victoria, died in Queensland in 1918.

Pt. Horace Allen Crawford Regiment # 2017 enlisted on 27th December 1916, 5th A.MT Coy. and returned to Australia 12th June 1919.

Pt. Herbert Galen Crawford Regiment # 5069 enlisted 28th August 1915 1st Division TRN and returned to Australia 15th January 1919.

Ruby Lillian Crawford announced her engagement and married in 1907 John Reid, of Keswick, Adelaide, South Australia. Her engagement notice was pasted into Hiram_s scrapbook.

Jane Wilson, American wife of Alfred Galen Crawford applied for a Widows Pension in declaration dated 2nd November 1900 in the United States. She had insufficient income to support herself after Alfred_s death, so perhaps Alfred had been sending money to her in the States. She died on January 28th 1915.

In 1877 Alfred was Manager of the Eastern Arcade for Hiram. He also ran his own business as an Importer and manufacturer of trunks and travelling bags. He had his business address as Eastern Arcade shops 7, 9, 11 and 13 from 1879 until 1884.

After two years of importing the Company set up manufacturing trunks, travelling bags, and such, bringing from America, workmen and all the necessary machinery to produce these goods in Melbourne. These were manufactured upstairs in the Eastern Arcade.

During 1883 up until 1886 his business was an Hotel and Business broker at 39 Queen Street, Melbourne. In 1887 he was appointed Assistant Traffic Superintendent and Inspector to the Melbourne Tramway Omnibus Company Ltd. a position he held until his death. In 1888 he still had offices at the Eastern Arcade and his luggage business was still operating from there.

Sands and MacDougals Directories show that Alfred moved his residence several times over the years. He lived in 1882 in Lennox St. Richmond until 1884. 1885 saw him living Henry Street Auburn, then a move in 1886 to 51 Rowena Parade Richmond, 1887 to 69 Lennox St. until 1891 when he resided at 84 Wellington Parade East Melbourne. By 1892 he moved to "Alvira" 109 Lennox Street, named after his mother, but in 1893 he lived at 11 Moorhouse Street Richmond, 1894 45 Bridge Road Richmond, 1895-1897 109 Lennox Street again, and 1898 he was living in 5 Waltham Street Richmond. Then back to Lennox Street.

Alfred had been receiving a War Pension from the United States since January 1899 as shown in the documentation below. Alfred died from Laryngeal Plutisis which he had suffered for 18 months, on February 23rd 1900 at his home "Alvira" 109 Lennox Street Richmond Victoria, aged 52 years. He is buried in Boroondara Cemetery, Kew, Melbourne in the Church of England section grave number B2274, where his grave is tended by a Melbourne man interested in Civil War Veterans. There is no headstone.

Any further information you have on these people would be appreciated and any enquiries can be directed to the author
Barry Crompton
PO Box 4017
Patterson
Victoria, 3204
Australia
or by email here or Denise McMahon at here

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Updated in February 2001
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