Two sons of James and Alice Crankshaw disappear from the UK records at certain points in their lives. There is strong cirumstantial evidence that they both emigrated to Philadelphia Pennsylvania USA.
Thomas Crankshaw (1839-????)
2nd April 1871 The last certain document reference to Thomas before probable emigration is in the 1871 UK Census when he is aged 30 (probably a guess by person filling in form) lodging in Kirkdale Liverpool, single, a Stoker On Railway, born in Blackrod.
1873 According to Thomas’s documentation on returning to Philapdelphia in 1901 (see below) he had lived there for 28 years so a year of 1873 for emigration would be likely, although no documentation can be found for that.
1st June 1880 No documentation can be found for Thomas in the 1880 US Census.
1st June 1890 The 1890 US Census records were destroyed so there is no record of Thomas.
25th April 1894 A Thomas Crankshaw arrives in Portland Maine from Liverpool aged 54 (so age matches), however the final destination and last known residence is Portland so this is unlikely to be our Thomas.
1st June 1900 Thomas cannot be found in the 1900 US Census. In his returning documentation in 1901 his address is given as 119 James town Street Manayunk Philadelphia but in the 1900 census this addess is occupied by a Mary McMalley, her mother and 6 boarders none of whom are Crankshaws. Maybe Thomas (and William) moved in after the census.
31st March 1901 The next certain document reference to Thomas is in the 1901 Census where he is a Visitor at the home of his sister Mary and husband Richard Lamb at 21 Harrogate Street Central Wigan aged 61, single, a Steam Engine Tenter (someone who supervises a stationary engine).
21st April 1901 A Thomas Crankshaw arrives in Philadelphia from Liverpool aged 61 (so age matches). On the passenger card Thomas indicates he is single, occupation Engineer (which could mean supervisor of a steam engine), place of birth England, last permanent residence Wigan, final destination Philadelphia “Returning home” to 119 James town Street Manayunk, “to brother William” and he had been living in USA for 28 years giving year . This matches well with the entry in the 1901 Census (dated 31st March 1901) and departure date 10th April 1901.
2nd April 1911 A Thomas Crankshaw aged 71 is boarding at Royal George Boarding House Hardybutts Scholes Wigan, single, born in Blackrod but his occupation is Engineers Pattern Maker which is rather different from the Steam Engine related occupations previously given, unless this is a mistake of the person filling in the census return.
9th May 1914 A Thomas Crankshaw dies at Wigan Workhouse aged 74 of Senile Decay, a Railway Engine Driver. Informant was Master of the Workhouse so no family connection can be made. No US death certificate for Thomas Crankshaw can be found.
William Crankshaw (1841-????)
11th November 1881 William is adjudged bankrupt.
18th June 1885 Last certain mention of William in the records. The Bolton Daily Chronicle reports that a tea merchant from Bolton is sueing to recover a sum of £8 10s 10d from William for tea supplied during 1880. William responds to the claim and it is dismissed. No newspaper report of William absconding after this can be found.
15th July 1887 A William Crankshaw aged 45 (matching our William) arrives in New York from Liverpool. It is impossible to state for certain that this is our William.
29th September 1888 US Naturalization is granted to a British Citizen William Crankshaw aged 47 (matching our William), in the City of Philadelphia, which matches the possible home of his brother Thomas.
1st June 1890 The 1890 US Census records were destroyed so there is no record of William.
8 September 1896 A US Naturalization Petition is registered for a William Crankshaw. A John E Ryder sponsored the petition they both lived at 11726 ??? 21st Road Philadelphia.
1st June 1900 William cannot be found in the 1900 US Census.
10th April 1901 William is referenced in Thomas’s arrival documentation in Philadelphia. Both Thomas and William could be living at 119 James town Street Manayunk.
21st April 1904 A William Crankshaw arrives in Liverpool from Philadelphia, occupation given as Labourer but there is no other information. If this is our William then this could relate to his wife Elizabeth’s death a year before. There is no record of a return to Philadelphia.
20th March 1905 A William Crankshaw dies aged 64 in Haslingden Workhouse Rawtenstall of “Pneumonia accelerated by concussion of the brain”. His occupation is given as a “Firehealer” of no fixed residence. A lot of other genealogists believe this to be our William but there was a William Crankshaw born in 1842 in Haslingden who this is more likely to be, in the 1881 census he was single and a stoker in a cotton mill. However he cannot be found in the 1891 or 1901 census.
1908 A William Crankshaw is in the Boyd’s City Directory Of Philadelphia at 4153 Main Manayunk Philadelphia, occupation Labourer. This matches the death certificate of 1909.
6th February 1909 A William Crankshaw dies aged 67 of Strangulation By Hanging (Suicide) in what looks like “Plula” Pennsylvania (but this does not exist). William’s birthplace is England, occupation Woolsorter. This William is buried in Mount Peace Cemetery in Philadelphia, the information in Find A Grave indicates he is from Lancashire, born 1841, but there is no photo. The next day this article appeared in the Philadelphia Enquirer, indicating he had immigrated from England and was a wool worker.
