S. Crum

Contributed by Clare Cramond

S Crum is likely to be Susannah Mercy Watkins Crum as she appears to be the only woman around 1893 in this extensive family in Ashburton with a first name beginning with 'S'.

Susannah Mercy was born in St Briavels, Gloucestershire, England to Jane Mercy and was raised by her aunt Mary Watkins and her husband. She was born in 1838, and in 1857 married John Crum in Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales. John came from Monmouthshire, Wales and they lived there for a time before they moved back to Gloucestershire.

By 1878, Susannah and John had at least eight children. Phillip born around 1859, Edwin 1861, Albert 1862, Annie 1864, Alice 1865, Mary 1867, Oliver 1873 and Jessie 1878. In September of that year, they emigrated to New Zealand, leaving England on the Marlborough. They arrived in Lyttleton on 14 December 1878 and settled in Ashburton. John was a mason and spent the rest of his working life in the construction industry, with some of his sons following their father’s interest.

Two more children were born in New Zealand, Frank in 1880 and Amy in 1883. In 1886, their eldest daughter Annie, died aged 20 years.

The family lived in Wakanui Road and in her obituary, Susannah was described as possessing 'high Christian ideals, was a good mother, a kind and generous friend, and one who delighted in doing good in her community.' She was a prominent member of the Ashburton Primitive Methodist Church and a newspaper report in August 1893, described a 'social gathering under the auspices of the WCTU (Women’s Christian Temperance Union)', where one of the speakers was Mr Crum.

Susannah was on the 1893 Electoral Roll after the success of the Petition gave women the vote. 

After several weeks of ill health, Susannah Crum died on the 6 December 1911 and was buried at the Ashburton Cemetery near her daughter Annie. Her husband John died in 1918 and is buried with her.

Sources

Findagrave Author: Peter Stocks.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/161960818/susannah-crum

Geni – Managed by : Terence Michael Collins, Mary Joan Johnsen and Dr David Crum ONZM

https://www.geni.com/people/Susannah-Crum/

Births Deaths and Marriages Online https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/

New Zealand, Archives New Zealand, Passenger Lists, 1839-1973, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FSYM-HN1 : Wed Nov 01 14:14:56 UTC 2023), Entry for John Crum, 14 Dec 1878.

Papers Past  https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/ Ashburton Guardian, Volume XIV, Issue 3066, 31 August 1893, Page 3

Papers Past https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/  Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXII, Issue 8243, 7 December 1911, Page 7

Papers Past https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/ Lyttleton Times, Vol CXXII, Issue 15/93, 7 December 1911, Page 1