John Crockford (buried 1938)

At a glance

At a glance
Surname: 
Crockford
First name: 
John
Other Christian names: 
Allen Vernon
Gender: 
Male
Children: 
Yes
Burial number: 
1681
Born: 
0/6/1857
Died: 
19/09/1938
Buried: 
22/09/1938
Occupation: 
Draper; Proprietor of Linen and Drapers Shop;
Distinction: 
Drapery Proprietor
Heene Hallmark: 
No
Commonwealth War Grave: 
No

The Grave

The grave
John Crockford's headstone
Cemetery area: 
NB
Cemetery row: 
19
Cemetery plot: 
1
what3words location: 
https://what3words.com/magic.calls.stacks
Burial remains: 
Unknown
The headstone
Endowed grave: 
Yes
Headstone description: 
EndowedGrave: Cut grass and keep tidy. Not responsible for supplying plants
Headstone inscription: 
In loving memory of my dearest husband John Allen Vernon Crockford who passed on 19th September 1938 aged 81 Also of Edith Marie Crockford his wife who died 13th March 1954 age 84

Life story

Life story

John Allen Vernon Crockford 1857 - 1938 Birmingham born, draper, John Allen Vernon Crockford opened a successful linen department store in Worthing known as 'The House of Value'.

Biography

John Allen Vernon Crockford was born in the Birmingham area in 1857, his father, Allen Lepard Crockford, 29 years, was a draper employing 15 people and his mother was Mary Ann, 25 years, nee Norris from Birmingham. John was the second child of 7 children and had 4 brothers and 2 sisters.

Between, 1871 and 1892, John lived with his parents at The Limes, Doe Bank, Lichfield Rd., Kings Norton, Birmingham and worked in his father's shop (Crockford and Grove) as a draper at 102 Bull Rd., Birmingham.

In 1892, he married Edna Marie Phillips in Kings Norton. In 1891, Edna was working as a barmaid in The Swan Hotel, a large public house with many live-in servants.

In 1897, John's father Allen died and by 1901 the couple were living in Rhyl, Flintshire where John was listed as a retired draper. The couple had four children; Winifred (b 1893), Gwendoline b (1894) and twins Doris and Allen born in 1897. Doris died in 1902, and by 1911 Winifred and Gwendoline were boarding at The Laurels school in Dunchurch and Allen was a scholar at Gresham School, Norfolk. The family were living in Edgbaston and John was once again a Draper at Crockford and Grove.

In 1915, John, became the proprietor of Cameron and Co, a large linen and drapers shop at 43 to 45 Chapel Road, Worthing. By 1919 the shop was called Crockford's selling everything from blouses to corsets, sports jackets to hats and was known as The House for Value. The electoral roll showed him living at Cranfield, Downview Road, Worthing.

Son, Allen, won a commission to the army in 1915 and was later decorated for war service. He then studied medicine at Cambridge University and became an honorary surgeon to George V1 and Queen Elizabeth II. Gwendoline became a physiopherapist and Winifred a bank clerk.

In the 1920's John and his wife moved to 206 Preston Road, Hove, travelling to Worthing each day by train and sporting a colourful buttonhole. He later retired and the shop was sold to John Perring.

John died at 2 Aymer Road, Hove, Sussex on 19th September 1938 leaving £31122 to his widow, Edith Marie Crockford, son Allen Lepard Crockford, medical practitioner and nephew Eric Bertram Crockford, solicitor.

Burial researcher: 
Pat Brownbill

Further information

Birth
Date born: 
00/06/1857
Marriage
Marriage 1
Spouse one first names: 
Edna Marie
Spouse one last name: 
Phillips
Marriage one date: 
00/00/1892
Marriage one address: 
Birmingham, Worcestershire, England

Death

Death (details)
Date of death: 
19/09/1938
Age (at time of death): 
81
Cause of death: 
Unknown
Address at time of death: 
2 Aymer Road, Hove, Sussex, England
Obituary

Published: Wednesday 21 September 1938 Newspaper: Worthing Gazette

FORMER WORTHING DRAPER. DEATH OF MR. J. A. V, CROCK FORD. The death occurred at his home. 2 Aymer Road. Hove, on Monday, of Mr. John Allen Vernon Crockford, for many years in business in Worthing as a draper. His premises were on the site in Chapel-road now occupied by Messrs. John Perring. Mr. Crockford was in his 82nd year. although he never lived in Worthing. but came daily by train to his business from Hove. Mr. Crockford was long one of the best known traders in the town. One of his characteristics was that he always wore an attractive button-hole. The funeral is taking place to-morrow (Thursday) at Heene Church at 12.30.

From the Worthing Herald, 23rd September 1938.

‘Mr J.A.V. Crockford who has died at his home in Aymer Road, Hove, at the age of 82, was a well-known figure in Worthing during the years in which he conducted his Drapery business in Chapel Road. Everyone who remembers him in those days, speaks of his unfailing good nature and charming personality, which won him a host of friends.

He was Secretary of the drapers’ organisation in the town, prior to its amalgamation with the Chamber of Trade, and the members of the trade remember with gratitude the unflagging zeal with which he worked for them, especially in the difficult years in the War, when his flair for making rapid decisions proved invaluable.

Mr Crockford was a generous patron of the YMCA.

His funeral took place at Heene Cemetery, preceded by a service at Heene Church. The Rev J Combridge, Vicar of St Andrews, Hastings, an old friend of the family, officiated.

Among those who attended the Church service were several of Mr Crockford’s former employees.’

Published: Wednesday 28 September 1938 Newspaper: Worthing Gazette

SENT TO FUNERAL OF MR. J. A. V. CROCKFORD.

A number of his old employees sent wreaths to the funeral in Heene on Thursday of Mr. John Allen Vernon Crockford, for many years in business as a draper in Chapel-road. Worthing, whose death at his home in 2 Aymer Road, Hove, at the age of 82, was recorded in last week's Worthing Gazette. A service in St. Botolph's Church was conducted by the Rev. J. S. Cornbridge. Vicar of St. Andrew's. Hastings, an old friend of the family. The chief mourners were Dr. and Mrs. A. L. Crockford (son and daughter-in-law), Mr. and Mrs. H. N. Cook (son-in-law and daughter). Miss Winifred E. Crockford (daughter). Colonel and Mrs. L. C. Crockford (nephew and niece). Mr. B. Crockford (nephew). and Mrs. C. F. Turner. Also present were Mr. A. R.

Personal effects
Executors: 
Edith Marie Crockford status: Widow: Allen Lephard Crockford status: Solicitor
Probate pounds: 
£31,122

Census and miscellaneous information

Census information
1861 census: 

Living at 38 Charlotte Rd., Kings Norton, Birmingham, Allen L Crockford, 33, Draper, Wife Mary Ann Crockford, 29, daughter Eliza J Crockford, 6, son John Allen V Crockford 3, Son Arthur L Crockford 2, Visitor Jane Passman 58, Servants: nursemaid Emma Rose, 24 and cook Emma Swann, 20.

1871 census: 

Living at Doe Bank, Lichfield Rd., Sutton Coldfield, Allen L Crockford, 43, Draper, Wife Mary A Crockford, 34, Daughter Eliza J Crockford, 16, Son John A V Crockford, 13, Son, Arthur L Crockford, 12, Son, Howard L Crockford, 9, Son, Alfred W Crockford, 7, Son, Edgar B Crockford, 5, Daughter Constance E Crockford, 2, Servants: Martha Stafford, 26, Emma F Brose, 34, Emma Ward, 22, Mary Smith, 21 and John Burton, 19.

1881 census: 

Living at Doe Bank, The Limes, Sutton Coldfield Allen Leopold Crockford, 53, Draper, wife Mary Ann Crockford, 49, daughter Eliza Jane Crockford, 26, Son John Allen Vernon Crockford, 23, Draper, son Arthur Leslie Crockford, 22, Solicitor, son  Howard Leopold Crockford, 19, Drapers apprentice, son Alfred W. Crockford, 17, Merchants apprentice, son Edgar Bernard Crockford, 15 Bankers clerk, servants: Fanny Duggan, 23, Cook, Emily C. Walton, 25, Housemaid, Rebecca Eastope, 15, Under Housemaid.

1891 census: 

Living at The Limes, Doe Bank,  Sutton Coldfield Allen L Crockford, 63, Draper, Wife Mary A Crockford, 59, Daughter Eliza J Crockford, 36, Son John A V Crockford, 33, Draper, Son Howard L Crockford, 29 Draper, Son Edgar B Crockford, 25, Bankers Cashier, Daughter Constance E Crockford, 22, Visitor William G Parkes, 36, Steel Toy Manufacturer, Servants: Elizabeth Breeze, 22, Housemaid, Phoebe Mills, 27, Cook.

1901 census: 

Living at Killiney, Marine Drive, Rhyl, Flintshire John A V Crockford, 43, Retired Draper, Wife Edith M Crockford, 31, Daughter Winifred E Crockford, 7, Daughter Gwendoline C Crockford, 5, Daughter Doris M Crockford, 3, Son Allen L Crockford, 3, Governess Helen Whitehouse, 33, Servants: Mary E Morris, 23, Nurse, S C Williams, 23 Housemaid. Doris and Allen were twins

1911 census: 

Living at 74 Portland Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham John Allen Vernon Crockford, 54, Draper, Wife Edith Marie Crockford, 41, Son Allen Lepard Crockford, 13, Servants: Mary Smith, 30, Cook, Eliza Ann Downes, 26, Housemaid.

1921 census: 

206 Preston Road, Brighton, Sussex

John Allen Vernon Crockford aged 64, retail drapery, employer. Edith Marie aged 51, home duties. Winifred Edith aged 27, clerk employed by Barclays Bank Ltd. Gwendoline Constance aged 26, masseuse on own account. Alan Lepard Crockford aged 23, medical student at St Thomass Hospital. Plus 2 servants.