I now believe we are dealing with two William Cracknell families, as follows:
William Cracknell & Nancy Williams , whose children were:
* Charles Henry; b: 7 Sep 1854,
* Adolphus; b: 31 May 1858,
* Jemima; b: 22 May 1860,
* Ann Adeline; b: 9 Dec 1862,
* Alice Maud; b: 15 July 1864,
* Joseph Martin; b: 27 Dec 1865, and
William Cracknell & Ann Williams, whose children were:
* William; b: 21 Apr 1850,
* John; b: 26 July 1852,
* Edward; b:1 Aug 1856
Given the overlap of birth dates, it is not possible that the William Cracknell's were the same person.
The marriage record of William Cracknell to Ann Williams in 1847 shows William Cracknell as a Mariner, and is noted as a Master mariner on several of the children's birth certificates.
Similarly, and although a marriage record for William & Nancy, William is noted as a Master mariner on one of his childrens birth cert. THe birth cert. for Joesph Martin Cracknell states that the birth was registered by William Cracknell, brother (of William Cracknell)
I am now convinced that we are dealing with two William Cracknells, both being Master mariners.
The 1827 Census shows Nancy Williams, aged 1 y.o., living with her parents and siblings Elizabeth, Margaret, Sarah & Maria, in Elizabeth St., Hobart, making her birth year 1826. This Is this most likely the Nancy Williams that married Thomas Cracknell; as her birth date is consistent with that shown in the death notice for Nancy Cracknell.
Nancy Cracknell was noted as the 'relict of previously deceased William Cracknell in the death notice of 29 Oct. 1904. William Cracknell, Master Mariner, died in Battery Point on 1 Jan 1891, also noting that the death certificate showed him to have been born in England.
It is presumed that William Cracknell, d:1904 is the husband of Nancy, but cannot be confirmed.
There are no records of the deaths of Ann & William Cracknell, and presently it is possible that the deathy of William Cracknell is confused with his Brother