DAR Ancestor #: A027490

Service: NEW JERSEY Rank(s): CAPTAIN
Birth: 10-12-1747 ELIZABETH NEW JERSEY
Death: 7-9-1814 ELIZABETH NEW JERSEY
Service Description: 1) ALSO LT.

191. Gen. William Crane4 [64], (Stephen,3 Daniel,2 Stephen1), was lieutenant of artillery in the army that accompanied Gen. Montgomery to Quebec; he was severely wounded in the ankle in the attack on that city, which wound gave him much trouble in after years, necessitating amputation of the leg, even this operation did not wholly relieve him. Ulceration again appeared, and he died July 30, 1814, thirty-nine years after receiving the wound. After the close of the war he became major-general of the militia. During the last war with England, he held a major-general's command in the New Jersey militia, and was for a time posted at Sandy Hook, to defend New York city. He was twice married; his second wife being Abigail MILLER, daughter of Benjamin, born 1763, and died July 22, 1825.

Children:

192 — 1. William Montgomery, b. Feb. 1, 1776 [this date must be an error, as he was born in 1784 (1784 + 62 years old = 1846 year of death)]; also his mother, who was his father's second wife, likely was not 13 years old at time of his birth)], in Elizabethtown, N.J. He entered the United States Navy; was midshipman, May 23, 1799; became lieutenant, July 20, 1803; commander, March 4, 1813; captain, Nov. 22, 1814. He served with distinction through the war of 1812. July, 1827, he was appointed commander of the squadron in the Mediterranean Sea. He was distinguished before Tripoli. In 1842, he became chief of the Bureau of Ordnance. He died by his own hand, in Washington, D.C, March 18, 1846, aged 61 years; no cause given for his rash act.

If he died in 1846 at age 61 (per the Crane genealogy) or 62 (as reported in his published obituary), then he must have been born in ca. 1784 (not 1776, unless the obit was wrong and he's the son of his father's first wife whose name is unknown). If born in 1776 he would have been about 70 years old (not 62) when he died. He joined the navy in 1799 (age 15 if born in 1784, not uncommon in those days; if born in 1776 he would have been age 23 when he entered the navy as a midshipman).

William M. Crane on Wikipedia

193 — 2. Ichabod B.; colonel in U.S. Army, in 1851; was commander of Governor Island.

194 — 3. Joseph H.; m. Julia Elliot; lived in Dayton, Ohio; judge of the Supreme Court, Ohio; d. Nov. 12, 1851.

195 — 4. Mariah; lived with brother Joseph; unmarried.

196 — 5. Joanna, b. 1800 [more likely 1798, as she was age 22 when she died]; m. John Magie; d. Jan. 30, 1820, leaving dau. Julia.

197 — 6. Phebe, b. 1795; d. Feb. 28, 1820; unmarried.

Genealogy of the Crane Family, Volume II (c. 1895), pps. 473, 479

General William Crane of Union Township, Essex County, New Jersey, left a will naming his wife Abigail; his sons: Stephen, Joseph, William, Jr., and Ichabod; his daughters: Hannah Lyon, Catherine Mills, Maria Crane, Phebe Crane, and Johannah Crane.

His appointed executors were his wife Abigail, son Ichabod, and trusty friend, Elias Haines.

He wrote his will on March 10th, 1813 and it was proved on August 6th, 1814.

Will of General William Crane on Family Search

Gen William Henry Crane

• BIRTH 12 Oct 1747 Elizabeth, Union County, New Jersey, USA
• DEATH 30 Jul 1814 (aged 66) Elizabeth, Union County, New Jersey, USA
• BURIAL First Presbyterian Churchyard, Elizabeth, Union County, New Jersey, USA
• MEMORIAL ID 7324298

William Crane, born 1748 in Elizabethtown, NJ to Stephen Crane 1709–1780 & Phebe Bedell Crane 1714–1776
During the Revolutionary War he as a Captain in the 5th new Jersey Continental Infantry regiment, as Major of the Essx County, New Jersey Infantry regiment, and fought in the Quebec Campaign under Major General Richard Montgomery, and at the September 1777 Battle of Brandywine, l
received a leg wound that required amputation years later. Promoted to brigadier general in the New Jersey militia after the war.

"One of the firmest patriots of our revolution; in the darkest period of his country's oppression & danger, he volunteered in her cause & was wounded in her defense. Probity, benevolence & patriotism characterized his life. He lived beloved and died lamented. His sons have caused this monument a faint tribute of gratitude & affection to be erected over his grave."

Inscription
67y
Gravesite Details
h/o Abigail Crane

Parents
Stephen Crane 1709–1780
Phebe Bedell Crane 1714–1776

Spouse
Abigail Miller Crane 1754–1825

Siblings
Joseph Crane 1752–1794

Children
Maria Crane unknown–1785
Phebe M. Crane unknown–1820
William Montgomery Crane 1776–1846
Joanna M. Crane Magie 1782–1820
Joseph Halsey Crane 1782–1851
Ichabod Bennett Crane 1787–1857

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7324298/william-henry-crane