Stephen Crane

• BIRTH 1709 Elizabeth, Union County, New Jersey, USA
• DEATH 1 Jul 1780 (aged 70–71) Elizabeth, Union County, New Jersey, USA
• BURIAL First Presbyterian Churchyard, Elizabeth, Union County, New Jersey, USA
• MEMORIAL ID 12140127 Photos by Jim Fisher

Stephen Crane (1709 – July 1, 1780) was an American politician from Elizabethtown (Elizabeth, New Jersey) who was a delegate to the Continental Congress from 1774 to 1776. He also served in the New Jersey General Assembly and New Jersey Legislative Council. Crane was part of the Congressional delegation that opposed separation from Great Britain which caused the state’s provincial congress to replace their entire delegation in June of 1776.

Crane was born in Elizabethtown. He served as sheriff of Essex County and was elected as a member of its town committee in 1750. He was also a judge of the court of common pleas. From 1766 to 1773, he was a member of the colony's general assembly 1766-1773 and served as speaker in 1771. He was also mayor of Elizabethtown before he became a member of the Continental Congress. Until his death in 1780, Crane held a several public offices in New Jersey.

Continental Congressman. He served in the New Jersey Colonial Legislature prior to the Revolutionary War. He was elected to serve as a Delegate to the Continental Congress from New Jersey in 1774. A member of the delegation until June 1776, he and his other delegates were recalled by New Jersey due to their opposition to formal separation from England. When the British invaded New Jersey via Staten Island in June 1780, he was bayoneted by British troopers, lingering until his death in July. His great-great-grandson was author Stephen Crane of "Red Badge of Courage" fame.

Inscription
Sacred to the Memory
of Stephen Crane Esq. who
departed this Life July ye 1st.
A.D. 1780. In the 71st Year
of his Age.

Having been
Elected for a series of Years,
to ye chief Magistracy of ye Place,
and to a Seat
in the Grand Council of ye State
He
discharged the Duties of those
important Stations,
with strict Integrity and
general Approbation.

Parents
Daniel Craine 1672–1723
Hannah Miller Crane 1681 – unknown

Spouse
Phebe Bedell Crane 1714–1776 (m. 1734)

Siblings
Daniel Craine 1703–1723

Children
Maj. William Henry Crane 1747–1814
Joseph Crane 1752–1794

Descendant Details

William Crane, son; born 1748 in Elizabethtown, served as major of an Essex County, New Jersey regiment. Fought with Richard Montgomery in the Battle of Quebec, received a leg wound that required amputation years later. Promoted to brigadier general in the New Jersey militia after the war.

Ichabod Bennet Crane (July 18, 1787 - October 1857) grandson; was born in Elizabethtown, commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps, served aboard the USS United States, with Stephen Decatur, then served in the US Army, fought in the War of 1812 died while still on active duty with the rank of colonel after 48 years of continuous service.

Charles Henry Crane (19 July 1825 - October 10, 1883) great-grandson; Would rise through the ranks to become a Brigadier General and Surgeon General of the United States (1882–1883).

Joseph Halsey Crane;grandson

William Crane; (1778–1830) grandson,

Jonathan Townley Crane, great grandson, father of author Stephen Crane.

Stephen Crane; great-great-grandson, author, who is best known for the novel The Red Badge of Courage.

References

[1a] https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/12140127/stephen-crane

[1b] https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=12140127 Find A Grave Memorial] - SmartCopy: Oct 8 2017, 15:55:52 UTC

[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Crane_(Continental_Congress)

[3] http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full... DAR Ancestor # A027481 A Patriot of the American Revolution for NEW JERSEY.

59. Stephen Crane3 [23], (Daniel,2 Stephen1), was one of the leading patriots of New Jersey during the Revolution, under the Colonial Government; a man of considerable note in his day; although he was sheriff of Essex County under George III., and judge of the Court of Common Pleas during the agitation concerning the Stamp Act, he became an ardent patriot, and was elected a member of the first Continental Congress, which met in 1774; and did much efficient work on committees on supplies, etc., serving two terms.

The engraving "The first Prayer in Congress." contains his portrait. He was also a member of the New Jersey legislature and senate. His homestead was about one and one-half miles from Elizabeth, near the point where the road to Galloping Hill leaves the road to Mulfords. The spot is in sight, and on the north side, of the Central Railroad. The old well was on the opposite side of the road from the house where he lived, and which was a few years ago still standing in firm preservation, and under a large oak tree. He was one of the first trustees of the First Presbyterian Church in Elizabeth, and mayor of the Borough. He married Phebe, born 1714 and died Aug. 28, 1776, aged 62. He died June 23, 1780.

Children :

60—1. Daniel, b. Jan. 3, 1735.

61—2. Stephen, b. Oct. 14, 1737; killed by British soldiers.

62—3. Elizabeth, b. March 10, 1740.

63—4. David, b. Nov. 27, 1742.

64—5. William, b. 1747. [General William Crane, m. Abigail]

65—6. Phebe. b. June 2, 1750; m. Capt. Jacob Crane, son of Matthias. (See No. 133.)

66—7. Joseph, b. May 20, 1752; m. 1st, Susannah Ross; 2d, Miss Van Vechten.

67—8. Jonathan, b. May 15, 1754; killed by the Hessian soldiers, June 1780.

68—9. Catharine, b. Oct. 8, 1756.

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