SAMUEL CROXSON
Samuel Croxson was born in 1774 in Sandon, Essex the son of William Croxson and Mary Crow. He married Susannah Stuttle in 1803 in Southminster, Essex. He became a wheelwright and settled in South Benfleet in 1803, where his brother William was the landlord of the Hoy Inn, and here had four children. In 1811 he moved to Rayleigh and went in to business as a wheelwright in a forge behind The Golden Lion Public House, here in Rayleigh he had another twelve children.
Samuel was the Parish Constable for Rayleigh between 1812 and 1821. In 1819 Samuel was summonsed for the rough handling of Mary Ann Howes, on her removal from the workhouse. After this he appears to have treated the poor and homeless with more respect, handing out alms where needed.
Some time before 1825 his nephew Elias King Croxon came to work as a wheelwright with Samuel. Later four of Samuel's sons and his son in law Henry Witham also seem to have joined the business.
Although his sons later left to start up on their own, Henry Witham seems to have taken over the Rayleigh business on Samuel's death.
Samuel died in 1836 and is buried in the churchyard at Holy Trinity Church, Rayleigh, where his wife, Susannah, was also buried on her death in 1853. Unfortunately the gravestone, which also remembered the deaths of two of Samuel's grandchildren, has now been removed for the building of a new church hall. Samuel's grandchildren were buried at Orsett Essex. Samuel left a will leaving his estate to his wife, an unusual act at this time, the law had only just been changed to allow woman to own property.
Sources
E.R.O D/P332/10
E.R.O D/P332/8/5
1841,1851 Censuses
Law and Order in Rayleigh by Noel Beer
Parish Registers for Sandon, Southminster, South Benfleet and Rayleigh.
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