A VENERABLE SKIPPER

THE LATE CAPT. CREWDSON, ULVERSTON

The death occurred on Saturday, at Sir John Barrow's Cottage, Dragley Beck, at the advanced age of 83 years, of Capt. Jas. Crewdson, a widely-known and much respected Ulverstonian, one of the last representatives of the old sefaring captains of the period when Ulveston was a flourishing little shipping post, and a local centre for the building of sailing craft for the soasting trade. Although the deceased had been failing for some time he was out walking with his eldest son as late as the previous Monday evening. The following morning, however, he had a sudden seizure and in falling unfortunately sustained a fracture of the thigh, which hastened his end. His wife predeceased him in 1914, and out of a large family there are surviving two sons (one of whom is in Pennsylvania) and four daughters, one of whom is in South Africa, and the others residing at Osset in Yorkshire, Cark and Barrow.

The late Capt. Crewdson, who was an old "Townbanker," and the son of a sailor, went to sea at the age of 15, finally retiring about 1912, after 53 years' service. Among his contemporaries are skippers of Ulverston and Barrow-owned boats may be mentioned Capt. Brockbank, Story, Pernie, Tyson, McLester, Higham, and Broch, all of whom, with the exception of Capt. Higham (the deceased's chum to the last) have joined the great majority. In his early days Capt. Crewdson was mostly engaged in the local coasting trade, his cargoes largely consisting of iron-ore and gunpowder, the latter commodity from Bouth and Haverthwaite being conveyed by rail to the Ulverston canal for loading. On more than one occasion he also sailed his ship up to Greenodd to take in cargo. During the greater part of his career, however, he regularly sailed to foreigh ports, in connection principally with the Mediterranean, West Indies, and South America trade and though on some of these voyages he had very rough experiences, all the vessels he sailed being under 300 tons barthen, he was singularly fortunate in bringing them all safely into port, although on one occasion he arrived home from the West Indies with only two of his crew, the others having died on the journey. Among other vessels commanded by Capt. Crewdson were the J.H.Barrow (which like "Charley's Aunt", is said to be still running), the Ann Crewdson (built at Ulverston) and the Mary Barrow. The deceased was a very old Freemason, having joined the Grand Lodge of Ireland as far back as 1864; and on the 18th December he became a member of the Mark Master Mason's lodge at Ulverston.

The Funeral

In the presence of a representative gathering of townspeople, the remains of the late Capt. James Crewdson were laid to rest on Tuesday afternoon in the Ulverston Cemetery, the Rector of the parish, the Rev. J. Stuart Rimmer, M.A. and the Rev. S.H.Maycock officiating. The family mourners were: Mr. and Mrs. John Crewdson, son and daughter-in-law, and Miss Ethel Crewdson, granddaughter, Mr. and Mrs. S. Wood (Cark), son-in-law and daughter; Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence (Osset, Yorks), son-in-law and daughter; Mr. and Mrs. Wilkin (Barrow), son-in-law and daughter; May and Gladys Crewdson, granddaughters; Mrs. Taylor (Whitefield, Manchester), Mrs. Mortimer (Broughton, Manchester), and Mrs. Eceles (Wigan), sisters; Mr. John Crewdson (Ramsbotham), nephew; Mrs. Eceles and Mrs. Robinson (Manchester), nieces.

The Masonic brethren were represented by Messrs. H. Jenkins, Wm. Dickinson, J.Wilkie, J.Cookson, J.J.B.Rose, S.Grundy, senr., E.Telfer, Ed. Hird, H.M.Todd, W.J.Denny, E.A.Redhead, Albert Barnes, H.Griffiths, H.W.Williams, A.W.Crewdson, Capt. James Higham, G. Farrer, John Taylor, Chas. Wilson and the Rev. J.S.Rimmer.

Among the other mourners were: Mrs. James Barrow (Barrow), Miss Benson, Capt. John Wilson, H.C.Topham, Joshua Woodburn, W.G.Atkinson, E.A.Atkinson, S.Atkinson, Robt. Kerr, Jas.Robinson, R. Buchanan, Mr.and Mrs. W.G.Cook, Mr.and Mr. A.B.Pollard, mr. and Mrs. Harrison (Cark), A. Dilworth, Sam Lee, Thos. Holmes, T.Coward (Town Bank), J.Singleton, Wm. Waite, Coun Jas. Mount, J.Mooney, Isaac Ireland, John J. Fell, Thos. Wright, H. Falshaw, Ed. Simpson, W. Marthwaite, Alf Poole, R. B. Hayharst, J. Whineray, T. Hind, R. Dawes, Thos. Tyson, E. Phillips, C.S.Bowe, W. Faulkner, John Albright, W. F. Crewdson, Wh.H.Steel, J.Albury, S. CUnningham, Richard Wilson, Jno. Swainson (Park View), Jas. Holmes, Geo. Stewart, Nelson (Spring Gardens), -. Mounsey, J. Chadwick(Greenodd), E. Bevins. Messrs. Wm. Park, and H. Pernie acted as bearers of the coffin, which was draped with the Union Jack.

Following the committal sentences, the Rector, in a few sympathetic words, bore testimony to the good personal qualities of the deceased, whom he described as one of nature's gentlemen, kindly and considerate, a true friend and brother. The grave was tastefully decorated, and quite a wealth of floral tributes included wreaths from "The fellow members of the Jubilee Lodge of Mark Master Masons, 375"; from the workers at Rattan Row Mission Church; and "with deep sympathy and in remembrance of happy days on the Mary Barrow", from Mr. and Mrs. Beck, Durham, Natal. The arrangements were in the hands of Mr. Nelson Wearing.