Welcome to the U.S. history of the Craig clan in Australia; written for the occasion of one of William D. Craig's grandsons' marriage in New Tripoli, PA in 2016. 

 

This is currently a work in progress.

Bill and Sandra Craig migrated to Hobart, Tasmania from Pacific Palisades, California in 1968, with their five children; Cathy, Andrea, Donal, Mae and Steph. 

Sandra passed away in 1985.

We have now grown to five families settled in the southeast of Australia, with fourteen grandchildren; all of whom Bill met and enjoyed prior to his death in 2014.

There are many, many links to Rohan's new home for us; the families from whom we are descended entered into the U.S. via New York or Philadelphia and lived in New York City or remained in the Philadelphia environs. The early Craig family siblings formed the "Craig Settlement" in the Allentown area near Rohan's in-laws home. 

We call this the "Philadelphia triangle" as Rohan has been called back to it from so far away in Tasmania!

Here is our family story in the United States.

The Wood family

A Lancashire elopement with a "wild" Irishman 

This is Sandra's history, much of it centred near in Philadelphia.
Sandra's mother; our maternal grandmother; Beatrice Mae Wood, grew up in South Philadelphia with her six sisters and parents; Mary and Edward Wood and grandmother; Elizabeth Burke.

Mary Agnes was the daughter of John Ullic Burke of Ireland and Elizabeth Mary Porter.
John and Elizabeth married in Manchester in 1857. The story goes she climbed out from a window in the family home in Manchester, England to get married; enshrined in an old Wood family joke; referred to as "Getting married? We'll give you a ladder and a suitcase!"
Mary was also the grandmother Sandra knew well and drove around San Francisco in the late 40s in her car during her first year of college- apparently Mary was very frightened of being so close to the pavement in the car and Mom's speedy driving, after her horse and buggy childhood in the 1880s! Mary was living with various Wood sisters in California at the time of her death in 1951. (?)

John and Elizabeth Burke
John and Elizabeth Burke are to be found in the 1880 census living at 427 Market St, Philadelphia; occupation Shoemaker.

We need to find out more about John Ullic Burke and his family.

 The picture below is of Elizabeth; during a backyard July 4 celebration in South Philadelphia, who passed away; aged 90, in 1926. She lived a year longer than her son-in-law Edward Wood.

 

Sandra and the "Wood Roses"

Philadelphia was Sandra's home of the "heart" where she grew up in Wynnewood; as her father took up various Navy appointments; Captain George M Baum commanded the U.S. Arizona in the 1930s and his service record says he was in charge of the Philadelphia Naval Yard in ???. She attended the Sacred Heart school at Overbrook, (a city school later to become the Country Day school of the Sacred Heart in Wynewood by 1978.

The area Rohan and Brandi in which have chosen to live is East Falls, 20 minutes south of Wynnewood.

We have happy memories of hearing our mother retell stories about learning the Charleston in the kitchen with the cook, going to Wannamakers with her mother and aunts.

It was one of our treasured moments in the 2016 visit to Philadelphia to visit the famous Wannamaker organ arcade with Lucinda, daughter of Estelle and Kaywood, and Kaywood, daughter of Phyllis. Lucinda and Kaywood clearly recalled their mothers remembering Wannamaker shopping trips and for Kaywood, going in the revolving doors with the Aunts in full regalia, with hats and glove

 

The organ arcade in Macy's (originally Wannamakers) is now the first floor for Womens accessories, shoes and handbags.

and being piped aboard ship with her father in the Naval yard. (George Baum was a Lieutenant Commander, August 1916, Commander, June 1921. Captain, June 1927).

Her mother's family of seven Wood girls (known as the "Wood Roses") also grew up there: in what must have been a very lively South Philly boarding house at the turn of the century surrounded by Yiddish and German speaking families (1910 Census).

Edward Wood was a Union organiser. 

When Edward died in 1925, the family moved to Germantown, on the Main Line. Beatrice Mae was 27 when she caught the eye of Captain Baum in the Navy Yard office where she was working as a stenographer- a Cinderella story, we think.

                                             George and Beatrice Mae Baum on wedding day? with ring showing

  

 Baumie and Dad both spoke warmly of Sunday afternoons around the piano in Germantown, with much chat and singing. Sandra left this describing those afternoons of her childhood:

"On Sundays we'd go horseback riding in the Park ( Wissahickon Valley Park between Manayunk and Germantown?) Waving to the mounted police as we posted past, then we'd head back to Ross Street for Sunday Tea with Grandmama. All the family would gather for that celebration which 'the girls' called 'English tea'. Once in awhile there were guests, friends of Phyllis or Grace. The men didnt add much to the conversation (male guests I mean) for they were generally not able to keep up the verbal pace. It was hard to get a word in edgewise for Sunday teas were noisy affairs with many anecdotes told, cracks and verbal ripostes were used to interrupt and one had to be pretty quick to join in! The regulars were Grandmama, Auntie Grace, Auntie Helen, Uncle Ad, Mummy, Daddy, me Phyllis and guests...some of whom had extraordinary names like Minnie Crabtree, Mary Dollaway and so on. There were also the great occasionscwhen our Aunts, Uncles and families came from California.

The meal consisted of cold ham, turkey, roast beef, salads, home made root beer (Mr Hire, another Philadelphian, must have pinched Grandmas recipe), iced tea or coffee with a pretty tasty dessert. Often there were ten or more around the dining room table and it was good fun.

After 'tea we'd go into the parlour where Auntie Grace would play the latest popular music on the piano, and we'd stand around and sing. Gracie would send us off if we couldnt do it right! Then Phyllis would get out her book of old Navy songs and we'd sing 'The monkeys have no tails in Zamboanga, 'The Captain and all the ships men and other ones that Daddy would suggest. Grandmama sat quietly in the corner, probably crocheting, always smiling when Auntie Phyllis called out Come on Mama, lets play...and Grandmama would laugh and move her considerable girth to the piano bench. Together they would play waltzes like Southern Roses, with Phyllis on the base and Grandmama taking competent charge of the treble. And so the hours would fly. Auntie Gray would return to the bench after she and Uncle Ad had a dance, and Auntie Phyllis would dance too. Invariably the evening would end with Auntie Grace playing 'Bless this house'. Finally we'd say our goodnights and go home. They were dry evenings for Grandmama didnt approve of 'spirits' and looking back, they were wondrous."

The Wood girls remained closely connected by many letters and visits, with their mother Elizabeth (Mom's "Grandmother" of the letters) and Grace moving west to San Francisco in 1946 to live with Marion and Bernard when Mom and her parents returned from Lima to live there. Estelle and Phyllis and families had moved to California also. 

Helen passed away in Philadelphia in ????.

The Craig Family

 This is the story of Dad's family in the U.S.

History of the Craigs in Scotland

"The surname Craig was found in many different forms and spellings, From time to time it was spelt Craig, Craigh, Creag, Creagh, some of these are still used today. The name Craig emerged as a Clan and developed in their original territories of Aberdeen where they were recorded as a family of great antiquity, eventually seated at Craigfintray Castle in Kildrummie in that Shire. John of the Craig who in 1335 led 1,000 of his warriors at the Battle of Culblean. John of the Craig led his famous "band of 300" to support Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland, in the raiding and siege at Kildrumie Castle at the Battle of Dunblean. This John Craig was the Steward of Kildrummie Castle; 250 years later, this family was seated at Craigfintray Castle (Craigston). This clan evolved to the Craigs of Riccarton."
 This Northern Clan is frequently associated with the Gordons, but their first records appear in Ayershire and Lanarkshire to the south about 1180. 

Bill Craig always said the Craigs were at one stage cattle thieves on the Scottish border- politically known as "Reivers"

In our family we have established the direct male line to the following 10 generations.


William Alexander Craig   1685 - 1759 who migrated with his siblings to Pennsylvania in between 1719 and 1725

                     ------

Robert Thomas Craig 1712 - 1845?

                     ------

William Daniel Craig  1750 -1823

                     -----

Robert Wiley Craig  1781 - 1848 who migrated to Kentucky and then Edgar, Illinois.

                     -----

Isaac Nickles Craig   1810 - 1893 who eventually settled in Charleston, Illinois.

                     -----

James Wesley Craig (Judge) 1844 - 1921 who settled in Mattoon.

                     -----

Donald Bloyer Craig  18? - 1933? After his early death, his wife Bernardine and Bill and Marna settled in California.

                    -----

William Donal Craig  1924 - 2014 who migrated with his family to Hobart, Tasmania, Australia in 1968.

                   ------

Donal George Craig   1958-

                   -----

William Craig 1998-
               

Ulster Plantation Craigs
"After the foundation of the Church of Scotland, political dissent occurred over the power of the King and civil authorities over the rights of the Church.  This led to the beginning of the Presbyterian movement. Many of these religious dissenters fled to Northern Ireland and its freer religious environment.  Religious and civil war soon reached North Ireland, bringing more Scots to live in the North.  During the 1600's many Scots emigrated to North Ireland, called the "Plantation of Ulster"… our Craigs among them.

Further description of these migrations is taken from "Five typical Scots Irish families of the Cumberland valley";
"During the reign of James VI a number of Scotch- men were induced to settle in Ulster, Ireland, on land which had been taken by the Government from the Irish Catholics. In this way Northern England was freed from fear of a rather insur- gent element on her borders and Northern Ireland was assured of an industrious class of settlers. These people were Presbyterian farmers and tradesmen of the better class who were weary of the feuds and persecutions in Scotland and hoped for better conditions in the new province although but ten miles of sea intervened in some places. Material prosperity came to them but their hopes of greater religious freedom were doomed to disappointment. After a time edicts were issued that no ministry was valid but that of the Episcopal or Established Church and that no man could hold office nor own land unless he received communion from the hands of a minister of the Established Church. Restive but kept captive by necessity for several generations these colonists at last decided to try their fortunes across the Atlantic where others seeking religious freedom had already preceeded them.

James Craig; 1921 Prime Minister of Ireland   

William's family was among many Scot families who chose to take up a plantation in Ulster and Bill used to speak of another relative who became the first Northern Irish Prime minister.

"Sir James Craig took his family and followers to Ulster in 1610 during what was known as the "Plantations". A descendant, another James Craig, was a millionaire Irish whiskey distiller who organised the Ulster Volunteer Force against Home Rule for Ireland in the 1920s. He then became the first Prime Minister of Northern Ireland. He later became Viscount Craigavaon and the new town of Craigavon in County Armagh was named after him. " 

We do not share this information with our Irish friends...

(taken from http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~lynburge/craighist.html)

 

The Craig family arrives in Pennsylvania 

Dad often spoke to us about the Scots Irish migration to the U.S., at one stage gave us each a book from a well- known tv series; condensed here.

The Craigs arrive from Ulster between 1721-2

We are still working on this lineage. Any help most welcome!

We believe our Craig family migrated to Pennsylvania in 1720 or 1721; possibly even during the 7 years before.
Apparently William settled in Chester county- which later became Lancaster. (The fourth county in the state, Lancaster County, was formed from Chester County on May 10, 1729.) 

We do not yet have details of the Lancaster period for William and his family; between 1722 and 1740: one secondary source mentions Kennett Square as their place of residence.
William's brothers, a sister and their families settled  in what was known as the "Craig Settlement" in modern day Northampton. Theirs was a first European settlement in the area prior to the Monrovians and Pennsylvania Dutch.
 

We are currently in contact with the Historical Society of Horner's Cemetary where William's brothers and family from the Craig Settlement may be buried. We visited there at the time of the wedding and saw the gravesite of James' wife Sarah. We were given information about William's siblings and the Craig family in Pennsylvania, which we are still sifting through. We are very grateful to Peggy, the Founder and president of the Horner's Cemetery Historical Society, who gave us several hours of her time and gathered a substantial folder of information about our William's siblings in Northampton.

We found this all pretty amazing as this is the general area where Rohan's in-laws live!

 

Moving to West Virginia

Here is a link that may help explain why William and his son Robert Thomas may have taken up a Beverley land grant in West Virginia- Augusta- why they left Lancaster in 1740. Some sources say Robert and his family travelled south first, his grant was in the area now known as Craigsville, West Virginia?
Another link discussing Beverley grants.

Another link placing William in Augusta County and includes the text of his will registered in Staunton (Beverley's Mill, originally).

It is possible William may be related to the Rev John Craig who took up as minister there in 1740; who built two churches he rode between in the Augusta area.; the old stone church at Fort Defiance, shown below, where William may be buried (and that he also helped to build); and also the Tinkling Spring Church. Certainly William and his son Robert and families were members of the congregation and William is buried there when he died in 1759 at the age of 79.
This Library of Congress photograph shows the Fort Defiance church.
                              The Rev John Craig left us a rich memoir of life in Augusta in the 1740s-60s; the period our ancestors lived in Augusta prior to moving to Kentucky.

The family migrates to Kentucky 

   Many Scots Irish families followed Daniel Boone when he led groups through the Cumberland gap into Kentucky, where open rich farm areas awaited. This put them into direct conflict with the Indian nations who lived there. Those families that agreed to form communities in the first forts, each a days ride from each other, were promised land. This was a rich area for the Indian groups and a hunting route, so there was great conflict in these years. It may be possible that William and his son Robert accompanied these early exploratory groups but they certainly made the permanent move to Kentucky by...

                         A painting of Boone leading the Scots Irish over the Cumberland gap

 
 Daryl Skaggs gives us this history of Strodes Fort, where William Craig and Robert may have sheltered during the Indian attacks in Kentucky following their journey over the Cumberland gap (their names found in a fort list) - these forts - Boonesborough, Strodes were a days hike from each other and most settlers knew each other. We are still trying to establish this link, whether William assisted Boone in the establishment of these forts and then returned to the Augusta area with a young Robert.

The story of Craigs in Mattoon, Illinois 

Robert Thomas's son William Daniel Craig Sr had a son Robert Wiley Craig who possibly travelled the most distance in history- who made his way west across the United States -via Augusta to Mt Meridian Kentucky, then to Edgar, Illinois (1781- 1848). His life spanned the French Indian Wars, the American Revolution and beginnings of the United States, the opening of the Oregon trail, French Louisiana purchase and the Gold rush.

His son Isaac Nickles Craig married Catherine Henson (1812-1841) and then Elizabeth Bloyer (1819- 1896). 

Isaac's son with Elizabeth Bloyer; Judge James Wesley Craig (1844- 1921) married Mary Chilton Craig (1849-1827) in a courtship he spoke of at their Golden Wedding anniversary.

James' brother was Isaac B Craig, who Bill spoke of as an influence. 
There is a funny story about him when Isaac was appointed as a judge. Someone said he could not do the job. Having lost both his legs, he answered with considerable spirit; "I did not realise having legs was a requirement for  the work as a judge".

James Wesley established the Mattoon legal firm of Craig and Craig with his brother Isaac in 1868. It has the distinction of being the oldest U.S. law firm continuously operating in the same office building. When Bill visited Mattoon with Andrea and Luke in 2000, he showed us where his great uncle Isaac used to work and his father's office.

Abraham Lincoln's original log cabin and James W. Craig

What happened to Abraham Lincoln's original log cabin and what did it have to do with James W. Craig?
This is a story found in a number of sources. There is also a mention in a little book called Lincoln's land.

 

How did Donal Bloyer Craig come to marry Bernardine (Nixon) Middlesworth? 

 

We only recently discovered our grandmother Mimi's (Bernardine) Nixon and Chaffee family history in the United States. Her grandfather, John Nixon migrated from England in 1853 and it was his son Albert who married Augusta Sweet, whose mother was a Chaffee, belonging to a long line that goes back to Rebohoth, Massachusetts in the 1680s.

 

Cathy made a contact via Ancestry in the Nixon family; through

Our Dad said she never spoke of being adopted at 4 years or of her Nixon family. He didn't know until we moved to Australia in 1968 when Mimi needed a passport renewal.

 

 

 

The Chaffee line

 

 

Donal Bloyer Craig and George Martin Baum - how did the Baums and Craigs meet? 

Donal and George were both in the 1904 graduating class at the Annapolis Naval Academy. They served on their first ship appointments together. 

A very young Alexandra and William first sighted each other on a brief inter-continental visit to Mattoon in 1930 when Mom was 2 years old enroute to California from Berlin- and Bill 6. Dad said he couldn't really be expected to be impressed at that age...

When young William Donal was also at Annapolis Naval Academy in 1943, he looked up the Baum family in Washington DC and met the 15 yo Alexandra Porter about to depart with her date- apparently Bill decided he was going to make it difficult for the 16 year old date- placed himself on the couch and kept them in conversation...
They began a young relationship - one that blossomed over two continents and spanned the next three years, culminating in their marriage on December 28, 1946 at Treasure Island Chapel in San Francisco Bay.
We have a precious collection of well over a hundred of their letters from this period, only opened a year following Bill's death. Mom asked for a copy-  only could locate a 1952 digital version here- of the dating "Drag Handbook" when she was his "drag" at Naval Academy weekends .

Bill passed away in March, 2014 at the age of 89 in Gisborne, Victoria, surrounded by his children.
In August, following mass at the Holy Spirit Church, a Remembrance luncheon was held in his honour  at Don Camillo, an Italian restaurant in Sandy Bay fondly remembered by family in our first years in Tasmania.
Here is one of the notes penned following that occasion;

Dear Craigs (all of you)

 What a wonderful gathering- I renewed olde acquaintances and fond memories. The slide show was the icing on the cake. When 3:30 arrived, we were all reluctant to leave.

Your mother and father go way back to about 1970 when we first met your mother (Mother Teresa) She had the wit, compassion and organisational ability- she loved all) Your Father (Admiral Farragut - "Damn the torpedoes - full speed ahead") needed someone like her to direct his energies! They were, I believe, our dearest friends! All your family success shows the effects of their loving parenting,

Herb"

  The History of the Baum family in the U.S. 

Many of our family will be travelling through New York city and will give a nod to the history of Johann Baum who lived in the city for six years following his arrival in 1859. He lived in the lower East; in the German area near Trimbole square and married Mary German in 1862.
 
Our John (Johann Phillip) Baum was the youngest son in a family from Hesse Darmstadt, born to Johann, 42 and Elise (Hoffman) 35, in 1840. His father Johann died on November 27, 1858, aged 60 when John was 18.  Following this, John took the adventurous decision to migrate to the U.S.the following year; traveling to New York, arriving on the 22 August, 1859. 

Johann spent three years in New York City between ages of 19 to 26 and courted Mary German, living in the German tenement areas of the Lower East side. He worked

He married Mary German in 1862 in New York at aged 22 and then moved west to work on the river boats, using his blacksmith trades. Following this, he settled in Leavenworth, Kansas, where the Baum family still is prominent.

 "John Baum, of the firm Hannon and Baum, wholesale dealers in liquors, etc, is a native of Germany and was born in Hesse Darmstadt in 1840, and reared to the business of blacksmith, from his father who carried on that business there. In 1857 he came to America, and settled here in 1859, and engaged in engineering on the river boats, which he actively followed 

until the breaking out of the war, when he enlisted his services in the First Missouri Light Artillery and did active service until 1864 when he was honourably discharged. After the war he located here and has been actively identified with the wholesale liquor business sine. In 1866 he married Miss Mary German, of his native country, who departed this life in 1875 and is buried in Greenwood Cemetary, leaving two sons, William and Otto. In 1876 he married Miss Sophia Endebrock of Hanover Germany. They have three sons- John, Henry and Herman. Mr B is an active member of the I.O.O.F Funeral Aid, K of P societies and the Endowment Rank."
 (Taken from Leavenworth county, Part 16 from William G Cutler's History of the State of Kansas)

The family zither

   

Periodically Bill Craig would bring out an old family zither similar to this- to try to persuade a son or daughter to learn how to play- He thought it was brought across the U.S. by the Baums but was unsure; dulcimers, zithers sounded of the Scottish bagpipe from the highlands, but were easily carried on frontier travels. It may well have been a gift to Johannes Baum or one of his two German wives- or a treasured companion on Johannes' emigration. It certainly had a set of old German instructions falling apart, could easily have dated back to 1850s when he arrived in the U.S.

"John Baum started out in life for himself without means or influence, but has worked his way to a front rank in his special line of business and, through the exercise of sound judgment, has accumulated a valuable property. Coming to the United States a young man, without capital, a stranger in a strange land, the outlook might have discouraged some. However, he had energy, perseverance and determination, and through these qualities he has become well- to-do, while, by his service in the Civil War, he also proved himself to be a loyal citizen and patriot.

The youngest of five children, Mr Baum was born in Flonheim, Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, April 29, 1840, a son of John and Elizabeth (Hoffman) Baum. His parents and the other children continued to reside in Germany,  he being the only member of the family who crossed the ocean. Under his father, with whom he served an apprenticeship of three years, he learned the blacksmith's trade. In 1857 he set sail from Havre, France, on the sailer "Trum- bull," which after a voyage of forty-nine days landed in New York. His first work was as a blacksmith in that city, on Twenty-seventh street, near Fourth avenue. In 1859 he came west as far as Fort Leavenworth, Kansas., and for a time was employed on the steamer "Chippewa," running on the Missouri River. He was also employed as engineer on steamers between St. Louis and New Orleans. In January, 1861, he made a trip from St. Louis up the Missouri to Fort Benton, returning to St. Louis after three months.

In July, 1861, Mr. Baum enlisted in Company I, First Missouri Light Artillery (called Buell's battery), and was mustered into service in St. Louis. Among the important engagements in
which he participated were the following: Forts Henry and Donelson, Shiloh, siege of Corinth,
battle of Luka, second battle of Corinth, Corwin's Ferry, etc. Several times he was wounded, but
never seriously. He was mustered out of service and honorably discharged in St. Louis in June,
1864.

                                                                 Battle of Shiloh

Returning to Leavenworth in 1865, Mr. Baum established his permanent home in this city. For
some time he was employed as a traveling sales-man, first with Alexander McDonald & Co.,
then with Gillett & Insley, and later with Car-ney, Fenlon & Co. In 1872 he formed a busi-
ness partnership with John Hannon, and the firm of Hannon & Baum embarked in business in
the old market house. Afterward they moved across the street and finally transferred their
plant to No. 511 Delaware street, between Fifth and Sixth streets. In 1887 Mr. Baum bought
his partner's interest and removed to East Leavenworth, but in 1892 returned to Leavenworth.
In 1893 be built the large brick block at No. 305Cherokee street, where he has two stories and
basement, 25x125 feet in dimensions.

The residence of Mr. Baum stands on Maple avenue and is one of the fine homes of the city.
He has been twice married. His first wife, who was Mary German, a native of Hesse-Darmstadt,
died in Leavenworth in 1875, leaving two sons: William, of this city; and Otto, who is in San
Francisco, Cal. The second marriage of Mr.Baum took place in Leavenworth and united him
with Miss Sophia Endebrock, who was born in Hanover and died in Leavenworth in 1886. The
four children born of this union are as follows: John, who graduated from the Leavenworth high
school in 1893, and now assists his father in busi-ness; Henry, who died at seventeen years; Her-
man, a graduate of the high school, class of1S98, and now assisting his father; and George,

 

                                                  George Martin -to far left-[ with his brothers

who is a member of the high school class of 1901. Fraternally Mr. Baum is one of the early mem-
bers of the Turn Verein, of whose board of trustees he is a member. He is also connected with
the Knights of Pythias and Germania Lodge.
(Taken from Kansas Portrait and Biographical Record )

Our Baum family is buried in Greenwood cemetary, located on the Lawrence Road, three miles from the city.

Sophia's painting 

 

We inherited a very large 1880 oil painting of Sophia Endebock (George Martin Baum's mother) that Baumie had hanging in his last apartment in Pacific Palisades) It was hung on the wall in several of Andrea and David's Taroona homes- the boys had a love- hate relationship with this old painting- reported her eyes followed them! If no one wishes to keep her painting, Andrea hopes we may return Sophia to the Leavenworth Historical Society one day.