John Philip Crowther was born in Todmorden, son of Philip Crowther.
He was a shoemaker.
In 1843, he married Ruth Fielden [1819-1899] of Walsden.
Children:
On 2nd April 1848, when Ruth was pregnant with Hannah, he left for America She never saw him again.
He changed his name from Crowther to Crother.
The Leeds Mercury of Saturday, 5th May 1860 reported:
WIFE'S PROTECTION ORDER At the court house, Todmorden, on Thursday, Mr W. M. Eastwood, solicitor, applied on behalf of RUTH CROWTHER, green grocer of Dobroyd, for an order under the Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Act. This was the first application in Todmorden under this act.It appeared that 17 years ago, on the 14th April, the applicant was married at Rochdale to JOHN CROWTHER, and that 12 years ago, on the 2nd April, her husband left her to go to America, saying that he would try to do better for his family. He promised to send for them in a year, or come back to them. At that time she had 2 children born and she was enceinte.
She had not heard from her husband in 9 years. Before then he had written to her to say she must go, and he sent her money. He then sent her word to stay put.
Her eldest son is also in America. He had mentioned her husband, but did not tell her where he was. Her son had stated that his father was a Justice of the Peace in America (laughter). She had furnished her house and saved a small sum and she wished to have it protected from her husband. The case was adjourned for a fortnight.
John Philip made a new life for himself in America, and married Maria Hannah Hodkin bigamously [1852].
They had 6 children born variously in Michigan, New York and Nebraska.
A contemporary document in Nebraska stated:
Mr C. has been Justice of the Peace most of the time since 1859; was in the Territorial House of 1861-62-63. He has been a Republican ever since the party was organized. He and his family are members of the Episcopal Church. No pioneer of Nemaha County is more familiar with its history, or has taken more pride in its progress, than has Squire Crother.
His will leaves everything to his bigamous wife and their joint children specifically, with nothing to his Todmorden wife and her children despite them still being alive.
Ruth made a living for herself and children, living at Dobroyd, Todmorden, where she took in lodgers and sold sweets and confectionery.
She died at 13 Industrial Street, Todmorden and is buried at Christ Church.
John Philip died in Nebraska, USA
This & associated entries use material contributed by Linda Briggs
Page Ref: ZZ_40
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