Thomas Croft, more than anyone else, was involved in the running of St. James Burial Ground (now known as the Old Melbourne Cemetery) during the time it was open to the general public for burials from 1838 to 1854.
Thomas was born c.1795 in Benenden, near Cranbrook, Kent, England and baptised on 4 March 1796 in St. George’s Church of England, Benenden, the son of William Croft and his wife Elizabeth (Beth) (nee Brignall), and worked as a farm labourer (hops). Thomas had early convictions for stealing and poaching and had spent time in prison in Maidstone, Kent. He had a cart and horse and was dealing in fruit at Kennington, near Ashford, Kent at the time he was convicted at Kent Assizes on 17 July 1823 for stealing hay and sentenced to transportation for 7 years. He departed England on 29 March 1824 on the “Phoenix” and arrived at Van Diemen’s Land (V.D.L.) on 21 July 1824. While serving his sentence in V.D.L. he committed some further minor offences for which he received additional punishments. He received his Certificate of Freedom on 22 July 1830.
On 10 July 1837, while working as a carter, he married Elizabeth Wakeman in St. John’s Church of England, Launceston, V.D.L., daughter of John Wakeman and his wife Ann. Elizabeth was born on 1 May 1822 in George Town, V.D.L. and baptised on 11 August 1822 in St. John’s Church of England, Launceston, V.D.L. Their first child, Thomas Croft, was born in August 1838 in V.D.L. and their next 6 children were all born in Melbourne.
Thomas snr sailed from Launceston on 17 November 1838 on the “Black Joke” (Capt. James Harding) and arrived at Melbourne, Port Phillip District on 20 November 1838. His wife and son followed him departing Launceston on 15 December 1838 per “Enterprise” (Capt. Peter Hunter) and arriving at Melbourne on 20 December 1838.
It is not certain when he became the Sexton at St. James Church of England (a sexton is a church officer who takes care of the church property and grounds, and may perform other duties like ringing the bells and grave digging), but when he baptised his second son there in 1840 his occupation was given as ‘Sexton.’ He continued to be described as a Sexton up to and including the baptism of their fifth child, Joseph Woolley Broadstock Croft in 1846. When their sixth child, James Croft, was baptised in 1848 he was described as an ‘Undertaker.’
Meanwhile, on 18 June 1846 William Willis was appointed ‘Grave Digger’ by the Rev. Adam Compton Thompson. Willis subsequently described himself as ‘Sexton.’ The term ‘grave digger’ had possibly been used because another person was performing the other duties of a ‘sexton’ at St. James Church. In September 1850 the “Melbourne Daily News” reported on an inquest that was held on the body of James Buckland who had committed suicide at his residence in Collingwood. The Coroner’s Jury returned a verdict of felo de se (meaning “felon of him-/herself”), and he was buried within the consecrated ground in that part of the cemetery that had been allotted to the aborigines. This was subsequently considered not to be in accordance with the verdict of the Jury, by which the deceased was deprived of Christian burial. The consequence was that instructions were given to the undertaker, Thomas Croft, to disinter the body and inter it beyond the limits of the consecrated ground.
On a Wednesday night in March 1851, Dr. David John Thomas sent for Thomas Croft, to whom he had long been a ‘regular customer.’ Croft arrived as commanded and the man of black was ordered to find a hearse, and pair, and plumes, and to provide a coffin forthwith. The latter article not being on hand he was desired to knock up a ‘shell’ as soon as possible. Half-an-hour completed the rude job, and hearse, shell, pair, plumes, and all, were at the Doctor’s door awaiting further orders. In a few minutes the Doctor came out with a letter addressed to Mr. —-, at the “Argus” office, wither Croft was desired to proceed for the body.
Arriving there, he was met at the door by a tall, dark-looking man to whom he handed his letter of introduction, and waited for an answer. Into an inner room popped this man and Croft proceeded to prepare his shell for the expected deceased. He had not quite succeeded in landing it on ‘terra firma,’ when the tall man aforesaid called to him to enter the office, and addressed him thus:-
Tall Man: “Who have you come from?” Croft: “Dr. Thomas.”
Tall Man: “Who have you come for?” Croft: “The dead body.”
Tall Man: “This order is for the dead body of Edward Wilson, and he’s NOT dead yet.”
Croft: “Dr. Thomas told me that he saw the death in the “Argus” that morning, and considered him under all the circumstances entitled to Christian burial.”
At this critical juncture, and just as Croft began to ‘smell a rat,’ he found himself violently expelled from the office by another tall dark man, (in spectacles) who muttered something about – libel – law – justice – farthing – damages – won’t write – vagabond – Moor – (all to the amazed undertaker perfectly unintelligible) and slammed the door violently in his face, leaving the hearse, shell, and the amazed Croft to find his way back home again as best he might.
The “Argus” itself gave the following account of the matter:
“MODEST. – The following letter was delivered at the “Argus” Office at a late hour on Wednesday night, by a mouldy-smelling gentleman, with a hearse; who could scarcely be prevailed upon to go away without his prey;
To the Manager of the “Argus” Office.
“SIR, – In a late number of the “Argus,” I observed that Mr. Wilson had bequeathed his remains to Doctors Howitt, Alexander Hunter, and myself. I believe this is the time to make our claim. I have therefore ordered Mr. Croft, undertaker, to take on his drag a shell, and
request that you will have the goodness to let him have Mr. we may commence our dissection in the morning.”
“I have the honor to be, Sir,
Yours, obediently,
D. J. THOMAS, Surgeon.” “Bourke Street,
March 19th, 1851.”
Wilson’s body, in order that
When Thomas Croft recounted his story to a newspaper office the following morning he was said to be grinning from ear to ear (“and he assures us he had been laughing the whole live-long night”). Dr. Thomas was said to have been as noted for his humour as he was for his professional qualifications.
Although Thomas Croft had been declared insolvent in 1843, he was able to continue in business. He died on 10 November 1854, of paralysis, at his residence, 76 Madeline Street, North Melbourne, Victoria and was buried 12 November 1854 in the Melbourne General Cemetery, Carlton. His estate was valued at about £3,000. Hugh Murray, a cabinet maker who had been employed by Croft was named as one of the executors in Croft’s will and continued on in the business, marrying Croft’s widow in 1856. Thereafter the business became known as ‘Croft and Murray,’ still situated at 82 Madeline Street, North Melbourne. (Madeline Street was the former name of the continuation of Swanston Street.) In January 1855 the “Argus” reported that the Acting City Coroner had continuing faith in the possibility of the Government providing the long talked of Morgue at some time or other, but for the present he had made temporary arrangements with Croft’s undertaking business to house all bodies found, pending the erection of the badly wanted dead-house, the absence of which was felt to be an intolerable nuisance, especially at that time of the year.
Elizabeth died on 21 January 1875 at the residence of her son, Albion Charles Croft, Cunningham Street, Northcote and was buried 23 January 1875 in the Melbourne General Cemetery (M.G.C.), Carlton, Vic., having married secondly in 1856 in Victoria, to Hugh Murray. Hugh Murray was born 18 April 1819, died 1 April 1889 in Melbourne, Vic. and was buried 3 April 1889 in the Melbourne General Cemetery, the headstone reading;
“Sacred to the memory of Thomas CROFT who died 9 Nov 1854 age 60 yrs. also Margaret Dods MURRAY died 1 Mar 1866 age 12 mths. and Elizabeth relict of the above and wife of Hugh MURRAY died 20 Jan 1875 age 53 yrs. also Hugh MURRAY born 18 Apr 1819 died 1 Apr 1889 age 70 yrs.”
The children of Thomas Croft and Elizabeth Wakeman were:
1. Thomas Croft, born 1 August 1838 in Launceston, V. D. L. and baptised 5 September 1838 in St. John’s Church of England, Launceston, V.D.L. He died 16 October 1902 in Melbourne, Vic., having married 1868 in Victoria to Cornelia Shannon.
2. John Croft, born about 20 April 1840 in Melbourne, Port Phillip District (P.P.D.) and baptised 11 May 1840 in St. James Church of England, Melbourne, P.P.D. He died in 1914 in Box Hill, Victoria.
3. William Croft, born 21 September 1841 in Melbourne, P.P.D., and baptised 7 November 1841 in St. James Church of England, Melbourne, P.P.D. He died 13 December 1914 in Sorrento, Vic. and was buried 15 December 1914 in M.G.C., Carlton, Vic. He married 25 September 1860 in St. John’s Church, Melbourne, Vic. to Olivia Henrietta Boulter, born c1842 and died 28 August 1914 in Essendon, Vic., the daughter of John Boulter (of Bristol, England) and Mary Hallett.
4. Albion Charles Croft, born 21 May 1843 in Melbourne, P.P.D., and baptised 16 July 1843 in St. James Church of England, Melbourne, P.P.D. He died 31 December 1920 in Guildford, Sydney, N.S.W. and was buried 2 January 1921 in Rookwood Cemetery, Sydney, N.S.W. He married 11 June 1864 in Benalla, Vic. to Mary Boyes Joanna Leeson.
5. Joseph Woolley Broadstock Croft, born 17 February 1846 in Melbourne, P.P.D., and baptised 8 April 1846 in St. James Church of England, Melbourne, P.P.D. He died 20 July 1917 at 199 Jeffcott Street, North Adelaide, South Australia and was buried 21 July 1917 in the North Road Cemetery, Adelaide, S.A. He married 21 August 1867 in the Jubilee Church, Kent Town, Adelaide, S.A. to Mary Jarrett, daughter of S. Jarrett of Portland, Vic
6. James Croft, born 9 May 1848 in Melbourne, P.P.D., and baptised 18 June 1848 in St. James Church of England, Melbourne, P.P.D. He died on 30 October 1898 in Port Melbourne, Vic. and was buried in the M.G.C., Carlton, Vic.
7. Catherine Elizabeth Croft, born 4 November 1850 in Melbourne, P.P.D., and baptised 8 January 1851 in St. James Church of England, Melbourne, P.P.D. She died 1909 in East Melbourne, Vic. She married 1894 in Victoria to Herbert Charles Smith, born c1861 and died 1912.
The child of Hugh Murray and Elizabeth Croft (nee Wakeman) was: Margaret Dodds Murray, born c1865, died 1 March 1866, and was buried March 1866 in the Melbourne General Cemetery, Carlton, Vic.
Contributed by Alexander Romanov-Hughes PPPG Member No. 52