This name first appears in early American records in 1690. It is spelled Crennel, Crenel, and in later years Crannell. Through the marriage of the founder of the family to Molly, granddaughter of Governor Edward Winslow, they are connected with one of the most illustrious of the. "Mayflower" families. The Albany family dates back to an early period in the history of that city, and its descendants are numerous.
(I) Robert Crannell, son of William Crannell, of Devonshire, England, came to America prior to 1690, and was at New Amsterdam (New York) in 1703. There were several of the name resident of New York, and there are some of them buried in Trinity churchyard on the north side of the church. He married, in 1693, Molly Winslow, daughter of Governor Josiah and granddaughter of Governor Edward Winslow, of Plymouth Colony (see Winslow VIII). Children: Two sons and a daughter.
(II) William Winslow, son of Robert and Molly (Winslow) Crannell, was born in New York City. He removed to Albany, New York, where he died aged fifty-five years, and is buried in the Middle Dutch burying ground on Beaver street. He married, June 4, 1726, Margarita Bennowe (Bennoit). Children:
- Robert, baptized July 10, 1727;
- Petrus, baptized February 10, 1728;
- Petrus (2), baptized January 9, 1732;
- William Winslow, baptized January 29, 1739.
(Daughters not in record; there were two or three.)
(III) Robert (2), son of William Winslow and Margarita (Bennowe) Crannell, was born in Albany, New York, in a house on Broadway between Steuben street and Maiden lane. He was baptized July 10, 1727. He married, November 13, 1748, Ariantje Bovie. Children:
- William Winslow, see forward;
- Mattheus, baptized August 4, 1751;
- Petrus, baptized November 14, 1756;
- Petrus (2), baptized March 11, 1759.
(IV) William Winslow (2), son of Robert (2) and Ariantje (Bovie) Crannell, was born September 26, 1749, in Albany, New York (in a house that then stood on the corner of James street and Maiden lane), and died December 27, 1828. He owned a sloop, "The Rising Sun," and for nineteen years navigated the Hudson river, carrying freight and passengers from Albany to points below. He married Maria Eaman, of Catskill, born April 8, 1759, died October 8, 1825. Children:
- William Winslow, see forward;
- John, died January 11, 1863;
- Harriet, died August 24, 1854;
- Maria, died February 1, 1970.
(V) William Winslow (3), son of William Winslow (2) and Maria (Eaman) Crannell, was born in Albany, New York, November 29, 1795 (at the building on the corner of Dean and Steuben streets), died January 20, 1847. He married, November 27, 1825, Margaret Laramee, born at Waterford, New York, June 28, 1808, died December 8, 1884. Children:
- Robert Winslow, born 1826;
- Francis Franklin, see forward;
- William Winslow (4), 1829, died young;
- Maria, 1831;
- Robert, 1833;
- William Winslow (5), 1835;
- Edwin, 1838;
- Monroe, 1840, died 1841;
- Monroe (2), 1842, died 1893, he graduated from Albany Law school before he had attained legal age, and continued his studies in the law offices of Judge Wolford and Worthington Frothingham until he was admitted to the Albany county bar; he was a member of the Albany Zouave Cadets, an influential Republican, and an untiring worker for the improvement and development of Albany, he died unmarried, April 26, 1893;
- Delavan, 1844, died 1879;
- Margaret, 1847, died in infancy.
(VI) Francis Franklin, second son of William Winslow (3) and Margaret (Laramee) Crannell, was born in Albany, New York (corner of Dean and Steuben streets — the New York Central depot now occupies the site), July 21, 1827, died December 24, 1907. He was educated at the "Boys' Academy," where he won many honors, and was engaged all his business life in the lumber trade at Albany, and was one of the pioneers in that business, retiring at an advanced age. He was a member of the Veteran Volunteer Firemen's Association. He was a lifelong member of the Fourth Presbyterian church, and was an active worker in both church and Sunday school. With one exception he was the oldest member of the congregation at the time of his death. With a quiet disposition, gentle and unassuming, he was greatly beloved. He was an upright, energetic business man, and a citizen of the highest order. He married, April 24, 1856, Harriet Emmet Adams, born February 11, 1832, died January 16, 1889, daughter of Christopher Adams, architect and builder of the State House, the old Delavan hotel, and many other prominent buildings in Albany. Children:
- Harriet Adams, married Elmer Llewelyn Peters, of Syracuse, April 24, 1895;
- Elizabeth Winslow, married Robert Jump, of Jonesville, December 18, 1900;
- Francis Franklin (2), see forward;
- Julia Laramee, married, July 8, 1908, William Henry Harrison Hogle, of Newtonville, whose ancestors on the maternal side were among the first Dutch settlers of Albany;
- William Winslow, see forward;
- Charles Reno, see forward;
- Edward Grant, see forward;
- Lillian Belle, married (first), Augusta Joseph Latham, of Lake George, June 1, 1898, (second) Belden Noble Benedict, of Troy, April 27, 1908;
- Frederick Winfield, died May 16, 1880, at the age of two years, eight months.
(VII) Francis Franklin (2), eldest son of Francis Franklin (1) and Harriet Emmet (Adams) Crannell, was born in Albany, New York, August 12, 1861. He was educated in the public schools of Albany, and pursued a course at a business college. He has been continuously engaged in the lumber business in Albany, starting as tally boy for Rodney Vose; then as bookkeeper, and later as successor and proprietor of the same business to which he succeeded by purchase, and at the present time is president of the F. F. Crannell Lumber Company. He is a member of the Albany Chamber of Commerce, Albany Club, Aurania Club, and stands high in the Masonic order, being a life member of Temple Lodge, No. 14, of Albany, and is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and has held many prominent offices in the Patriarch Militant branch of that order. He married, February 21, 1887, Anna Louise, daughter of William Wilbur, of North Adams, Massachusetts. Children:
- Wilbur Harrison, born July 3, 1888;
- Mabel Elizabeth, September 13, 1892.
(VII) William Winslow (4), second son of Francis Franklin (1) and Harriet Emmet (Adams) Crannel1, was born at Albany, New York, March 8, 1865. He was educated in the public schools of Albany, and later pursued a course at the business college. He received his early business training in the Albany lumber district, and was employed by David Whitney, Jr., and H. W. Sage & Company for many years, and later was with the New Rochelle Coal and Lumber Company at New Rochelle, New York, after which, in 1894, he and his three brothers organized at Voorheesville, New York, and Altamont, New York, the firm of Crannell Brothers, who for several years conducted a lumber business at Voorheesville, and a lumber and coal business at Altamont. Later he and his brother, E. G. Crannell, bought out the interest of F. F. and C. R. Crannell, and one year later W. W. Crannell bought out the remaining interest of E. G. Crannell. He is now the sole proprietor of the Voorheesville yard, and E. G. Crannell, of the Altamont yard. He is an active Republican, and a member of the Grant and Invincible clubs of Albany. He is an Odd Fellow, a member of Voorheesville Lodge, No. 668, and a member of Sanford Camp, Modern Woodmen of America, No. 8491, of Albany. He has done much for the advancement and improvement of the pretty village of Voorheesville. He married, September 1, 1898, Rose Van Wormer, of Voorheesville, New York. Children:
- William Winslow, born July 26, 1900;
- Charles Emerson, March 8, 1903.
Rose (Van Wormer) Crannell was born in Guilderland, Albany county, April 1, 1879, daughter of William Helmus and Jennie (Van Slyck) Van Wormer. William H. Van Wormer was born in Guilderland, November, 1845. His wife, Jennie Van Slyck, was born in Colonie, Albany county, October 7, 1845. Both were of old Dutch families, prosperous early settlers of the county. William H. was a son of Jacob, of Guilderland, farmer, who died aged eighty years. He married Elizabeth Houghtaling, who died over sixty years of age. They were members of the Reformed church. Children of William H. and Jennie Van Wormer:
- Robert, unmarried.
- Sarah, married Charles E. Scott, of Schenectady; has a son,
- Russell Van Slyck Scott, born November 7, 1908.
- Jane E., born July 26, 1875; married John Becker, of Altamont; has
- Mary E., born November 17, 1899.
- Rose, married William Winslow Crannell.
- Ethel, born April 26, 1889, unmarried.
(VII) Charles Reno, third son of Francis Franklin (1) and Harriet Emmet (Adams) Crannell, was born in Albany, January 22, 1867. He was educated in the public schools of Albany, and graduated from Albany Business College. Commencing in minor capacities in the lumber business in Albany, he afterward took a position with the New York Central railroad in New York City, and was also connected with a large New York and Buffalo lumber company. Later he returned to Albany and succeeded his brother, Francis F., who had become general manager for Rodney Vose, as bookkeeper. He and his brother, Francis F., incorporated the Crannell Lumber Company, for which he is vice-president and treasurer. He is a trustee of Odd Fellow's Temple, and has been such for the past eight years. He is a life member of Temple Lodge, No. 2, and also a life member of Cyprus Temple and other prominent organizations. He resides at Loudonville, a handsome suburb of Albany, where he erected a beautiful villa. He married, December 31, 1896, Mary Florence McGraw, of Albany, who is the sixth lineal descendant of Hendrik Hollenbeck, who sailed up the Hudson river with Hendrik Hudson in 1609 when that river was discovered. Children:
- Florence Lansing, born September 10, 1897;
- Charles Russell, March 30, 1899.
(VII) Edward Grant, fourth son of Francis Franklin (1) and Harriet Emmet (Adams) Crannell, was born October 23, 1871. He received his early education in the public schools of Albany, graduated from the Albany high school in 1892, and a year later from the Albany Business College. After finishing college, he accepted a position as stenographer and bookkeeper with the Jasper Van Wormer Stove Company. He left there to go into the lumber business with his brothers. He now conducts a lumber and coal yard at Altamont, New York, a beautiful town near Albany, which with its picturesque and beautiful mountain scenery, together with its invigorating atmosphere, is a noted summer resort. He has been president of the village several terms, chief of the fire department, past master in Noah Lodge, treasurer of the Albany County Agricultural Society for several years, and in 1909 was elected president, which office he now holds (1910). He is also trustee of the Reformed church at Altamont. He is a progressive and energetic citizen of that town, and resides in one of the handsomest residences there, which he erected. He married, April 20, 1898, Evelyn Lee, of Albany. Children:
- Harriet Evelyn, born December 20, 1898;
- Edward Winslow Lee, August 15, 1907.
(The Winslow Line)
The English ancestry of Governor Edward Winslow, from whom the Crannell family of Albany descend through maternal lines, is traced in this review to about the middle of the fourteenth century.
(I) William Winslow, or Wyncelow, the first of the lineage as traced in England, had two sons:
- John, of London, afterward of Wyncelow Hall, married Mary Crouchman, who died in 1409;
- William (2), see forward.
(II) William (2), son of William (1) Winslow, married and had issue.
(III) Thomas, son of William (2) Winslow, was of Burton county, Oxford, having lands also in Essex, where he was living in 1452. He married Cecelia Tansley, one of two daughters and an heiress. She was called "Lady Agnes."
(IV) William (3), son of Thomas and Cecelia (Tansley) Winslow, was living in 1529. Children:
- Kenelm, see forward, and
- Richard, who had a grant from Edward VI. of the rectory of Elksley, county of Nottingham.
(V) Kenelm, son of William (3) Winslow, purchased in 1559 of Sir Richard Newport an estate called "Newport's Place," in Kempsey, Worcestershire. He had another and an older extensive estate in the same parish, called "Clerkenleap." He died in 1607 in the parish of St. Andrew. He married Catherine ————. His will, dated April 14, 1607, is still preserved in Worcester. Child, Edward, see forward.
(VI) Edward, only son of Kenelm and Catherine Winslow, was born in the parish of St. Andrew, county Worcester, England, October 17, 1560, died before 1651. He lived in Kempsey and Droitwich, county Worcester. He married (first) Eleanor Pelham, of Droitwich; (second) at St. Bride's church, London, November 4, 1594, Magdalene Oliver, the records of whose family are found in the parish register of St. Peter's, Droitwich. Children:
- Richard, married Alice Hay, daughter of Edward Hurdman; remained in England.
- Edward (2), see forward.
- John, born in England, 1597, died in Boston, Massachusetts; married, 1624,
- Mary, daughter of James and Susanna Chilton.
- Kenelm, born in Droitwich, 1599, came to America about 1629. He was an important man in the Plymouth Colony, filled various town offices, and was deputy to the general court eight years. He married Eleanor Adams, widow of John Adams of Plymouth, and is the immigrant ancestor of a long line of descendants.
- Gilbert, born October 26, 1600, in Droitwich, England, came to America in the "Mayflower" with his brother, Governor Edward Winslow, signed the "Compact," returned to England after 1623, where he died.
- Eleanor, remained in England.
- Josiah, born in England, was sent to America in 1631 as accountant to William Shirley; lived at Marshfield, Massachusetts; married, 1636, Margaret Bourne, died December 1, 1674.
- Elizabeth, remained in England.
- Magdalen, remained in England.
(VII) Governor Edward (2), eldest son of Edward (1) and his second wife Magdalene (Oliver) Winslow, was born October 18, 1595, at Droitwich, England, died and was buried at sea, May 8, 1655, with the honors of war, forty-two guns being fired by the fleet that he was accompanying from Hispaniola to Jamaica, West Indies. After Governor Bradford and Edward Brewster, Plymouth Colony owed no man so much as Edward Winslow. Always intelligent, generous, confident and of untiring energy, he was trusted for any service, at home or abroad, which the necessities of the infant colony happened to require. Were the North Eastern fisherman to be sought for a supply of food in a famine, or the Indian chief needed watching, or the governor's place to be taken temporarily, or Massachusetts dissuaded from an act of too-severe austerity, or finally were the rulers in England to be made propitious, the natural resort was to the agency of Edward Winslow. For foreign employment his gentle birth and breeding gave him an advantage, and among the gentlemen of the British parliament he moved as one of themselves. He was highly esteemed by Governors Winthrop and Bradford, while the great Protector Cromwell saw at once the worth of the honest, religious, capable, strenuous envoy from North America, and took care never to lose his services while he lived, which was for nine years after he finally left Plymouth. At the time of his death he was superintending the attempt upon Santo Domingo under Cromwell's appointment, and distress at the failure, through military mismanagement, is believed to have brought on his last illness. He met at Leyden, Holland, his first wife, Elizabeth Barker, of English birth and education. They were married in Leyden, and together came in the "Mayflower" to America. He was the third signer of the immortal "Compact," and probably was one of the authors. His wife died during the first winter. William White, one of the chief men,of the colony, died, leaving a widow, Susanna (Fuller) White, with two little boys to care for, one of them Peregrine White, who was born while the "Mayflower" was lying at Cape Cod, the first English child born in New England. Edward Winslow married the widow, and theirs was the first wedding ceremony performed in the new colony. They were married before the magistrate, Governor Bradford, and with public solemnities entered into the covenant of marriage. At the annual election in 1624 he was chosen assistant to the governor, holding by successive appointments until 1647, excepting 1633, 1636 and 1644, when he was chosen governor. In these and many other public trusts he acquitted himself with distinguished ability and credit. He was also the author of several valuable works relating to the interests of the colony. He made several trips to England in the colony's interest and in 1635 was arrested and tried on the charge "that not being in holy orders, he had taught publicly in the church and had officiated at marriages," to which he could only plead that he had spoken in the churches and in the capacity of magistrate performed the marriage ceremony. For this honest avowal he was pronounced guilty of the crime charged by the archbishop, committed to the Fleet prison, where he was kept in confinement seventeen weeks. He was chosen governor for the last time in 1644, and subsequently was first on the list of magistrates: He was soon after engaged in the English public service abroad, and never returned to New England. By his second wife, Susanna (Fuller) White, to whom he was married May 12, 1621, he had a daughter Elizabeth, who married Gilbert Brooks, of Scituate. His only son was Josiah, see forward.
(VIII) Josiah, son of Governor Edward (2) and his second wife, Susanna (Fuller-White) Winslow, was born in Plymouth, 1629, died in Marshfield, Massachusetts, December 18, 1680. In 1657, two years after the death of his father, he was chosen assistant governor, which post he filled until his election as governor in 1673. This last office he held until his death. He was active and prominent in colony affairs all his mature life. In 1652 he commanded the military company of Marshfield; in 1659 he was appointed military commander of the colony, and in 1675 was elected general-in-chief of the whole military force of the United Colonies, being the first native-born general, as well as governor in New England. In 1658 he was chosen one of the commissioners of the United Colonies and re-elected for fourteen years. On September 5, 1672, he was one of the six signers of the new articles of confederation of the New England colonies, and on September 9, 1675, he signed the declaration of war against King Philip, made by the commissioners. While he was governor in 1674-75, the first public school in the colony was established, and in 1680 the first lieutenant-governor was elected. The general court ordered in 1675 that four halberdiers should attend the governor and magistrates at elections, and two during the court sessions. Under him the government maintained a state hitherto unknown in the colony. He resided at "Careswell," the family seat at Marshfield, and enjoyed the distinction of being the most accomplished gentleman in the colony. When first a commissioner in 1658, he refused to sanction the "horrible recommendation" of that year against the Quakers. His capture of Alexander in 1662, the brother of Philip, and for two years sachem after Massasoit's death, illustrates his courage and personal daring as a soldier. His last public act on September 5, 1680, was to solicit a charter for Plymouth from the crown. He married, in 1658, Penelope, daughter of Herbert Pelham, of England, who came to Boston in 1645. He was the first treasurer of Harvard college, and assistant governor in 1646-1649. There were four children born of this marriage, two sons and two daughters; only one of his sons, Isaac, survived childhood. He married Sarah, daughter of John and Elizabeth Paddy Wensley, of Boston. One of the daughters, Molly, married Robert Crannell, and they were the progenitors of the Albany family of that name (see Crannell I). Another daughter, Elizabeth, married Stephen Burton. There is no one bearing the name of Winslow who can claim lineal descent from Governor Edward Winslow, third signer of the "Compact" and third governor of New Plymouth, the first by elective voice of the people. "Careswell," the country seat of Governor Josiah Winslow, subsequently became the residence of Daniel Webster. Governor Josiah's portrait and that of his wife hang in Plymouth Hall, Plymouth, Massachusetts. She is said to have been a most beautiful and accomplished lady. The coat-of-arms of the Winslow family is a tree with its branches cut down into a knight's helmet. Motto: "Floreo decarpius," ("Though plucked, I flourish.")