Entry 2-Setting the Reference Branch: More Edward A. Crawbuck Details-Part 2

Edward’s World War 1 draft registration card lists him as employed by the Brooklyn Navy Yard.(1) I do not know if he was sent overseas for the war, but he is listed on ship logs to Fort Jay on Governors Island in New York both in 1911 and 1912. In the 1912 log, the remarks next to his name say “Dishonorably discharged January, 25, 1912.(2) I do not know how that discharge in 1912 affected his participation in World War 1 in 1917. After World War 1, Edward and Florence continued to expand their family. On October 1st, 1918 they had their fourth son, Thomas John.(3) The following year their second daughter, Elizabeth, was born on October 29th, 1919.(4) On December 14, 1922, their fifth son John was born.(3) John would go on to be the family’s most decorated World War II veteran, but that will be detailed in a future post. On April 21st 1923, Robert tragically died at St John’s Hospital.(5) I believe he was hit by a car at the age of six. On September 27, 1924, the family was doubly blessed with the birth of twins, Mary and William.(6&3) William is my grandfather and his stories of our family history is what planted the seeds that one day became this website. Around 1926 (maybe 1927), the fourth and youngest daughter, Jean, was born(6) and December 29th, 1929, brought the eleventh child and seventh son, Andrew.(4)

From what I can tell, Edward A.(Sr), James, Edward Jr., Thomas, John, and William all registered for World War II.(3) Edward Jr, John and William all saw time overseas. Edward Jr. was with the Navy, John was with the Army Air Corps and William was a US Marine. John was deployed to Europe while Edward Jr. and William were sent to the Pacific. As fate would have it, Edward Jr and William would both end up meeting almost 8,000 miles from home in Saipan. It was the first time the two brothers had seen each other in 2-1/2 years.(7)

During the 1940s the family was split between Brooklyn and New Jersey. In 1940, Edward A. was living in Clarksburg New Jersey according to Thomas’s registration card. In 1942, Edward A. listed his address as Brooklyn New York. I do not understand the inconsistency of Edward A.’s multiple living locations but it may be tied to his suspected alcohol addiction. My father relayed stories of Edward A. drinking in excess and disappearing for weeks at a time. This may explain the multiple addresses he had throughout his lifetime. The most consistent base I can find of this family branch is the eldest son, James Joseph. He seemed to have built a solid life for himself in Monmouth New Jersey and was a source of stability for his younger siblings. I have multiple records from the local newspaper highlighting family members spending time with James’s family. My last record of Edward A. is his funeral announcement in October of 1949. I do not know what Edward A. died from at the young age of 58 but I hope to gather more information in the future.

I believe the last two posts establish a solid reference point for this exploration into the Crawbuck Family Tree. I hope this information is found by others who share the Crawbuck family history and can help to expand what we know. Our next post will dive into the mystery that is Edward’s father. Was his name James??? I think not….

(1) World War 1 Registration Card

(2) Fort Jay Return from Post logs

(3) World War II Registration Cards

(4) New York, Brooklyn Birth Index 1910-1965

(5) New York Wills and Probate 1659-1999

(6) US Census 1930

(7) Allentown Messenger 1945