John CRUSO Jnr. (1789-1867)

Individual Events and Attributes

Marriage (1)

Marriage (2)

Marriage (3)

Individual Note (shared)

Mary Elizabeth Badnall married John Cruso, junior, an attorney and Land Agent working in the family business, on the 23rd of May 1816. Mary's husband ("hub" as she called him occasionally in her diary) was the eldest son of John Cruso the Elder and Catherine nee Daintry, his wife. He was born in 1789 and died in his 78th year, in October 1867. Until John's father died in 1841, they lived on Spout Street (now St.Edward Street) Leek, however, when John inherited the family estates in 1841 they moved into the house which had been John's father's (now called "Foxlowe") at the head of Leek Market Place.

John Cruso, junior, was, or later become, a Doctor of Law, Chairman of the Leek and Lowe Union, a trustee of the Leek savings bank and later a director of the Liverpool and Manchester Bank. George Lovenbury states that he was one of the older members, possibly a founder member, of the Leek Mechanics and Literary Institute, Chairman of the Building Committee for St. Lukes Church, a J.P. and Deputy Lieutenant for the County of Stafford. Sometime after his father's death, John seems to have withdrawn, to some extent, from direct involvement in the family business leaving the day to day conduct of the firm to his brother and partner Frank. His reason for doing so was probably to concentrate on various public activities: He became steward of the Manor of Leek, was elected a Commissioner under the 1855 Leek Improvement Act and as the above shows, was very much involved in the social and public life of not only Leek but also of Staffordshire. Politically, both he and his wife were supporters of the Conservative Party, Mary's views being made clear by her comments on her father's expressed intention of going to the polls (in Liverpool) to vote for the Liberals ".

Mrs Mary Elizabeth Cruso often refers to her husband as "Dear Johnny" or simply as "John" in her diary. He was a very hard working man whose business often required him to make long journeys and spend many weekends away from home. His ability to live his own life was, while his father lived, appears to have been somewhat restricted by his father's strong and very conservative character. John was sensitive to his wife's need for companionship and sometimes urged her to invite people to call upon her while he was away. The gentle nature of his character is brought out by Mary in her diary when she describes his reaction, on one occasion when they were on holiday in Scotland, to the news that his sister had returned after having been lost on the moors for many hours. He was almost speechless with anxiety both before and after her return and was in such a state that he could not go out to meet her. His character is best described by notes which Mary made in her diary following a complaint by his John's father that they had been responsible for his cook leaving: My poor good John never was any one so little suspicious - he is too kindhearted & simple minded that he can never attribute any motive for the conduct of those who have not like minds with himself- he is the best of God's creatures in this fallen world I do believe his few faults are lost in his many & great good qualities.