Some conjecture that this Stephen was a brother of Jasper and that Phebe, who married CAUFIELD, was a sister. Traditionally we can have Stephen as a brother and as a son; perhaps there were two Stephens.
Born about 1630 or 1635. Some have claimed he was born as early as 1619, but that date seems too early from a careful consideration of the whole subject. Tradition says he came from England or Wales between the years 1640 and 1660. He was one of the original settlers of Elizabethtown, and one of the company of colonists who planted the first English settlement in what is now the state of New Jersey. He was called one of the "Elizabethtown Associates," and was there as early as 1665, for he took the oath of allegiance to Lord King Charles II, and his successors Fev. 19 of that year. The deed by wich the first settlers claimed their land was dated Oct. 28, 1664, so that the fall of 1664 or spring of 1665 would be quite as early as it is safe to fix the date of the settlement. In 1675 he obtained from the proproetors of East Jersey a patent to confirm his title to lands of Elizabethtown. In 1710 he executed a deed to his son Nathaniel, giving him his house lot, with other pieces of land in Elizabethtown; and, in describing the bounds of these lands, they were said to be bounded on lands of John Crane, Daniel Crane, Jeremiah and Azariah Crane. The fact that he settled within such close proximity to the family of Jasper Crane might indicate that there was a family connection existing between them; but up to the present time no proff of any blood relationship has come to light. Samuel H. Conger, Esq., late librarian of the New Jersey Historical Society, who gave careful consideration to the subject, wrote that "this Stephen was probably nearly related to Jasper Crane, of Newark (ref in Geneology of the Crane Family)," and that he came to New Jersey from Connecticut. Rev. Joathan T. Crane was also of the opinion that he was a relative of Jasper. Isaac Watts Crane, Esq., in Dec. 1818, stated that it was his opinion that this Stephen was either a son or brother of Jasper Crane, of Newark, - that the Elizabethtown Cranes claim decent from Jasper. We first meet with him at Elizabethtown where he lived; prior to the year 1664 we have no knowledge of his origin beyond tradition. He was active in resisting the claims of the proprietors in the great land dispute, which was never settled. His name appears as defendant in the Elizabethtown bill in chancery, schedule No. 8, page 104. The answer to this bill was printed in 1752. This land was surveyed by him in the year of 1676, - one Warren for 120 acres in Elizabethtown, dated March 28th; another of 156 acres Oct. 2nd; still another 156 acres Nov. 30th. One of these 156 acre lots was bounded by Crane's Brook, east by the Mill Creek, and east by the highway. His 6 acre house lot was a part of this tract. By his will, dated 1709, he bequeathed to his son John a certain piece of land within the bounds of Elizabethtown, and died a few years later.
It is said his wife was a Danish woman, with red hair, and that nearly all the Cranes in and around Elizabethtown and Westfield, NJ, are descendants from this pair. |