X 20 Llandovery Close,Winsford.Cheshire. CW7 1NAAlbert CRABBDear Elizabeth (if I may be so bold)Firstly please allow me to introduce myself, thename is Jim Talbot, I am a retired Cheshire PoliceOfficer and now a volunteer Trustee and Researcherfor the Museum of Policing in Cheshire. I am notcertain if you have access to a computer and theInternet as the Museum has its own Web Site andthe site address is shown above. I am writing thisfrom my home address as this is where I undertakeall the research from, and if you do have accessto a computer this will make it quicker in anyfuture correspondence. I have also given my homeemail in case, so now down to business.Thank you for your nicely worded request forinformation concerning Albert you would besurprised how many enquires we get from people whonever say please or thank you, but first I have topoint out a few things. Sadly we do not have aphotograph, that is to say we may, there areliterally hundreds of photographs of officers, buttheir names were never recorded on the reverse ofthe photographs so they remain unidentifiable fromour point of view.The Cheshire Constabulary was formed in April1857; there are many thousands of records, theseare held by the Cheshire Record Office, Chester. Iam slowly extracting these records. CheshirePolice Officer Enrolment Records are held underReference CJP7 Volumes 1-5. These five volumes arevery large and in poor condition, run from 1857-22 March 1913; the information which you seek isrecorded in Volume 3. The information regardingAlbert's marriage is retained in CJP24/2,1847-1966. And with regard to his pensionCJP20/2/1, 1857-1965.I say all this because I want to try and reassureyou that what I give you is as it appears in therespective volumes. However if you so wish, youcan of course have the records confirmed by theChester Records Office Archivist. But it would beremiss of me if I did not point out that TheRecord Office will charge you a minimum of £27 persearch per volume; therefore your total bill wouldbe £81, so please be aware. The Museum does workon a small donation basis and if you think thisreport is worthy of such please forward it to theCurator. Mr. Peter Wroe, Museum of Policing inCheshire, County Police Office, Arpley Street,Warrington, Cheshire. WA1 1LQ. This does help theMuseum as we are in no way funded by the CheshireConstabulary.The history of the Cheshire Constabulary "To theBest of Our Skill and Knowledge" is on the MuseumWeb Site (under the drop down menu on the leftmarked History), I feel certain that a usefulpicture can be obtained of life in the force atthe time, my own opinion is that discipline wasdraconian and those who strayed outside the rule'swere fined way above what they earned ordismissed. Also the restrictions on their privatelife, an officer was not allowed to drink on oroff duty even in his own home. It all comes downto the fact that up until the 1960's every ChiefConstable of Cheshire was an ex military officerand they of course brought with them the militarycodes of practice.I trust you will enjoy what follows and can I askyou when you get a moment would you send a quickmail so I can mark of your enquiry as completed.As I go through the report I will add some of myown observations/enquiries, which obviously willnot be recorded within Albert's police records,but I will point this out as we go along. If youhave any further questions please don't hesitateto contact me. Sincere best wishesCollar Number/Rank. PC140 and PS195 AlbertCRABB (his number would be changed on promotion toSgt)Born. 1844 Alisbury, Somersetshire.(I note from Ancestry UK that an Albert Crabb wasborn in the October to December Quarter of 1843 inthe District of Yeovil, Volume X page 553. I amnot certain that this is your Albert but it iscertainly worth bearing in mind).Death. 3rd May 1909, aged 64 years 10 months.(Again from Ancestry UK, I note an Albert Crabbdied in 1909 in the sub district of Tattenhall,the Register reference through Cheshire BMD isTAT/24/83. Tattenhall as you are no doubt aware isjust outside Tarporley and I feel certain thatthis is Albert's death certificate details).Date of Entry. 25th June 1875Date of Leaving. 31st July 1901Final Date of Leaving. 31st July 1901How Discharged. To PensionInitial Posting. HQ Reserve.Other Postings and Dates. July 1875 Macclesfield.October 1875 Hyde. September 1878 Reserve. August1879 Eddisbury.Miscellaneous Information. Prior service of 12years 120 days with Royal Marines, leaving April1875.Police entry details. Religion Protestant, Height5' 8", Age 31 years, Eyes Hazel, Hair Brown,Complexion Fresh, Build Proportional. Age onretirement 57 years, Total service 26 years 37days.He must have joined the Royal Marines circa 1863,when he was about 19 years of age. After hisservice was completed in April 1875 and more orless straight after his discharge he made his wayto Cheshire and joined the Cheshire ConstabularyThere are numerous services available that willprobably be able to obtain his service record withthe Royal Marines. Yesterday, I searched on thenet under 'Royal Marine Marriages' this took me toa site, which showed a Private Albert Crabb, RoyalMarines, marrying a Jane Neivis, (Newis, this namewas received from the originator Liz Flanagan) onthe 20th January 1872 in Plymouth. After Jane'sname there is a question mark, which probablyindicates that from the original document hersurname cannot be fully understood. Unfortunatelywhen I tried to return to the site it did just notappear. I am not saying that this is your Albertbut it is certainly a line of enquiry to pursue. Ialso checked again with Ancestry UK and there isan Albert Crabb marrying in the Jan-Mar Quarter of1872 in the District of Yeovil, Volume 5c, Page727.Misconduct. 7th September 1876 absent from dutyfrom his beat between 3.40am and 4.30am, Fined5/-. December 1881 neglect of duty in notreporting to his Superintendent a robbery of 9Geese, Cautioned. 28th March 1882 neglect of dutyin not reporting to his Superintendent a Murderand Suicide at Kelsall, Reprimanded.With regard to this Murder/Suicide the Museum doesnot have any records however I have sent an emailto the Kelsall Local History Society to see ifthey have any information. To date they have saidthey will look into this and will reply to me at alater date. If they should reply I will of courseforward any information to you.Weekly Pay/Promotion/Pension. June 1875 22/-. July1875 23/11d. March 1876 24/6d. November 187725/8d. February 1878 26/10d. June 1878 28/-. March1879 promoted Sgt 2nd class. March 1881 promotedto Sgt at 30/4d. 12th August 1882 31/6d. 25thOctober 1884 32/8d. 1st July 1891 36/2d. 12th July1891 37/4d.Discharged on a pension of £64.17s.9d per annum.Total time on pension 7 years 295 days. Totalpension received £506. 13s. 1d.Awards/Good Conduct/Other information. January1880 for service 1 Good Conduct Badge. March 18801 Good Conduct Badge. 12th August 1882 generalactivity and efficiency in the performance of hisduties, promoted to 31/6d per week.In 1881 we have his residence recorded from thecensus as Chester Road, Tarvin. In case you havenot been able to find this census entry I haveattached a copy.Marriage Record taken from the CJP24/2 Register.(I have also confirmed this marriage with theCheshire BMD site which states that the Registersare held at Stockport under the internetreference, if purchasing through that siteST64/4/409.Officer. PC Albert CrabbOccupation. Police Constable.Age. 33 years.Condition. Widower.Place of residence at Marriage. Hyde.Date of Marriage. 28th April 1878.Place Married. St. Marks Church, Bredbury.Fathers Name. John CrabbFathers Occupation. Carrier, Somerset.Spouse. Rebecca JONES.Occupation. Servant.Age. 24 years.Condition. Spinster.Place of residence. Hyde.Fathers Name. John JonesFathers Occupation. Labourer, Salop.