Susan Croot was born Susanna Pethybridge in Mortonhampstead, Devon, England in 1812. She was baptized 20 Apr 1812. She was the daughter of Samuel Pethybridge (1771-1842) and Rose Green Pethybridge (1766-1842).
She had long roots in Moretonhampstead. Her grandfather was Joseph Pethybridge, son of "wool serger" Edward Pethybridge and Susannah Tozer. This Susannah's father Arthur Tozer, a "clothier" and wool merchant, (baptized in Lustleigh and the son of yeoman John Tozer and Mary Nosworthie) was related to the Tozers of Howton in the 16th century. Susan's husband worked at Howton Great Farm in the 1840s. There is a sense that in the early 19th century the Pethybridges had come down in the world, perhaps because of the waning of the wool industry in Moretonhampstead.
She married Robert Croot 23 Oct 1831. They lived at Cattiscombe Cottage (now a ruin) outside of Mortonhamptead near Linscott Farm and Howton Great Farm; at Howton hamlet (now half a dozen buildings including Great Howton Farm) perhaps in the thatched cottage called Middle Howton), and from c. 1852 Bowden Farm which is still a working farm. Cattiscombe is about 1/4 mile from Howton and Bowen is a couple of miles away. The footpath to the site of Cattiscombe ends at the fields of Bowden Farm and starts near Howton Great Farm.
Robert Croot was baptized 15 Feb 1801 in Sampford Courtney, Devon, England, and was buried 3 Feb 1869 in Mortonhampstead, Devon. He was the son of John Croot and Judith Evans Croot. He seems to have been raised in North Tawton (about 3 miles from Sampford Courtney). It is not known why and when he moved to Mortonhampstead, but there were other Croots in town. He was a husbandman, i.e. an independent tenant farmer, as were his father and brothers.
After her husband's death, she immigrated to New Jersey with her son John Croot and his family and her youngest son James in 1871. Seven of her eight children--six sons and one daughter--immigrated to the US between 1852 and 1871. One married daughter remained in the UK. At the time of the 1871 UK Census she was a widow living with son John Croot on Court St., Mortonhamptead and was listed as a "washer woman," the classic job for a poor widow. She would have had to leave Bowden Farm after her husband's death.
In a family memoir there is an observation that she spoke "like a Quaker with thees and thous." It seems likely that she spoke with a Devon country accent that sounded odd to New Jersey ears.
It is uncertain if there is an existing gravestone at the Bernardsville Methodist Cemetery, but her grave was included in a list made of then-marked graves in this cemetery in 1951. She was incorrectly listed as "wife of Ruben" on that list. Someone clearly misread the decayed stone. The Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey lists a crumbling gravestone for her in their list of graves there: "Cr---, Robert*; wife Susan, d. Feb. 24, 1883, aged 75 years. Stone severely eroded; surname has five letters but only the first two were readable." It is believed but not proved that her grandson George Croot is also buried near her. The record shows he was buried in Bernardsville. Because her youngest children were baptized in the Methodist Church, I believe she was a Methodist from the 1840s.
Her son John lived nearby on Mine Mountain/Bernardsville Mountain on what is now Post Kennel Road, Far Hills, NJ, which may be why she was buried here. Family history says she mostly lived there. However she died at son Joseph Croot's home in Chester, NJ.
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The picture added to this site is in the possession of descendants of Susan's son James. Reportedly James carried it in his wallet. The clothing is from the late 1850s - early 1860s. It was restored in 2021 by Foreverstudios.com
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Looking at this picture, a great-granddaughter who is a physical therapist said that her hands looked like she had arthritis.
She had long roots in Moretonhampstead. Her grandfather was Joseph Pethybridge, son of "wool serger" Edward Pethybridge and Susannah Tozer. This Susannah's father Arthur Tozer, a "clothier" and wool merchant, (baptized in Lustleigh and the son of yeoman John Tozer and Mary Nosworthie) was related to the Tozers of Howton in the 16th century. Susan's husband worked at Howton Great Farm in the 1840s. There is a sense that in the early 19th century the Pethybridges had come down in the world, perhaps because of the waning of the wool industry in Moretonhampstead.
She married Robert Croot 23 Oct 1831. They lived at Cattiscombe Cottage (now a ruin) outside of Mortonhamptead near Linscott Farm and Howton Great Farm; at Howton hamlet (now half a dozen buildings including Great Howton Farm) perhaps in the thatched cottage called Middle Howton), and from c. 1852 Bowden Farm which is still a working farm. Cattiscombe is about 1/4 mile from Howton and Bowen is a couple of miles away. The footpath to the site of Cattiscombe ends at the fields of Bowden Farm and starts near Howton Great Farm.
Robert Croot was baptized 15 Feb 1801 in Sampford Courtney, Devon, England, and was buried 3 Feb 1869 in Mortonhampstead, Devon. He was the son of John Croot and Judith Evans Croot. He seems to have been raised in North Tawton (about 3 miles from Sampford Courtney). It is not known why and when he moved to Mortonhampstead, but there were other Croots in town. He was a husbandman, i.e. an independent tenant farmer, as were his father and brothers.
After her husband's death, she immigrated to New Jersey with her son John Croot and his family and her youngest son James in 1871. Seven of her eight children--six sons and one daughter--immigrated to the US between 1852 and 1871. One married daughter remained in the UK. At the time of the 1871 UK Census she was a widow living with son John Croot on Court St., Mortonhamptead and was listed as a "washer woman," the classic job for a poor widow. She would have had to leave Bowden Farm after her husband's death.
In a family memoir there is an observation that she spoke "like a Quaker with thees and thous." It seems likely that she spoke with a Devon country accent that sounded odd to New Jersey ears.
It is uncertain if there is an existing gravestone at the Bernardsville Methodist Cemetery, but her grave was included in a list made of then-marked graves in this cemetery in 1951. She was incorrectly listed as "wife of Ruben" on that list. Someone clearly misread the decayed stone. The Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey lists a crumbling gravestone for her in their list of graves there: "Cr---, Robert*; wife Susan, d. Feb. 24, 1883, aged 75 years. Stone severely eroded; surname has five letters but only the first two were readable." It is believed but not proved that her grandson George Croot is also buried near her. The record shows he was buried in Bernardsville. Because her youngest children were baptized in the Methodist Church, I believe she was a Methodist from the 1840s.
Her son John lived nearby on Mine Mountain/Bernardsville Mountain on what is now Post Kennel Road, Far Hills, NJ, which may be why she was buried here. Family history says she mostly lived there. However she died at son Joseph Croot's home in Chester, NJ.
**
The picture added to this site is in the possession of descendants of Susan's son James. Reportedly James carried it in his wallet. The clothing is from the late 1850s - early 1860s. It was restored in 2021 by Foreverstudios.com
**
Looking at this picture, a great-granddaughter who is a physical therapist said that her hands looked like she had arthritis.
Susan Croot was born Susanna Pethybridge in Mortonhampstead, Devon, England in 1812. She was baptized 20 Apr 1812. She was the daughter of Samuel Pethybridge (1771-1842) and Rose Green Pethybridge (1766-1842).
She had long roots in Moretonhampstead. Her grandfather was Joseph Pethybridge, son of "wool serger" Edward Pethybridge and Susannah Tozer. This Susannah's father Arthur Tozer, a "clothier" and wool merchant, (baptized in Lustleigh and the son of yeoman John Tozer and Mary Nosworthie) was related to the Tozers of Howton in the 16th century. Susan's husband worked at Howton Great Farm in the 1840s. There is a sense that in the early 19th century the Pethybridges had come down in the world, perhaps because of the waning of the wool industry in Moretonhampstead.
She married Robert Croot 23 Oct 1831. They lived at Cattiscombe Cottage (now a ruin) outside of Mortonhamptead near Linscott Farm and Howton Great Farm; at Howton hamlet (now half a dozen buildings including Great Howton Farm) perhaps in the thatched cottage called Middle Howton), and from c. 1852 Bowden Farm which is still a working farm. Cattiscombe is about 1/4 mile from Howton and Bowen is a couple of miles away. The footpath to the site of Cattiscombe ends at the fields of Bowden Farm and starts near Howton Great Farm.
Robert Croot was baptized 15 Feb 1801 in Sampford Courtney, Devon, England, and was buried 3 Feb 1869 in Mortonhampstead, Devon. He was the son of John Croot and Judith Evans Croot. He seems to have been raised in North Tawton (about 3 miles from Sampford Courtney). It is not known why and when he moved to Mortonhampstead, but there were other Croots in town. He was a husbandman, i.e. an independent tenant farmer, as were his father and brothers.
After her husband's death, she immigrated to New Jersey with her son John Croot and his family and her youngest son James in 1871. Seven of her eight children--six sons and one daughter--immigrated to the US between 1852 and 1871. One married daughter remained in the UK. At the time of the 1871 UK Census she was a widow living with son John Croot on Court St., Mortonhamptead and was listed as a "washer woman," the classic job for a poor widow. She would have had to leave Bowden Farm after her husband's death.
In a family memoir there is an observation that she spoke "like a Quaker with thees and thous." It seems likely that she spoke with a Devon country accent that sounded odd to New Jersey ears.
It is uncertain if there is an existing gravestone at the Bernardsville Methodist Cemetery, but her grave was included in a list made of then-marked graves in this cemetery in 1951. She was incorrectly listed as "wife of Ruben" on that list. Someone clearly misread the decayed stone. The Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey lists a crumbling gravestone for her in their list of graves there: "Cr---, Robert*; wife Susan, d. Feb. 24, 1883, aged 75 years. Stone severely eroded; surname has five letters but only the first two were readable." It is believed but not proved that her grandson George Croot is also buried near her. The record shows he was buried in Bernardsville. Because her youngest children were baptized in the Methodist Church, I believe she was a Methodist from the 1840s.
Her son John lived nearby on Mine Mountain/Bernardsville Mountain on what is now Post Kennel Road, Far Hills, NJ, which may be why she was buried here. Family history says she mostly lived there. However she died at son Joseph Croot's home in Chester, NJ.
**
The picture added to this site is in the possession of descendants of Susan's son James. Reportedly James carried it in his wallet. The clothing is from the late 1850s - early 1860s. It was restored in 2021 by Foreverstudios.com
**
Looking at this picture, a great-granddaughter who is a physical therapist said that her hands looked like she had arthritis.
She had long roots in Moretonhampstead. Her grandfather was Joseph Pethybridge, son of "wool serger" Edward Pethybridge and Susannah Tozer. This Susannah's father Arthur Tozer, a "clothier" and wool merchant, (baptized in Lustleigh and the son of yeoman John Tozer and Mary Nosworthie) was related to the Tozers of Howton in the 16th century. Susan's husband worked at Howton Great Farm in the 1840s. There is a sense that in the early 19th century the Pethybridges had come down in the world, perhaps because of the waning of the wool industry in Moretonhampstead.
She married Robert Croot 23 Oct 1831. They lived at Cattiscombe Cottage (now a ruin) outside of Mortonhamptead near Linscott Farm and Howton Great Farm; at Howton hamlet (now half a dozen buildings including Great Howton Farm) perhaps in the thatched cottage called Middle Howton), and from c. 1852 Bowden Farm which is still a working farm. Cattiscombe is about 1/4 mile from Howton and Bowen is a couple of miles away. The footpath to the site of Cattiscombe ends at the fields of Bowden Farm and starts near Howton Great Farm.
Robert Croot was baptized 15 Feb 1801 in Sampford Courtney, Devon, England, and was buried 3 Feb 1869 in Mortonhampstead, Devon. He was the son of John Croot and Judith Evans Croot. He seems to have been raised in North Tawton (about 3 miles from Sampford Courtney). It is not known why and when he moved to Mortonhampstead, but there were other Croots in town. He was a husbandman, i.e. an independent tenant farmer, as were his father and brothers.
After her husband's death, she immigrated to New Jersey with her son John Croot and his family and her youngest son James in 1871. Seven of her eight children--six sons and one daughter--immigrated to the US between 1852 and 1871. One married daughter remained in the UK. At the time of the 1871 UK Census she was a widow living with son John Croot on Court St., Mortonhamptead and was listed as a "washer woman," the classic job for a poor widow. She would have had to leave Bowden Farm after her husband's death.
In a family memoir there is an observation that she spoke "like a Quaker with thees and thous." It seems likely that she spoke with a Devon country accent that sounded odd to New Jersey ears.
It is uncertain if there is an existing gravestone at the Bernardsville Methodist Cemetery, but her grave was included in a list made of then-marked graves in this cemetery in 1951. She was incorrectly listed as "wife of Ruben" on that list. Someone clearly misread the decayed stone. The Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey lists a crumbling gravestone for her in their list of graves there: "Cr---, Robert*; wife Susan, d. Feb. 24, 1883, aged 75 years. Stone severely eroded; surname has five letters but only the first two were readable." It is believed but not proved that her grandson George Croot is also buried near her. The record shows he was buried in Bernardsville. Because her youngest children were baptized in the Methodist Church, I believe she was a Methodist from the 1840s.
Her son John lived nearby on Mine Mountain/Bernardsville Mountain on what is now Post Kennel Road, Far Hills, NJ, which may be why she was buried here. Family history says she mostly lived there. However she died at son Joseph Croot's home in Chester, NJ.
**
The picture added to this site is in the possession of descendants of Susan's son James. Reportedly James carried it in his wallet. The clothing is from the late 1850s - early 1860s. It was restored in 2021 by Foreverstudios.com
**
Looking at this picture, a great-granddaughter who is a physical therapist said that her hands looked like she had arthritis.
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See more Croot or Pethybridge memorials in:
- Bernardsville Methodist Cemetery Croot or Pethybridge
- Bernardsville Croot or Pethybridge
- Somerset County Croot or Pethybridge
- New Jersey Croot or Pethybridge
- USA Croot or Pethybridge
- Find a Grave Croot or Pethybridge
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