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"A Family Tradition for 128 Years" PORT PERRY STAR - Wednesday, September 6, 1995 - 17 | Sketches of Scugog is a historical column written by local resident and historian Paul Arculus and published in the Port Perry Star the first issue of each month. J ® ® ° The Markham Gang The last two articles in this series have discussed the escapades of the notorious "Markham Gang." This group of villains roamed the countryside of Canada West: in the early 1840s creating fear and trem- bling in the lives of the settlers of this region. Last month's article dealt specifi- cally with members of the gang who robbed the Morrow family in Epsom, a few miles west of Port Perry in November of 1845. They beat up John Morrow leaving him for dead. This event Ee CU ds Crandell's hook up with notorious Markham Gang Reuben Crandell and his sons charged with murder The Crandell Robberies In spite of wealth, comfort and the respect gained by the Crandell name and their own promising careers, Elmore and George Crandell became involved in the Markham Gang. Just how this came about is not known. They were arrested for their crimes in November 1845. The records of their tri- als in June, 1846 give us all the details. Stephen Elmore Crandell was accused of stealing a number of articles from the home of Thomas Stark of Whitby. Stark lived on Lot 5 on the 3rd Concession of Whitby. He had gone to help at a barn raising of a neighbor in October 1843. George Crandell and Stephen Elmore Crandell were each found guilty, largely on the basis of the evidence of their broth- er-in-law! When the sentences were handed down, their lawyer, J. Duggan, objected. He based his objection on the fact that the main evidence in both cases was present- ed by their accomplice. The accomplice was their brother-in-law Daniel Spenser. He had admitted that he was an accom- plice in Stephen's trial but claimed that he had only seen the property stolen by George. They were each sentenced to five years in jail. When Spenser was was one of the most seri- ous of the crimes com- mitted by the Markham Gang and certainly 5&5) gained Pot ~ them con- = siderable a notorie- ty. Two ee Saas =) murd- |= ers ~-- were = associat- \SmmE= ed with GHEE = the gang. gle Less seri- -- ous and more = representative of j most of the crimes > committed by the gang members were those of two members of the most prestigious and honorable families in Reach Township at that time; The Crandell family. The Crandells Reuben Crandell was the first white settler in Reach Township. He and his faithful wife Catherine had settled near what is now Manchester in 1821. With sweat and determination he had single handedly cleared much of the 200 acre - parcel of land in order to scratch a living for himself and his family. His name was the most respected among the few settlers who came to the area after him. Reuben and his wife had 12 children; seven sons and five daughters. Their daughter Lucy Ann was the first white child to be born in Reach Township. In 1832 the Crandells moved to what is now the western portion of Port Perry and purchased...acres. By 1845 the Crandells had a comfortable home and had become extremely wealthy by run- ning a hotel in their home as well as building houses and selling off lots to newcomers to Borelia. Their sons had become established in various trades. Stephen Elmore Crandell was the first 'born of the Crandell children. He was born in Haldiman in 1820, just before the Crandells set out for Reach. By the time he was 20 years old, Stephen was estab- lishing a respectable name for himself as a cabinetmaker. George Crandell was the fourth of the Crandell children. He was born in 1828 in the log cabin in what is now Manchester. He had taken an early interest in boats. His father had built an oar and sail pow- ered vessel to move people and goods around Lake Scugog. When old enough, George took over this business. [LIT INE ~ ~ A brought to tri- <a When he returned in the evening to find that the door of his house had been broken and a number of articles stolen including several articles of expensive cloth- ing, a watch and a gun. George Crandell was charged with burglaring the home of Thomas Moffatt in Reach Township, stealing a number of items including a gun. The Crandell Trials The Crandell boys were tried separately but both trials took a somewhat bizarre twist. Daniel Spenser appeared as a witness for the Crown in both tri- als. Spenser had been arrested as a member of the Markham Gang him- self. He had been charged with stealing a cooking stove. While in jail awaiting his trial, Spenser decided to turn Queen's evidence, prob- ably in order to obtain a lesser sentence. It should be remembered that members of the Markham Gang swore an oath of secrecy and promised to provide fellow members with alibies. Why Spenser broke his oath is not clear. In Stephen Elmore's trial Spenser admitted to being an accomplice in the robbery. Spenser was never charged with his part in the crime. In George's trial, Spenser claimed that George had told him that he had stolen the gun and had shown it to him after the robbery. The most bizarre fact is that Spenser was the Crandell's brother-in-law! He had married one of their sisters! movements. The Crandell boys continued to appear in court from time to time. Crandells Charged With Murder On Friday, November 16, 1855, Stephen again faced the court. This time, he was charged, along with his brother Benjamin and their father Reuben. The three were charged with the murder of one Stephen Smith. This sensational trial produced a verdict of "Not Guilty." The complete account of the alleged murder and subse- quent trial appeared in an article in this series in the June 7, 1994 edition of the "Port Perry Star." In 1876, Benjamin Crandell sued his brother Caleb over a land transaction. The feud between the brothers continued to wind its way through the courts for the next three years. In April 1877, Benjamin was found guilty of champerty and in October 1879, he was found guilty of perjury. The Markham Gang In the Home District Assizes of 1846, alleged members of the Markham Gang ; faced the = courts. ------ ee n a --_---- Mgnalhiig Because of their oath of ¥/ secrecy, it is difficult to = : determine the exact number of : gang members brought to justice. By sifting through the evidence in the 1846 trials and by noting the names of accomplices and witnesses for the defence, it is obvious that more than 20 were sentenced. This effectively brought an end to the Gang's reign of terror. Immediately aft- er completing his sentence, Sy fin RE -- RE MEN George Crandell came to his home in Scugog Village (now Port Perry) and NIETO - my returned to his favor- ite activity; [| of efe] vp ¥- boating. His first job after his release from jail was to help Hugh for his robbery, he entered a plea of guilty. He was sentenced to one year in jail. Spencer also appeared as a witness against another gang member, John Fleming. Fleming was accused of stealing a large quantity of grain from a farmer in Pickering. In spite of Spenser's evidence, Fleming was found not guilty. What happened to Spenser afterwards remains a mystery. Strict. His name nev- er appears again on any records. Due to the fact that he had not only betrayed all the oaths of Markham Gang but had also given evidence against members in court would have no doubt placed his very existence in jeopardy. Research so far has been unable to trace his subsequent == Chisolm to build the first steamboat on Lake Scugog, the Woodman. At the launch of the Woodman in 1850, George was a crew miember. Four years later he became the owner of the vessel and became famous, even legend- ary, for his major role in the history of steamboats on the Trent Severn Waterway. Next month: George Crandell and his Steamboats. Top: A sketch of the Port Perry waterfront drawn in 1853. This sketch appeared in the Anglo American Magazine, published in Toronto in 1854. It shows the steamboat the "Woodman" at the waterfront where the marina is located today. At the time of this publication, George Crandell would have just acquired the ownership of the vessel. Bottom: an enlarged view of the "Woodman." |