John Cree, weaver, marine, grocerToday, 15th June 1847, John Cree, aged 18, weaver, son of James Cree, grocer, of Bridge Street, Lisburn, Country Antrim, joins the line in the town square. The recruiting officer is in town and John has read the posters. The bounty is an attraction, he'll not deny it. It will be a wrench to leave his father, his mother Mary Ann and his brothers, but he needs to see the world, the world he has barely heard of. Ireland is being devastated by the potato blight which brings starvation to many families. John's own family are not small tenant farmers. He has his trade of weaving and his father has a grocer's shop. They are quite prosperous. Nevertheless, he wants to find a better future. The poster calls for Spirited young men, to enlist in that truly Loyal and Gallant Corps of Royal Marines. It goes on, They may see almost every Foreign Nation in the World, and have excellent living at the same time, consisting of Beef, Plumb pudding, and a pint of Grog daily, or Wine in proportion... A chance of prize money, besides having the great satisfaction of upholding their Country's Honor; and on their return after about three years absence, they will be enabled to see their friends with Pockets well lined, or to purchase their Discharge if they should not wish to remain in the service. THE BOUNTY IS £3 17 6 GOD SAVE THE QUEEN. He reaches the trestle tables. Behind them, the recruiting officer commanding the party, Captain James Burke, sits with three more red coated marines, staring at him. The sergeant gives him coins in a linen bag (well woven, he notes). He counts three pounds, seventeen shillings and sixpence. He is instructed to return three days later to be attested. John does not understand the delay. Is it a trial, to see if he will spend the money on drink and fail to return of his own free will? There is no chance of that; the purse is stowed safely in his jacket. At the appointed time of 5 o'clock on 18th June he returns to the square to swear his loyalty to the Queen, before a Justice of the Peace, his signature witnessed by Sergeant Sherwell. A surgeon had examined him and pronounced him fit for service. His height of 5 feet 6 inches is recorded, as is his fresh complexion, grey eyes and light brown hair. He has become a Marine. He returns home to bid farewell to his family and the next day reports for duty. All the recruits travel by horse and wagon to Belfast where they embark on one of Her Majesty's ships for Plymouth. This is the first of many voyages for John. He finds his sea legs quickly, though he is content that there is no role for the Marines in climbing the rigging to furl and unfurl the sails nor any ropes to haul. He will learn his duties soon enough at the Stonehouse Barracks. * * *
John Cree served in Company 67, Plymouth Division, of the Royal Marines for 21 years and 1 day. He was a Private for eight years from enlistment until November 1855, then a Corporal for nearly two years until August 1857 when he was promoted Sergeant. He held this rank for five and a half years and then served as a Colour Sergeant for the last five years of his service. Of those 21 years he was Afloat for a total nearing 11 years and On Shore for 10 years. He embarked on ten naval voyages: Howe supplemented with Sharpshooter (June to July 1848), Vengeance (July 1848 to July 1850), Harlequin (November '50 to September '53), Bulldog (February to March 1854), Wellington (April to May 1859), Scylla and Neptune (a short joint posting from September to October 1859), Victor Emanuel (4 days in October 1859), Scylla once more from October 1859 until January '63, Implacable (February 1864 to February 1866) and finally Jemma (per Crocodile!) On 17th June 1868, at the Royal Marine Barracks in Plymouth, John Cree solicits the indulgence of being allowed his discharge from the Service and this request is considered by a Divisional Board composed of Captain Jeffreys and Captain Hill and before which Color (sic) Sergeant John Cree appears. The Remarks made by the Board are as follows:
1. The name of John Cree appears four times in the Divisional Defaulters Book, last offence 2 March 1852. He produces eight certificates of “Very Good” Conduct and one “Good.” His conduct and character is found to be Very Good and he has no debts or claims and his ledger account is balanced up to 18th June 1868. Having looked at all the evidence the Cause of Discharge is per Admiralty order, at John Cree's own request, he having completed 21 years service. Approved by Captain Jeffreys of the 6th Company and by the Colonel Commandant. National Archive Reference ADM 157/198 * * * The domestic life of John Cree centred around the Royal Marine Barracks in Stonehouse, Plymouth, where he lived when on shore, until his marriage to Susan Scammell Denslow, the daughter of a retired Greenwich Pensioner (Marine or Navy), John Denslow. Their daughter Mary Ann Cree was born in 1857 and a son James William in 1859, who died in 1863. At the time of the 1861 Census, Susan Denslow was living at 20 Barrack Street, described as Head of the household, while John was Afloat, a member of the Royal Marine Light Infantry on HMS Scylla, at that time in the port of Smyrna (present day Izmir) in the Ottoman Empire. Ada Maria Cree was born in 1864 and a second son, also James William, in 1866. By the time of the next census in 1871, John Cree had been discharged from the Marines and was living at 27 Admiralty Street, described as a Greenwich Pensioner. His youngest son, William John, was 9 months old. In 1881 John Cree and his family had moved a short distance to 45 Admiralty Street, still close to the Royal Marine Barracks, and is described as a Baker and Grocer, no doubt with many marines as his customers. By 1891 only William, working as a Carpenter, is still living at home with John and Susan and there is no mention of the Grocer's shop. William Cree was a good local amateur rugby player (see separate biography). In March 1898 he married Florence Blanche Eliza Bentley, a skilled tailoress from a local naval family (whose pensioner father ran an off-licence) He died not 4 months later and their daughter, Ada Emma Denslow Cree, was born on New Year's Eve, 1898. John and Susan's surviving son, James William, emigrated to Australia some time before 1893 and later moved to New Zealand. Mary Ann Cree emigrated from Plymouth to Cooktown, Queensland, arriving on the Chyebassa on 7 March 1883. John Cree died in 1909 and Susan Cree in 1915.
Theresa Black (née Mulgrew) |