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| George Cravin Clements
(1901-1934) |
George Cravin Clements
George Cravin Clements was born at 3236 Washington St., Boston, Suffolk, MA 2 on the 9th of Feb., 1901, the second born son of Benjamin A. (probably Alexander) and Annie J. (Creavin) Clements. Benjamin was born in either D.C. or Maryland and Annie J. was born somewhere in Ireland, exactly when and where is unknown. I have not yet discovered their marriage license, but I did find George's birth registration, which confirms the information passed down by his children, George Jr. and Elizabeth, to this compiler, Colleen Cahoon, grand-daughter of George C. Clements (Sr.). I did find the following 1910 Massachusetts Census, ( The image of which was subsequently provided in pdf format by my brother, Michael P. Cahoon, who as eldest was first to begin research into our ancestry, but with relunctance and refusal to communicate and share his findings... thereby encouraging me to pursue them independantly, but that is another story. ) All of which assures me that the following is indeed, the 1910 household, of my maternal great-grand parents, Benjamin A. and Annie J. (Creavin) Clements. Head, Benjamin A. Clements, 46 years old, born in MD, both parents born in MD. Wife, Annie J., 35, born in England (Ireland), both parents born in England (Ireland). Son, Henry B., 19, Son, George C., 9, born MA, father born MD, mother born IRE. Son, Robt A., 7, born MA, father born MD, mother born IRE. Son, Martin A., 5, born MA, father born MD, mother born IRE. Son, Walter F., 3, born MA, father born MD, mother born IRE. I have reason to believe that the first born son' middle name is Benjamin, and
the "A" middle names of his two younger brothers', might be Alexander, for one if not
both of them.
According to the above 1910 Census, Benjamin and Annie had been
married for 19 to 20 years, whereas their first son, Henry B., was born
in about 1891. There appears to be no other children born, or at least none to
survive, to be listed as born, within the ten year span between the births of
Henry B. and George C. Clements. So the questions are raised: Was Benjamin A. Clements previously married, to someone other than Annie J.
Creavin/Cravin? Or, was Annie only 16 when she gave birth to their first son,
Henry? Why is there a ten year gap between the birth of Henry and their next son,
George? Did Annie J. and Benjamin seperate for almost ten years and then reunite,
shortly before the birth of George C. Clements? The questions are reasonable to ask, in light of the fact that beginning with
the birth of George, almost like clockwork, Annie J. was birthing sons for husband, Benjamin,
in a fairly consistent pattern of two year increments. My mother and uncle both rememember an 'Uncle' named Harry Huntt, whom they did not
believe was related, as much as believed he was perhaps somehow in business with their
grandfather, Benjamin, or perhaps simply a very close and dear friend of the family, since
his last name was Huntt, rather than Clements. 'Uncle Harry' had been very kind to the
George C. Clement's household and the family was very fond of him. I was delighted to discover the facts of the situation and to share it with my Mom
and Uncle, who both were surprised. My Grandfather's father, Benjamin A. Clements was the
step-son of George A. Huntt, of Port Tobacco, Charles, Maryland. Benjamin had one half-brother,
seven years his junior, named Harry Huntt! So he was an Uncle afterall! Uncle to
George C., that is, and GreatUncle to my Mother and Uncle. These facts were found in
the 1880 Charles County Maryland Census: Huntt, George A., head, age 60. Huntt, Eliza, wife, age 40. Huntt, Lizzie, daughter, age 22. (Huntt's daughter from a prior marriage.) Huntt, Harry, son, age 9. (Apparently the only surviving child of this marriage.) Clements, Benjamin, step-son, age 16. (Eliza's son from her previous marriage.) Several employees and lodgers were also listed in residence, as George A. Huntt
owned a hotel. The questions become, what was Eliza's maiden name? Who was her first husband and father of Benjamin A. Clements? When did they marry? Did he die in the Civil War or as result of being wounded in the war? Or did they divorce? When did Eliza, marry George A. Huntt? I have not yet been able to answer any of these questions yet, but my resources are limited, so perhaps others will be able to find these answers, in the future. Naturally, it was easy to assume that Benjamin A. Clements possibly named his first born son, after his half-brother, Harry, and his second son, George, after his step-father. This seemed logical, because according to the 1870 Maryland Census, Dist. 2., Charles County, Benjamin A. would have been less than six years old, when his mother, Eliza (maiden name unknown and presumedly a widow, but that fact is not verified), married George A. Huntt, who at the time was Clerk of the County, and also presumedly a widower, with several older children of his own. However, in continued searching, I discovered that the forenames, Henry, Benjamin, and Alexander, seem to be generationally repeated throughout several Clements' lines. In searching for Benjamin's father, I met a wonderful woman, Anne McAllister, who sent me the following notes, from the 1850 and 1860 Census. I would to obtain copies of the documents themselves, for further clarity, but her notes did provide the following information: In the 1850 US Census, Dist. of Columbia, Washington, there is: Clements, Henry Benjamin, head, 30, born D.C., painter. Clements, Louellen, wife, 26, born MD. Clements, Ann, daughter, 3, Clements, Sophia, mother, widow, 55, born MD. Clements, Alexander, brother, ?age hard to read, born D.C., painter Clements, Richard, rel ?, 18. Clements, Catherine rel ?, 14. Clements, Sophia, rel ?, 10. So while I am not sure of all of the relationships of the above census, we do know that Sophia is the widowed mother of at least two sons, both painters, one named Henry Benjamin Clements (born about 1820) and the other named Alexander Clements. In 1850, Henry B. Clements is married; Alexander is not. Henry B. did not always use his first name, 'Henry', as will be seen ten years later, when he goes by simply, 'Benjamin'. I should mention that the ages of the adults can not be taken as exact, because census takers did round out, possibly in fives, on some census, for adults. The young Clements listed below Sophia, in the 1850 Census, are most likely her children and siblings of the head, but I will need to see the census or other proof, to declare that with certainty. Ten years later, in the 1860 US Census, Dist. of Columbia, Washington Ward I, there were two Clements' households, side by side.: 217.204 Clements, Alexr (Alexander) 25, head, born DC, painter. Eliza, 20, wife, born Maryland. I think there was some age rounding here as well, because Eliza was born in 1837, according to her tombstone, rather than 1840, as the above census suggests. My Great-Grandfather, Benjamin A., would not appear on this census, as he was born later of course, but this census does show that Alexander was probably his father, as a Clements husband of Eliza. It also shows that no other children were present in this household of 1860, suggesting they were possibly newlyweds. Benjamin may have been their only child, because the Civil may have caused a seperation for Eliza and Alexander. Alexander may have survived the war, but possibly died of wounds, prior to or soon after the birth of Benjamin, in 1863. That birth year is the year that appears on Benjamin's tombstone. In 1860, Living next door to Eliza and Alexander, is his brother, at 218: Clements, Benjamin, 38, head, born in KY, Painter. Louellen, 36, wife, born MD.. Ann, 15, daughter, born D.C.. Henry 7, son, born D.C.. William 4, son, born D.C.. Alexander 1, son, born D.C.. Sophia, 60, Mother, (of Benjamin and probably also of Alexander). Catherine 22, Sister. Flarety, Sally, Servant This census supports the notion that the prior census contained only one child for Henry Benjamin, the head, that being daughter Ann, so the other younger people of 1850, were most likely his brothers and sisters. It also shows that he named one of his sons, after his brother, Alexander. Chances are that their father, the husband of Sophia, may have been either an Alexander, a Benjamin, or an Henry. These census show that the forenames Henry, Alexander, and Benjamin are repeated in multiple generations. My Great Grand father, Benjamin Alexander Clements, was born 1863 and named his first son, Henry Benjamin Clements. Originally it was thought that this was for his half-brother and himself... but perhaps it was for his Uncle? Though his mother remarried, he may have still been in touch with his Uncle Benjamin and Aunt Louellen, and his Clements cousins, especially if he was the only child of Henry B.'s brother, Alexander. In 1870, we first find my Great-Grandfather, as a six-year old, but unfortunately his father, Alexander, has either parished or divorced or abandandoned his family, because Eliza is now married to George A. Huntt; this 1860 census suggests that Benjamin A. did not have surviving siblings predating the census. And we have the clue that Eliza and Alexander may have married probably in late 1859 or early 1860. Based on the above, I believe the line goes: Therefore, there may have been more than one reason, for George's eldest brother to have been named Henry. And chances are that the A's of George's two younger brothers, Robert A. and Martin A. may be for Alexander, after their grandfather and many preceeding ancestors. Obviously, further research is required, but I do feel as though some progress has been made and I look forward to learning more. My mother was told that her paternal Grandmother's name, was forever banned from being spoken, in the Clements' household, because at some point after the birth of son Walter, Annie J. (nee Creavin/Cravin) left her husband, Benjamin, and their five sons. The bann proved very effective, because neither my Mother nor her brother, Junior, ever knew their paternal grandmother's first name, though both firmly remembered their father, telling them his middlename was his mother's maiden name.
In finding George Cravin's birth registration, it did prove that indeed Cravin was his mother's maiden name, though it was spelled Creavin, as too was his middlename. Every where else, however, George spelled it without the "e", including the naming of his own son, "Junior". And of course, from that birth registration we first learn her first name, with certainty, as being Annie J., along with verification that she had been born in Ireland, as my mother and Uncle were also advised. George's eldest brother, Henry, ten years his elder, was possibly already out of house, when their mother, Annie J. (Creavin) Clements disappeared from their lives. If anyone knew of her whereabouts, at the time, that information was kept secret or otherwise not passed down to George's children. Her disappearance occurred between the Massachusetts census years of 1910 and 1920, where she was present for the former, but not the latter. In 1920, Benjamin was living with only one son, 18 year old Robert A. Clements, as lodgers in what appears to be a boarding house. Where as Martin, known as Ted, and the youngest, Walter, were not with Benjamin, I can not help but wonder if Annie had taken the two youngest with her? I am hoping to find her and the two boys somewhere else, in that same year, but as yet, I confess I have not done so, leaving the mystery still open. Thanks to my Uncle Donald Payson Gray, I learned that prior to marriage, young George had signed Beulah M. McLaine’s high school autograph book. The signature is not dated. But we do have two clues, one on the page of George's signature and one from the adjacent page.  I believe it must have been signed after February 20th of 1918, as the page across from George's signature references World War I and George's page also bears that clue. Both, George and Beulah, having been born in 1901, (George in early April and Beulah the last day of Oct) suggests that they could have been 17 and 16 years or both 17, at the signing or possibly a year older. We just don't know for certain when and where they met. They might not even have been dating yet, as George's signature was pretty simple. No mush, no gush, no reference of 'remember when' or any promises; just his signature above the name of the vessel, that George trained upon, as a student of the Massachusetts Nautical School, the USS Nantucket.  George Cravin Clements entered the Massachusetts Nautical School on the 25th of Oct., 1917, at the age of 16. At this time, World War I was still raging in Europe, posing a threat to the entire globe, devastating not only the face of Europe, but also freedom on the high seas, with direct attacks on not only military vessels, but also commercial merchant vessels. These vessels also faced the further danger of submersible mines, which laced all major foriegn ports of call, to negate delivery of much needed allied supplies.  George graduated, the 23rd of Sept., 1919, at the age of 18, becoming the youngest graduate of the school, on record, which is a distinction that holds true to this day, ninety plus years later! George loved the seas and became a proficient oiler, but he was not a perfect student, by any means, but then he was the youngest in residence. School records indicate that he did have a willful nature that was not eager to abandon his individualism. He was several times “written up” for minor infractions, such as not locking his locker, having his clothes or hammock or both, in disarray, and ‘skylarking’ in ranks. Other more “serious” infractions, were also recorded, on this ‘permanent record,’ such as disrespecting superior officers, reporting late for orders, and sleeping on duty. Perhaps he had beautiful young Beulah on his mind, at this time, and was burning the midnight oil to sneek out to see her? He of course was not the only young ladd to rack up infractions and apparently he did nothing serious enough to fail, nor to be expelled. Massachusetts Maritime Academy was founded by an act of the State legislature, June 11, 1891 as the Massachusetts Nautical Training School, the name was changed in 1913 to the Massachusetts Nautical School took its present name, in 1942. The school's first training ship was the USS Enterprise on loan from the Navy. USS Ranger was sent in as a replacement, of the USS Enterprise. Like the school's name, USS Ranger underwent name changes. USS Ranger became the USS Rockport on 30 October 1917 and then the name was changed again, to the USS Nantucket on the 20th February 1918. As USS Nantucket, she operated as a gunboat in the First Naval District during World War I, as well as a training ship for Navy midshipmen. So when George signed his name in Beulah’s H.S. autograph book, above “U.S.S. Nantucket”… he would have still been enrolled, as a student, by then at least 17 years of age. The ship name gives us a window of the actual signing, having taken place between Feb 20 1918 and George's graduation in September 1919. USS Nantucket Designated PG-23 in 1920, was redesignated IX-18 on 1 July 1921. On 11 November 1940, she was transferred to the Maritime Commission for final disposition, to be used as a school ship for the Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, N.Y. On 30 November 1940, she was struck from the Navy list and was returned to the state of Massachusetts as a school ship.  At the age of twenty years and four months, beautiful Miss Beulah Madelon McLaine and the dashing Merchant Marine, George Cravin Clements, himself having just turned twenty-one, were joyfully united in Holy Matrimony on the 22nd day of February, 1922, at: St. Stephen’s Church, in Lynn, MA. The ceremony was officiated by Rector Herbert L. Johnson and the happy event was witnessed by Beulah’s brother, Mr. Payson Langley McLaine and Ms. Beatrice Marion Morse.  As a Merchant Marine, George sailed to many foreign ports of call. Upon return home from such voyages, he always brought Beulah and their two children, exotic gifts. Their son, George Cravin Clements Jr. was born in Lynn, Massachusetts, on the 24th of Apr., in 1925 and inherited his father’s good looks and an adventurous spirit. Daughter, Elisabeth “Betty” ( Clements ) Cahoon, was also born in Lynn, on 6 Jul 1927, the embodiment of McLaine and Clement genes, with her mother’s eyes and her father’s ears.  While a merchant marine’s life could be perceived an adventurous one, which surely it was in many ways, it was also a dangerous one, at many times, and in many ways. Life at sea is not entirely glamorous, all the time. Survival depends on skill, trusted teamwork, strength, agility, determination, and a valor truly appreciated only by fellow mariners. Though he sailed to ports around the world, sadly, the last entry update to George Craven Clements’ file, at the Massachusetts Nautical School records, were made in 1940:
“Passed away in Lynn in April 1937, of fever contracted on West African run. He followed the sea and was employed by the West African Line, at time of Death.” The “fever” was malaria, which advanced into tuberculosis. George had barely turned 36, when with great suffering, his young life was cut short at 33 years of age. That summer and for perhaps others to come, Beulah and George’s two surviving children, George Jr. and young Elizabeth, “Betty”, not yet ten years old, were sent to special summer camps, possibly in New Hampshire. At the camps the children played in the sunshine, in only their underwear, in order to absorb as much direct sunshine as decently possible, as a deterrent against tuberculosis. My mother, “Betty” remembers the camps as being “warm and wonderful fun” and though she knew her presence there had something to do with her father, she did not truly understand that she herself may have been in danger, due to exposure, or what the camp was really all about. Researching my Grandfather, George Cravin Clements has been difficult, primarily because there is that no one living who knows what became of his mother and who were her immigrant parents. Our only clue is her age and her maiden name. Naturally, I am curious as to why Annie J. Creavin/Cravin left her husband, Benjamin, and my Grandfather and his brothers. While it is easy to simply villainize and dismiss her as a run-a-way wife and mother, I would prefer to know the truth, if at all possible. With that in mind, I have tried to imagine as many possibilities as I can. No one simply walks away from their family, without a reason. Whether the reason justifies the act would be subject to debate, of course, but there would be a reason. As it is, no reason is currently offered. Truth, if known, was buried and buried deep. Her very name was banned from the voices of her sons, left behind. The only thing left in knowledge, to my Mother and Uncle to be passed to me, was the fact that she was born somewhere in Ireland and that “Cravin” might have been her maiden name. Not much really to go on, but I am learning that from tiny clues much can be confirmed and with confirmation additional information can be forthcoming with each and every new discovery. Thanks to my Uncle George (jr.) we may possibly have a photo of Annie J. Creavin/Cravin. Maybe we do, maybe we don’t. My Uncle George had sent my Mother, an early photo of their father. My brother, Michael, had borrowed the photo to scan and share with some of the family. In the process of removing the photo from the frame, he discovered another picture behind it. He scanned it too, of course, and sent it to my Mother, where I was able to save a copy for myself and children. But nobody living seems to know the identity of the two women in the photograph, described below.  Pictured on the porch steps, of maybe a New England style home, are two mystery ladies. I refer to them fondly as, Mystery Elder and Mystery Younger. Upon the porch, behind them, can be seen a small wooden boat, suggesting perhaps they live within walking distance, of a small lake or pond. Mystery Elder is dressed in a dark dress, with long sleeves, somewhat out of date and perhaps part of her widow's wardrobe. Mystery Younger is bearing a wedding ring and dressed in a light summer type frock, perhaps even as part of a bride’s trousseau? In my opinion, the two Mystery Ladies do not appear to share any physical resemblance to each other, what so ever. Yet they are sitting together for the photo, with arms tentatively entwined, as sign of either affection or respectful and considerate assistance, or both, on the part of Mystery Younger, for Mystery Elder, who is holding a walking stick or cane, which may help to date the photo, as it is not crooked, as they seem to be now. Mystery Younger is looking directly at the photographer, with an expression that is not exactly a pleased one, even though her mouth seems to be in a feigned smile, her eyes are not; in fact it could be viewed as a glare of aggravation, or perhaps resentment, and suggests a willful spirit within. Mystery Elder is not looking at the photographer, so perhaps she may have had developed blindness or perhaps was simply not entirely ready yet, for this early homestyle photo. Thinking originally that we may have been gifted with a portrait of my mother’s Nana, whom Mom remembers fondly, I pointed out how very much she resembled the older woman in the photo. To my surprise, when Mom looked at the photo, she emphatically and almost vehemently declared, “That is not my Nana!” Later, I learned that indeed it was not, her Nana! Nana, in this case referred to her mother’s, ( Beulah’s ) mother, Elizabeth “Lizzy” (Emery) McLaine. How I wish I had a photo of young Nana and all of the Emery and McLaine family members! Sadly, I know very little about them. I do know that according to two photos that we have of elderly Nana McLaine, that she and Mystery Elder are not the same person, at all. And yet, the fact that Mystery Elder resembles my Mother and hence myself, is undeniable! With such a vehement response to the photo above, I realized that Mom was disappointed, having hoped that a new photo of her beloved Nana had been found. I on the other hand, took cheer in realizing that, since this was not my Mother's maternal Nana, it could well be her paternal one! If not Emery or McLaine then surely, Clements! A reasonable notion that makes perfect sense to me, as it was hidden behind a picture of young George C. Clements Sr. and the subjects reveal so much. With the spirit of an artist and perhaps a smidge of the detective, I began to analysis the features of both, Mystery Elder and Mystery Younger, zooming in very closely. I encourage anyone who is interested to do the same, if related to either of the siblings, George Cravin Clements "Junior" or Elizabeth “Betty” A. Clements. Naturally, I could be entirely wrong, but I feel certain that the Mystery Elder is definitely related to my mother, as she shares my Mother’s petite frame, which even with advanced years hints at once having been a very nicely figured younger woman. They also share a general head and forehead shape, a slightly hooked-at-the-tip nose, and the same type of ears. Without any doubt, I see my Mother in the features of lovely Mystery Elder! I fondly and enviously refer to the ears of my Mother, and those of this Mystery Elder, as “Elfian or Faery Ears”. Artistically speaking, I think they are absolutely lovely! Having seen my beautiful, Grandmother Beulah’s portrait, I know that although some of Beulah’s beautiful features are reflected in my mother, the shape of her ears is not among them. It is true that Beulah was also a small framed woman and that Mom may have inherited that from her mother, along with her brown eyes. But in all honesty, I see more of my mother, in Mystery Elder, than I do in her mother, Beulah M. McLaine. Some might believe I am only seeing my Mother, because she is closer in age to Mystery Elder’s photographed age. That is not the case. I am seeing more than age, I am seeing that, which they physically share in common. I sincerely believe their shared features speak for themselves. Proof to the contrary is welcomed. Having seen Grandmother Beulah's photo, I have always supposed that Mom’s pretty little Elf-Ears came from her father, but I had no way to verify that, with the very few pictures we had of him. That has changed, thankfully, due to the photos my dear Uncle George has shared. In the photo of a very, very young George C. Clements, we have a chance to really note his ears and eyebrows. I adore this photo!  George Cravin Clements (Sr.) as a lad, between 13 and 16 years of age. Perhaps this shot was taken, professionally, just prior to George’s enrollment into the Massachusetts Nautical School ? WWI was in progress and young George would be training for life at sea. Upon receipt of this Very-Young-George’s photo, I gleefully noticed three obvious things: For traits of both of the Mystery Ladies to be present in my maternal Grandfather, though they share no common traits between themselves, I suggest these "visual clues" as seen through an artist’s eye and without documentary evidence to prove otherwise, indicate that the Mystery Ladies are both related to George C. Clements, but related to each other only by marriage… and that Mystery Younger may even be, my Grandfather George’s mother, Annie J. Creavin/Cravin! The photo may have been taken by B.A. Clements, while visiting his mother, Eliza, who lived to the age of 89, having died in 1926. Benjamin himself died only two years later, at only 65. The photo may have been taken in Massachusetts or it may have been taken at the summer cottage that her son, Harry Huntt owned, possibly in New Hampshire. My suggestion would explain why traits from two extremely different looking women, found their way to surfacing in the face of my Grandfather, George Cravin Clements, and into his son, my dear Uncle George Jr. and into my Mother. Uncle George favors his Father a great deal, with light colored eyes. Through Mom, the traits continue, into my brother, Peter Stewart Cahoon, who in my opinion, is far more Clements, genetically speaking, than Cahoon. As to myself, I am square-faced, like my paternal Aunt Louise (Cahoon), but unlike her, I have deep set brown eyes, like my mother and already am being asked if we are sisters, as our age difference is strikingly less noteable, now that we both are old ladies... heehee. Hopefully, time and continued dedication will reveal my Great-Grandmother’s place of Irish origin and more on our Creavin/Cravin line, as well as the truth behind the mystery of her disappearance.
While sailing for the West African Line, George contracted a fever, that fever was Malaria and it esculated into Tuberculosis. George married Beulah Madelon McLaine, daughter of William Ernest McLaine and Elizabeth "Lizzy" Emery, on 22 Feb 1922 in Lynn, Essex, MA. (Beulah Madelon McLaine was born on 31 Oct 1901 in Everett, , MA, died in 1957 and was buried in Pine Grove Cem., Lynn, Essex, MA.) |
Cause of his death was Malaria turned to Tuberculosis.