Cranch family papers, 1667-1946

Richard Cranch, 1726-1811, moved from Devonshire, England, to Braintree, Massachusetts, as a watchmaker. He married Mary Smith, sister of Abigail Adams, in 1762. Richard Cranch served in many political positions, including Judge of the Court of Common Pleas.

William Cranch, 1769-1855, son of Richard, attended Harvard with his cousin and friend John Quincy Adams. William Cranch practiced law and later speculated in real estate in Washington D.C. William was appointed Commissioner of Public Buildings of the District of Columbia in 1800, and one year later he was appointed Assistant Judge of the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia. He served as the Chief Justice of the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia from 1805-1855.

William and his wife Anna (“Nancy”) Greenleaf Cranch had 13 children. Christopher Pearse Cranch, 1813-1892, was an author, critic, Unitarian minister, and artist. Edward Pope Cranch, was an artist and amateur scientist.

The children of Edward Pope and his wife Bertha W. Cranch included Emma Cranch, a well-known singer, and Bertha, who married Edward F. Ernst.