Benjamin Josiah Cramp ²

  General Notes:

Taken from the Manuscript of

''The Sandy Creek Bushranger''

by Edgar Penzig.
page 59 - 60

On the same day as the shoot-out at Tootles, Senior Constable Benton of the Binda Police, arrested young Benjamin Cramp (brother of Josiah) and charged him with robbing the home of one William Bean, whilst armed, and in the company of another, on the evening before. ( Through his brother's marriage, Benjamin was related to the Birrell,Monks, Cummins, Francis,Vardy, Hogan, McQuirk and Shepherd families) Cramp was apprehended at his place on the Crookwell, near Binda,( The Beans had previously caused a warrant to be issued against Cramp and his brother, whom they had accused of robbing their home on April 9)
In evidence at the committal hearing, Mrs Bean stated that she was on her own in the family dwelling at eleven o'clock at night when two young men wearing masks forced the door open and said ''Bail up''. Mrs Bean then took her young baby in arms and sat down. The robbers then told her to stand or they would ''Blow her brains out''. They then demanded money. Mrs Bean said that the man she recognized as Cramp (by his voice) then took two rings off her hand. The woman then tried to run out of the hut, but the bandit she said was Cramp, knocked her down, and then gave her a kicking. Mrs Bean had her child in her arms at the time, and the infant suffered bruises to it's face.
Mrs Bean then alleged that Cramp put his pistol to her head and exclaimed that if it wasn't for the child he'd have ''Blown her brains out''. Cramp was said to have then stood over the woman while his companion stole dresses, four bed gowns, a chemise, four sheets, some bed curtains, salt , beef,and some flour from a bin, which the man put into bags.
Mrs Bean noticed that one of the robbers had on white moleskin trousers, which were very dirty and a monkey jacket, and the man she thought to be Cramp, had on a cabbage tree hat.
A witness on Cramps behalf was William Ford (who had married Cramps sister), who claimed that Cramp had slept at his place on the night of the hold up, and gone to bed before his host. After hearing more evidence the magistrate said he did not feel justified in taking the case on himself, so committed Benjamin Cramp for trial, allowing bail of 100 pounds and two sureties of 50 pounds each. ⁶

  Death Notes:

WILL OF BENJAMIN CRAMP

Will Number 802 76

The Last Will and Testament of Benjamin Cramp of Crookwell, Goulburn.

Executors ; Martha Jane Squire Cramp, Charles Cramp, nephew, of the ''Valley'' near Binda, son of Alfred and Louisa Cramp, nee Payne.

To my wife all my estate for her life and after her death, I direct my trustees to divide the same equally between my eight children, share and share alike.

Children Martha Jane Squire married William Montague Shepherd
Lucy Eva married Alexander Brownlow
Louisa Ann married John Ingolby Webster
Alice Lila married Hugh Seery
Henry Royden married Ellen Margaret McMillan
Elizabeth Hannah married George Henry Seery
Ada Mabel married Albert Michael Seery
Eliza Sarah

Testator died at Crookwell 29th May , 1919.
Estate sworn at 1134 pounds, 11-9 .

  Burial Notes:

St Barnabas Cofe

  Noted events in his life were:

� He was involved in a court case about Charged with a robbery at "Yarranoo", Bigga, New South Wales on 7 Sep 1864 in Goulburn, Argyle County, New South Wales. ⁸ At Goulburn Police Court he was reamanded on bail of �100 and two suerities of �50.

� He worked as a Farmer in 1872 in Binda, Georgiana County, New South Wales. ⁹

� He had an estate probated after 29 May 1917 in New South Wales, Australia. ¹⁰

Benjamin married Martha Jane Squire Bray, daughter of John Bray and Mary A McRoberts, on 2 Oct 1863 in Binda, Georgiana County, New South Wales.¹ (Martha Jane Squire Bray was born on 13 Dec 1842 in Sydney, Cumberland County, New South Wales,¹¹ died on 19 Feb 1926 in Gundaroo, Murray County, New South Wales, Australia ^{6 12} and was buried in Narrawa, King County, New South Wales, Australia ¹³.)

  Marriage Notes:

At St James Church, Binda.