South Dedham Family at Rest in Old Parish Cemetery

Born on September 28, 1852 in Boston, Clarabel Crooker was the daughter of James T. Crooker (1824-1897) and Martha Jane Davis Crooker (1827-1919). They were married in Boston on April 16, 1846. The couple had another daughter Evanette, born in 1865; she lived only a year and died in 1866 of dysentery.

By the 1870 census, the Crookers were living in South Dedham. James was a “pattern maker,” one who produces patterns either on fabric or metal. It is likely that James was a metal pattern maker working in one of the small foundries in the village.

James T. Crooker died on December 2, 1897; the cause was a cerebral thrombosis. The family was living in Hyde Park at the time. Still, he was buried in South Dedham along with his infant daughter, Evanette.

In 1900, still living in Hyde Park, Clarabel Crooker was a clerk supporting her mother. The two remained together until Martha’s death on March 14, 1919 at 91 of mitral stenosis and acute bronchitis.

In 1920, Clarabel registered to vote in South Boston and remained there until her death in 1938. She is buried along with her parents in the Old Parish Cemetery.