As a twenty-year old labourer from Foot's Cray, Kent, William Croghan signed an agreement to work for the Puget Sound Agricultural Company for a period of five years commencing October 24, 1850. He, in company with a number of the farm labourers primarily from Kent, Surrey and Dorset, accompanied E. E. Langford, the new baliff of Colwood Farm on the barque Tory, arriving at Ft. Victoria, 1851. Little is known of Croghan's life at Colwood. He was a bachelor until 1853, at which time he married Amy Thomas, recently arrived on the Norman Morison.¹ Subsequently, as their family grew, a number of children were registered in the baptismal records. It is likely that some other their children attended Craigflower. In 1854, a son Arthur was born and later baptized by Rev. Holmes on board HMS President. At that time Croghan was listed as "gardener" at Colwood Farm. On September 28, 1857, Rev. Cridge baptized Croghan's daughter, Amy. In June, 1860, another daughter, Clara, was baptized and in August, 1861, Elizabeth was christened. Elizabeth died two years later, February 6, 1863. At the time Croghan was still listed as a labourer in Colwood.²

1 Marriage Register Ft. Victoria 1851-58, April 1853. Amy's brother, George,

came out on Tory with Croghan in 1851.

2 Baptismal & Burial Records, Christ Church Parish Register, 1859-72.

- William Croghan - born 1830

- married Amy Thomas (domestic) – Norman Morison, 1853

- known children

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