Sometime in the 1890s, Josephine Park Cranston assembled what she called the Cranston “Genealogical Descent in America.” She traces the history of the Cranstons from Governor John Cranston through the son of Peleg Cranston, John Cranston.
Here is what she wrote:
Genealogical Descent in America
From Document L, in Josephine P. Cranston’s hand. A direct ancestral line — each person the parent of the next.
1. Gov. John Cranston
b. 1626; first in RI records 1644 (drummer, Portsmouth militia). Married Mary Clark (dau. of Jeremiah & Frances (Latham) Clark), b. 1641, d. 1711. Governor of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations, Nov. 1678 – Mar. 1680; died in office, aged 54.
2. Gov. Samuel Cranston
b. Aug 17, 1659. Married (1) Mary Hart, granddaughter of Roger Williams, d. 1710. Governor 1698–1727 (nearly thirty successive years), died incumbent Apr 26, 1727. Married (2) Judith (Parrott), widow of his brother Caleb — no issue.
3. Thomas Cranston
Settled in Swanzy (now Warren), RI; lost at sea. [A partial line was struck through by the writer.]
4. Peleg Cranston
(son of Thomas) b. Swanzy, RI, Mar 16, 1717/18; d. Mar 29, 1805, aged 89. Married Sarah Carr (dau. of Thomas Carr of Jamestown, RI), d. 1791.
5. John Cranston
b. Nov 3, 1755, Newport, RI. Married Phebe Ann Edwards (dau. of Ephraim Edwards of Scituate, RI), b. 1775, d. 1805, Foster, RI. JOHN DIED AUG 29, 1825, NEAR WOODSTOCK, OHIO, AGED 70 — the 1815 pioneer of the family narrative.
6. Stephen Cranston
b. Oct 1, 1793, Providence, RI. Married Esther Hammond, Jul 25, 1819 (b. 1802, d. Oct 19, 1887). STEPHEN DIED MAY 10, 1884, NEAR RAYMOND, UNION CO., OHIO.
7. William Rollin Cranston
b. Feb 8, 1841. Married Martha Jane Griffin (b. 1843). DIED AT MILITARY HOSPITAL, ALEXANDRIA, VA., AUG 21, 1864 (Civil War).
8. Lulu Cranston
b. Jun 17, 1863. Married Leon Addison Harvey, 1889 (b. 1860).
Signed: Josephine P. Cranston.
