John Baptist Crozier, eldest son of the Reverend Baptist Barton Crozier (1807-1878) and Catherine Mary Crozier (née Bolland) of Rockview House, Knockfad, Ballyhaise, was born in the townland of Knockfad, Ballyhaise, County Cavan, on 8 April 1853. His paternal grandfather, John Crozier (c. 1765–1814), was a member of a family long seated at Gortra House, between Magheraveely and Newtownbutler in the south-east of County Fermanagh,[1][2][3][4][5][6] and his uncle was Captain John Crozier (1791-1852),[7] an officer in the Fermanagh Militia and a Justice of the Peace. His mother was a daughter of John Bolland of Dublin.
Ministry
He graduated from Trinity College, Dublin (T.C.D.), with a B.A. degree in 1872, a M.A. degree in 1875, and a B.D. and D.D. degree in 1888.[8] He was a member of the Royal Irish Academy from 1916. He was a keen horseman, vice-president of the Holywood Cricket Club and one of the earliest members of The Wanderers Football Club of Dublin.[citation needed]
In 1910, the then Bishop Crozier contributed Essay No. 28 in the 40-strong series Duty and Discipline.[10]
His family
He married, on 12 September 1877, Alice Isabella Hackett, third daughter of John and Jane Sophia Hackett of St James, Bray, and they had four children.[11]
Their eldest son, Major-General Baptist Barton Crozier, who was born on 17 July 1878, married Ethel, the eldest daughter of William Humphries of Ballyhaise House, and they had a daughter, Cynthia, and a son, Ronald Baptist Barton Crozier. Major-General Crozier won numerous distinctions in the European war, including Officer of the Order of the Crown of Italy and Chevalier of the Legion of Honour.
Second son John Winthrop, who was born on 5 December 1879, was elected Bishop of Tuam, Killala and Achonry on 23 November 1938 and consecrated at Armagh Cathedral on 2 February 1939. He married, on 1 September 1910, Bertha Elizabeth McCall from Banbridge, County Down. He retired in 1957 and died on 15 February 1966.
Only daughter was Alice Maude who was born on 7 May 1884 and who married on 16 June 1908 Charles Chenevix Coote, son of Sir Algernon Coote, 12th Bt. of Ballyfin, County Laois, and had four children: Cecilla Maud, Mervyn Charles, Dermot Chenevix and Patricia Aileen.
Death
Crozier died on 11 April 1920 at the Archbishop's Palace in Armagh and he is buried in the grounds of Armagh Cathedral, beside his wife, Alice Isabella, who died on 29 February 1928 at the residence of her daughter, Alice Coote of Grosvenor Place, Newcastle upon Tyne.
Their youngest son, Mervyn Packenham, who had died earlier in 1914, is buried in the same grave.
His memory is commemorated on a stained glass window in Armagh Cathedral, another window commissioned by him commemorates his son Mervyn. There is also a Memorial Plaque in Holywood Church.
In addition, portraits currently hang in the See House in Armagh and the Bishop's Palace in Kilkenny.
Arms granted by Ulster Office of Arms
In 1893, separate Arms were granted to this branch of the family having been used by them since 1704.[11]
Shield:- Or, on a cross, between four fleur de lys azure, a Crozier of the field
Crest:- A demi eagle displayed proper, charged on the beast with cross pattee or,
^Robert Bell, The Book of Ulster Surnames, p. 42. The Ulster Historical Foundation (U.H.F.), Belfast, 2021 (2022 reprint; originally published by The Blackstaff Press, Belfast, 1988).
^Patrick McKay, A Dictionary of Ulster Place-Names, p. 104 and p. 117. The Institute of Irish Studies, The Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast, 1999.
