Samuel Cranmer married Emily Skinner in 1879. Initially, they lived on Market Hill in Woodbridge, where Samuel was running his own gunsmith’s shop, Samuel Cranmer & Co, Gun and Pistol Makers. Their first child, Alexander Charles, was born in 1879, followed by Bertram Allison the following year. In 1882, a third child, Ethel Maud, was born but died soon after. Four more children were to follow; John George in 1884, Thomas Samuel in 1885, Victoria Beatrice in 1887 and Hilda Maud in 1889. In the 1891 census, the family were still living and running the gunsmith’s business on Market Hill. In 1893 however, the shop, along with two others, was put up for sale by the property owner and the family moved to 3 Prospect Place, Melton, where Samuel continued his gunsmith’s business. Their son John fell ill and died the same year. Samuel and Emily died in the early 1920s and by then the family had moved to 7 Prospect Place. It was to remain home to Alexander and the family business until his death in 1959. All three surviving sons served during the First World War.
