Evelina Gibbons Harper Cranstoun of Antigua

Evelina Gibbons Harper Cranstoun (1866-1947) my great grandmother was known as "Effie" was born on Montserrat was the wife of Langford Selly Cranstoun and she was the daughter of William Henry Harper and Ann Gibbons sister to James Dudgeon Harper who married Anna Constable Watkins and were parents to Elizabeth Sophia “Bessie” Harper and James Watkins Harper.

She comes from Montserrat's Georgian era historic capital city of Plymouth which was destroyed and two-thirds of the island's population was forced to flee because of an eruption of the previously dormant Soufriere Hills volcano that began on July 18, 1995.

She came to Antigua with her brother and met Langford Selly Cranstoun and married him. Langford Selly Cranstoun, planter, marries Evelina Gibbons of Jolly Hill on Oct 5, 1887.

They had the following children:

• Irene Evelina Cranstoun

• Langford Duer Cranstoun

• Arthur Herbert Cranstoun

• Edith Eliza Maud Cranstoun

• Alice Ann Louise Cranstoun

• Mary Olive Cranstoun

• Florence Ethel Cranstoun

Evelina's brother James Dudgeon Harper was the father of "Bessie" Harper, James opened Harper's Drug Store a landmark in St. John's Antigua for years. In fact when the Royal Bank of Canada opened its first office in Antigua it was in the Harper building. On my second visit to Antigua, I met the new owner of Harper's and he told me that when he took possession of the building there were many of "Bessie's" papers and books stored in the attic, not realizing what they were, they were trhown away.

Will of Evelina Gibbons Harper Cranstoun

“She is a widow of Gray’s Hill, died September 1947, leaving an estate valued at $196.44.

She leaves her piece of land on Cross Street to be sold and the proceeds plus any money in her account at the Antigua Savings Bank is to go to her grandchildren, Cynthia, Langford, Mildred Malone, Doreen Malone, Cranstoun
Kelsick, Jane Kelsick, Alice Eileen Mercer, Edward Langford Mercer, Irene McIntosh, William McIntosh, Sybil McIntosh, and Arthur McIntosh.

Daughter Irene Evelina Malone is to be her executor.”

Due to the times and conditions in Antigua Evelina died intestate, so her will was meaningless.

I’m not sure what happened between my grandfather and his mother as his children were left nothing from her as you can see from above. All the grandchildren received something according to her Will with the exception of Langford Duer’s children. I’d like to think the reason was explained in the section on my grandfather Langford Duer Cranstoun. Evelina outlived Langford Selly by 27 years and never spoke to my grandfather again after he passed. I wonder why old “Artie” didn’t pick up the ball, oh yeah, he was to busy didling the servants. I wonder if Evelina knew that.

I did some research while in Antigua after I found that the family lived at Langford’s at one time. I found that the man who owned Langford’s also owned Cassada Gardens so I have to assume that Langford Selly Cranstoun was the plantation manager for both plantations.

After Langford died Evelina had tough financial times for the rest of her life, as the sugar cane markets were poor,
due to the competition of the cheaper sugar beets from France. My grandfather had left Antigua for a new life in
Canada and when Arthur died in 1932 and his wife and children left for St. Kitts, there was no one to look after
Thomas’ or Cochrane’s and the family lost the estates for nonpayment of the mortgage.

Evelina moved to St. Kitts with her daughter Irene for a period of time, then moved on to Mary Olive’s on St.
Thomas for another period and ended with Edith at Gray’s Hill in Antigua. So when Evelina passed in 1947 there
was nothing left, her Will meant nothing. She had to sell her house as Edith needed financial help.

I received a letter which was addressed to Mrs. E. Cranstoun at the Kensington Hotel in St. John’s, Antigua which
I assume came from Mary Olive as the postmark is from Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas and it is dated October 4,
1940.

The Kensington Hotel was owned by Arthur Edward Mercer, husband to Alice Ann Louise Cranstoun.

James Dudgeon Harper