William Crotch [SEP] occupation
William Crotch
William Crotch (5 July 1775 – 29 December 1847) was an English composer and organist.
Life.
Born in Norwich, Norfolk, to a master carpenter he showed early musical talent as a child prodigy, playing the organ his father had built. Aged two he became a local celebrity by performing for visitors, among them Charles Burney, who wrote an account for the Royal Society of his visits. The three and a half year old Master William Crotch was taken to London by his ambitious mother
at St James Church, Manchester. his parents being John and Jenny HIGTON. John was a cotton spinner (which does seem an unlikely occupation for the father of a Cambridge Alumnus) (source: St James, Manchester parish registers).
William Nichols HIGTON, the son of John and Mary HIGTON, was born on 30 Sep 1798, and baptised on 17 Aug 1810 at St Mary's church, Newington, London (ref: St Mary's church, Newington parish registers). There does not appear to be