William Cruttenden's trade label.

William Cruttenden was baptised at St Mary's parish church Goudhurst, Kent on the 18th June 1854 the 4th child of George Cruttenden and Jane Roberts.

While the family were from originally from Sussex, William's father was born in Goudhurst and worked in the area as an agricultural labourer. By 1866 George's work took him from Goudhurst to the nearby village of Hunton where the family remained for around ten years. However, the draw of the town was ever present for the poor agricultural worker and by 1881 George had moved to Maidstone.

Meanwhile William, who was a labourer in 1871, married Sarah Mercer in 1877. Their first child, Ellen Minnie was born in 1879. Unfortunately Sarah was to die, aged 24, whilst giving birth to their son, also named William.

With the loss of his wife William took his two young children and moved in with his parents and other siblings at Astley Street. In 1881 William gives his occupation as 'Bird Stuffer'. Sometime after his sixteenth birthday in 1871 he must have found somebody to show him the art of stuffing birds.

In the 1800s, hunters took their trophies to upholsterers, who were used to working with leather, who would sew up the animal skins and stuff them with rags and cotton. The term "stuffing" or a "stuffed animal" evolved from this crude form of taxidermy. During the middle to late 19th century the occupation of stuffing dead animals was also known as a "naturalist". The term "taxidermist" came into common use in the early 20th century. Professional taxidermists prefer the term "mounted" to "stuffing".

In 1858 there were two people who called themselves naturalists living in Maidstone: William Ayres, Odd Fellows Arms and Naturalist, and Thomas Smith, Naturalist and Boat Builder of Under the Cliff. There were other naturalists in Kent at this time: William Andrew Waters, Hairdresser and Naturalist, East Gate, Rochester; John S Lucas, Naturalist and Tobacconist, Blackheath Hill, Greenwich; Henry Whitely, Naturalist, Shooter's Hill, Woolwich.

A look at the 1881 census reveals some 14 people living in Kent who gave their occupation as "Bird Stuffer". 13 people gave their occupation as "Naturalist" including Thomas Messenger aged 56 of Goudhurst, by coincidence William's home parish.

In 1888 William married his second wife, Elizabeth Mary Bromley, on the marriage certificate he records his occupation as a Taxidermist but by 1891 he is calling himself a Naturalist. In 1891 William was the only Naturalist in Maidstone. There was one Bird Stuffer; James Burn, Boot and Shoe Maker and Bird Stuffer living in Havock Lane.

It would seem the income of a Naturalist was not very great and so, like many others, William took a second trade and in the 1901 census was shown as making cycles. However, by 1906 he was advertising himself as a Naturalist and Cycle Agent. He would have been 52 years old.

Examples of William's work which are still extant include a Kestrel and a Nighjar. On the reverse of the case containing the Kestrel there is a makers note: "W Cruttenden, Preserver and Stuffer of Birds, Animals, Fish &c., 27 Mill Street, Maidstone. Picture Frames made to order."

When William married in 1888 he was living at Mill Street, firstly at number 27, then at number 29. The change of number may have been no more than a re-numbering of the street.

William's death has not be found but it is believed that his wife Elizabeth died in 1950 when she was over 90 years of age.