Editing William Crossing (section)

==Early life==
Crossing was born in Plymouth on 14 November 1847. Early in his youth he was fond of Dartmoor, his early associations centring on the south-west of the moor, in the neighbourhood of [[Sheepstor]], [[Walkhampton]], Meavy, and Yannadon. He acquired a taste for antiquities from his mother. He later went on to explore [[Tavistock, Devon|Tavistock]], [[Coryton, Devon|Coryton]], [[Lydford]], [[Okehampton]], and the northern borders of Dartmoor, as well as [[South Brent]], on its southern verge.

After finishing his schooling in Plymouth, he went to the Independent College at [[Taunton]], and then returned to finish his education at the [[Mannamead]] School (later called [[Plymouth College]]).

His earliest literary efforts were in fiction: "thrilling romances", composed for the delectation of his schoolfellows. His first essay in poetry was at the age of fourteen, when a poem of his appeared in the pages of ''Young England'', December 1861.

In 1863 he went for a short coastal voyage to Wales, and gained a liking for the sea; in 1864 he joined a vessel bound for Canada, and had a narrow escape, nearly being crushed by an [[iceberg]] during the night. Returning from this voyage, he took to business pursuits in Plymouth, and then recommenced his Dartmoor explorations.