As Seaton Snook was built primarily on either sand dunes or reclaimed salt marshes, growing crops proved to be difficult. The land was fine for grass good enough to be grazing pasture, but other crops were bought from farms in the surrounding villages - Seaton Carew and Greatham.  John Crosby's hayfield was behind Holy Trinity Church in Seaton Carew, and it was from here that the Snook folk bought hay - amongst other things.  Crosby himself (born c1835) was also a butcher in Seaton Carew, and may have had a trade relationship not only with the cattle farmers of the Snook, but also with the various people who would catch rabbits from the dunes.