Mary Crawford - Wife of Alexander Moore

For a long time, the Mary Crawford of early Madison County has been a puzzle! Mary appears on the 1787 tax list for Madison County.(1)  She is also listed on the tax lists for 1789, 1791 and 1792 -- all in Madison County, Kentucky.(2)

In 1791, Mary purchases 100 acres of land on Sugar Creek from Richard Cave.(3)

This indenture made this 23 day of March and year of our Lord one thousand Seven hundred ninety one between Richard Cave and Elizabeth his wife of the county of Woodford and District of Kentucky on the one part and Mary Crawford of the County of Madison and District aforesaid of the other part. Witnesseth that the said Richard Cave and Elizabeth his wife for and in consideration of the sum of seventy pounds current money of Virginia to them in hand paid by the said Mary Crawford the receipt where of he the said Richard Cave and Elizabeth his wife doth hereby acknowledge and themselves therewith fully satisfied and content hat granted bargained sold aliened and confirmed and by these presents doth grant bargain sellalien and confirm unto the said Mary Crawford one certain tract or parcel of land containing by survey one hundred acres situate lying and being in the aforesaid County of Madison and on the waters of Sugar Creek and is bounded as follows (to wit) Beginning at a black walnut and Beech tree standing in the line of Richard Caves survey of four hundred acres on said Creek and corner to William McChears hundred acres extending from thence south one hundred and fifty six poles to a sugar tree and hickory from thence north sixty four degrees West seventy two poles to a Buck thence north forty five degrees West one hundred and eighteen poles to four Linns growing from one root from thence North forty poles to a Buckeye and Sugar tree corner to William McCluer and from thence East one hundred and sixty poles binding on McCluers line to the beginning including the said Mary Crawfords clearing and improvements with its appurtenances to have and to hold the said land and premises with every of its appertenances unto the said Mary Crawford and her heirs forever and the said Richard Cave for himself his heirs executors and administrators the said land and premises unto the said Mary Crawford heir heirs executors and administrators shall and will warrant and forever defend against the claim of him the said Richard Cave and Elizabeth his wife their heirs executors and administrators or from any other person or persons claiming by or under them and against the claim of all and every other person or persons whatsoever. In witness where of the said Richard Cave and Elizabeth his wife for themselves their heirs executors and administrators hath hereunto set their hands and affixed their seals this day and year first above written.

Signed sealed acknowledged and delivered in the presents of
(The three letters in the second line the word Woodford interlined before sind)

Richd Cave (ss)
Elizabeth Cave (SS)

Michael Turner
Charles Bland
Thos McClure
William McClure

Based on the tax list and land purchase, it has been assumed that Mary was a widow and possibly the mother of the James Crawford who married Sally Duggins in Garrard County in 1799. However, no probate records have been found for Mary Crawford in Madison or Garrard counties. Nor have I been able to find a land record where Mary Crawford is listed as the grantor.

Since it was likely that a widow living on the frontier of Kentucky would remarry, I started searching for a marriage record. I found a record for the marriage of Alexander Moore to a Mary Crawford in Madison County, Kentucky. Alexander Moore had a bond dated 27 Mar 1793 for his marriage to Mary Crawford.(4)

This brought up the question as to whether the Mary Crawford who married Alexander Moore was the same Mary Crawford who purchased the land. Thus, I began searching for land records where Alexander Moore was identified as the grantor. I found two such land records prior to 1800: one in Madison County and one in Garrard County. The Garrard County deed dated 6 Nov 1797 was for the same piece of land on Sugar Creek!(5)

This indenture made this tenth day of November in the year of our lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety seven between Alexander Moore and Mary his wife of Madison County and State of Kentucky of the one part and w[elden] Smith of the County and State aforesaid of the other part
witnesseth that the said Alexander Moore and Mary his wife for and inc consideration of the
sum of sixty pounds current money of the state aforesaid the receipt whereof they do
hereby acknowledge and confess themselves to be therewith perfectly satisfied hath granted
bargained sold aliened and confirmed and by these present doth grant bargain sell alien and
confirm unto the said Weeden Smith his heirs executors and administrators a certain tract or
parcel of land containing one hundred acres situate lying and being in the County of
Madison aforesaid on the waters of sugar Creek and bounded as follows to wit:
Beginning at black walnut and burch trees standing in the line of Richard Caves Survey
of four hundred acres on said creed and corner to William McLueir' hundred acres extending
from thence South one hundred and fifty six poles to a sugar tree and Hickory from thence
North sixty four degrees west twenty two poles to a beach thence north forty four
degrees west one hundred and eighteen poles to four linns growing from one root thence
north forty poles to a buckey and sugar tree corner to William McLuer thence Est one
hundred and sixty poles binding on McLure line to the beginning its appurtances to have and to hold the said land and promise with every of its appertenances to the said Weeden Smith his
heirs, executors and administrators for ever and to the end that the said Smith his heirs
executors and administrators may be completely and indifensibly vested with the above said
land and premises the said Alexander Moore and Mary his wife for themselves their heirs
executors and administrators with warrant and forever defend the said land and premises
under the said Weeden Smith his heirs executors and administrators against the claim
or claims of all and every person or persons whatsoever in testimony whereof we have here
unto set their hands and affixed their seals the date and hour
Alexander Moore
Mary Moore
Witnesses:
NONE SHOWN

Since the land description for the sale of the land by Alexander Moore and his wife, Mary, matches the land description for the 100 acres of land on Sugar Creek purchased by Mary Crawford, I am concluding that the Mary Crawford married to Alexander Moore is the same Mary Crawford who purchased the land and who is shown on the tax lists.

I originally thought this couple was the same as  Alexander Moore [947N-XFM] and Mary Crawford on the FamilySearch family tree, it showed them as being the parents of 12 children born between 1793 and 1807. However, more recent research in Garrard County, Kentucky deeds does not support the theory that these are the same people. As I locate these records, I am attaching them to Alexander Moore in my software and then uploading the changes to Alexander Moore on my Ancestry tree.

 I still haven't figured out how Mary Crawford fits in a Crawford family tree -- but will continue searching for more clues.

Footnotes:

(1,2) Madison County, Kentucky Taxpayers, 1787-1799 (Miami Beach, FL: T.L.C. Genealogy, 1992), Crawford, Mary (exempt). Hereinafter cited as Madison County, Kentucky Taxpayers, 1787-1799.
(3) Madison County, Kentucky, Vol. A-B 1787-1790: 95-98, Richard Cave to Mary Crawford; FHL microfilm Film #007896910.
(4) Vockery, Bill and Kathy Vockery, Madison County Kentucky Marriage Records, Vol. 1 1786-1822 (Richmond, KY: Bill & Katy Vockery, 1993), Alexander Moore - Mary Crawford
(5) Garrard County, Kentucky, Vol A- 1797-1805: page 101-102, Alexander Moore & Mary his wife; FHL microfilm film # 007899064.