John Crawford Heirs

In trying to figure out who John Crawford is, I turned to deeds for some help. The Lincoln County Kentucky deed index from 1780 to 1870 [Family Search film 192237] had four entries with John Crawford listed as a grantor.

Image 47:
1795: Crawford, John grantor James Feland grantee - 264 1/2 acres vol C page 13
1795: Crawford, John grantor James Logan - 42 acres Book C page 23
1798: Crawford John Grantor Wm Gooch 130 acres Hfork book D page 26

Image 52
1842: Crawford John Hrs grantor Bashford Jon C P of A S31+29 book R page 420

The Power of Attorney found on page 42 of deed book R does list some heirs. Unfortunately, it doesn't explain how they might be related to John Crawford.

Unfortunately, the Family Search tree and a search of Ancestry member trees hasn't been much help in figuring out who these people are. There is a Frederick Sponseller [MJSL-3MY] whose wife is given as Harriett Ann Ellis [MJSL-39J].

Further searching of the deed index for BASHFORD revealed two more Power of Attorney deeds in Lincoln County, Kentucky. [Book W page 366-367 - image 544].

The deed on page 366 lists the following BASHFORD family members from Morrow County, Ohio as heirs:

• Joseph Bashford
• John M Bashford
• Robert C Bashford
• William Bashford
• James Bashford
• Joseph Bashford Jr
• Sarah J Bashford - signed by her guardian and mother, Margaret Bashford

The deed on page 367 provides more information on Rhuana and Harriett

• maiden name is Ellis 
• Rhuana's husband is Moses McCoy

Not only are these deeds unclear as to the relationship with John Crawford, but researchers on Family Search have not linked these families together let alone linked them to John Crawford.

These relationships are a mystery and more research is needed to figure this out.

Below is a copy of the deed from Book R page 420 and a transcription of that deed.

Lincoln County Kentucky

Deeds, 1780-1866; indexes, 1780-1955

Vols. Q-R, 1839-1843

Film 192246

DGS 8338047

Book R page 42

Image 573

Know all men by these presents that we Rebecca Ellis and

Escher Ellis and Ether Eillis, Rhuham McCoy of Franklin County

Pennsylvania and Frederick Sponceller and Herriet Sponseller of Wash

ington county and state of Maryland being the heirs and legal

representatives of John Crawford dec’d who departed this life in the

County of Lincoln and State of Kentucky have nomenated consulted

and appointed John C Bashford our true and lawful attorney

for us and in our names, places and steads, to institute any suit or suits

where as common law or in equity in the state of Kentucky for

any and all lands back rents slaves here and all and

every other thing whatsoever to which we may in any way

be united in and to each and every species of property which

image 574 - page 421

State of Kentucky whether the same be real personal or mixed which

descended to us by virtue of the law of descent in Kentucky in conse

quence of the death of said Crawford and we further authorize and re

quest our said money to employ any and all such attorney or attorneys

and counselor at law to carry on and prosecute the business in such name

and under such circumstances as he or they may think best for all con

cerned and to make any contract or contracts and to give such fee or fees

as he our said attorney may think proper and to the advantage of all

concerned we further authorize our said attorney to [?] into and take

possession of any and all the land which may be recovered in the state

of Kentucky and to take possession of all and any of the slaves which

may be succeeded for he is further authorized and invested with full ample

and complete power to settle and adjust all claims and controversies touch

ing the matter in contest to settle and compromise all or any suit or suits

with any and all the necessary parties to the same and to sign any deed

or deeds of conveyance or other instrument of writing to any and all persons

interested in and about said lands and slaves, and every other species of

property relative to said business orders reception of any money from the

estate of said John Crawford dec’d in fact our said attorney and to all 

intents and purposes authorized empowered and requested to do any and all

business he may think proper and deem necessary about said premises

as fully as we could do were we personally present acting and doing for

ourselves our said attorney is further authorized and invested with full and

ample power to nominate constitute and appoint any one or more attorneys

for himself and in his place and stead as he may deed necessary

and expedient who when to appointed shall have and be fully 

invested with all power and authority which we have given and 

[?] in our said attorney John P Bashford and we

hereby ratify and confirm whatsoever our said attorney may do

or cause to be done in and about the premises

In ceremony whereof we have hereunto set our hands and

seals this 24th day of September 1842

Rebecca Ellis

Escher Ellis

Ruhama McCoy

Frederick Sponseller

Harriet Sponseller

Witness

James H Williamson

Robt King

James Irwin

State of Pennsylvania

Franklin County

We James H Williamson and Robert King whose

names are hereunto subscribed do certify that Rebecca Ellis, Ether Ellis, Rhuhama

McCoy Harriet Sponseller Frederick Sponseller personally appeared before us two

of the Justices of the peace [?] and for said county and state and acknowledged

the [?} & foregoing power of attorney to be their act and deed for the purpose therein

mentioned and consented that the same may be recorded in the clerks office of all the

county courts in the state of Kentucky we further certify that said Rebecca Ellis Escher

Ellis Rhuhama McCoy and Harriet Sponsellr & Frederick Sponseller ar epersonally

known to us to be the same persons whose names are subscribed to the [?[

and foregoing power of attorney. In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands

and seals this 24th day of September 1842

Jas H Williamson JP

Robt King JP

__________

Kentucky, Lincoln County. Deeds, 1780-1866; indexes, 1780-1955. Film #192246 (DGS 8338047). John Crawford, 24 Sept 1842 R: 42 and next page (images 572 and 573); digital images, Family Search www.familysearch.org : viewed online February 2019.