Missing Child

Do you ever feel like you are going in circles when it comes to records? That's how I'm feeling with my research of Isaac Crawford whom I believe to be the son of James and Rebecca (Anderson) Crawford.

I recently found an obituary for George Whitley Crawford who died in 1889 in Gentry County, Missouri. According to the obituary in the 20 Sept 1889 issue of the Albany Ledger of Albany Missouri, George was born in Bartholomew County, Indiana.

The biography of George W. Crawford, found on page 421 of The History of Gentry and Worth Counties, Missouri (St. Joseph, Missouri: National Historical Co., 1882), provides some more information about George's early life.

Mr. Crawford the son of Isaac and Nancy (Miller) Crawford, both Kentuckians by birth.
During his infancy his parents died, and he was reared by his grand
parents. At the age of two years he was taken to Garrard County, Ken-
tucky, where he remained until ten years of age. In 1833, he moved
to Clay County, Missouri, continuing to reside there until about the year
1838, when he came to Gentry County.


With this additional information about George Crawford, I decided to re-look at the land records for Bartholomew County, Indiana. I found two deeds where Isaac Crawford purchased land in Bartholomew County, Indiana in 1823.

Bartholomew County, Indiana Deed Vol. A, page 337-338
west half of the half of the North west half quarter of section number thirteen in Town-
ship number Nine North of Range number five East containing Forty acres

Bartholomew County, Indiana Deed Vol. A, page 340-341
East half of North east Quarter of Section Number fourteen
township number nine range number five East containing eighty acres

Both deeds indicate that Isaac lived in Bartholomew County, Indiana at the time of purchase. In trying to confirm that this land belonged to the Isaac Crawford of my research, I've been looking for the sale of these two parcels of land. So far, I've found four deeds.

• James A. Crawford sold an undivided seventh share to Harvey Dickinson in 1838. (Bartholomew County Indiana Deed Book L page 215-216)
• John Crawford of Garret County, Kentucky sold his undivided share of the estate of Isaac Crawford deceased to Harvey Dickinson in 1840 (Bartholomew County Indiana Deed Book G page 337)
• George W Crawford of Clinton County, Missouri sold an undivided seventh part to Henry Dickison in 1844 (Bartholomew County Indiana Deed Book I page 540)
• Isaac Crawford of St. Francis County, Missouri sold all his interest being the one undivided seventh part ... "being the undivided interest of Isaac Crawford in and to said land formerly owned by his father Isaac Crawford deceased" to William F Pidgeon in 1847 (Bartholomew County Indiana Deed Book N page 299-300)

Thus, I believe these four Crawford men are brothers and the sons of Isaac Crawford. Since there were 7 shares of the property, I believe there are additional children.

Since George W. Crawford is believed to have spent his early childhood with grandparents in Garrard County, Kentucky, I looked for land records in Garrard County, KY. That's where I found records also identifying some of the children.

• Aristippus Brown and Elizabeth Brown his wife, late Elizabeth Crawford, daughter of Isaac Crawford son in law of Jacob Miller Decd sold interest in 197 1/2 acres of land in Garrard County Kentucky to William W Duff in 1840 (Garrard County Deed Book N page 396-397).
• In 1840, James Crawford & John Crawford, sons of Isaac Crawford, who was a son-in-law of Jacob Miller, decd sold interest in 197 1/12 acres of land in Garrard County, Kentucky to William W Duff. (Garrard County, KY Deed book N page 406)
• George W Crawford sold interest in 197 1/2 acres of land, "being the same on which my ancestor Jacob Miller decd was from" to William W. Duff in 1844 (Garrard County, KY Deed Book P page 253)
• In 1844, Henry Miller and Jane his wife of Washington County, Kentucky sold to William W Duff 197 1/2 acres "with the exception of nine acres and a fraction belong to the heir of Isaac and Nancy Crawford" [Henry Miller is likely the son of Jacob Miller] (Garrard County, Kentucky Deed Book P page 244) 

So far, I haven't found a deed in Indiana or Kentucky to tie the Mary Anna Crawford (1812-1873) who married Milton Merriwether Foster to this family. Until I find sources to disprove her relationship to Isaac Crawford and Nancy Miller, I am including her in the family.

Thus, I believe the children of Isaac and Nancy (Miller) Crawford are

• Elizabeth Crawford married to Aristippus Brown
• John Crawford
• Mary Anna Crawford (1812-1873) married to  Milton Merriwether Foster
• James Anderson Crawford (1816-1912) married to Agnes Poe
• George Whitley Crawford )1823-1889) married to Elizabeth Wheeler
• Isaac Crawford

That means, I am missing a child of Isaac and Nancy (Miller) Crawford.