Chasing Edward

When doing your genealogy research do you sometimes feel like you are going down a rabbit hole or chasing your tail? That's what I sometimes feel like when I research descendants of a Crawford who is not my ancestor.

So yesterday, I was chasing my tail by researching the children of Edward Crawford (1762-1826) of Overton, Tennessee. Even though I don't have any paper research connecting my Crawford line to Edward or even to Overton County, Tennessee, there is a DNA connection. Descendants of Edward Crawford have also done a Big Y DNA test and we have been assigned the same branch of the Big Y Haplotree: R-Y88686.

When I first received these DNA results, I couldn't find a connection between my Crawford family in Garrard County, Kentucky and Edward Crawford of Overton County, Tennessee. However, I remembered that I had found an Edward Crawford in the 1795 and 1796 tax lists for Madison County, Kentucky. Wondering whether the Edward Crawford in the tax lists of Madison County, KY is the same Edward Crawford who died in Overton County, TN.

Thus, I've been researching the children and grandchildren of Edward Crawford of Overton County, Tennessee -- hoping to find some clue that would lead back to Kentucky. As I was finding records for Edward's children and their family, I was comparing my findings to the Edward Crawford [LD9R-8KW] family on the FamilySearch tree. During this comparison, I discovered that other researchers believe that David Crawford [9KMN-WNK], son of Edward and Abigail (Trowbridge) Crawford was born in Clark County, Kentucky.

DNA Haplogroup

Thanks to some updates to the yDNA test I manage, my Crawford line (James Crawford - born 1772, died 1854) has been assigned a new Haplogroup: R-A13336. Previously, we had been grouped in the larger R-M269 Haplogroup. According to a Crawford project administrator, I also share the Y30725 terminal SNP with another match. It is my understanding that work is still being done to determine which is older: the A13336 or the Y30725.

Revisiting Tax Lists

Do you ever find yourself retracing your research steps because you learn about a new family connection? Yep, that's me. I'm going back thru the early tax lists for Madison County, KY.

I wrote about my journey with suspected CRAWFORD family members in my January 2019 post, Tax Man Cometh. At the time, I mentioned finding Edward Crawford in a different taxing district from the other Crawfords. I didn't pursue Edward for several reasons. Since he wasn't shown as a land owner, I wouldn't find any deeds for him. I also didn't have any information tying Edward to any of the other Crawfords in those early tax records.

Now, I have yDNA evidence showing a relationship to Edward Crawford of Overton, Tennessee. From what I've been able to learn about this Edward Crawford, his birthplace is thought to be Pennsylvania or Virginia.

I have NO evidence that the Edward Crawford in the Madison County tax lists is the same Edward Crawford who died in Overton County, Tennessee. I also currently have NO evidence that they are not the same person.

Thus, I'm going to revisit the tax lists to see if I can learn anything more about the Edward Crawford of Madison County, Kentucky.

As mentioned in my previous post, I found several Crawfords listed in these Madison County, KY tax lists.

• Mary Crawford (found 1787-1792)
• James Crawford (found 1787-1796)
• William Crawford (found (1787-1796)
• James Crawford - appears in 1792
• Alexander Crawford - appears in 1792
• John Crawford - appears in 1795
• William Crawford Jr - appears in 1795
• Edward Crawford -- appears in 1795 -  under a different commissioner's list

Edward is the only Crawford who appears on the 1797 tax list. Edward is also listed on the 1799 tax list but has not been found after that date.

Since the first wife of Edward Crawford of Overton, TN was named Mary Gentry, I also looked for any GENTRY families on these Madison County, KY tax lists. I found several GENTRY families with most owning land. 

Madison County, Kentucky 

Tax Books, 1787-1874

Tax books 1787-1797, 1799-1807

Film 8126

DGS 7834478

Image 206

Madison County 1795

Image 210 

Crawford James - 1 male >21; 5 horses; 17 cattle; 146 acres

Image 211

Crawford John - 1 male > 21, 2 horses, 6 cattle

Crawford William Jr - 1 male > 21; 2 horses; 6 cattle

Crawford William Sr - 1 male > 21; 1 male 16-21; 12 horses; 28 cattle; 180 acres

Image 212

Duggins, William - 1 male > 21; 2 horses; 8 cattle

Duggins, Daniel - 1 male >21

Image 218

Moore Alexander - 1 male >21; 3 horses; 3 cattle

Image 218, 219, 220 - No William McClure, George Miller or Nancy Miller

Image 257

Crawford Edward - 1 male >21, 2 horses; 3 cattle

Image 258 - 1795

May 13 Gentry, Richard - 1 male > 21 - 0 male > 16 - 6 total blacks - 2 blacks under 16 - 5 horses - 40 cattle

Gentry, Robert - 1 male > 21, 2 total blacks - 1 black > 16 - 3 horses - 35 cattle

Gentry, David - 1 male > 21, 4 horses - 14 cattle

Clues from a Letter

Do you ever re-look at a document and discover a new clue? That was my experience when a 4th cousin sent me a copy of a letter - a letter that I think I've seen before.

Dodge City, Kansas, March 29, 1907

Dear nephew (William Clay Crawford)

Your ????? to hand. I am glad to hear from you. Your Grandfather
Crawford lived to be 56. Died with colic. Your Grandmother died
about the same age with typhoid. From your Great Grandfather
Crawford lived until the age of 72 and died with sunstroke. our
Great Grandmother Crawford lived 78-don't remember what caused here
death. Your Grandparents were born in Ohio and died in Warren
County, Indiana (W. Lebanon?). Your Great Grandparents moved from
Kentucky and died in southern Ohio. Your Great Great grandparents
came from Scotland and are buried in Kentucky not far from
Lexington. You are of strong hearty people and ought to live to
be an old man with proper care of your health. I am in only
tolerable health myself. I am muscular paralysis. Will stop off
and see you and family and next time I am through if possible.
Kindly regards to your family

From you affectionate uncle.
J.. H. Crawford
(James H. Crawford)

True or False?

Do you have ancestors living in the colonies prior to the revolutionary war? Have you applied to the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) or Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) for those ancestors? If so, have you ever encountered a warning that 'future applicants must prove correct service'?

This happened to me when I applied for the DAR. I was trying to use my great-grandmother's application (Josie Winifred Hammond Crawford - #319934) to apply.  She applied thru her great-grandfather, Jason Hammond (1762-1830). Unfortunately, I was told they wouldn't accept Jason Hammond as a revolutionary war ancestor. Since there were other Jason Hammonds living in Connecticut at the time, I'm assuming that the other Jason Hammond was the one who served. Fortunately, I was able to apply thru Jason's father, Nathaniel Hammond, who provided support for the revolutionary troops.

As I'm researching various James Crawford families in early Kentucky, I've found that the DAR has limited applications for one of those James Crawfords.

Unfortunately, many people for many years have mixed these men up. The James Crawford who has data in the 'correction file' is one of the James Crawfords living in Fleming County, Kentucky. This James was married to Sarah Vansant in 1786 in Botetourt County, Kentuckyand died in 1836. James Crawford is buried in the Hillsboro Cemetery in Fleming County, KY

Crawford to Rice Deed

Madison County Kentucky
Deed book B
page 269-270

page 269

Crawford to Rice

Kennedy to Crawford Deed

Deed-KY-Lincoln-Crawford-Kennedy

Lincoln County Kentucky
Deed Book A
page 219 image 120
FH Microfilm 192238

Kennedy to Crofford

This Indenture maid this 19th day of April in
the year of our lord one thousand seven hundred and
eight six between Thos Kennedy of the county of
Lincoln and State of Virginia of the one part and James
Crofford of the state and county aforesaid of the other

John Anderson Deed

Madison County Kentucky

Deed Book D
page 712 and 713
FamilySearch Film #183285

This indenture made this third day of October one thousand seven hundred and ninety eight between Samuel Campbell and Mary his wife of the County of Madison, Bez' l Maxwell and Margret his wife, James Crawford and Rebeca his wife of the County of Garrard, James Anderson and Hannah his wife of the county of Madison, John Gap and Anne his wife of the County of Bourbon and William M. Morrison

Will of David Crawford

One of the suggestions for breaking down a brick wall is to go back thru one's previous research. I can't say that I've broken thru my brick wall, but I can say that this review process is helping me learn about other Crawford families in the area.

So, last night, I continued the process when I found my handwritten notes from the book, Index to the Recorded Kentucky Wills to 1851: The Testators. It appears that I transcribed the information for all of the Crawfords. Curious about the contents of some of these early wills, I used FamilySearch to locate the 1805 will for David Crawford.

This will names the children, gives the married name of the daughters, identifies some slaves and identifies several pieces of land. Based on the information in the will, I believe this will is for David Crawford IV whose FamilySearch ID is L55C-CW6.

Jefferson County Kentucky
Will Books
1784-1833
FS Film 9043 DGS 7637316

David Crawford IV L55C-CW6
Children Named

• son David Crawford
• son Reuben Crawford
• son Nathan Crawford
• daughter Sally Cocke
• daughter Elizabeth Davis
• daughter Nancy Jones
• son Charles Crawford
• son Nelson Crawford
• son William Crawford

Book 1 page 161
Image 91

Another James Crawford

I thought I had figured out those James Crawfords who appear on multiple family trees with intermingled records and families. To my surprise, I have found another one in Fleming County, Kentucky. James, the husband of Sarah Vansandt, died in May 1836. This is the James Crawford I already knew about.

When I located the will of James Crawford, I found the will of another James Crawford dated September 1836. This James Crawford was the husband of Elizabeth D. Crawford, daughter of Mrs. Stockton. Not only are there TWO James Crawfords in Fleming County, Kentucky, but they both die in 1836!

Fleming County Kentucky
Probate Records
Vols. D-E 1829-1837
FS Film 344040 DGS 4818899

image 316 - start of book E

Image 522
Page 463

James Crawford Will

Crawford Marriages - Fleming County Kentucky

The will of James Crawford in Fleming County, Kentucky lists his children, giving the married names of his daughters. This makes it possible to match up the marriage records with the legacees from the will.

Legacees

• daughter Mary Kennerey [married William Kenny  October 19th 1809 ]
• son Crawford
• late son Henry Crawford
• son Josiah Crawford
• daughter Margery Blankenship (Maargary Kenney) [married John Kenny September 18 1810]
• late daughter Sarah Conran [married Jonathan Cochran April 7th —— (likely 1814)]
• son James Crawford [married Fanny Mills February 15 1821]
• Son Samuel Crawford
• Daughter Jane Hamlett [married Joseph Hamlet March 22 1820]
• daughter Elizabeth Crawford
• son Joshua Crawford [married Mary Howard 1828 Feby 14]
• daughter Ann Barton
• son John L Crawford

Fleming County Kentucky

Marriages

Returns 1798-1891

FS Film #005552779

Image 17 

Alexander Crawford to Rebecca Alexander by Benjamin Northcut 24 June 1810

Will James Crawford of Fleming County Kentucky

James Crawford's 1835 will found on pages 435-436 of Book E in Fleming County, Kentucky

Legacies

• daughter Mary Kennerey
• son Crawford
• late son Henry Crawford
• son Josiah Crawford
• daughter Margery Blankenship (Maargary Kenney)
• late daughter Sarah Conran
• son James Crawford
• Son Samuel Crawford
• Daughter Jane Hamlett
• daughter Elizabeth Crawford
• son Joshua Crawford
• daughter Ann Barton
• son John L Crawford

James Crawford Will

Re-Searching

Do you ever go back thru your research trying to use your older research to try and find new information? If so, that is what I'm working on with my James Crawford brick wall. As part of that process, I'm reviewing the other Crawford families I've identified and trying to prove/disprove a relationship with my ancestor, James Crawford.

Thus, I was looking at the James Crawford who was a Presbyterian minister at Walnut Hill Church outside of Lexington, Kentucky. Not only am I trying to find additional information, but I'm also trying to make sure I have good source citations for the information I have already located.

For Rev. James Crawford's death date, I had cited Kentucky Obituaries 1787-1854

Dooley

Have you ever seen a name in a deed or court document and thought to yourself, 'Hey, I've seen that name before?' Well that was my situation when I was looking at tax records for Barren County, Kentucky.

Since I found James Crawford with 200 acres of land on the Marrowbone listed on the 1800 tax list for Barren County, KY, I started looking for other people owning land on the Marrowbone. That's when I found Moses Dooly Junr also owning 200 acres of land on the Marrowbone.

Not only was Moses Dooly Junr in Barren County, but so was his father and brothers.

Deeds and Heirs

I love it when I find a deed listing heirs! Do you?

I thought I was going to learn the heirs of Alexander Crawford of Pulaski County, Kentucky when I found the following in the Pulaski County, Kentucky Grantor Index

1843 Crawford et al Alex C -- Martha Crawford -- Book 13, page 330

Unfortunately, this wasn't a deed for the Alexander Crawford I found in the Pulaski County, Kentucky tax lists.

However, this deed does identify the HEIRS of John Crawford. If you have a Crawford family in Rockcastle County, Kentucky, then this deed might break down some walls.

Pulaski County Kentucky
Deeds, 1799-1901; index to deeds 1799-1934

Deeds, V. 13 1846-1850
FS Film 804601 DGS 8193855

Page 330, 331

Image 176

More Taxes

Well, I'm chasing those Crawfords thru another set of Kentucky tax lists. This time, I'm looking in Pulaski County, Kentucky. Another Crawford researcher told me that the William Crawford found in the Madison County, Kentucky tax lists moved to Pulaski County prior to moving to Missouri.

On the off chance that I would find some of the other Crawford families in Pulaski County, I read the 1799-1822 tax lists. In addition to William Crawford,  I found an Alexander Crawford who may be the same Alexander Crawford on the 1792 Madison County, Kentucky tax list.

The information I found regarding William Crawford shows that he paid taxes in Pulaski county for 1799-1802. William also owned 400 acres of land in Pulaski County. Since William does not appear on the Garrard County, KY tax lists after 1797, the Pulaski County information fills in the gaps between Garrard County and his arrival in Ste. Genevieve. However, I need to locate additional records to confirm this is the same William.

Crawford vs Cox

Gowns, Petticoats and Silver Spoons

Have you ever seen a court case ordering the sale of the household goods -- including the gowns and petticoats -- to pay a debt?

I admit I haven't looked at a lot of court records - but this one is new to me.

I found the court case when looking for documents relating to CRAWFORD family members in Madison County, Kentucky. The index for the Court of Quarter Sessions case files led me to Case #588 for William Crawford vs William Cox.

John Crawford Clue

Have you ever run across a little tiny clue that changes your entire thinking about family members?

Well, I may have run across just such a clue for my Crawford family members in early Lincoln County, Kentucky. In the 1783-1786 Court Order book for the Lincoln County Supreme Court of Kentucky (Family Search film 551323), I found mention of a deed for John and William Crawford on image 69.

Image 69
June the 18th 1785
Saturday the 18th day of June 1785
Present
The Same judges as yesterday

The Heirs of John McClelland plts
against
John and William Crawford Defts

Upon a Caveat

Ordered that the former order herein be set aside and that
the first be discontinued

Lincoln County Taxes

Do you find little clues in tax records? When I reviewed the Lincoln County Kentucky tax records, I made some discoveries that are helping my CRAWFORD research in the area.

• Discovered John Crawford -- who owned 913 acres of land
  
• Sellers families listed beginning in 1787
• Rebekah Crawford (widow) listed in 1787-1791
• James Crawford owning 114 acres of land  on Sugar Creek (same description as land owned by Rebekah Crawford) in 1794
  
• Douglas families listed  beginning in 1789

1795 Mystery

• William Crafort - 500 acres Richland Creek

1799 Mysteries:

• James Crawford -- 100 acres on Rolling Forks
• Robert Crawford -- 200 acres

1784 Grand Jury

1784 Grand Jury

Lincoln County Kentucky

as found in the Court Order Book, 1783-1786 for the Kentucky Supreme Court of Lincoln County

Image 24

March 5th 1784