Sellers Mystery

Have you ever seen names on documents and wondered how they fit into your tree? That's my situation right now with the SELLERS family!

My ancestor, James Crawford, married Sally Duggins in Garrard County, Kentucky in 1799. James Sellers signed the bond and was one of the parties named in the bond.

Know all men by these presents that
we Jams Crawford and James Sellers are
hito and firmly bound unto James Garrard
Esqr Governor of Kentucky in the just and
full sum of fifty pounds current money
to which payment will and trust to be
made we bind ourselves our heirs [so] jointly
and surrally firmly by these presents seald and
dated this 12th day of Sept 1799
Th eCondition of the above obligation
is such that whereas there is a marriage shortly
into to be solemnized between the above bound
James Crawford and Sally Duggins for 
which a licenses has issued now if there 
be no lawful cause to obstruct the sd
marriage then the above obligation so
be void. Else to remain in full force and 
virtue
James Crawford (seal)
James Sellers (seal)

Suit Against George Douglass

Lincoln County Kentucky
Court Order Books 1781-1919

Vols. 2 1785-1786
FS Film 192253 - DGS 7763893
A suit against George Douglass for ejectment was discontinued.

Image 339

June Court 1785

John Crawford on Jury

Lincoln County Kentucky
Court Order Books 1781-1919

Vols. 2 1785-1786
FS Film 192253 - DGS 7763893

John Crawford served on a jury during the February 1785 Court in Lincoln County, Kentucky.

Image 325

February Court 1785

1785 Kentucky Court

Lincoln County Kentucky
Court Order Books 1781-1919

Vols. 2 1785-1786
FS Film 192253 - DGS 7763893

William Crawford served on a jury in the Lincoln County, Court during the February 1785 term.

Image 321

February Court 1785
John Seekright of the Demise of John Parks
[?ale] an Infant by his
Guardians John Cowan
and Joseph Davis Plt
ag
John Kincaid
In Ejectment for one
[messuage] one tenement
and 1000 acres of land
Situate in the County
of Lincoln and Parish
of Kentucky

John Kennedy Deceased

Lincoln County Kentucky
Court Order Books 1781-1919

Vols. 1-2 1781-1786
FS Film 192253 - DGS 7763893

Image 227

Cowan vs Crawford

Lincoln County Kentucky
Court Order Books 1781-1919

Vols. 1-2 1781-1786
FS Film 192253 - DGS 7763893

Image 168

February Court 1784

John Cowan Pltf
against
William Crawford Deft
In Tx over
By consent of the parties, it is ordered that all
matters in difference between them relative to this
first be referred to the arbitration and determination
of James Speed and Joseph Davies and their award
or the award of such persons as they shall choose for
umpire in case they disagree to be made the
judgement of the court

Maybe Brothers

Have  you ever found people of the same surname in a census record and later wondered whether they were an unknown sibling? If so, then you understand when I wonder whether Alexander Crawford could be a sibling to the other Crawfords who married in Lincoln County, Kentucky prior to 1800?

Alexander Crofford is listed on the 1789 tax list for Lincoln County, Kentucky. Even though I have been researching other Crawford families in this area, I had ignored Alexander Crofford because other researchers have identified Alexander Crawford as a descendant of Alexander Crawford and Mary McPheeters.

However, when I found Alexander Crawford on the Pulaski County, Kentucky tax lists along with William Crawford, I began to research Alexander Crawford.

• Adams Crawford Land
• Adams Will

The will of Thomas Adams identified the wife of Alexander Crawford as Margaret McElwee, niece of Thomas Adams. Since Alexander Crawford married Margaret McElwee in Lincoln County, Kentucky in 1788, I believe the Alexander Crawford of Pulaski County, Kentucky is the same Alexander Crawford found in the Pulaski County records.

The Find a Grave entry for Alexander Crawford uses family relationships in Augusta County, Virginia to make the case that the Alexander Crawford of Pulaski County, Kentucky is likely descended from Alexander and Mary McPheeters Crawford -- or a relative of this Alexander Crawford.

Two of Them

Have you ever suspected that there were two men of the same name in a community but lacked the proof? Once I discovered John Crawford owning land on the Hanging Fork of Dix River, I've wondered about the possibility of two John Crawfords.

Thanks to the help of other researchers, I've placed two brothers, James and William living along Paint Lick Creek. We've suspected that their brother's (John) widow was Rebecca Crawford who purchased land from George Douglass.

The deeds found for the John Crawford land on Hanging Fork do not support his being the father of the Sarah and Mary Crawford who married William and James Sellers in Lincoln County, Kentucky. Thus, it is unlikely that he is the husband of Rebecca Crawford.

As I was reading the Lincoln County Court Order book for 1783, I came across verification of TWO John Crawfords living in the area at that time. These records also show that William and James Crawford were also living in that vicinity at that time.

Suit Against George Douglass

Lincoln County Kentucky
Court Order Books 1781-1919

Vols. 2 1785-1786
FS Film 192253 - DGS 7763893

A suit against George Douglass for ejectment was discontinued.

Image 339

June Court 1785

John Crawford on Jury

Lincoln County Kentucky
Court Order Books 1781-1919

Vols. 2 1785-1786
FS Film 192253 - DGS 7763893

John Crawford served on a jury in the February 1785 court for Lincoln County, Kentucky

Image 325

February Court 1785

Logan vs McElwee

Lincoln County Kentucky
Court Order Books 1781-1919

Vols. 1-2 1781-1786
FS Film 192253 - DGS 7763893

Image 115
August Court 1783

James Logan Plt
against
Jane McElwee Deft

In Ejectment for
One [Ucssuage] ten acre
of arable land situate in the county of Lin
coln and Parish of Kentucky

Alexander Crawford Marriage

KY-Lincoln-Marriages 1793-1841

Loose Papers, files 1-6 1781-1809
FS Film 192262 - DGS 007899121


Image 190

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

Rebecca's Land

Have you ever found you have attributed a record to the wrong person? Unfortunately, with same name research that can happen too easily.

As I was transcribing deeds that I thought were for James and Rebecca (Anderson) Crawford of Garrard County, Kentucky, I began to question whether these deeds were for this James and Rebecca (Anderson) Crawford.

There were some clues in the deeds that should have led me to a different James Crawford.

The first clue was the signatures. Rebecca's name was above James'.

Paying Forward

Do you have data sitting in your genealogy files that isn't of help to you but might help others tie siblings together?

That's what I've found by researching land transactions for John Crawford in Lincoln County, Kentucky. I've found three deeds naming a Power of Attorney for heirs of John Crawford.

Page 420 of Lincoln County Deed, KY,  DeedBook R identifies the following heirs in 1842

• Rebecca Ellis
• Esther Ellis
• Ruhama McCoy
• Frederick Sponseller
• Harriet Sponseller

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

Crawford Land Patent

I recently found the land records for John Crawford of Lincoln County, Kentucky. He owned 913 acres of land on Hanging Fork of Dick's River.

Land-Office Treasury Warrant, No. 2690

To the principal Surveyor of any County within the Commonwealth of Virginia
This shall be your WARRANT to survey and lay off
in one or more surveys, for John Crawford
his heirs and assigns the Quantity of One thousand
acres of land, due unto the said John Crawford in
right of pre-emption as a certificate form the Supreme Court of the
Kentucky District
In consideration of the sum of five pounds thirteen shillings
current money paid into the Public Treasury the
payment whereof the Treasurer hath been duly certified by the Auditors of public
accounts, and their certificate received into the Land-Office.
Given under my hand, and the seal of the said office, this 29th
day of September in the year one thousand seven hundred and 86.

Test
Samuel M Craw Clk
John Harvie Be S O N

John Crawford of LIncoln County Kentucky

Do you ever go back thru your research (think Thomas MacEntee's Genealogy Do-Over) and find a potential family member living nearby whom you have never researched?

Well, that happened to me when I was researching Rebekah Crawford in the tax records for Lincoln County. That's where I found John Crawford.

• 1787 Crofford John - 4 horses, 4 cattle
• 1789 Crawford John - 5 horses
• 1790 Crawford John - 4 horses
• 1791 Crawford John - 4 horses
• 1792 Crawford John - 5 horses, 17 cattle and 913 acres

Unexcpected DNA Finding

Last week, I watched the "Watch Geoff Live: DNA" webinar on Legacy Family TreeWebinars. While watching, I followed along by looking at my autosomal DNA results on Ancestry. I had my DNA tested last summer and had studied some of the results but hadn't found the help with 'brick walls' that I had hoped for.

One of the brick walls I've been working on is my James Crawford line. My James Crawford died in Preble County Ohio in 1854. He married Sally Duggins in Garrard County Kentucky in 1799. Sally had previously been married to Alexander Duggins by whom she had two sons: William and Henry. Henry Duggins was married to Jane Sellers, daughter of Nathan Sellers. Nathan A. Sellers was a neighbor of my James Crawford and died in Preble County Ohio in 1824. In early Preble County Ohio, there was a second James Crawford who owned land adjoining my James Crawford. This James Crawford married Martha Knight in 1793 in Lincoln County Kentucky. It is believed that two of the sisters of this James Crawford married brothers to Nathan A. Sellers. Thus, the two Crawfords, the Sellers and the Duggins were all neighbors in Preble County Ohio and loosely related by marriages. However, no proof has been found of any relationship between the two James Crawfords.

As I was watching and following along, I somehow searched my DNA results for the Sellers surname. SURPRISINGLY, I found matches on Nathan Sellers of Pennsylvania! I've found at least two others (enough for a circle of 3) but the generations don't quite match up for Ancestry to create a circle (yet). Thus, I've started trying to document a circle.

A known descendant of James and Martha has his DNA on Gedmatch (but not on Ancestry). When we have compared our two sets of DNA, it said there were 'No Shared DNA segments found'. Thus, we assumed we either weren't related or that it was far enough back that the DNA didn't help.

With my new SELLERS discovery, I decided to re-look at Gedmatch. This time, I had it show the chromosomes. We still didn't have matches on 'centromeres'. However, the chromosomes weren't all red. Thus, I had to study the GedMatch key.

According to the key, the more lime green, the more matches on base pairs (A-T and C-G). When I looked at the chromosome comparison with the descendant of the other James Crawford, I found that we had a lot of yellow and green on chromosomes 21 and 22.

 When I did the same comparison between the descendant of James and Martha Crawford and a descendant of Nathan A. Sellers, there was even more yellow and green on these two chromosomes.

Granted, all results still say 'No shared DNA segments'. However, this is comparing autosomal DNA and not yDNA. I'm also looking at possible relationships at least six generations back. This yellow and green and the fact that SELLERS turns up as a surname match on Ancestry is enough to cause me to re-look at the research I have already done and use the SELLERS research to learn more about my CRAWFORD lineage.