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

DNA Common Ancestor

Have you used the new Ancestry DNA match filters? Thanks to these new filters, I've been looking at my NEW matches who may share a common ancestor with me.

In the past, I would click on the match's tree to see if I could figure out how we connected. When the match's tree only has a few people, that becomes a challenge. Today, I tried clicking on the shaky leaf and discovered that Ancestry is doing some of the work for me.

Clicking on that shaky leaf opens a screen comparing our DNA that also suggests a common ancestor. This suggested common ancestor is based on shared matches.

At this point, this is just a clue. However, it is a clue that helps focus research to figure out how we are connected. 

Since I have added descendants for many of my lines, I can sometimes figure out how we might connect. In this case, I haven't done enough forward research to have a clue how our lines connect. Either way, I can message the match with a link to that section of my tree to see if they can figure out whether we connect.

Thank you Ancestry for providing these hints!

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.