Moving to Indiana

One of the challenges in genealogy is proving that a person in one location is the same person in another place and time. I often turn to land records to help make that connection. Thus, finding a land patent for Indiana land indicating that James Crawford came from Garrard County, Kentucky is 'genealogy gold'.

United States Bureau of Land Management, "General Land Office Records," database with images, BLM.Gov (http://glorecords.blm.gov : viewed online April 2019), James Crawford.

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

Tree Hint Issue

When working with Ancestry hints, do you look at the 'Member Tree' hints, or do you just ignore them? I look at them and often accept them without adding information to my tree. This creates a connection to other researchers that I can go back to.

While working with a non-ancestor, Rev. James Crawford (1752-1803), the suggested member trees really puzzled me. Many were trees for the James Crawford that married Rebecca Anderson. However, they also included the family information for the James Crawford that married Sarah VanSant