Fabulous Find

Do you use Ancestry.com in your genealogy research? If so, have you checked out one of their newest sources of shaky leaf hints: Newspapers.com Obituary Index, 1800s-current? Randy Searver's instructions on how to access just the hints from this one source in his Using the 'Mining Ancestry.com Hints from a Specific Collection' Tool makes it easy to pull these hints. 

Shhh! It's a Secret!

As a genealogist, do you do most of your research online? I have to admit that I tend to concentrate on sources that are online and don't take the time to see what I'm missing by relying on online sources.

Since I happen to live a few hours from the Midwest Genealogy Center and since my husband is also hooked on the genealogy habit, we try to visit this fabulous genealogy library at least once a year. Usually, my pre-trip plans center around creating a list of localities I want to research and not a specific list of sources.

This time, I had a book that I wanted to find: Descendants of Alexander and Mary McPheeters Crawford. According to WorldCat, this book was supposed be in the collection at the Midwest Genealogy Center. However, it wasn't listed in their catalog. Thus, I knew I would need to ask for help to verify that they did not have the book.

I am SO GLAD I asked for help! The librarian verified that the print copy of the book was missing. However, she didn't stop there. In our conversation, I told her that there was a copy on microfiche at the Family History Library. She immediately looked the book up on FamilySearch and then with some computer magic, told me they had the book on microfiche!

Not only did they have this book, but they had drawers full of microfiche and microfilm from the Family History Library.

John S Crafton Deed

FamilySearch
Bartholomew County, Indiana
Deeds, Vols. W (cont.) - X (to p.651), 1856-1858
FamilySearch Film 1301899 DGS 8059780

This is likely, John S. Crafton [KP3G-WHX], grandson of James and Rebecca Crawford.

Book W page 519 - Crafton Jno S heir

Possible Distant Cousins

Have you tested your DNA? If so, have you been able to break through a brick wall using your DNA results?

My main purpose for testing my DNA was to learn more about my Crawford ancestry. Since I already have identified my 4th great grandfather on my Crawford line, I was hoping to identify his siblings and parents via DNA. So far, my results have not helped me get thru that brick wall.

However, there is one DNA test that has puzzled me for quite some time. This is the sole test that shows up when I search my matches for ancestors born in Garrard County, Kentucky: i******. I share 23 cM across 2 segments with i****** and one of my brothers shares 24 cM across 2 segments with i******.

When I looked at shared matches with i******, I found two other matches that appear to have the same common ancestors: Isaac Crawford and Nancy Miller. In looking at matches shared with these two other matches, I discovered a fourth match who descends from a different Garrard County family.

Crawford Ancestor DNA Project

Have you heard about Ancestor DNA Projects on GedMatch? Don't feel bad if you haven't. I first heard about them last month when a member of the Clan Crawford group on Facebook posted about it.

Several members of the Clan Crawford Facebook group are trying to get a Crawford Ancestor Project started. However, they need FIFTY Crawford researchers to agree to participate to get the project established.

If you are a Crawford researcher who has uploaded your DNA to GedMatch, then please consider participating in the project.

To join the project, one must first be a member of the Clan Crawford Association Ancestry & DNA Research Forum on Facebook. If you are on Facebook, then you may submit a request to join the Clan Crawford Association Ancestry & DNA Research Forum. This is a great group that discusses Crawford DNA and/or Crawford Research.

Once your membership in the Clan Crawford Association Ancestry & DNA Research Forum, you can use the search box on the right side of the screen to locate posts on a particular topic.

A search for 'gedmatch' will bring up the post about the Ancestor Project.

The post contains a link to a Google file where one can enter his/her gedmatch number if willing to be part of the project.

If you are a Crawford researcher, please consider participating in both the Facebook group and the Crawford Ancestor DNA Project.

Elusive David Hall Family

Jane Crawford, daughter of James and Rebecca (Anderson) Crawford married David Hall. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find much information on David and Jane Hall.

David Hall¹ lived in Jefferson, Indiana, United States in 1820.²

He filed land entry papers for land being the East half of the Southwest quarter of section 25 Township 10 of Range 5 containing 80 acres on 24 Apr 1820 in Indiana, United States.³

He  purchased land being lot 104 in Columbus in 1823 in Bartholomew, Indiana, United States.⁴

David  purchased land being lot 63 in Columbus in 1823 in Bartholomew, Indiana, United States.⁵

He filed land entry papers for land being the West half of the Southwest quarter of Section 25 Township 10 of Range 5 containing 80 acres on 1 Jan 1823 in Indiana, United States.⁶

David Hall of Dearborn County, Indiana made full payment for the south West quarter of the North East quarter of Section seventeen in township six of Range two West in the District of lands subject to sale at Cincinnati, Ohio (lying in Indiana) containing 40 acres on 7 Nov 1837 in Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio, United States.⁷

David sold land being lot number 104 in Columbus on 1 Dec 1838 in Bartholomew, Indiana, United States.⁸

He sold land land being lot number 63 in Columbus on 2 Oct 1839 in Bartholomew, Indiana, United States.⁹

David Hall and Jane Crawford¹⁰ were married on 5 Jan 1814 in Jefferson, Indiana, United States.^1,11–17

Jane Crawford, daughter of James Crawford and Rebecca Anderson, was born about 1796.

She was the child of James Crawford and Rebecca Anderson.¹⁶

She was also known as Jane Hall on 5 Jan 1814.¹