Honored

The Topeka Genealogical Society Annual Conference is coming. Have you registered yet?

Michael J. Hall, a Kansas native, will be the featured speaker on Saturday. Mr. Hall has an extensive background in genealogy, including his current position as Deputy Chief Genealogical Officer at FamilySearch.

Mr. Hall will present four sessions on Saturday.

• Over the Flint Hills and Over the Plains: The Value of Military Records and Newspapers
• Inspring Family Stories: Finding the Grain of Truth
• Ad Astra Per Aspera (To the Stars Through Difficulty): Kansas Land Records
• A Little of This and a Little of That: Effectively Using FamilySearch.org

On Friday afternoon, there will be breakout sessions

Breakout Session 1: 12:30 - 1:20 PM

• Doughboys of World War I - Dr Richard Faulkner
• Observer - Brick Wall Consultation - Michael J. Hall

Breakout Session 2: 1:30 - 2:20 pm

• Fraternal Organizations for Research - Danni Altman-Newell
• Observer - Brick Wall Consultation - Michael J. Hall

Breakout Session 3: 2:30 - 3:20 pm

•  Researching the Shady Side of the Family Tree - Barb LaClair
• Observer - Brick Wall Consultation - Michael J. Hall
• *Tour of the State Historical Archives - KHS Staff Member

Breakout Session 4: 3:30 - 4:20 pm

• Do You Have Mayflower Ancestors? - Della Regenold
• Observer - Brick Wall Consultation - Michael J. Hall

During the 'Observer - Brick Wall Consultation' sessions, Mr. Hall will deduct 'deep dive'  sessions with selected individuals to discuss one of their genealogical brick walls.

I am HONORED to have been selected as one of the four brick wall consultations! For my application, I submitted my fourth great-grandfather, James Crawford (1772-1854). Below is my research question:

Who is the father of James Crawford?

NOTE: Same Name issue with researching this James Crawford

•  Next door neighbor in Preble County, Ohio was James Crawford (1770-1833) who married Martha Knight in 1793 in Lincoln County, KY. This James Crawford migrated to Warren County, IN where he died. Also migrating to Warren County, IN at about the same time was Nelson G. Crawford, the son of James and Sally (Smith Duggins) Crawford.
• There is a third James Crawford (1758-1836) living in Madison and Garrard counties in Kentucky prior to 1800. This James Crawford was married to Rebecca Anderson and migrated to Jennings County, IN and then to Jefferson County, IN.
• Garrard County KY histories refer to a Rev. James Crawford. There was a Rev. James Crawford (1752/3 – 1803) at Walnut Hill Presbyterian Church in Fayette County, KY. Rev. James Crawford was married to Rebecca McPheeters.
• DAR applications by descendants of James Crawford and Rebecca Anderson appear to have records mixed up with a James Crawford (1757-1836) who resided in Fleming County, KY. This James Crawford was married to Sarah Vansant.

I'm overwhelmed to have been chosen for this honor. I look forward to hearing what Mr. Hall has to say about my brick wall. I'm also looking forward to learning from the various sessions and from others attending the conference.

Please join me in Topeka on April 5th and 6th at the 

Topeka Genealogical Society Annual Conference

Register Today

Adams Will

Since the deed for Adams Crawford's purchase of land was from the estate of Thomas Adams, I decided to try and locate a probate record or will for Thomas Adams. I was able to locate an 1808 will for Thomas Adams in Pulaski County.

Pulaski County, Kentucky

Wills 1801-1838
FS FIlm 598753 DGS 4820049

Page 46 Image 37
Pulaski County Kentucky

Adam Thomas

Adams Crawford Land

From my research in the Pulaski County, Kentucky tax records, I knew that Adams Crawford owned land in Pulaski County. In order to try and figure out whether Adams Crawford might be related to my Crawford Research, I tracked down the deed where Adams Crawford purchased land.

Pulaski County Kentucky

Deeds Vol. 3
FS Film  DGS 007896972

Page 229 - Image 397

Deed where Adams Crawford purchases land.

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.

Theories, Trees, Brick Wall Ancestors

Last week, My Heritage announced their new DNA tool, Theory of Family Relativity. When I first looked at the Theories for my DNA kit, I was a little disappointed. I only had a few. Then some greater voice in the genealogy world reminded me why I only had a few.

My tree is basically a U.S. tree. The majority of DNA testers on My Heritage are European. Thus, I won't have as many matches on My Heritage and thus will have fewer Theories.

When I re-looked at one of those theories, I discovered a major clue -- not in the DNA itself -- but in the Theory paths. I hadn't noticed that a theory could have different paths.

Searchable Trees

Do you have a private tree on Ancestry? If so, I would like to convince you to make it searchable -- especially if you have a DNA test attached to that tree. (See AncestryDNA ThruLines FAQ)

Ancestry's new DNA ThruLines tool is helping me figure out how I connect with my multitude of DNA matches. The clues provided on my James Crawford ThruLines have helped me identify another granddaughter, Matilda Caroline Stoner.