Person:Alexander Crawford (2)

Alexander Crawford was one of the Early Settlers of Augusta County, Virginia

Contents 1 Estate/Guardianship Records 2 Processioning List of 1755 3 Records in Augusta County, VA 4 Information on Alexander Crawford		Welcome to Old Augusta Early Settlers Beverley Manor Borden's Grant Register Data Maps Places Library History Index
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Estate/Guardianship Records

From Chalkley's:

• Page 363.--20th November, 1764. John McFeeters' bond (with A. Thompson, Saml. McFeeters), as administrator of Alex. Crawford. [Note: it is apparent that Alexander Crawford died intestate (without a will)].

• Page 388.--9th March, 1765. Alexander Crawford's estate appraised, by Jno. Trimble, Geo. Berry. Jas. McClearey.

• Vol. 1 - MARCH 19, 1768. - (6) William Crawford is appointed guardian to Mary Crawford, orphan of Alexr. Crawford.

• Page 104.--29th March, 1768. William Crawford's bond (with Robt. Clark, John Thompson) as guardian to Mary, orphan to Alex. Crawford.

• Page 128.--17th May, 1768. William Crawford's bond (with Charles Campbell, Saml. McCutchen) as guardian to Rebecca, orphan of Alex. Crawford.

• Vol. 1 - MAY 19, 1768. - (141) Rebecca Crawford, aged 16, orphan of Alexr. Crawford, chose William Crawford her guardian.

• Page 185.--21st March, 1769. William McPheeters' bond (with Jno. Patrick, Archd. Reaughe) as guardian (appointed) to Alexander and Robert Crawford, orphans of Alex. Crawford.

• Vol. 1 - MARCH 21, 1769. - (84) Court appoints William McPheeters, Jr., guardian of Alexr. and Robert Crawford, orphans of Alexr. Crawford.

• Page 169.-- 5th September, 1771. Recorded. Settlement of estate of Alex. Crawford, by John McPhecters--1st November 1764, vendue, sold to, viz: John Windor, Alex. Kelly, Alex. Leget, Nancy Berry, Hugh Kellsey, Adam Morrow. Paid John Elliott for Isabella.

• Page 75.--17th March, 1773. Saml. McPheeters' bond (with William McPheeters, James Seawright) as guardian to Samuel Crawford, orphan of Alex. Crawford.

• Vol. 1 - MARCH 17, 1773. - (17) Samuel Crawford, aged 14, orphan of Alexr. Crawford, chose Saml. McPheeters guardian.

• Page 170.--16th November, 1773. Samuel McCutchen's bond (with William McPheeters, Wm. Crawford) as guardian to Martha Crawford, orphan of Alexander Crawford.

Processioning List of 1755

"Processioning" was the periodic review and agreement of property lines between settler's lands. Processioning Lists are useful in determining the general area of a settlers lands and their neighbors at specific time periods:

• Vol. 2 - Page 147.--1755: Samuel Givens processioned as follows, viz: For Patt. Crawford, present; for Jno. Givens; for Samuel Givens; for Wm. Givens; for Jas. Givens; for Thos. Turk; for Jas. Turk; for Wm. Hinds, present David Moneely; for Samuel Hinds; for Christian Clemons, present Geo. Trout, Christian Clemons, Jr.; for George Trout; for Jno. Hinds; for Thos. Story; for Geo. Patterson; for James Carr; for Edward Rutledge; for John Carr; for Andrew Carr. John Finley and Alex. Crawford processioned as follows, viz: For James Sayers, for Alex. Gibson, for Andrew Foster, for Wm. Bell, for Thos. Armstrong, for Mathew Edmison, for Rob. Gilkison, for Thos. Gardner; James Bell's widow cannot show her lines; for John Trimble, for John Finley, for David Trimble, for Daniel McAnare, for Thos. Beard, for Alex. Crawford, for Jno. Allit, for James Kirk, for Robert Armstrong, for Robert McCitrick.

Records in Augusta County, VA

From Chalkley's:

• Vol. 2 - LAND ENTRY BOOK NO. 1, AUGUSTA RECORDS. 1745-46, February 13th--Robert Renicks, 200 acres, joining Alexander Crawfor and James Sayers.

• Vol. 1 - August 20, 1746 - (74) Cap. Daniel McAnaire to be overseer of above road with following tithables: Samuel Wallis, Alexr. Crawford, John Elliott, David Trimble, John Hogshead, Alexr. Gardner, Sampson Archer, Alexr. Gibson, Robt. Davis, Thomas Gardner, Walter Trimble, John Sixby, David Stuart, Ro. Renix, Francis Gardner, John Trimble, Thomas Beard, Ro. Gilkason, John Archer, James Bell, James Mills, James Dyer, Charles Clendening, Wm. Hogshead, Ro. Ralstone, John Moffet, Saml. Lusk, James Phillips, Danl. Brealey, Mathew Edmonston, James Trimble, John Ferguson, Wm. Anderson, John Spears, John McKenney, Wm. Brady, Ro. Armstrong, James Miller.

• Vol. 2 - LAND ENTRY BOOK NO. 1, AUGUSTA RECORDS. 1748, May 10th--George Gardner, 400 acres, on Dry Branch, near lands [of] Alex. Crawford and Thos. Gardner. [Note: record provides location of land of Alexander Crawford near Dry Branch].

• Vol. 1 - ORIGINAL PETITIONS AND PAPERS FILED IN THE COUNTY COURT. 1749. - John Trotter's petition vs. Capt. Daniel McAnaire, 4th Tuesday in February, 1749-50. Certificate that John is a very poor man, but had lived honest some years in our neighborhood for what we know. Patrick Martin, John Trimble, Jacob Lockhart, Andrew Pickens, Alexander Crawford.

• Page 324.--27th February, 1748-9. James Bell's will--Wife, Rachel; son, William (infant); son, James, under 23, 400 acres on Jenning's Branch, and one plantation on a branch of Cathey's River near testator's home place, where he lives; cousin, Andrew Foster, testator has sold him a tract on a spring branch of Cathey's River, called McClure's Run; daughters, Margaret, Elizabeth, Mary Ann and Jean Bell; nephews, William and James Bell, tract on which they dwell known by name of Smith's Spring. Executors, wife Rachel and nephew James. Teste: Alexander Crawford, Robert Renick, Saml. Bell. Proved, 28th May, 1751, by all witnesses, and executors qualified, with sureties John Archer and Thos. Armstrong.

• Page 196.-- 17th May, 1749. James Bell and Rachel to James Kirk, 400 acres Catheys River; Jennings Branch. Teste: Andrew Boyd, Alexander Crafford. Delivered Ro. Armstrong 5th March, 1753.

• Vol. 1 - JUDGMENTS SUFFERED. - AUGUST, 1750.

1737.--James Cathey to Samuel Smith, debtor: September 22. 1736.-- October 23, Mr. Adam Thompson, debtor to same, January 18. William Robinson's account, debtor to Samuel Smith, 1739--April 4, one almanac. Richard Wood's ditto, ditto, 1738. Mrs. Margaret McDowell, ditto, 1737-- June 14. Mrs. Mary McDowell, ditto, 1737--January 17, three yards ribbon to sister. Mr. Michael Woods, ditto, 1738--October 7, one dozen catechisms. 1739--Credit by six foxes, seven raccoons, and one beaver. John Maxwell, ditto. Samuel Woods, ditto. 1734--11 1/4 yards masquerade, 31/; 7 1/2 yards sagathee, 32/6. 1735--June 26, credit by 36/ discounted with his son, Richard, by Michael Woods. Michael Woods, formerly of Pextunk, ditto, 1733--February 12; 1734--March 28. Francis Beaty, ditto, 1735--October 16, To 2/4 1/2 in goods more than J. Catherwood's order; 1738--May 1, Credit by William Smiley. John Christian, ditto, 1737--February 22, To James Cook for a gunlock. Robert Christian, ditto, 1733-1734-1735-1736-- Account; 1733--Credit by order on Treasury for two wolfs' heads; 1734-- August 17, By making a coat and britches, 13/; 1736--Credit, October 13, by cash of John; by James Boyle; 1748-9--February 17, Then Robert Christian paid me £1.13.4 Virginia money in part of above debt. (Signed) William Anderson. Samuel Doak, ditto, balance of account given in. Randall McDaniel, ditto. William Hutchinson, ditto. George Hutchinson, ditto. Robert Cunningham, ditto. Alexander Crawford's note, ditto. Above accounts sworn to, 13th October, 1743, in Philadelphia County, Pa., by Samuel Smith, late of Lancaster County. Thomas Renick deposes: On 1st September, 1750, in Staunton, in cause Smith vs. Beatey, that about eight years ago, at his own house, he saw Smith, the plaintiff, and Robert Buchanan, the then sheriff of Lancaster County, and Smith acknowledged having attached and sold Beatey's effects and received satisfaction. [Note: record provides evidence of former location of Alexander Crawford's family in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania].

• Page 439.--19th August, 1752. Daniel Gibson's appraisement, by Alex. Crawford, Andrew Foster, James Sayers.

• Vol. 2 - Page 162.-[27th November, 1755: Vestry met. Processioners designated as follows, viz (to report before 1st March next)] - William Henderson and Thomas Stewart, in Captain William Christian's Company. John Henderson and William Baskins, in Captain Israel Christian's Company. Alexander Crawford and John Finley, in

Captain Thomas Armstrong's Company. James Hogshead and John Davies, in Captain Abram Smith's Company.

• Page 390.--23d May, 1758. Thomas Gardner's will--To my beloved wife, Ann Gardner, and to my beloved wife, Mary Gardner, all estate (Mary is the daughter). Brother's son, Thos. Gardner, Jr., and wife, Ann, executors. Teste: Philip Eastin, Cathrine Garman. Proved, 19th August, 1760, by the witnesses. Executors qualify, with Jas. Bell, Alex. Crawford.

• Vol. 2 - Page 269.-[1759: Processioners appointed, viz:] - Alex. Crawford, Michael Hogshead, in Capt. George Moffett's Company. John Thompson and Alex. Stuart in Capt. Alex. Thompson's Company. Joans Henderson, Andrew Russell, in Capt. Robert Breakinridge's Company. Alex. Blair and John Melcom, in Capt. Daniel Smith's Company.

• Page 235.--19th May, 1761. Thomas Gardner's bond (with Jas. Bell, Alex. Crafford), as guardian (appointed) to Mary Gardner, orphan of Thomas Gardner.

• Vol. 1 - JUNE 19, 1764. - (498) Alexr. Crawford, security for Thos. Gardner, now decd., for administration of estate of Thos. Gardner, decd., asks counter security, and Rebecca, administratrix of Thomas, summoned.

• Vol. 1 - NOVEMBER 24, 1764. - (224) Alexr. Crawford vs. Mathew Harper.--Abates by death of plaintiff. [Note: Alexander Crawford was killed the month before by Indians].

Information on Alexander Crawford

From "Annals of Augusta County", By Joseph Addison Waddell, pg. 428:

Alexander and Patrick Crawford, brothers, were among the earliest settlers in Augusta county. They are presumed to have been natives of the north of Ireland, like most of their cotemporaries in the county, but nothing can be learned about their early history. The descendants of both say there was a third brother who also came to the Valley, but whose name they do not know. It may be that this third brother was the grand-father of William H. Crawford, of Georgia, whose father, Joel Crawford, removed from Nelson county, Virginia, to South Carolina, in 1779.

Atexander Crawford, the elder of the two, married Mary McPheeters, but whether in Ireland or America is not known. He acquired an extensive tract of land in Augusta, covering a part of the Little North mountain, and extending far out into the plain. It embraced sixteen hundred and forty acres. His dwelling stood on a knoll, at the eastern base of the mountain, and looked out towards the rising sun on a wide tract of level land. It was " beautiful for situation." The spot is about two miles northeast of Buffalo Gap, and a hundred yards south of the present residence of Baxter Crawford, a great-grand-son of Alexander and Mary. The site of the house is now marked by a thicket, surrounding a pile of unhewn stones which composed the chimney.

Here Alexander and Mary Crawford had eleven children, seven sons and four daughters. They had an abundance of all the good things the times and country afforded , and until the Indian wars arose, lived in peace and plenty. They belonged to a God-fearing race, and doubtless walked in the old ways of their pious ancestors. The father and mother, were, however, both slaughtered by savages, on their premises, with no human eye near enough to witness the tragedy.

Much uncertainty has existed as to the date of the occurrence. But at November County Court, 1764, William McPheeters qualified as administrator of Alexander Crawford, and, although some of the latter's descendants insist upon an earlier date, it seems highly probable, if not absolutely certain, that the slaughter was perpetrated by some of the Indians who made the second raid upon Kerr's Creek, in October of the year mentioned.

The rumor had gone abroad that an invasion by Indians was threatened, and all the Crawford family had taken refuge in a house at the Big Spring. This house was called a fort, being better able to resist an attack than most dwellings of the period, and was often resorted to by the people around in times of danger. It is probably the ancient stone house, still standing and used as a dwelling, on the south side of Middle river, two miles south ot the present village of Churchville, and about three miles from Alexander Crawford's. It has long been known as the "old Keller house." The windows are few in number and very narrow, hardly more than a foot wide.

On the day of the slaughter, early in the morning, it is said, Alexander Crawford and his wife returned home to procure a supply of vegetables, while two of their sons, William and John, went upon the mountain to salt the horses which had been turned out to graze. From their elevation on the side of the mountain, the two youths saw the smoke and flames of the burning homestead. On the same day, probably, the home of John Trimble, some three miles ofT, on Middle River, was assailed, as is related elsewhere.

We may imagine that the men of the neighborhood were somewhat slow to assemble. No one knew but his house would be attacked next, and every man felt it necessary to protect his own family if possible. When the people rallied and repaired to the Crawford place, the dwelling had been consumed by fire. The charred remains of Alexander Crawford were found in the ashes, showing that he had been killed in the house. His wife's body was found outside, and it was inferred that she had attempted to escape, but was overtaken and tomahawked. The remains of both were gathered up and buried in the Glebe graveyard.

The sale-bill of Alexander Crawford's personal estate amounted to -£334, !7s, 9d, about $1,114, a larger sum than was common at that day. We mention as some indication of the state of the times, that among the articles sold by the administrator were a still and a wolf-trap. All the family records and other household effects perished with the dwelling.

It is related that Alexander Crawford was ambitious to be the founder of "a clan," such as we read of in Scottish history, and impressed it upon his children that they must respect the right of primogeniture then existing by law. His oldest son, Will1am, did not approve of the scheme, and thus his father's wishes were defeated. The latter was a skilled worker in iron.

[v13t3661.FTW]

Alexander Crawford accompanied the Lewis expedition to the valley of VA in 1732. "Tomahawked Rights" to a large tract of land near Buffalo Gap, Augmented later by grants from George II, 1740. He was appointed one of a commissions to build Tinkling Spring Church of which he was an Elder. !Joined the Augusta Militia at the organization in 1742.

Alexander Crawford and wife Mary McPheeters were massacred by the Indians in 1764. Most accounts give that they are buried in the Old Glebe Burying ground. There are no markers for their graves. He left a very sizeable estate for his times along with 11 children.

Additional information on the family available on the "Crawford Family" at the Alderman Library, rare documents division, at the University of Virginia.

From Family Tree Maker site of Sharon M. Stalker:

25. ALEXANDER20 CRAWFORD (WILLIAM19, ALEXANDER18, ALEXANDER17, MALCOLM16, HUGH15, LAURENCE14, ROBERT13, MALCOLM12, MALCOLM11 DE CRAWFORD, JOHN10, ROGER9, MALCOLM8, ROGER7, REGINALD6, JOHN5 DE CRAWFORD, REGINALD4 DE CRAWFORD, GUALTERIUS3, JOHANNES2, GREGAN1 DE CRAWFORD) was born 1718 in Clydesdale, Scotland, and died October 1764 in Augusta Co., VA. He married MARY MCPHEETERS 1740 in Augusta Co., VA.

More About ALEXANDER CRAWFORD: Fact 1: Information from LDS Ancestral File (1HVS-78) Fact 2: Buried in Glebe Cemetery, Staunton, Augusta Co. VA

Children of ALEXANDER CRAWFORD and MARY MCPHEETERS are:

31. i. MARGARET21 CRAWFORD, b. 1739.

32. ii. JOHN CRAWFORD, b. Abt. 1741, Augusta Co., VA.

33. iii. WILLIAM CRAWFORD, b. June 01, 1744, Augusta Co., VA; d. October 15, 1792, Augusta Co., VA.

34. iv. EDWARD CRAWFORD, b. April 1743; d. Tennessee.

35. v. JAMES CRAWFORD, b. Abt. 1747.

36. vi. REBECCA CRAWFORD, b. February 07, 1753, Augusta Co., VA.

37. vii. ALEXANDER CRAWFORD, b. February 07, 1753; d. June 19, 183

viii. ELIZABETH CRAWFORD, b. Abt. 1754, Augusta Co., VA; m. (1) WILLIAM STAINER; m. (2) JONATHAN HUMPHREYS.

ix. MARGARET CRAWFORD, b. Abt. 1755.

x. ROBERT CRAWFORD, b. Abt. 1757, Augusta Co., VA; m. (1) SARAH CRAWFORD; m. (2) SARAH HOPKINS.

More About ROBERT CRAWFORD: Fact 1: March 21, 1769, William McPheeters appointed guardian Fact 2: Source: Chalkleys Scotch Irish Papers

38. xi. SAMUEL CRAWFORD, b. March 17, 1759, Augusta Co., VA.

xii. MARTHA CRAWFORD, b. Abt. 1761, Augusta Co., VA; m. ALEXANDER CRAIG.

xiii. MARY CRAWFORD, b. Abt. 1763, Augusta Co., VA; m. GILBERT CAMPBELL.

1. ↑ v13t3661.FTW.

   Date of Import: Dec 16, 2000