FIRST RECORD OF ROBERT CRAWFORD: Robert Crawford, or Crafford, of Surry Co, father of Sarah, the wife of John Newsom (No. 5) and Elizabeth, wife of Thomas Newsom (No. 7), first appears in the Surry records on Mar. 6, 1682/3 as having "married Elizabeth the daughter and heiress of George Carter, deceased" (Order Book 1671-90, p. 401).
ORIGIN: It is possible that he was the son of Nicholas Crawford who appeared in the Tithables of 1669 as residing on Hog Island. This Nicholas Crawford was born in 1633-34, as he gave his age as 37 years in a deposition dated Mar. 4, 1670/1 (D. & W. 1645-1671, p. 354).
However, the lack of Crawford records in Surry prior to 1682 and the sudden appearance of Robert in that year may indicate that he came from another county. In that case, it is most probable that he was connected with the family of David Crawford of James City and New Kent Cos. Who was a man of some prominence and served in the House of Burgesses.
BIRTH: Robert Crawford was probably born about 1660.
FIRST MARRIAGE: Elizabeth Carter was still unmarried April 24, 1680, when she witnessed a bond in Surry Co. (W. & D. 1762-84, p. 9, back of the book). The marriage probably occurred in 1681 or 1682.
On Nov. 1, 1684 and Nov. 3, 1684 Robert Crawford and Elizabeth his wife deeded land in Surry originally granted to William Carter May 21, 1638. William Carter was her grandfather. The Carter land (1000 acres) was still in the possession of Robert Crawford in 1704 (cf. Surry Quit-Rent rolls 1704, Va. Hist. Mag. Vol. 29, p. 19).
Elizabeth Carter died between 1704 and Jan. 25, 1708/9, when Carter Crafford, her eldest son, and Sarah his wife made a deed to some of the Carter land (D. & W. 1693-1709, p. 410), which had obviously passed to him on her death.
SECOND MARRIAGE: Robert Crawford had married again by Sept. 8. 1712, when "Robert Crafford, Miller, of Surry Co." deeded land in Isle of Wight Co., his wife Margaret signing the deed (Isle of Wight D. B. 1, p. 225).
Margaret Crawford, the second wife, had probably married (1) a Davis, as Robert Crawford in his will mentions his "son-in-law" Nicholas Davis; also, the will of Peter Davis, probated in 1723 in Bertie Co., N. C. (cf. Grimes "Abstracts of N. C. Wills," p. 93, mentions his cousins Arthur and Henry Crawford, who were sons of Robert by his second wife.
DEATH & WILL: Robert Crawford died in Surry Co. in 1714-15. His will, which calls him "Robert Crafford of Lawnes Creek Parish," was dated Oct. 26, 1714 and probated Jan. 19, 1714/15, and mentions his daughters Jane, Martha, Mary and Hester Crafford; his son-in-law Nicholas Davis and his daughter Agnes Crafford; his sons Henry, Robert, Carter and Willim Crafford (the last named under 21, conditions being made "if he lives with his mother"); his daughters Elizabeth, wife of Thomas Newsom and Sarah, the wife of John Newsom; his son Arthur; and his wife Margaret, to whom he left the plantation that was John Pickford's (D. & W. 1709-14, p, 220). Of the above children, Carter, Elizabeth, Sarah and Robert were certainly the children of the first wife; it is probable that William, Jane, Mary, Hester and Agnes were also her children.
The only ones who were with certainty children of the second wife were Henry, Arthur and Martha. Margaret Crawford, the second wife, was married (2) to Ellis Braddy of Isle of Wight Co. by Nov. 17, 1719, when the two deeded away the land left her by Robert Crawford in his will (D. & W. 1715-30, p. 223). Ellis Braddy died in Isle of Wight Co. in 1737, his will mentioning his daughters Elizabeth and Mary Braddy, son Ellis Braddy, wife Margaret and "son-in-law" Henry Crafford, Margaret Braddy died in Southhampton Co. in 1750. Her will, dated July 29, 1750 and probated Nov. 8, 1750, leaves her property to her daughters Martha Phillips and Elizabeth Hays, and her son Henry Crafford.
Issue of Robert and Elizabeth Crawford: (1) Carter Crawford, b. 1682-3 (first appears as a tithable in 1699); m. Sarah Swann, daughter of Matthew Swann of Surry Co. (cf. D. & W. 1693-1709, p. 401); died in 1744, his will, dated Aug. 5, 1743 and probated Feb. 15, 1743/4, mentioning sons John and Carter, daughters Faith Hart and Constant, and his wife. He also had a daughter Mary, mentioned in his brother Robert's will in 1735 as "my cozen Mary my brother Carter's daughter." (2) Elizabeth Crawford b. 1685, m. Thomas Newsom. (3) Sarah Crawford m. John Newsom. (4) Robert Crawford, died without issue, his will, dated Oct. 9, 1735 and probated Nov. 19, 1735, mentioning his "cousin" Carter Crafford, Jr., brother Carter Crafford, and "cousin" Mary, daughter of Carter Crafford. (5) William Crawford (6) jane Crawford. (7) Agnes Crawford. (8) Mary Crawford. (9) Hester Crawford.
Issue of Robert Crawford by his second marriage: (1) Henry Crawford. (2) Arthur Crawford. (3) Martha Crawford m. ___ Phillips.
