Heartland Genealogy

 A Dower for Jane Crawford Have you ever discovered that a record you copied years ago has become much easier to access? That's the case with this week's Friday Find. Among my files is a photocopy of a Jefferson County, Indiana, probate record concerning the estate of Thomas D. Crawford. I don't have a notation telling me where I obtained the copy, but I suspect it came from one of my research trips to the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. Today, I don't have to travel to Salt Lake City to look at the record. I recently located the original probate volume in the digitized images on FamilySearch and was able to obtain a much better copy. More importantly, this record provides an interesting look at what happened to Thomas Crawford's land after his death. Thomas and Jane Crawford I believe the Thomas D. Crawford named in this probate proceeding is the Thomas Crawford found on FamilySearch as GVRH-QF4 , husband of Jane Todd. Other sources support the identifica...

Have you had your DNA tested? If so, did DNA help you answer a question? Based on Facebook posts I've seen, it appears that DNA is helping adoptees to connect with their birth family. In my case, I wasn't hoping to identify a close relative. Instead, I was hoping (and still am hoping) to identify my 5th great grandparents -- particularly on my dad's CRAWFORD line. It's been 3 years since I first spit in a test tube (autosomal DNA) and since my brother swabbed his cheek (yDNA). That's 3 years of working with various DNA results and few clues about this mysterious CRAWFORD grandfather. As I'm trying to learn more about our yDNA results, so I can make sense of how we might fit in the Crawford Clan, I've come to a couple of conclusions: There's too little data - I need more 5th, 6th and 7th cousins to do a yDNA test Determining relationships is VERY dependent on the accuracy of BOTH of our family trees

(Report created from RootsMagic using the Narrative Report feature) 1. James Crawford was born in 1758 in Augusta, Commonweath of Virginia. 1 – 5      According to biographies, he served in the military for 3 months under Capt. Wm Colbert and Col. Patrick Lockhart and 3 months under Capt. Alex Henley and Col. Morgan between 1776 and 1780. 1 , 6 – 7 He served in the military in 1778 in Botetourt (historical), Botetourt, Virginia, United States. 2 – 4 , 8 James served in the military for 3 mos. under Capt. Alex Henley and Col. Morgan. 4      He witnessed the will of John Crawford on 7 Apr 1779 in Montgomery, Virginia, United States. 9 – 12 He was the parent of Anne Crawford born in 1780. 13      James filed land entry papers   in Jun 1782 in Madison, Virginia, United States. 14      He was the parent of William Crawford born in May 1784. 13          ...

Last Wednesday, I had the opportunity to visit the Family History Center in Topeka, Kansas. During this visit, I was able to access digitized images from Botetourt County, Virginia. I was thankful these records were available at the family history center since they were locked at affiliate libraries. Botetourt County, Virginia List of Tithables, 1770-1789 FS Film 9106467 DGS 7856374 Looking for Crawford, Douglass, Maxwell 1770 Image 9 Anderson, Lemuel - 1 Crawford, James - 1 Dooley Kenery - 1

Have you ever run across a record in a county you've been researching and have no idea how the person in the record fits with known families in that area? Well, that's my situation -- and it is anoter James Crawford. James and Martha Crawford sold land in Barren County, Kentucky. Tax lists for Barren County show a James Crawford with 200 acres on the Marrowbone River. These tax lists also show another James Crawford with 50 acres on the Marrowbone. This second James Crawford is thought to be James and Sally (Smith Duggins) Crawford. I've also identified the family of David Crawford who died in Barren County, KY in 1812. Now, I've found a deed for a James Crawford and Patsy his wife selling land in Wythe County Virginia to Peter Kinson. This 1806 deed indicates that James and Patsy were living in Montgomery County, Ohio at the time.

Have you ever looked at a court document trying to figure out who all of the people are and suddenly realize you may have stumbled across something totally different? Well, that was my situation yesterday. I found additional documentation for the 1779 will of John Crawford in Montgomery County, Virginia (Order Book 2, image 292), At a court c/ and held for Montgomery County April 7th 1779 Last will and testament of John Crawford deceased proven by oath of George [D]ouglas James Crawford and Bazewell Maxwell and ordered to be recorded

In your genealogy research, have you read the historical accounts? Even though the experts recommend 'knowing' the history of a location, I have only skimmed county histories looking for my family name. I've never seriously read the history - until last night. Last night, I read the book, The Travelling Church: An Account of the Baptist Exodus from Virginia to Kentucky in 1781 under the Leadership of Rev.Lewis Craig and Capt. William Ellis on Internet Archive. This book is about an ENTIRE church community packing up and leaving Spottsylvania County, Virginia for Logan's Fort in Kentucky. I didn't find mention of the Crawford family in this book. I have clues suggesting my Crawford line came from Montgomery or Augusta Counties, Virginia - not Spottsylvania County. I have clues suggesting the Crawfords were Presbyterian - not Baptist.

I recently found the land records for John Crawford of Lincoln County, Kentucky. He owned 913 acres of land on Hanging Fork of Dick's River. Land-Office Treasury Warrant, No. 2690 To the principal Surveyor of any County within the Commonwealth of Virginia This shall be your WARRANT to survey and lay off in one or more surveys, for John Crawford his heirs and assigns the Quantity of One thousand acres of land, due unto the said John Crawford in right of pre-emption as a certificate form the Supreme Court of the Kentucky District In consideration of the sum of five pounds thirteen shillings current money paid into the Public Treasury the payment whereof the Treasurer hath been duly certified by the Auditors of public accounts, and their certificate received into the Land-Office. Given under my hand, and the seal of the said office, this 29th day of September in the year one thousand seven hundred and 86. Test Samuel M Craw Clk John Harvie Be S O N

Do you ever go back thru your research (think Thomas MacEntee's Genealogy Do-Over ) and find a potential family member living nearby whom you have never researched? Well, that happened to me when I was researching Rebekah Crawford in the tax records for Lincoln County. That's where I found John Crawford. 1787 Crofford John - 4 horses, 4 cattle 1789 Crawford John - 5 horses 1790 Crawford John - 4 horses 1791 Crawford John - 4 horses 1792 Crawford John - 5 horses, 17 cattle and 913 acres