In trying to figure out who John Crawford is, I turned to deeds for some help. The Lincoln County Kentucky deed index from 1780 to 1870 [Family Search film 192237] had four entries with John Crawford listed as a grantor.
Image 47:
1795: Crawford, John grantor James Feland grantee – 264 1/2 acres vol C page 13
1795: Crawford, John grantor James Logan – 42 acres Book C page 23
1798: Crawford John Grantor Wm Gooch 130 acres Hfork book D page 26
Image 52
1842: Crawford John Hrs grantor Bashford Jon C P of A S31+29 book R page 420
The Power of Attorney found on page 42 of deed book R does list some heirs. Unfortunately, it doesn’t explain how they might be related to John Crawford.
Unfortunately, the Family Search tree and a search of Ancestry member trees hasn’t been much help in figuring out who these people are. There is a Frederick Sponseller [MJSL-3MY] whose wife is given as Harriett Ann Ellis [MJSL-39J].
Further searching of the deed index for BASHFORD revealed two more Power of Attorney deeds in Lincoln County, Kentucky. [Book W page 366-367 – image 544].
The deed on page 366 lists the following BASHFORD family members from Morrow County, Ohio as heirs:
- Joseph Bashford
- John M Bashford
- Robert C Bashford
- William Bashford
- James Bashford
- Joseph Bashford Jr
- Sarah J Bashford – signed by her guardian and mother, Margaret Bashford
The deed on page 367 provides more information on Rhuana and Harriett
- maiden name is Ellis
- Rhuana’s husband is Moses McCoy
Not only are these deeds unclear as to the relationship with John Crawford, but researchers on Family Search have not linked these families together let alone linked them to John Crawford.
These relationships are a mystery and more research is needed to figure this out.
Below is a copy of the deed from Book R page 420 and a transcription of that deed.
Lincoln County KentuckyDeeds, 1780-1866; indexes, 1780-1955
Vols. Q-R, 1839-1843Film 192246DGS 8338047
Book R page 42Image 573
Know all men by these presents that we Rebecca Ellis andEscher Ellis and Ether Eillis, Rhuham McCoy of Franklin CountyPennsylvania and Frederick Sponceller and Herriet Sponseller of Washington county and state of Maryland being the heirs and legalrepresentatives of John Crawford dec’d who departed this life in theCounty of Lincoln and State of Kentucky have nomenated consultedand appointed John C Bashford our true and lawful attorneyfor us and in our names, places and steads, to institute any suit or suitswhere as common law or in equity in the state of Kentucky forany and all lands back rents slaves here and all andevery other thing whatsoever to which we may in any waybe united in and to each and every species of property which
image 574 – page 421
State of Kentucky whether the same be real personal or mixed which descended to us by virtue of the law of descent in Kentucky in consequence of the death of said Crawford and we further authorize and request our said money to employ any and all such attorney or attorneys and counselor at law to carry on and prosecute the business in such name and under such circumstances as he or they may think best for all concerned and to make any contract or contracts and to give such fee or fees as he our said attorney may think proper and to the advantage of all concerned we further authorize our said attorney to [?] into and take possession of any and all the land which may be recovered in the state of Kentucky and to take possession of all and any of the slaves which may be succeeded for he is further authorized and invested with full ample and complete power to settle and adjust all claims and controversies touching the matter in contest to settle and compromise all or any suit or suits with any and all the necessary parties to the same and to sign any deed or deeds of conveyance or other instrument of writing to any and all persons interested in and about said lands and slaves, and every other species of property relative to said business orders reception of any money from the estate of said John Crawford dec’d in fact our said attorney and to all intents and purposes authorized empowered and requested to do any and all business he may think proper and deem necessary about said premises as fully as we could do were we personally present acting and doing for ourselves our said attorney is further authorized and invested with full and ample power to nominate constitute and appoint any one or more attorneys for himself and in his place and stead as he may deed necessary and expedient who when to appointed shall have and be fully invested with all power and authority which we have given and [?] in our said attorney John P Bashford and we hereby ratify and confirm whatsoever our said attorney may door cause to be done in and about the premises In ceremony whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals this 24th day of September 1842
Rebecca Ellis Escher Ellis Ruhama McCoy Frederick Sponseller Harriet Sponseller
Witness James H WilliamsonR obt King James Irwin
State of Pennsylvania Franklin County We James H Williamson and Robert King whose names are hereunto subscribed do certify that Rebecca Ellis, Ether Ellis, Rhuhama McCoy Harriet Sponseller Frederick Sponseller personally appeared before us two of the Justices of the peace [?] and for said county and state and acknowledged the [?} & foregoing power of attorney to be their act and deed for the purpose therein mentioned and consented that the same may be recorded in the clerks office of all the county courts in the state of Kentucky we further certify that said Rebecca Ellis Escher Ellis Rhuhama McCoy and Harriet Sponseller & Frederick Sponseller are personally known to us to be the same persons whose names are subscribed to the [?[and foregoing power of attorney. In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals this 24th day of September 1842 Jas H Williamson JP Robt King JP
__________Kentucky, Lincoln County. Deeds, 1780-1866; indexes, 1780-1955. Film #192246 (DGS 8338047). John Crawford, 24 Sept 1842 R: 42 and next page (images 572 and 573); digital images, Family Search http://www.familysearch.org : viewed online February 2019.