When researching your family history, have you ever read a county history? I’m not referring to browsing those sections where you think your family might be found but actually reading the history starting on page 1. Well, I have to admit that I’ve fallen into the ‘browser’ method in the past.
As I’m trying to find connections between my Crawford family in Kentucky and Crawford families in Virginia, I decided I needed to read some histories. I was going to start with a history of Montgomery County, Virginia but decided that I need to learn more about early Kentucky history first. Thus, I found a downloadable version of Collins’ History of Kentucky on FamilySearch and started reading it last night.
I only get to page 12 before I find something that may connect with my Crawford research. At the bottom of the page is a list of the members of Captain John Boyle’s Company, April 1, 1780. Included in this list is one ‘Wm. Crawford’. Now, I have no idea which William Crawford this might be. However, there are a couple of other names on the roll that might help me figure this out. The one that stands out the most is Basil Maxwell. The Basil Maxwell in my file is married to Margaret Anderson, daughter of Col. John Anderson. Also in the company are two Andersons: Jacob Anderson and James Anderson.
Not only is the Anderson and Maxwell connections a clue that this Wm Crawford might be the William Crawford who was in early Garrard County, but the description for the company places them in early Garrard County.
Thanks to a deed I discovered years ago, I’ve been able to piece together at least some of the Anderson family. That John Anderson deed identifies his legatees:
This indenture made this third day of October one thousand seven hundred and ninety eight between Samuel Campbell and Mary his wife of the County of Madison, Bez’ l Maxwell and Margret his wife, James Crawford and Rebeca his wife of the County of Garrard, James Anderson and Hannah his wife of the county of Madison, John Gap and Anne his wife of the County of Bourbon and William M. Morrison and Betsey his wife of the County of Madison and all of the State of Kentucky being the part of the legatees to the estate of John Anderson Dec’d
Three of the names on the list of Captain John Boyle’s company are also found on the list of ‘Early Settlers of Boonesborough‘ including John Boyle, James Anderson and William Hicks. Even though no Crawfords are found on this list there several Andersons on the list.
- Anderson, James – 1775
- Anderson, Jemima
- Anderson, John – 1780
- Anderson, Mary – married Captain John Kennedy
- Anderson, Nicholas
Besides the Anderson children, several Anderson spouses are also on the list:
- Gass. John – 1775 — s/o Capt. David Gass
- Morris, William
- Campbell, Samuel
This list of members of Captain Boyle’s company is just one more clue that may lead to confirming these Crawford relationships. However, It provides additional names for my fan club! It looks like more research and more reading is in my future!
Your evidence for connecting this Wm Crawford to yours seems compelling. We just visited the Boonesborough KY SP and I took several photos of the memorial outside the recreated fort, but I do not have any of the surnames starting with “C”… But I do have the Andersons.
A descendant of William’s believes that this information is for his ancestor.
I’m jealous! We were planning a trip to Kentucky so I could do some research when Covid hit. So far, my husband hasn’t been willing to travel. I either need to convince him we can safely travel or find a traveling companion. Perhaps things will be better next spring.
We stopped at the park because we were passing through AFTER visiting family. It was a weekday afternoon, 8/11, and there was only about a half dozen visitors there, it’s mostly outdoors but everyone was wearing masks. Also, the handful of docents were also masked up. I can recommend the HI Express in Winchester.
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