Have you ever tried to figure out how someone fit into a family group based on the information from a deed? As I’m trying to locate Virginia records for any of the Crawford families who lived in Garrard county, Kentucky, I’m encountering records for other Crawford families. Thus, I’m trying to figure out the various family units.

Today’s deed is from 1797 when John Crawford sold land to Alexander Henderson. This deed has the following clues:

• John Crawford resided in Mercer county, KY in 1797
• first tract of land on Patterson’s Creek and Craig’s Creek
• first tract of land borders land of Josiah Crawford
• second tract of land on south side Patterson’s creek
• second tract has a line of land formerly property of John Crawford Dec’d

Could the John Crawford of this deed be John Crawford [G8ZB-YFL]?

• His father, John Crawford [G8ZB-R4G], died in 1796.
• He had an uncle named Josiah Crawford [LWRH-2T5]

Since I’m unsure of the identity of John Crawford, I left a ‘discussion’ on his FamilySearch profile. Hopefully, those familiar with the family can figure out whether the seller of the land is John Crawford [G8ZB-YFL].

Botetourt County Virginia

Deed Book 6, 1796-1799

007893749, Item 1

Image 333 of 403

page 615

This Indenture made 17th day May 1797 one thou
[sand] Seven hundred and Ninety Seven Between John Crawford
of Mercer County and State of Kentuckey of the one part & Alexa
ander Henderson of Botetourt County in Virginia of the other part
Witnesseth that for and in Consideration of the sum of Four hand
red pounds Lawfull Money of Virginia by the said Alexander
Henderson to the said John Crawford in hand paid doth bargain
and sell unto the said Alexander Henderson and his heirs t[wo]
Certain Tracts of Land lying in the said County of Botetourt and
Bounded as followeth to wit one tract Containing Eighteen acres
Begining at a Sycamore on the bank of [Patterson’s] Creek and

page 616
Runneth thence down the Several courses of the Creek one hundred
and ten poles to the mouth of Said Creek thence up Craigs Creek
forty poles to a Sycamore on the bank of said Creek Corner to the [land]
of Josiah Crawford Thence with the lines of the same South thirty
one Degrees West twenty four poles to Near a honey Locust North
sixty nine degrees west thirty nine poles to a stake [adct to a] Curry tree which
stands a small distance in Josiah Crawfords land and thence
the division line south thirty two degrees west fifty two poles West fifty two poles
to the Begining one other Tract containing twenty Six acres
Begining at a Hickory on the South Side Pattersons Creek in a line
of the land formerly the property of John Crawford Decd and [run]
ing thence South ten Degrees East twenty Eight poles to four Walnut Sapl
in at the foot of a hill South Twenty five Degrees East Seventy Eight poles
to three black Oak Saplin North fifty two Degrees East thirty poles to two
White Oakes East forty four poles to a White Oak North ten Degrees West
Eighteen poles to a Sycamore on Craig’s Creek and up the same to the
mouth of Patterson Creek thence up the said Creek to the Begining
To have and to hold the said Tracts of Land with the appurtenances
to the said Alexander Henderson his heirs to the sole use and behoof
of him the said Alexander Henderson and his heirs forever and the
Said John Crawford Crawford for himself and his heirs do covenant with
the said Alexander Henderson and his heirs that he the said
John Crawford and his heirs the said Lands with their appurte
ances unto the said Alexander Henderson and his heirs again
all persons whatsoever shall and will forever Warrant and Defend
by this presents to witness whereof the said John Crawford

page 617

Hath hereunto set his hand and seal this day an year above
written
John Crawford (seal)

Signed sealed and
Delivered in presence of
B Pitzer, James Ochiltree
James Anderson Junr

At Botetourt October court 1797

This Indenture of Bargain & Sale & was [entered]
in Court and proved by the Oath of James Ochiltree one of the
Witnesses thereto and ordered to lie for further proof and at another
Court held for said County in January 1799 the Same was fully
proved by the Oath of Barnard Petzer and James Anderson
Witnesses thereto and Ordered to be Recorded
A Copy
Teste W. Hite DCC