When researching, do you try to locate records for everyone with the same surname in the same location at the same time? If so, what do you do with records you find for an someone you have not encountered before in your research?
I’m currently researching Botetourt county Virginia deeds prior to 1800 for ‘John Crawford’. While I can’t connect anything I’ve found to date with my CRAWFORD research, they have all involved land along Craig’s Creek. Today’s deed does not mention the creek. It is also different in that it identifies a spouse: Rachel.
A simple search of FamilySearch and Ancestry trees did not turn up a John Crawford from Virgnia who was old enough to sell land in 1797 and had a wife named Rachel. Thus, the identity of this John Crawford is unknown.
FamilySearch has added the ability to use an AI tool to summarize the deed. This deed was summarized as follows:
John Crawford and Rachel, his wife, transfer a piece of land to George Steell. The transaction is recorded in Botetourt in January 1897. The exact size and location of the land are not specified, but various trees and landmarks are mentioned in the description.
Dates
- January 1897
Names and Relationships
- John Crawford: Grantor
- Rachel Crawford: Wife of John Crawford
- George Steell: Grantee
While this looks like a typical deed, the original deed does not include the wife’s release of dower. Instead, the interview of the wife is recorded in a separate volume of deeds.
Botetourt County, Virginia
Deed Book 6, 1796-1799
DGS 007893749, Item 1Image 106 of 403
page 167
This Indenture made this 10th day of
Jany one thousand seven hundred and
ninety seven Between John Crawford and
Rachel his wife of the State of Kentuckey
of the one part and George Stull of the Coun
ty of Botetourt & State of Virginia of the
other part Witnesseth that the said John Craw
ford for & in consideration of the Sum of four
hundred Pounds to him in hand paid by
the said George Stull the receit whereof is
hereby acknowledged hath granted , bargaind
& sold and by these presents doth grant bar
gain and sell unto the said George Stull
one certain tract or parcel of Land situate
lying and being in Botetourt County on the
Rich [p]ack Mountain joining the Lands
of Michael Kimberlafed Samuel Porton
and John Johnston containing six hundred
& seventy five Acres be the same more or less
and bounded as followeth to wit begining
at a red Oak and Two Chasnut Oakes corner
to Michael Kimberland & with his line
North sixty six West one hundred and fifty seven
P[o]les to a chesnut & white Oak on a hill side
Corner to said Kimberland thence with a [?]Image 107 of 403
Page 168
of the same North twenty East forty six
poles to three Chestnuts on a ridge thence North
thirty west eighteen poles to two Chesnuts &
two white Oaks on a ridge , North thirty six
East ninety six poles to two black Oaks on a
ridge thence North fifty four West Eighty four
poles to a white Oak & [?] Maples near a
branch North th[en] [sixteen] East forty six poles to
a sugar [tree] North thirty East thirty four
poles to a white hickory North twenty nine
West ten poles to a white Oak North twenty
five East eight poles to a red Oak North seven
West crossing a branch thirty two poles to two
white Oaks North seventy two west ten poles to
an ash west eight poles to a white Oak &
Dogwood Bush North eight West forty two
poles to a white Oak on the side of a Hill East
sixteen poles crossing a Branch to a bunch
of lyns on a hill side South fifty nine East
eighteen poles to two Chesnut & red Oak Saplins
on a hill side North sixty East twenty Eight
poles to two white Oaks by a Rock North eigh
ty East forty six poles to two white Oaks on
the side of a Mountain East one hundred
and fifty poles to a red Oak and white Oak in
Johnston line ne & with the same South forty ┃
six East two hundred and twenty poles crossing
the Walton Pond Mountain to three black Oak
Saplins South twenty six west eighty poles to a
black Oak & two Chesnut Oake on the side of a
mountain thence South fifty west two handedpage 169
and sixty five poles to the begining to have and
to hold the said granted lands & premises with t
heir and every of their Appurtenances unto the
said George Stull his Heirs & Assigns forever
to his and their own proper use and behoof and
the said John Crawford and Rachel his wife
for themselves then Heirs Exrs & admr the
before mentioned Land and all & singular
the privileges & advantages thereunto belong
ing or in any wise appertaining against
the claim of them & all other person or per
sons whatsoever shall and will warrant &
defend to the said George Stull his Heirs &
Assigns for ever firmly by these presents
In Witness whereof the said John Crawford
& Rachall his wife hath hereunto set to
their Hand & seals the day & date above
written
John Crawford (Seal)
Signd seald & Deliverd
in PresentAt Botetourt January Court 1797
This Indenture from John Craw
ford to George Stull was acknowledged
in Court by the said John to be his act
and deed and ordered to be recorded
See Book No 7 page 378
for wifes act
Teste
H Bowyer Clk_____________________
Image 589 of 808
Deed book 7 1799-1802
DGS 007893749 Item 2
page 378the Commonwealth of Virginia Jno W Hatton
& James McCrosky Gentleman Surties of the peace for the
County of Scott Greeting Whereas John Crawford & Rachel
his wife by their Indenture of Bargain Sale dated the 16th
day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand seven
hundred and ninety seven have sold and conveyed to
George Stull six hundred seventy five the fee simple
Estate of six hundred and Seventy five acres of land
with its appurtenances lying and being in the County
of Botetourt and whereas the said Rachael Crawford
his wife cannot cannot conveniently travet to our Court
of our said County of Botetourt to make acknowledgment
of said Indenture therefore we do give unto you or two or
more of you power receive the acknowledgment which
the said Rachael shall be willing to make before you
of the conveyance contained in said Inden
ture which is hereunto annexed and we do therefore
Command you that you personally go to the said
Rachael and receive her acknowledgement of the
same and examine her privily and apart from
the said John Crawford her husband whether she
doth the same freelly and Voluntarily without his
Persuation or threats and whether she in willingpage 379
the same should be recorded in our said Court of Botetourt
and when you have received her acknowledgment and examin
ed her as aforesaid that you will distinctly and openly
Certify [as] thereof to our Justices of our said Court next sending
then there also the said Indenture and this writ Witness
Henry Bonyer Clerk of our said Court at the Courthouse
he 25th day of February 1797 In the 21st year of the Com
monwealth
Teste Wm P Martin DC
We the Suscribers pursuant to the within Dedume to us
directed do certify to the Gentlemen Justices of Botetourt
County Court that we personally went to the said Rach
eal Crawford and examined her prively and apart from
her Husband touhing the conveyance within mentioned
and do also Certify that she is willing such her acknowled
dgment may be recorded in the County Court aforesaid
Given under our hands seals the 8th day of July 1797
(see Book NO 6 Page 167 for Deed ) Jno McHatton Seal
Jas McCrosky (Seal)At December Botetourt Court 1800
This Commission & certificate of the wife prively
Examination & was returned to Court & ordered to be record
ed
A copy
Test H T Bower[CC]At Botetourt Decemter Court 1800
At Botetourt December Court 1800
This Indenture of Bargains Sale was acknowledged by
the wife she having been first prively examined as the
Law directs she acknowledgment is ordered to be recorded
See Book Wm page 536 A Copy
teste H Bowyer CBC
for Deed
At Botetourt December Court 1800
This Indenture of Bargain Sale was acknowledged
in Court by the wife she having been first prively examined as
the law directs and thus acknolwedement is ordered to be recorded
See Book W page 531 ofe deed
A copy
Teste
