James Alexander Will

Are you using FamilySearch’s experimental labs? If so, have you ever come across a document that identifies various family members but can’t connect them to a specific family tree? I recently found a 1774 will of James Alexander in Botetourt County, Virginia, which mentions Mary Crawford, Samuel Crawford, and Joseph Snodgrass. The inclusion of a Snodgrass suggests a potential link to my Crawford research.

Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to connect any of the individuals named in the will to any existing trees on FamilySearch. I’m sharing this document in the hope that someone familiar with this family might help me identify who Mary and Samuel Crawford are.

Botetourt County VA

Will Book A, 1770-1800

Image 36 of 282
page 55

In the Name of God Amen I James Alexander of Botetourt
County and Colony of Virginia being in perfect health
in Body and perfect Mind and Memory ; Thanks be given
unto God , calling unto mind the Mortality of my Body
and knowing that it is appointed once for all men to die
I do make and ordain this my last Will & Testament
that is to say principally and first of all I give & recom
mend my soul into the Hands of Almighty God that
give it and my Body I commend to the Earth nothing doubting
but at the general Resurrection I shall receive the same
again by the mighty power of God and as touching such worldly
Estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me in this
Life I give devise & dispose of the same in the following
Manner and Form -First of all my just and legal Debts to
be paid out of my Estate by my Executors : for which I appoint

page 56

Samuel Crawford and Jonathan Park [Tosh]sole Executors of
my Estate . First of all I give to Mary Crawford one Tract
of Land lying on Round Oak River containing one hun
dred and fifty akers likewise I do give to my Cousin James
Tosh one Tract of Land lying on Back Creek containing
two hundred and twenty Ackers and I also my Executors
to make Deeds for the above mentioned Lands likewise
I have so my Cousin Sarah [Heathy] one white Pacing Mare
and her Colt I also my Uncle James Kearkey for so be
aquited all Debts one some likewise for many oblidgements
received by me from Mary Tosh Daughter to Thomas
Tosh In Recompence I have her one sorrel Pasing Sta
lian after satisfying my Debts out of the remaining
part of my Estate I alow the remaining part of my
Estate to be divided amongst Samuel Crawford , Wm
Meason Joseph Meason Jonathan Tosh Jane Tosh James
Eager Joseph Snodgrass . Whereas I so alow this to be my
last will & Testament In witness whereof I have hereunto
set my hand & seal this twenty fourth Day of August in the
year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred & seventy four
Signed sealed published & pronounced
James Alexander (seal)
by the said James Alexander as his last
Will & Testament in presence of us
Jonathan Tosh Thos Tosh Saml Walker
At a Court held for Botetourt County the 9th of May 1775 This
Instrument of writing was presented in Court by the Exors
herein named as & for the last Will & Testament of James
Alexander decd & proved by the Oath of Saml Walker as Witness
and ordered to be recorded An on the motion of the sd Exrs
who made oath & entered into bond aug to Law with Henry
Paulling & Philip Lowe their Secy in $ 500 Cert is granted
them for obtaining a Probate hereof in due form
Excd Test John May CBC