Crawford Family Article

As mentioned in earlier posts, I have a photocopy of an article about the Crawford family. My handwritten note at the top identifies the source as Miami Valley Genealogies, Vol. 2: Families A–K. However, despite extensive searching, I’ve been unable to locate a copy of this publication or verify the citation. I’m sharing the article here in hopes that other researchers may recognize the source and help confirm or improve the reference.

Miami Valley Genealogies
Vol. 2
Families A-K

Page 49

CRAWFORD

It has been well established that the Crawford family, early settlers of Augusta County, Virginia, settled first in Pennsylvania. From Virginia they removed to Kentucky, Ohio and Missouri.

Waddell, in his “Annals of Augusta County” and Peyton, in his “History of Augusta County” give short records of this family and by referring to the court records of Augusta County, three volumes by Chalkley, a fairly complete record is compiled.

The first mention of this family in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, is when Ann Crawford, a widow, mother of Patrick, James, George and Alexander, is granted 200 acres of land, Mar. 31, 1736. The son James was granted 200 acres on the same date. This is the James Crawford, merchant, who later settled on Middle River, Augusta County, Virginia. A suit in Augusta County shows that Alexander Crawford was a resident of Lancaster Co., Pa., another suit shows the family lived near the mouth of Octoraro Creek in Lancaster County.

In Chalkley, Vol. I, p. 82, we find that Alexander Crawford was in Virginia in 1746 and Aug. 19, 1758 was added to the tithables of Augusta County. There may have been two other brothers, as Thomas Crawford was added to the list of tithables, Aug. 26, 1750 (Chalkley, Vol. I, p. 41) and William was there in 1755, and guardian for the children of Alexander in 1768 (Same p147).

On Aug. 12, 1747, George Crawford was appointed “Overseer of the Road” (same p 30)  Aug. 24, 1754 (p 65) Patrick is defendant in a suit; and that James Crawford died in 1751 (p370) “possessed of considerable estate.” There was also a sister, Marry, who married John Poage or Pogue. Her brother Patrick gives consent.

Alexander Crawford was a large land owner and at the time of his death possessed 1640 acres. His wife was Mary McPheeters and they were both killed by Indians, the exact date not known, but in 1764. William McPheeters was the Administrator. They had issue:

John Crawford, born 1741, died Jan. 1832, age 91 years. He served through the Revolution, from Point Pleasant to Yorktown, (Waddell, p 462) and is buried in Hebron Church yard. He married (1) Peggy Crawford, daughter of Patrick; she died Feb. 1788, as her estate was administered by John Feb. 19, 1788. They had one daughter, Margaret, who married Daniel Fall, Aug. 30, 1797 and removed to Ohio. John married (2) Mary Craig and had issue five children, among them a son Samuel and a daughter Mary, who married Samuel Gillespie.

John married (3) Feb. 24, 1797, Sarah Newman of Fredericksburg and hand issue, James, William and John, all to Missouri; and daughters Nancy, wife of Leroy Newman and Fanny, who married Henry Pippetoe. The migration to Missouri was in 1838.

Alexander Crawford Jr. served in the Revolution and died June 19, 1830. He married (1) — Hopkins and had issue — Polly, Betsy, Kittie and Sally.

(2) the widow McClure and had issue — James, William, George, Samuel, Robert, William. George and Samuel died young.

Page 50

Edward Crawford, graduated from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1775, a Presbyterian Minister.

James Crawford, also a Presbyterian Minister, removed to Kentucky.

Rebecca Crawford married John Sawyer and removed to Kentucky. He was born in 1753 and in Chalkley, Vol. 1, p 148, find “Mar. 19,1768, Rebecca Crawford, daughter of Alexander, chose William Crawford her guardian

Mary Crawford, no record except that William Crawford is guardian.

Martha Crawford, married Alexander Craig. All her children went west.

Robert Crawford, married Sarah Crawford, a cousin, daughter of George Crawford, His will recorded Oct.29,1810, names wife Sarah and children, George, Elizabeth, Hugh, Jane, James, Robert, William and John.
Chalkley, Vol.1 p 155, “Mar.21,1769, William McPheeters, Jr., guardian for Alexander and Robert, orphans of Alexander Crawford dec’d.”

Samuel Crawford, probably the youngest child of Alexander and Mary (McPheeters) Crawford, was born in 1759, as Mar. 17, 1773, Samuel Crawford, age 14 years, orphan of Alexander Crawford, chose Samuel McPheeters guardian.”
(Same p 170) This is perhaps the Samuel, who married Oct. 9, 1790, Elizabeth Craig, Elizabeth Craig and left a will recorded in 1795, his son William and a brother James.

James Crawford settled on Middle River, Augusta County, where he died in 1751; his wife was Elizabeth Robertson, sister of William Robertson; issue –

Jane Crawford, who married, 1769, James Brown.

James Crawford, Jr., who qualified as a Justice, Apr. 28, 1785. Chalkley, Vol. 1, p 370, “May 1774, James Brown and Jane his wife, married July 1769, late Jane Crawford, daughter of James Crawford, who died 1751, possessed of considerable estate, leaving a widow, Elizabeth and two children, Jane (above) and James.”

Elizabeth Crawford, nee Robertson, a sister of William Robertson. James Sr. had a brother Patrick Crawford.

George Crawford was in Virginia as early as 1747, when he was appointed Overseer of the Road. He died between 1780-84; the name of his wife is not known and the list of his children is not complete; those known –

James Crawford, the oldest son died in 1798; he married, Dec. 30, 1786, Mary Crawford, a cousin, (daughter of Patrick) and had issue –

Sarah, married Charles McClung.

James Crawford, never married.

William Crawford never married

John, married, Jan. 1819, Margaret Bell (dau. of Wm.)

George, died inf.

Elizabeth, married Samuel McClung.

Mary, born after father’s death; married John Allen.

Chalkley, Vol. 2, p. 259, Crawford vs Crawford, 1821; William Bell and Margaret Crawford, executors of James Crawford, who died in Augusta County, will dated 1798, leaving six children, four sons and two daughters. A daughter born after his death, son George died as infant; William never married; Sarah married Charles

Page 51

Clung; Elizabeth, married Samuel McClung; Polly, posthumous daughter, married John Allen, Sarah and Polly are dead (1821); Mary the widow lives with her daughter Elizabeth in Greenbrier County.

John Crawford, no record.

George Crawford Jr., served in the Revolution and July 18, 1786 (Vol. 1, p 246) is allowed for a gun lost in service and in 1799 (p. 292) is exempt from levy because of age and infirmity. (Could this be George Sr.?)

Daughter, married Col. Andrew Anderson, as his first wife; she died Aug. 12, 1786 and he married (2) Mar. 13, 1788, her cousin, Martha Crawford, daughter of Patrick. (Chalkley, Vol. 2, p. 206) “Col. Andrew Anderson deposes, Oct. 29, 1818, that he married in Staunton, the oldest daughter of George Crawford of Augusta, who died Aug. 12, 1786.”

William Crawford, will recorded in Rockbridge County, June 3, 1783; names wife Mary; sons, George, William, John; daughters, Eleanor, Isabel, Mary, Elizabeth.

Sarah Crawford, married her cousin, Robert Crawford, son of Alexander; had issue – George, Elizabeth, Hugh, James, Jane, Robert, William, John.

Patrick Crawford was born in Ireland, and came first to Pennsylvania and removed from there to Augusta County, Virginia in about 1750 (Waddell). His wife was Sarah Wilson; issue, four sons and five daughters. The daughters were:

Martha, baptized 1748, probably died young.

Elizabeth, born Oct 18, 1751, married Alexander Roberton.

Peggy, married John Crawford, son of George.

Daughter, married James McChesney; had son George

Martha, born May 10, 1761, married, Mar. 13, 1788, Col. Andrew Anderson as his second wife;  his first wife was her cousin, a daughter of George, she died 1786.

Mary, married, Dec. 30, 1786, James Crawford, oldest son of George.

The sons were —

George Crawford, born Oct. 1, 1754, married, June 23, 1788, Nancy Winter (dau. of Wm. And Anne (Boone) Winer); issue:

Nancy Crawford married John Miller

Hannah Crawford married Harry Miller.

Sarah Crawford married James Bell is 2nd wife.

Jane Crawford married Franklin McCue

Martha Crawford married Peter Hanger.

Polly Crawford, married James Hourland, Sept. 17, 1812

Peggy Crawford married James Walker

The above from Chalkley, Vol. 1, p. 427; “George Crawford died intestate leaving six children etc. “Peggy a minor”. Nancy, who married John Miller not in deed.

John Crawford, (Maj. John), born Mar. 29, 1764, married, July 5, 179[0], Rebecca Allen, daughter of Capt. James; issue –

Elizabeth married Capt. William Ingles.

Sarah, married John Hyde.

Margaret, married Cyrus Hyde, his 1st wife.

James, married Cynthia McClung.

John, married Harriet McClung.

George W, never married.

Ann., married Franklin McCue, his 2nd wife.

Mary married Edward Moorman.

Rebecca  married Stewart McClung.

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William Crawford, born Aug. 6, 1767, married Nancy Smith, daughter of Abraham Smith; issue –

Benjamin, James, John, George, William and six daughters.

Benjamin, married Magdalena Cochran; issue –

Elizabeth, James, Nancy, who married Col. James Crawford of Culpeper; Addison and Benjamin.

James, never married.

John, married Mary Allen.

James Crawford, born Aug. 6, 1757, named as the second son of Patrick, married –_ McClung of Greenbrier; issue –

John H., married Mrs. Trirkle, nee Rice.

William, – married McChesney of Rockbridge Co.

Edward, -married  dau. of William Crawford.

James, removed to Texas.

Marshall, – married dau. of Alexander Crawford of Crawford Springs, Augusta Co

I then asked ChatGPT to pull the family groups from this article. Below is the unedited response from ChatGPT.

1. Ann Crawford (widow)

Children:

• Patrick Crawford (see separate group)
• James Crawford (merchant; d. 1751 in Augusta Co., VA)
• George Crawford (d. between 1780–84)
• Alexander Crawford (killed 1764; see below)
• Possibly Thomas Crawford (tithable 1750)
• Possibly William Crawford (tithable 1755; guardian in 1768)
• Mary Crawford, m. John Poage/Pogue (Patrick gave consent)

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2. Alexander Crawford & Mary McPheeters

Death: Both killed by Indians ca. 1764
Administrator: William McPheeters
Children:

• John Crawford (b. 1741–d. 1832), m. (1) Peggy Crawford; (2) Mary Craig; (3) Sarah Newman
  • Children: Margaret (m. Daniel Fall), Samuel, Mary (m. Samuel Gillespie), James, William, John, Nancy (m. Leroy Newman), Fanny (m. Henry Pippetoe)
• Alexander Crawford Jr. (d. June 19, 1830), m. (1) — Hopkins; m. (2) widow McClure
  • Children (by Hopkins): Polly, Betsy, Kittie, Sally
  • Children (by McClure): James, William, George†, Samuel†, Robert, William
• Edward Crawford – Presbyterian minister, Princeton Theological Seminary grad, 1775
• James Crawford – Presbyterian minister; moved to Kentucky
• Rebecca Crawford, m. John Sawyer (moved to Kentucky)
• Mary Crawford – no further record; guardian: William Crawford
• Martha Crawford, m. Alexander Craig; children went west
• Robert Crawford, m. Sarah Crawford (daughter of George)
  • Children: George, Elizabeth, Hugh, Jane, James, Robert, William, John
• Samuel Crawford (b. 1759), m. Oct. 9, 1790, Elizabeth Craig
  • Son: William
  • Mentions brother James in will (1795)

---

3. James Crawford (merchant) & Elizabeth Robertson

Died: 1751
Wife: Elizabeth Robertson (sister of William Robertson)
Children:

• Jane Crawford, m. 1769, James Brown
• James Crawford Jr., qualified as Justice in 1785

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4. George Crawford (d. 1780–84)

Children (wife unknown):

• James Crawford (d. 1798), m. Dec. 30, 1786, Mary Crawford (daughter of Patrick)
  • Children: Sarah (m. Charles McClung), James, William, John (m. Margaret Bell), George†, Elizabeth (m. Samuel McClung), Mary “Polly” (m. John Allen)
• Unnamed daughter, m. Col. Andrew Anderson (d. Aug. 12, 1786)
• John Crawford – no record
• George Crawford Jr. – served in Revolution; possibly same as George Sr.
• William Crawford, will proved 1783 in Rockbridge Co.; wife: Mary
  • Children: George, William, John, Eleanor, Isabel, Mary, Elizabeth
• Sarah Crawford, m. cousin Robert Crawford (son of Alexander)
  • Children: George, Elizabeth, Hugh, James, Jane, Robert, William, John

---

5. Patrick Crawford & Sarah Wilson

Born: In Ireland; to PA and then Augusta Co., VA (~1750)
Children:

Daughters:

• Martha Crawford, bap. 1748, likely died young
• Elizabeth Crawford (b. Oct. 18, 1751), m. Alexander Robertson
• Peggy Crawford, m. John Crawford (son of George)
• Unnamed Daughter, m. James McChesney; had son George
• Martha Crawford (b. May 10, 1761), m. Col. Andrew Anderson (his 2nd wife)
• Mary Crawford, m. Dec. 30, 1786, James Crawford (son of George)

Sons:

• George Crawford (b. Oct. 1, 1754), m. Nancy Winter (dau. of William & Anne Boone Winter)
  • Children: Nancy (m. John Miller), Hannah (m. Harry Miller), Sarah (m. James Bell), Jane (m. Franklin McCue), Martha (m. Peter Hanger), Polly (m. James Hourland), Peggy (m. James Walker)
• Maj. John Crawford (b. Mar. 29, 1764), m. July 5, 1790, Rebecca Allen (daughter of Capt. James)
  • Children: Elizabeth (m. Capt. William Ingles), Sarah (m. John Hyde), Margaret (m. Cyrus Hyde), James (m. Cynthia McClung), John (m. Harriet McClung), George W. (never married), Ann (m. Franklin McCue), Mary (m. Edward Moorman), Rebecca (m. Stewart McClung)
• William Crawford (b. Aug. 6, 1767), m. Nancy Smith (daughter of Abraham Smith)
  • Children: Benjamin (m. Magdalena Cochran), James (never married), John (m. Mary Allen), George, William, and six unnamed daughters
    • Benjamin’s children: Elizabeth, James, Nancy (m. Col. James Crawford of Culpeper), Addison, Benjamin
• James Crawford (b. Aug. 6, 1757), m. — McClung (of Greenbrier)
  • Children: John H. (m. Mrs. Trirkle, née Rice), William (m. Miss McChesney), Edward (m. daughter of William Crawford), James (removed to Texas), Marshall (m. daughter of Alexander Crawford of Crawford Springs)

This article offers a wealth of information about the early Crawford families of Augusta County, Virginia, and their migrations into Kentucky, Ohio, and Missouri. By organizing the data into family groups, we can better visualize relationships and track patterns across generations. While I’ve done my best to interpret and structure the material accurately, the original source remains elusive. If you recognize this article or have access to Miami Valley Genealogies, Vol. 2: Families A–K, I would greatly appreciate any insight or confirmation you can provide. Sharing and preserving these records helps all of us build a more complete picture of our shared past.