Although I haven’t yet discovered a direct connection between my ancestor James Crawford (1772–1854)—who married Sally Duggins in 1799 in Garrard County, Kentucky—and the other Crawford families living in Garrard County at the time, I continue to research those lines in hopes of finding common ground. Both of these other Crawford lines are believed to descend from James [L5FF-1NF] and Margery Crawford of Augusta County, Virginia.
While reviewing the FamilySearch profiles for updates, I came across a particularly helpful comment on James Crawford’s profile:
James Crawford bought 181 acres of land in Augusta County on Whistle Creek in the Forks of the James River, Virginia, from James Campbell on 17 May 1756. James Campbell sold only 181 acres of his 434-acre tract. This 181 acres later became part of Botetourt County and eventually Rockbridge County as county boundaries shifted. The same land was later sold by Andrew Crawford and his mother, Margery Crawford, on 2 Jan 1776 to Alexander Wyley—suggesting that Margery was James Crawford’s widow and that he had died by that time.
Intrigued, I set out to find the deed documenting the sale of this land by Andrew and Margery Crawford. Below is a transcription of that deed.
image 65 of 231
235
This Indenture made the second Day of January in the
year of our Lord one Thousand seven hundred & seventy six
between Andrew Crawford & Margery Crawford his Mother of the
County of Botetourt in the Colony of Virginia of the one part &
Alexander Wyley of the said County & Colony aforesaid of
The other Part Witnesseth that for & in consideration of the
Sum of sixty three Pounds current Money of Virginia to the
said Andrew Crawford & Margery in Hand paid by the sd
Alex Wyley at or before the sealing & Delivery of these Present
the Receipt whereof he doth hereby acknowledge & thereof
doth release acquit & discharge the said Alex Wyley his Exors
& Administrators by these Presents they the said Andw Crawford
& Margery hath granted bargained sold aliened & confirmed &
by these Presents doth grant bargain sell alien confirm
unto the said Alex Wyley & his Heirs one certain Tract of
Land containing one hundred & eighty one acres (more or less)
lying & being in the County of Botetourt & Colony of Virginia
& bounded as follows ( ie ) Beginning at a Bunch of Linns
on the Bank of the North River Corner to Robert McElheney
& run with his line & John Wyley ‘ s North 16 Degrees West
308 Poles to two Pines Corner to the said Wyleys Land thence south
30 Degrees West 200 Poles to three white Oaks Corner to James
Campbells thence with her Lines South East 100 Poles to Fort
thence South west 64 Poles to two Hicorys South East 40 Poles
to a white Oak North East sixty four poles crossing a branch to
[two no] Oaks South East 6 4 Poles to a Cedar & Hicory on a steep
Bank on the River then up the River to the Beginning and
all Houses Buildings orchards Ways Waters Water Courses
Profits Commodities Hereditaments & appurtenances whatever
to the said Premises hereby granted on my part thereof belonging
in any wise is appertaining & the Reversion & Reversions remainder
& remainders Rents Issues & Profits thereof & also all the Estate
Right Title Interest use Trust Property Claim & Demand
whatsoever of him the said Alexander Wiley of in & to the said
Premise and all Deeds Evidences & writings touching or in any
Wise concerning the same To have & to hold the same hereby
conveyed & all & singular other the Premises hereby bargained
& sold & every part & parcel thereof with their & every of their
appurtenances unto the said Alex Wiley his Heirs & Assigns
forever to the only proper use & Behoof of him the said Alexr Wyley
& of his Heirs & assigns forever And the said Andw Crawford and236
Margery Crawford his Mother pr hims of his Heirs Excrs
& Administrators doth covenant promise & grant to & with
the said Alexr Wyley his Heirs & assigns by these Presents that
the said Andrew Crawford & Margery now at the Time of sealing
and delivering of these Presents seized of a good sure perfect &
indefeasable Estate of Inheritance in fee simple of & in the
manner hereby bargained & sold & that he hath good Power &
lawful & absolute authority to grant & convey the same to the
said Alex Wyley in Manner & Form aforesaid and that the
said Premises now are & so forever here after shall remain &
before & Release of & from all former & other Gifts Grants Bargain
sales Dower Right & Title of Dower Judgements Executions
Tithes Troubles Charges & Encumbrances whatsoever made
[?] committed or suffered by the said Andrew Crawford
sd Margery or any other person or Personw whatsoever ( the
Quit rents hereafter to grow due & payable to our sovereign
Lord the King his heirs & sucessors for & in Respect of the
Premises only excepted & fore prized ), & that the said Andw
Crawford & Margery & his heirs all & singular the premises
hereby bargained & sold with the appurtenances unto the
said Alexr Wyley by his Heirs & assigns against them the
said Andrw Crawford & Margery & their Heirs & all & every
other Person & persons whatsoever shall warrant & for
ever defend by these Presents And lastly that they the
said Andw Crawford & Margery & their Heirs & all & every other
Person & Persons & his & their Heirs any thing having or
Claiming in the Premises herein before mentioned or
intended to be hereby bargained & sold shall & will from
Time to Time & at all Times hereafter at the reasonable
Request & at the proper cost & charges in the [Land] of him
The said Alexander Wyley & her Heirs or assigns make
so & Execute or cause or procure to be made done & executed
all every such further & other lawful & reasonable act &
acts thing & things conveyances & assurances for the
further better & more perfect conveying & assuring the premises
aforesaid with their & every of their appurtenances unto
the said Alexander Wyley & his Heirs & assigns as by the said
Alexr Wyley & his heirs or assigns or their Council [learned]
in the said shall be reasonably devised advised or required
In Witness whereof the sd Andw Crawford hath hereunto set his Hand
& Seal the Day & year first above writtenpage 237
Andrew Crawford (seal)
Margery (her mark) Crawford (seal)Sealed & delivered
in the presence of John Gabriel Johns PA Lockart
John Armstrong Geo . Rutledge
Thos Bowyer Jr Christian Samuel
Walker Wm McNeil James Ritchey
George Poage
At a Court held for Botetourt County the 14th of May 1776
This Indenture was proved by the Oaths of George Rutledge
Thos Bowyer & George Poage Witnesses & ordered to be recorded
Teste John May CBC“Botetourt, Virginia, United States records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4C-9WLW?view=explore : Jun 25, 2025), image 65 of 231; . Image Group Number: 007893747
Using DeedMapper software, I created a visual representation of this land parcel based on the deed’s description.
Researching land records like this deed not only helps piece together family relationships but also provides a clearer view of where and how our ancestors lived. The connection between Andrew and Margery Crawford, and the land originally purchased by James Crawford, strengthens the case for their family ties and offers clues for further investigation. As county boundaries shifted and families migrated westward, records like these serve as valuable anchors in the timeline of Crawford history. If you’re researching this line—or have insights into the Crawfords of Augusta, Botetourt, or Rockbridge County—I’d love to hear from you.