The Story of James Crawford and Elizabeth Robertson: Early Settlers in Augusta County, Virginia

Genealogy research often reveals more than names and dates — it uncovers the rich stories of courage, migration, and community that shape our families. One such story is that of James Crawford and his wife, Elizabeth Robertson Crawford, early pioneers in Augusta County, Virginia.

From Scotland to the New World

James Crawford was born in 1719 in Cadder, Lanarkshire, Scotland. He was christened on 31 May 1719 in Garnqueen, Cadder Parish. [1–5]

Around 1740, James made a momentous journey across the Atlantic, settling in the Colony of Virginia along the Middle River in Augusta County [1,6] That same year, he married Elizabeth Robertson, who was born in 1721. [1,9]

Building a Family on the Frontier

James and Elizabeth established a family soon after their marriage. Their daughter Jane Crawford was born in 1741, [1] followed by their son James Crawford Jr. in August 1746 in Staunton, Augusta County. [1]

In 1747, James secured land in Augusta County, filing entry papers on 13 August, marking his growing role as a landowner and settler. [7–8]

A Life Cut Short

Tragically, James’s life was brief. He died before February 1750 at about 31 years old in Middle River, Augusta County. [1,3,9]

In February 1750, the Augusta County Court ordered an inventory of his estate. Robert Page, John Anderson, Samuel Henderson, and Thomas Gordon were appointed to appraise his possessions. [10]

The inventory, conducted on 18 May 1751, offers a detailed window into the Crawfords’ life. It included cattle, sheep, hogs, multiple horses and colts, plows and farm tools, a man’s saddle, beds and blankets, kitchen items, iron pots, a spinning wheel, and more. [11] These items reflect the hard work and resilience required to build a home on the Virginia frontier.

The inventory was returned and recorded on 29 May 1751, [12] and the sale of the estate was finalized and documented in November 1751. [13]

Elizabeth’s Strength and Later Years

After James’s death, Elizabeth stepped forward to administer the estate, along with George Anderson, Robert Patterson, and Patrick Crawford. Together, they posted bond to ensure the faithful management of James’s affairs. [10,14]

Elizabeth appears again in the Augusta County records in March 1773, as a defendant in a case brought by James Brown and his wife Jane — possibly her daughter. [15]

Elizabeth Robertson Crawford died in 1787 at about 66 years old, leaving behind a legacy of perseverance in early Virginia.

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Sources

1. “Crawford,” Miami Valley Genealogies Vol. 2: Families A-K, Brien Lindsay (Dayton, Ohio: Brien, maybe 1960), p. 49–53.
2. Brien Lindsay, Miami Valley Genealogies: 145 Family Records, Vol. 2: Families A-J (n.p.: n.p., n.d.), p. 58 (image 456 of 1204); digitized microfilm, FamilySearch, DGS #007712477 : viewed online 20 June 2025.
3. Find a Grave, database and images, Find a Grave (www.findagrave.com : viewed online 11 July 2025), memorial for James Crawford (1719–1751), Find a Grave Memorial no. 228285377, created by Patricia Kross.
4. “Scotland, Select Births and Baptisms, 1564–1950,” Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : Cadder, Lanark, Scotland, viewed online 11 July 2025), James Crawford.
5. “Select Counties, Scotland, Church of Scotland, Baptisms, 1615–1854,” Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : Cadder, Lanark, Scotland, viewed online 11 July 2025), James Crawford.
6. Historical Papers and Addresses of the Lancaster County Historical Society: Volumes 25–27, (Lancaster, PA: Lancaster County Historical Society, 1921), p. 90; play.google.com : viewed online 7 June 2020.
7. We Relate (werelate.org : viewed online 12 July 2025), James Crawford.
8. Virginia, Augusta County. Deed books, 1745–1866; index to deeds 1745–1930. Film #DGS 8189996 item 1. James Crawford, August 1747; Book 1: p. 283–286; images 151–153 of 286, digitized images, FamilySearch www.familysearch.org : viewed online 12 July 2025.
9. Lyman Chalkey, Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia (Roselyn, Virginia: The Commonwealth Company, 1912), p. 370; digital images, FamilySearch, www.familysearch.org : viewed online 21 January 2023.
10. Virginia, Augusta County. Court Order Books, 1745–1867. Film #7893723. James Crawford, Feb 1750; Vol. 2: p. 520; image 226 of 275, digitized images, FamilySearch www.familysearch.org : viewed online 10 July 2025.
11. Virginia, Augusta County. Will books, 1745–1871; index to wills, 1745–1903. Film #7643866. James Crawford, 28 May 1751; Vol. 1: pp. 192–193 of 587, digitized images, FamilySearch www.familysearch.org : viewed online 9 July 2025.
12. Virginia, Augusta County. Court Order Books, 1745–1867. Film #7893723 Item 2. James Crawford, 29 May 1751; Vol. 2 (1747–1751): p. 572; image 452 of 756, digitized images, FamilySearch www.familysearch.org : viewed online 9 July 2025.
13. Virginia, Augusta County. Court Order Books, 1745–1867. Film #7893723. James Crawford, Nov 1751; Vol. 3: p. 601 of 756, digitized images, FamilySearch www.familysearch.org : viewed online 9 July 2025.
14. Virginia, Augusta County. Will books, 1745–1871; index to wills, 1745–1903. Film #7643866. James Crawford, Feb 1750; Vol. 1: p. 300; image 168 of 302, digitized images, FamilySearch www.familysearch.org : viewed online 9 July 2025.
15. Virginia, Augusta County. Court Order Books, 1745–1867. Film #DGS 7893727 Item 3. James Crawford, March 1773; Vol. 15: p. 52; image 38 of 285, digitized images, FamilySearch www.familysearch.org : viewed online 12 July 2025.