Reconstructing a Crawford Family with Wills and Court Records
Have you ever tried to piece together a family using deeds and court records? As I’ve been researching the James Crawford family featured in Miami Valley Genealogies, I’ve found that wills and land transactions are crucial for identifying the children of his son, James Crawford.
The will of this second-generation James Crawford names three sons:
- James Crawford, who inherited the plantation where their father lived
- Alexander Crawford, who received land on South River
- George Crawford, who was given the plantation on Round Oak
According to the FamilySearch tree, all three sons died without issue. The will of the grandson, James, supports this conclusion—it does not mention any children, but instead identifies sisters, a niece, and nephews.
But what about George and Alexander? Are there other documents that confirm their death dates or clarify whether they had children?
An 1812 will for George Crawford, recorded in Augusta County Will Book 2, lists the following siblings:
- Brother James
- Brother Alexander
- Unmarried sisters Elizabeth, Jane, and Ann
In the name of God Amen I George Crawford of the County
Augusta and State of Virginia , being sick and weak in body but of
sound and disposing mind , memory and understanding do
therefore make and publish this my last will and testament in
the manner and form following ; that is to say ; just I ordain
hat my body be decently buried at the discretion of my Executors
hereinafter named . and after my just debts and funeral
charges are paid , I devise and bequeath as follows . I give and be
queath unto my brother James Crawford one hundred dollars ,
and my riding horse saddle bridle , Likewise , I give and devise
unto my brother Alexander Crawford my plantation lying in
Botetourt County and State aforesaid ( usually called the cove place)
to him the said Alexander Crawford and his heirs and assigns for
ever Likewise I devise and bequeath all the rest and residue of my
personal Estate and slaves to be equally divided among my three
unmarried sisters : to wit : Elizabetts Crawford, Jane Crawford and
Ann Crawford , And : lastly , I do , hereby constitute and appoint my
brother James Crawford and my brother Allexander Crawford
to be sole Executors of this my last will and testament , revo
king all former wills by me heretofore made and ratifying
this and none other to reve be my last will and testament
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand
and seal this 21st day of March in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and twelve
George Crawford ℗
Signed , sealed , published and all declared by George Crawford
the within named testator , as and for his last will and
testament , in the presence of us , who at his , request in his
presence , and in the presence of each other , have subscribed
names as witnesses thereto .
James Allen
Same [L]essly
James L]essly
in Augusta County Court November the 23rd 1818 This last
will and Testament of George Crawford decd , was presented
in Court and proved by the oaths of James Allen and Samuel
[L]Sessley two of the witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded
and on the motion of James Crawford and Alexander Crawford
the Executors therein named , who qualified as the law directs
and with William Poage and James Bourland their securities
entered into and acknowledged bond as the law directs in the
sum of $ 1000 ( which bond is ordered to be recorded) certificate
is granted them for obtaining a probate thereof in due form
Teste
Erasmus Stribling CC“Augusta, Virginia, United States records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9TH-56PM?view=explore : Jul 28, 2025), image 219 of 247; . Image Group Number: 007675948
This document strengthens the case that George died without a spouse or children.
Further evidence appears in an 1818 deed: Jane Crawford, widow of James Crawford, and George Crawford, one of the sons and heirs of James Crawford, sold 392 acres in Botetourt County, Virginia—the plantation on Round Oak—to James and Alexander Crawford. This transaction supports the relationships identified in the earlier will and provides insight into how the land passed among the brothers.
By January 1833, Augusta County court records include orders related to the estates of both George and Alexander Crawford, each under administration de bonis non. This Latin phrase means “of goods not administered,” referring to the appointment of a new administrator when the original executor failed to settle the full estate. It signals that both men had passed away and their estates required further management. (Augusta, Virginia, United States records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSLD-B9TW-2?view=explore : Jul 28, 2025), image 208 of 241; . Image Group Number: 008190009)
Finally, in November 1833, the Augusta County court recorded an inventory of the remaining estate of George Crawford.
Inventory of the Estate of George Crawford decd which came to
the hands of James Bell Sheriff of Augusta County to whom Adminis
tration of said Estate de bonis non with the Will annexed was committed
Bond of George Crawford & Alexander Crawford , dated the ⎬
18th day of October 1817 due 18th Octr 1820 for ⎬ $ 400 . 00
Bond of same persons dated as above & due 18 Octo . 1821 for – . 400 . 00
Bond of some parties of same date due 18th Octo 1822 . for – 400 . 00
Bond of same parties bearing same date due 18th Octo . 1823 – 40000
Bond of same parties bearing same date due 18th Pete 1824 – 400 . 00
Bond of same parties bearing same date due 18th Octo . 1825 – 400 . 00
Bond of same parties being same date due 18th Octo . 1826 – 400 . 00
Bond of same parties bearing same date due 18th Octo . 1827 – 400 . 00
Bond of same parties bearing same date due 18th Octo . 1828 – 40000
Bond of same parties bearing same date due 18th Octor 1829 – 400 . 00
Bond of some parties bearing same date due 18th Octo . 1830 – [80 . 00]
$ 4080 . 00
There is also an the a Bond executed by James & Alexander Crawford
by the above named George Crawford for 400 Dollars being the same
date & due the 18th ct 1819 , which was assigned by the obligor to Joseph
Bell which is believed to be paid and found among the papers of said
James Crawford
The above is a true full & perfect inventory of all & singular the
singular goods chattels of George Crawford , coming to the the posesss
ion or knowledge of the said Bell as Committee administration of
said Estate . Given under my hands this 4th November 1883
William Craig [Dfor]
James Bell S. A . CAugusta County County November Term 1833
this Inventory of the Estate of George Crawford decd was returned
unto Court & ordered to be recorded
Teste
Jefferson Kenney C A CAugusta, Virginia, United States records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9PH-973?view=explore : Jul 28, 2025), image 141 of 267; . Image Group Number: 007643873
Together, these records not only confirm the deaths of James Crawford’s sons—James, George, and Alexander—but also support the conclusion that James and George left no descendants.