While researching the Crawford family lines mentioned in Miami Valley Genealogies, I recently came across my old photocopy of this publication, which identifies four Crawford brothers:
- Alexander Crawford
- Patrick Crawford
- George Crawford
- James Crawford
Hoping to identify male-line descendants for potential yDNA testing to confirm this sibling relationship, I began researching the family of James Crawford. Using the information from the Miami Valley Genealogies entry for James Crawford & Elizabeth Robertson, along with wills and deeds located through FamilySearch’s experimental full-text search, I was able to reconstruct this family’s descendants.
Unfortunately, it appears the male line died out, eliminating the possibility of using yDNA to verify the connection between these Crawford families. Below is my current reconstruction of the family of James Crawford, who purchased land in Augusta County, Virginia, in 1740.
First Generation
James Crawford
- Born: 31 May 1719, Garnqueen, Cadder, Lanarkshire, Scotland
- Died: Before February 1750, Middle River, Augusta County, Virginia
- Occupation: Landholder; estate described as “considerable” in court records
- Married: 1740, Augusta County, Virginia, to Elizabeth Robertson (1721–1787), sister of William Robertson
Key Life Events:
- Purchased land in Augusta County in 1740
- Filed land entry papers, 13 Aug 1747
- Estate ordered inventoried Feb 1750; inventory returned May 1751; estate sold Nov 1751
Children:
- Jane Crawford (1741–1834)
Married James Brown, Jul 1769; court records confirm she was daughter of James Crawford who died in 1751. - George Crawford (1742–1751) – died young.
- William Crawford (b. 1745) – no further record.
- James Crawford, Jr. (Aug 1746–3 Jul 1793)
Married Jane Sayers in 1767; served as Justice in Augusta County; purchased 400 acres in 1787; will dated 1791. - Alexander Crawford (1748–1751) – died young.
Second Generation
Jane Crawford (1741–1834)
Married James Brown (1735–after 1790). Children included James, William, Elizabeth, Sally, Thomas, and Margaret Brown.
James Crawford, Jr. (1746–1793)
Married Jane Sayers (b. 1748). Children included Mary, Ann, James, Elizabeth, Martha, Alexander, Jenet Jane, and George Crawford.
Third Generation Highlights
- Ann Crawford married John Irvine; their children later sold their inherited interest in family land.
- Mary Crawford married William Bell; daughter Rachael Bell married Thornton Berry.
- Martha Crawford married William Ewen Hogshead; their descendants continued in Augusta County.
Research Outcome
While this research confirmed the structure of James Crawford’s family and linked him to significant Augusta County records, no living male-line descendants have been identified. This means yDNA testing cannot be used to help confirm whether James was indeed a brother to Alexander, Patrick, and George Crawford.
Nonetheless, the wills, deeds, and court records uncovered through FamilySearch have added significant depth to the story of this branch of the Crawford family.
James Crawford (1719–1751) m. Elizabeth Robertson (1721–1787)
│
├── Jane Crawford (1741–1834) m. James Brown (1735–aft.1790)
│ ├── James Brown (1779–1855)
│ ├── William Brown (1784–1851)
│ ├── Elizabeth Brown (b. ~1776)
│ ├── Sally Brown (d. bef.1795)
│ ├── Thomas Brown (1775–1850)
│ └── Margaret Brown (1771–1853) m. Walter Heron/Herring
│
├── George Crawford (1742–1751)
│
├── William Crawford (b. 1745) – no further record
│
├── James Crawford, Jr. (1746–1793) m. Jane Sayers (b. 1748)
│ ├── Mary Crawford m. William Bell
│ │ └── Rachael Bell (1812–1852) m. Thornton Berry
│ ├── Ann Crawford (1768–bef.1836) m. John Irvine
│ │ ├── John H. Irvine
│ │ ├── James A. Irvine
│ │ ├── George Irvine
│ │ └── Samuel Irvine
│ ├── James Crawford (b. 1770)
│ ├── Elizabeth Crawford (b. 1770)
│ ├── Martha Crawford (1772–1876) m. William Ewen Hogshead
│ │ ├── Elizabeth Jane Hogshead (1809–1872) m. William Arthur Hanger
│ │ ├── Walter Hogshead
│ │ └── Martha Hogshead
│ ├── Alexander Crawford (1776–bef.1833)
│ ├── Jenet Jane Crawford (b. 1780)
│ └── George Crawford (1782–1818)
│
└── Alexander Crawford (1748–1751)