According to Miami Valley Genealogies, Alexander Crawford (who married Mary McPheeters) had a brother named George Crawford. However, when exploring the FamilySearch tree, one finds George Alexander Crawford Sr. connected to two different sets of parents, both named William Crawford and Mary Ann Douglas. One set includes Alexander as a sibling; the other does not.
The older couple, William Crawford (1691–1761) and Mary Ann Douglas (1693–1726), were reportedly married in 1714. If George belonged to this family, born in 1726, he would likely have been the youngest child.
The younger couple, William Crawford (b. 1710) and Mary Ann Douglas (b. 1712), are listed with a marriage date of 1734. Since George’s birth year is consistently given as 1726, it seems improbable that he belongs to this younger couple.
To help resolve this ambiguity, a will for a George Crawford has been located in Augusta County, Virginia. The structure of this family—as outlined in the will—closely matches the descendants listed in Miami Valley Genealogies. The will names the following individuals:
- Wife, Elizabeth
- Son, James
- Son, George
- Son, Robert
- Son, William
- Son, John
- Daughter, Margret Anderson
- Daughter, Mary Renkin
- Daughter, Elizabeth Crawford
- Daughter, Sarah Crawford
- Daughter, Jane Crawford
Given the recurring challenges of researching the many Crawford families in Augusta County—where names such as George, William, James, and Mary repeat frequently—it is difficult to say with certainty whether this is the same George Crawford who was the brother of Alexander Crawford. However, the structure of the family named in the will aligns well with the genealogical account from Miami Valley Genealogies, particularly the fact that James is identified as the oldest son, which is consistent across both records.
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, never married
• John, married Jan. 1819, Margaret Bell (daughter of Wm.)
• George, died in infancy
• Elizabeth, married Samuel McClung
• Mary, born after her father’s death; married John Allen
Supporting this account is a legal reference from Chalkley’s Chronicles:
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.”
Below is a transcription of George Crawford’s will, with probable FamilySearch IDs noted for each individual.
Will Book 6, 1778-1787
Augusta County, VIrginiaDGS 7643868 Item 2
“Augusta, Virginia, United States records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99P7-39VV?view=explore : Aug 1, 2025), image 76 of 284; . Image Group Number: 007643868
image 76 of 284
In the name of God Amen I George
Crawford [LZJF-47B] of the Middle River of Shanadock in the
County of Augusta & Colony of Virginia being
weak in Body but of Sound and perfect mind
& Memory Blessed be God – do this Nineteenth day
of July one Thousand Seven hundred and Seven
ty nine make and public this my first Will &
Testament in manner following & first & prin
cipally Recommending my soul unto the hands
of God that gave it I recommend my Body
To be Buried by my Executors in a Christian like
and decent manner Nothing doubting but
at the General Resurrection I shall Receivepage 141
The same by the power of God , and Tuching Such
Worldly Estate where with it hath pleased God
to bless me in this life I give devise & Bequeth
the same as follows to wit – Imprimis It is my
Will and desire and I hereby order and Direct
that all my Just Debts & Funeral Charges be
first paid and satisfied . Item I give and Be
queath to my dearly Beloved Wife Elisabeth [LZGF-N5C] the
uper half of the Plantation I now live on with the
Dwelling house as long as the continues a widow
if She Should Marry then I allow the said planta
tion to fall in to the hands of my Executors
which hereafter I shall dispose of Likwis I
allow her the disposal of all the household plenish
ing with her mare & Saddle and a child part
of the movable Estate . Item I bequeath to my
Son James Crawford [2 in family – LQR8-7GN, P9VP-NZS] the lower half of this
plantation I now live on with one Entry join
ing to it to him and his Heirs for ever with
his Gray Mare and Colt and one Tun of hemp
and a child part of the Movable Estate
Item I give and Bequeath to my son George Crawford [2 in family P9VG-XVG or LZB5-QWN]
that plantation of mine which I bought from jos
hua Hickman only Reserving that part that
lies above the Spring Run on the North side [S]itt
lers Creek up to the Line which I will hereafter
dispose of to him and his Heirs forever and a three
Year Old Stallion Colt One Tun of hemp and a Child
part of the Moveable Estate . Item and Bequeath
to my Son Robert Crawford [LHXT-KP8] that Plantation of
mine I bought of Brice Russel with that Addition
taken of hickmins place which lies above the
Spring Run on the North side of Sittlers Creek
up to the line with an entry joining to it to him
and his heirs forever and one Roand Mare for
year old and a child part of the movable Estate
I give and bequeath to my son William Craw
ford [LCZH-MHJ] that plantation of mine that I bought of
William Baskins to him and his Heirs forever
and a Grey horse a Child part of the Movable estte
Item I give and Bequeath to my Son John Crawford [L8PP-H8R]
the uper half of the plantation I live on to himself
his heirs for ever Reserving his mother her rightImage 77
page 142as above made to her and one two year old Colt
and a Child part of the Movable Estate
I give and Bequeath to my Daughter Margret Ander
son [2 in family – LCM3-CDG, P9VP-Z6T] four hundred pounds out of my Estate
I give and Bequeath to my daughter Mary Renkin [P982-X6R]
five hundred pounds out of my Estate
I give an bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth Crawford [2 in family P9VP-NR9 or L6FL-88W] one year
old and filly and a Child part of Movable Estate
I give and bequeath to
a child part of the Moveable Estate I give and beq
ueath to my daughter Sarah Crawford [LCQQ-QYY] a Child
part of the movable Estate I give and bequeath to
my daughter Jane Crawford [L8PP-H8R]a Child part of the
Moveable Estate . I constitute and appoint my
Son James & George Crawford to be my Execu
tors of this my last will and Testament given
under my hand & Seal this Nineteenth day of
July 1779 .
George Crawford ℗
John Givens
John Givens Junr
Thomas Graham
at a Court held for Augusta County May 16th 1782
This last Will and Testament of George Crawford
deceased was produced in Court & proved by the
Oaths of John Givens & John Givens Junr Two
of the Witnesses thereto and ordered to be re
corded and on the motion of James Crawford
and George Crawford the Executors therein Men
tioned ( who made Oath according to Law Certify
cate is granted them for obtaining a probate thereof
in due form they having with Securitys Enterd into
and acknowledged their Bond according to Law
which bond was also Orderd to be Recorded
Test