Do you have old correspondence tucked away in your genealogy files? If so, have you ever noticed that some of it refers to families that don’t seem to connect directly to your research? That was my experience when I reopened a 1993 letter containing details about the family of Robert Crawford.
Robert Crawford was born in Virginia and later moved to Ohio. He married Elizabeth Diadem, who was born in Kentucky. Together, they raised a large family:
- Robert R., born September 3, 1809 in Ohio
- Nancy
- Harriet
- Isaac
- James
- Andrew
- Samuel
- Joseph
- Margaret
The eldest son, Robert R. Crawford, born in 1809, eventually migrated to Indiana. On March 31, 1833, he married Mary Ann Hair in Covington, Fountain County, Indiana. The couple later settled in Warren County, Indiana, near Foster, just west of the Wabash River.
Because this younger Robert moved from Ohio to Warren County, Indiana, I began to wonder: could his family be connected to one of the two James Crawford families found in nearby Preble County, Ohio, and Warren County, Indiana?
From a DAR Publication to a Will
While exploring FamilySearch’s new full-text search, I came across a DAR publication that outlined Robert Crawford’s family. That discovery led me to Robert C. Crawford’s will, preserved in the probate records of Miami County, Ohio.
I , Robert C Crawford of the County of Miami in the State of Ohio do make and pub
lish this my last will and testament in manner and form following :
1st It is my will that my funeral expences and all my just Debts be fully paid
2nd I give and Devise and bequeath to beloved wife Polly Crawford in lien of her dower
the Interest on one third of all the money that shall arise from the sale of all the Real
Estate and personally property . In the State of Ohio – during her natural life .
3rd it is my will that all my Real Estate be sold after being appraised by three good
Industrious Freeholders , according to the Law made and provided for in such cases .
4th It is my will that so much of the personal property be sold at publick sale , as
necessary to pay all the debts 5th I give and devise to my son William G Crawford
and his heirs the the farm that he now lives upon – Containing two hundred acres
and also a tract of land containing sixty acres for timber of which he holds a
receipt and also one quarter section of land No 71 N 8 & laying and being in the
I Oway teratory and also five hundred dollars cash after the lands are sold by the
Executors – 6th I give and bequeath to my beloved son Robert C Crawford and his heirs
one fourth of the quarter sections of land laying and being in Township No 68 N. &
near the green bay after the mill race or Ditch is opened for the purpose of building
a mill the said Robert C Crawford shall have the privilege of cutting a ditch to
carry the water were he think fit for the purpose of erecting a mechanary the
said Robert C Crawford is to be at Equal Expence in keeping the Place in Repare to
the mecheanery . I also give and bequeath Robert C Crawford one thousand dollars
in cash . 7th I give and bequeath to my Daughter Eliza Crawford – and her children
three quarter sections of land in Town 71 N8 W on little cedar creek and also five hun
dred dollars in cash so soon as sales & collections are made by the Executorsimage 151
page 236
PROBATE COURT , MIAMI COUNTY , OHIO .
8th I give and devise to to Samuel Crawford and John B Crawford my beloved sons
and their heirs the land that they now have possession of in the County of Henry IOway
teratory and each fifteen hundred dollars each to be applied for Mill purposes and no
other use and if John B Crawford shall build on said premises such as a grist mill
and shall take John Carter in the mill as a miller or any other way the said John
B Crawford shall pay back the said sum of fifteen hundred dollars – the executors first
taking a bond to that effect and the said Samuel and John B Crawford shall have each
one quarter Section of land lying and being in Township 21 – N. 8 W on little cedar that
empties into Skunk R. I give and devise to my beloved children Joseph Crawford – James
Crawford and Nancy Craw each of them one half section of land on Green Bay – In loway
teratory I give and bequeath & my Daughter Nancy or her heirs one thousand dollars cash
I authorize my son Joseph Crawford to build a grist will on the land that lays on
Green Bay taking the water out of Skunk River and throwing the water into Green Bay
for which I leave him fifteen thousand Dollars . 10th I give and bequeath to my beloved
son George W Crawford and his heirs , three quarter sections of land laying and being in
town 71 N 8 W and also one thousand Dollars cash to be paid when made by sale
11th. is my will that so soon as the above will shall be build the proceeds of the prophit
that shall arise from said mill after Keeping the same in repair shall be divided
into one hundred and fifty shares , and Joseph Crawford is to have fourty shares and
to be head miller and Superintendant of said mill I give and bequeath to James Crawford
thirty five shares it is my will that Wm G Crawford have eight shares , it is my will
that my son Robert C Crawford have six shares it is my will that Samuel Crawford
is to have eight shares it is my will that Eliza Crawford have four shares it is my will
that John B Crawford have ten chares it is my will that Nancy Crawford have
eight shares it is my will George W Crawford have ten shares in the above described
will It is my will that if it becomes necessary for the building of said mill that my
Executors sell the ballance of my land that is not disposed of in this will and apply it
to the building and furnishing said mill and lastly I hereby constitute and appoint my
beloved son Joseph Crawford and James Crawford to be the executors for this my last
will and testament . In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal
this twelfth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and
forty two Robert C CrawfordSigned published and delivered by the above named Robert C Crawford in presents of us
who at his request have signed as witnesses to the same . Jacob Shroyer – E I HopkinsProof of Robert C Crawford ‘s Will . –
The State of Ohio – Miami County ss : Court of Common Pleas – September Term AD 1842
Personally appeared in open court Jacob Shroyer and Elihu I Hopkins and made oath
in due form of law that their signature to the paper now presented to the Court purporting
to be the last will and testament of Robert C Crawford late of said County deceased are
genuine ; that they subscribed their names as witnesses thereto in the presence and at
the request of the said Robert C Crawford that said Robert C Crawford executed said
will in their presence and that at the time of executing the same the said Robert C
Crawford was of full age – of sound mind and memory and not under any restraintPage 237
PROBATE COURT , MIAMI COUNTY , OHIO .Jacob Shroyer I Hopkins
Subscribed and sworn to in open court this 24th day of September AD 1842 . Th. J. Smith Clk
Filed Sept 24th 1842“Miami, Ohio, United States records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89Q2-H9N2?view=explore : Sep 12, 2025), image 150 of 186; Ohio. County Court (Miami County). Image Group Number: 005868039
The will, dated August 12, 1842, not only names his wife, Polly, but also provides a remarkable amount of detail about his children, their land holdings, and even business arrangements involving mill construction in Iowa Territory. Among the heirs were:
- William G. Crawford – received farmland and cash
- Robert C. Crawford (Jr.) – received land, mill rights, and cash
- Eliza Crawford and her children – received land and cash
- Samuel Crawford and John B. Crawford – land and funds earmarked for mill purposes
- Joseph, James, and Nancy Crawford – each receiving land in Green Bay, Iowa Territory, plus Nancy’s cash legacy
- George W. Crawford – land and cash
The will also laid out detailed provisions for a mill operation, including the division of profits into 150 shares among his heirs, with Joseph named as superintendent.
Witnesses Jacob Shroyer and Elihu I. Hopkins swore to the validity of the document at the September 1842 term of the Miami County Court of Common Pleas.
Confirming Family Connections
This will provides documentary support for the Crawford family structure as it appears on FamilySearch, confirming the relationships of Robert C. Crawford [MWVP-359], his wife Polly [GH5Z-N7R], and their children William G., Robert C., Eliza, Samuel, John B., Joseph, James, Nancy, and George W.
For me, what began as a casual look at an old letter turned into a deeper exploration of probate records, linking scattered pieces of family history into a clearer picture of the Robert C. Crawford family.
This will not only anchors Robert C. Crawford’s family within the probate records of Miami County, Ohio, but also adds new layers to the broader Crawford research. The land holdings stretching into the Iowa Territory and the careful provisions for his children suggest a family of both means and ambition. Whether or not this Robert connects to the James Crawford families of Preble County, Ohio, or Warren County, Indiana, remains an open question—but one worth pursuing. Each discovery, from a forgotten letter to a court-filed will, helps stitch together the intricate web of Crawford relationships, moving me one step closer to understanding how these families intertwine.