Have you ever used land records to connect family members? That’s the challenge I’ve taken on—using early Virginia land and court records to sort out the tangled Crawford family lines.
Recently, I located a deed in Botetourt County where Andrew Crawford and his mother, Margery, sold land. That discovery led me to the next logical question: when and how did they acquire that land in the first place?
Since FamilySearch lists James Crawford as the husband of Margery and father of Andrew, I turned to FamilySearch’s Full Text Search to look for a deed involving James Crawford. At first, I came up empty. So I adjusted my strategy—searching not only for names but also for the landmarks, boundary lines, and descriptive phrases connected to the property.
That persistence finally paid off. In Book 7 of the Augusta County, Virginia, deeds, I uncovered a record where James Campbell and his wife, Elisabeth, sold 181 acres of land to James Crawford. This document provides a vital piece in the puzzle, linking James directly to land ownership and offering a firmer foundation for tracing his family line.
Finding the deed in the Augusta County records not only confirmed James Crawford’s ownership but also preserved the details of the land itself—boundaries, neighbors, and the legal language of the time. For genealogists, these words are more than legal formalities; they are clues that connect families and communities. Below is a transcription of the deed where James Campbell and his wife Elisabeth sold 181 acres to James Crawford.
Deed Book 7, 1755-1758, AUgusta County VA
Film 7893720 item 3“Augusta, Virginia, British Colonial America records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4H-87T4-Q?view=explore : Jun 26, 2025), image 163 of 284; . Image Group Number: 007893720
Image 163 of 284
attach to https://www.familysearch.org/en/tree/person/details/L5FF-1NFThis Indenture , Made the Eighteenth Day of
May in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven hundred and fifty Six
Between James Campbell and Elizabeth Campbell his wife of the
County of Augusta of the one part and James Crawford of the same County of
the other part Witnesseth , That for and in Consideration of the sum of Eighteen
Pounds Current Money of Virginia to the said James Campbell and Elizabeth
Campbell in Hand paid , by the said James Crawford at or before the sealing
and Delivery of these Presents , the Receipt whereof he doth hereby acknowledge
and thereof doth release , acquit and discharge the said James Crawford and his
Heirs Executors and Administrators by these Presents ; them the said James
Campbell and Elisabeth his wife Hath Granted , Bargained , Sold Aliened
Released , and Confirmed and by these Presents , Doth Grant , Bargain , Sell
Alien Release and Confirm , unto the and said James Crawford, in his actual
Possession now being by Virtue of a Bargain and Sale to him thereof made
by the said James Campbell and Elisabeth his wife for One whole Year , by
indenture , bearing Date the Day next before the Day of the Date of these presents
and by Force of the Statute for Transferring Uses into Possession and his
Heirs one Certain tract or parcel of Land containing one hundred and Eighty
one Acres being part of that tract where James Campbell now liveth in the fork
of James River and is bounded as followeth Begining at a Bunch of Linns
on the bank of the North River Corner to Robert Mc[Elb]ney and Runeth with his lines
and John Wileys North Sixteen Degrees west three hundred & Eight poles to
two Pines Corner to sd Wileys Lane then South 30 Degrees W. two hundred poles
to two White oakes corner to James Campbell thence his Lines south
East 100 poles to a post South West 64 poles to two hicorys South last 40 poles
to a White oake North East 64 poles crossing a branch to two Red oaks South
East 64 poles to a Seader and hicory an a Steep bank of the River thence up
the River to the begining and all Houses , Buildings , Orchards , Ways Waters Water –
Courses Profits , Commodities , Hereditaments , and appurtenances whatsoever .
to the said Premisses hereby Granted , or any part thereof belonging , or in , anywise
appurtaining : , And the Reversion and Reversions Remainder and Remainders
Rents , Issues , and profits thereof : and also all the Estate Right Title Interest
Up , Trust property , claim , and Demand whatsoever of them the said
James Campbell and Elizabeth his wife of in and to the said Premisses
and all Deeds , , evidences and writings touching or in any wise
concerning the same To have and to hold the said one hundred
and Eighty Acres of Land be the same more or Less and all and Singular
other the Premisses hereby Granted and Released , and every part and parcel314
therewith their and every , of their appurtenances unto the said Jas Craword and his heirs and
assigns , for ever; to the only proper Use and Behoof of him the Said James Crafford and his
Heirs and assigns for ever . And the said James Campbell and Elisabeth his wife for him his
Heirs Executors and administrators doth Covenant , Promise , and Grant to and with
the said James Crafford Heirs and assigns by these presents that the said James Campbell
and Elisabeth his wife now at the time of Sealing and Delivering of these presents are
Seised of a good sure perfect and indefeasible Estate of Inheritance in fee Simple
of , and in the Premisses hereby Granted and released . And that he hath good power and
lawfull and absolute authority to grant and convey the Same to the said James Craford
in Manner and form aforesaid , and that the said Premisses now are and so forever
hereafter shall remain and be free and clear of and from all former and other Gifts , Grants
Bargains , Sales , Dower , Right and title of Dower Judgments , Executions , Titles Troubles
Charges and Incumbrances whatsoever made done committed or suffered by the said
James Campbell and Elizabeth his Wife or any other person or Persons whatsoever
( the Quit Clents hereafter to grow due and payable to our sovereign Lord the King his
Heirs and Successors for and in Respect of the said Premisses only Excepted and
foreprized ) and Lastly that the said James Campbell and Elizabeth his wife
and their Heirs all and singular the Premisses hereby Granted and Released
with their Appurtenances unto the said James Craford and his heirs Heirs
and assigns against them the said James Campbell and Elisabeth his wife
and their Heirs and all and Every other Person and Persons whatsoever shall
and will warrant , and forever defend by these Presents in witness
whereof the said James Campbell and Elisabeth his wife hath hereunto set
their Hand and Seals the Day and Year first above writtenJames Campbell (seal)
Elisabth (her mark) Campbell (seal)
Sealed and Delivered ⎬
in the Presence of
Richard Woods
Joh Lapefly
William HallAt a Court held for Augusta County May the 19th 1766
This Release for Land Indented from James Campbell & Elisabeth his wife to James
Crawford was proved by the Oaths of the Witness thereto subscribed & on the Motion
of the said Crawford Admitted to Record
Test [?] [ M]adison
Researching early Virginia deeds can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack, but every document adds another piece to the family history puzzle. The Augusta County deed linking James Crawford to this land ownership not only provides evidence of his presence in the area but also strengthens the connection to Margery and Andrew. Each record uncovered—whether through persistence, creative search strategies, or sheer luck—helps us better understand how these early families lived, worked, and passed down their legacy.