Thomas Crabtree (1707 - 1774)

Born 12 Oct 1707 in Baltimore, Province of Maryland

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 12 Aug 1774 at age 66 in Hillsboro, Orange, Co., North Carolina

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Biography

Thomas Crabtree was a Maryland colonist.

Origin

The birth of Thomas Crabtree is recorded in St. John's/St George's Parish register as follows:

"Thomas Crabtree son of Wm. Crabtree & Jane his wife was born the 12th of October in the 3rd in the y'r of our Lord 1707."^[1]

Thomas is listed in the Baltimore County Tax List for 1737 living in the north Gunpowder Hundred with John Crabtree and the next resident listed appears to be Lewis Poteet but spelled Pertee.^[2]

Property

There is very little evidence of Thomas in Baltimore County property records. It appears he was leasing a 99 acre plantation called Brothers Lot with his brother William for 99 years when he assigned his half for £50 to James Bryarly on 16 JUN 1766.^[3] He likely left Maryland shortly after this deed.

Marriage & Family

No marriage record for Thomas has been found, but there is evidence in a bill of sale recorded among the land records of Baltimore County that he married Mary Poteet. His name appears in a bill of sale dated 17 AUG 1745 in which John Poteet sells a long list of household goods & livestock to the following people: Thomas Crabtree, Henry Thomas, James Poteet, Thomas Poteet, Charles Simmonds and John Poteet Jr. ^[4] More research is needed to determine the connection between these people.

One birth record for Thomas and Mary Crabtree has been found in St. George's Parish register:

'Birth

St. George's Parish Register of Births, Marriages & Deaths, 1681 - 1799

"July the 7th 1733 then was Thomas Crabtree son of Thomas

Crabtree & Mary his wife. " ^[5]

Thomas Crabtree b. 7 JUL 1733 the son of Thomas Crabtree & Mary his wife.^[6]

Thomas may be the same man as recorded in the following parish record:

Thomas Crabtree and Elizabeth Barton married 23 OCT 1760^[6]

Death

Several researchers have connected this Thomas Crabtree to the Thomas Crabtree who died in Hillsboro, Orange County, North Carolina on 3 Aug 1774. More proof is needed to make the connection.

Sources

1. ↑ familysearch.org St. John's Parish Register page 56 image 356
2. ↑ Wright, F. Edward. Inhabitants of Baltimore County 1692-1763. Westminster, MD: Willow Bend Books 1999
3. ↑ Baltimore County Deeds Liber B P folio 196
4. ↑ Baltimore County Land Liber TB D folio 296
5. ↑ St. George's Parish, Harford Co. Register image 1073 page 268
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} Reamy, Bill & Martha. “St. George's Parish Register 1689-1793”. Westminster, MD: Willow Bend Books 1999

Research Notes

This is a quote from the Crabtree story passed down through generations which may have changed over the years. "The story is that two brothers, William and John Crabtree and their brother-in-law James Poteet" (and his brother William), with their entire families went to Bedford County, Virginia" (after James Poteet and Elizabeth were married) " 2nd Quote same article " William Crabtree III with his brother John and Brother-in-law James Potteet (Poteet) and wife Elizabeth of Bedford Co., Va. sold their property and moved to (present) Washington CO. VA about 1756-1757 at now Saltville." (3rd quote same article) "William Crabtree III with his brother John, and brother-in- Law James Potteet (Poteet) and wife Elizabeth, of Bedford co. Va. sold their property and moved to Washington Co. Va. about 1756-1757 at now Saltville." These three quotes in the same article causes me to believe James and Elizabeth stayed in Bedford co. VA for only a short time, 2 years or less.

The above is based on 6 pages of Crabtree information written by Mrs. Charlotte Fisher of Glencoe, Illinois. USA - found at the Dallas, Texas Library during the 1980's.