John Craighead (1708 - 1775)

Born 1708 in Ireland

Ancestors

Husband of Rachel (Montgomery) Craighead — married 1735 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Descendants

Died 1775 at about age 67 in Carlisle, Cumberland, Pennsylvania

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John Craighead was born in Ireland.

John Craighead was a Pennsylvanian.

Biography

This person was created through the import of Smith-Hunter.ged on 10 March 2011.

John Craighead, a cousin [sic] of Thomas', settled at an early date, on Yellow Breeches creek, near Carlisle... ...educated in Europe for the ministry; but on his return, he found preaching a poor business to live by. He stopped at Philadelphia, took to tailoring; took good care when he went into good company, to tie up his forefinger, for fear of his being discovered; but being a handsome little man, and having a good education, he was courted by the elite of the day. He fell in with an English heiress, of the name of MONTGOMERY, I think; married her and spent the fortune, all but a few webs of linen, with which he purchased from the Proprietor 500 acres of land on Yellow Breeches (Creek), which is now descended to the fifth generation by inheritance, and the sixth is born on it. Some of the remains of his cabin may be found to this day. His other two sons, Thom. & James, were farmers; they had great difficulty in paying the balance due on their land. They took their produce to Annapolis (no business done in Baltimore then) - prices got dull; they stored it; the merchant broke; all seemed gone; they applied for more time; built a sawmill; they had made the money, but the war came on. Thomas was drafted; his son, John, 13 years old, and my father, drove the baggage wagon. It took the money to equip, and bear their expenses, while going to, and in camp. Thos. took the camp fever, and his son the small pox. General Washington gave them a furlough to return home. A younger son, James, met them below Lancaster and drove the team home. He often stopped and looked into the wagon to see if they were still living; but he got them home, and they both recovered. By some mistake in recording their furlough, they was a fine imposed on Thomas for leaving camp a few days before his time was up: when the bailiff came to collect it, he was up on a barrack building wheat; the officer was on horseback; he told him he would come down and pay him: he came down, took a hickory - with that happened to lie near, caught his little horse by the tail, and whipped the officer, asking him if he was paid; until he said he was paid. That settled the fine. He was paid off with Congress money; broke up again, with a chest full of money. By this time, things began to go up, all prospered. John Craighead, his father, had been an active member of the Stony Ridge convention; which met to petition parliment for redress of grievances: he was closely watched by the Tories; and one Pollack was very near having him apprehended as a rebel, but the plot was found out, and Pollack had to leave the county. Near the place where this convention met at the stony ridge, one Samuel LAMB lived on his land, there was a block house, where the neighbors flew for shelter, from hostile Indians. This is now Hartzler's farm. Lamb was a stone mason; built stone chimneys for the rich farmers, who became able to hew logs and put up what was called a square log house. They used to say he plumbed his corners with a spittle; that is, he spit down the corner to see if it was plumb. Indeed, many chimneys are standing to this day, and look like it; but he had a patriotic family... Thomas Craighead, Jr. Whitehill, 16 Dec 1845 [Rupp's History of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin ... Co., 1846.]

Thomas CRAIGHEAD, Esq. of White Hill, PA, author of a letter dated 16 Dec 1845 and reprinted in Rupp's "Hist. of Dauphin, Cumberland, etc.", is identified by Mamie Wood as the grandson of Thomas and Margaret [Gilson] Craighead, and a nephew of William Gilson. ["In Loving Memory of my Grandmother, Mary Alexander GILSON Widney and of my mother Miriam Anna WIDNEY Wood", by Mamie E. Wood.]

Note: A footnote to the Dec '45 letter indicates his wife to be Mary Sterrett.

John was born about 1708. He passed away in 1768.

Research Notes

CRAGHEADS FROM SCOTLAND AND IRELAND:
“Thomas Craghead was born in Scotland about 1612 and married Margaret Agnes Hart in 1633. Thomas died in Londonderry, Ireland August 22, 1711. The total number of children is unknown but they had a son Robert Craghead. 1. Robert Craghead- Robert Craghead was born in Scotland in 1633. He married Margaret ________, date unknown. Robert attended school in Scotland and may have come from the Fides/Fovern area of Scotland, just North of Aberdeen. He spent many years in church service in Londonderry, Ireland. They are known to have had two children.

A. Thomas Craghead was born in Londonderry, Ireland in1664 and married Margaret Holmes. Thomas died in 1739. Thomas attended school in Scotland studying medicine. He later gave up the practice of medicine and studied Divinity. He was a Presbyterian Minister and served the church in Ireland. He arrive in Boston Mass. In 1715 with at least 3 sons (Thomas, John, and Alexander) and William Holmes, who was married to Thomas’s sister, Katharine. Thomas’s children: (1). Robert Craghead (was not listed in Rev. James Geddes Craghead book published in 1867). Robert’s first wife Jane was already a widow from a man named Key when they were married. (2). Thomas Craghead born in 1702 and married Margaret Brown (3). Andrew Craghead born in Dublin, Ireland, 1704, and died unmarried at White Clay Creek, Delaware. (4). Alexander Craghead died March 1766 at Sugar Creek NC (5). John Craghead married Rachel R______ (6). Jane Craghead married Rev. Adam Boyd

B. Katharine Craghead was born in Londonderry , Ireland about 1678 and married Rev. William Holmes. William and Katharine had ten children and their oldest son Robert Holmes was a sea captain, resided in Boston, and married Mary Franklin, a sister to Benjamin Franklin. Robert Holmes, master of a sloop, that traded between Boston and Delaware.”……. Excerpted from http://www.virginiaroom.org/digital/files/original/33/3469/CragheadFamily.pdf, (pg.3)

CRAGHEADS IN THE UNITED STATES:
“Rev. Thomas Craghead came to this country along with hundreds of others due to religious persecution. From 1729 to 1750 it was estimated that 12,000 persons annually left from Ulster, Ireland for America due to religious persecution. It is believed that many of Rev. Thomas Craghead’s church membership came to America with him from Ireland when he arrived in 1715. A book “Puritan Settlers” pages 741-742 states that a Rev. Thomas Craghead, an Irish Gentleman was employed to preach 6 months at North Stonington on September 4, 1722. In October, after they gave him a call to settle as their pastor, which he accepted – but was never settled there. Mr. Craghead had been a minister in Ireland, and had preached at Freetown, Mass. (The church which had called him seems to have been the First Congregational Church).

Children of Rev. Thomas Craighead and Margaret Holmes Craighead:

1) Robert Craghead:
born in Ireland about 1700. (The book by Rev. James Geddes Craighead does not list this son). Robert was married four times. Robert married a widow, Jane Smith/Key? about 1728. His second marriage was to Katherine Ward on June 24, 1736 in Baltimore Maryland. His third marriage was to Susannah Hale about 1745. Roberts fourth marriage was to Jemima Robertson Robinson about 1765. Robert was the father of five children, but which mother had which child is unknown. A Roberd Craghad (Robert Craghead) was in the Parish of King William in Virginia in 1738. Virginia Genealogical Society Vol. 31 No. 2 May 1993 shows Robert Craighead born in Maryland deserted from Va. Reg. At Maidstone August 10, 1756. He had black hair. Robert had five children:

A). Robert Craghead Jr, born in MD about 1734, married Maria Cox and died in Gloucester Co., NJ in 1790. Robert at the age of 5 was bound out to Gervase Biddison in Baltimore County with the consent of his father to learn him the trade of common weaver. Robert appeared in Gloucester Co., NJ in the 1760’s after serving in Gist’s military company. He was named in the Will of William Key of Gloucester Co., NJ as a half-brother. His preacher’s diary labeled him “an Irishman, born 1734 in MD”. Robert and Maria had the following children: (1). Rebecca Craghead (2). Job Craghead (3). William Craghead (4). John Craghead (5). Mary Craghead (6). Joseph Craghead

B). John Craghead born at Chesterfield Virginia about 1740

C). Mary “Polly” Craghead, born in Va. about 1743 and married John Kemp. A son William Kemp is the only known child.

D). Peter Craghead born about 1750

E). Charlotte Craghead was born about 1765 and married Cornelius Wells

2) Rev. Thomas Craghead:
was born in 1702 and married Margaret Brown. He resided on his farm at White Clay Creek Delaware until his death in 1735. They had the following children: A. Robert Craghead, born June 1, 1721 and died unmarried in the East Indies. B. Margaret Craghead, born March 3, 1723 and married John Miller Esq. C. Ann Craghead, born July 1, 1725 and married Rev. Alexander McDowell. D. Thomas Craghead, born May 6, 1727 and died unmarried in Virginia. Extracts from the “Virginia Gazette 1755-1756” states Thomas Craghead advertises for sale at public venue in Hampton, household goods and the house he now lives in. “Elizabeth City County Virginia Wills and Administration 1610-1800” states that Thomas Craghead was appointed appraiser for Jeremiah DeFoy estate. E. Elizabeth Craghead, born August 8, 1729 and married (1) Captain James Mackey (2) Rev. Matthew Wilson. F. William Craghead, born June 13, 1731 and married Mildred Thompson. G. George Craghead, born May 10, 1733 and married Ann Brattain H. Patrick Craghead, born February 4, 1735 and died unmarried August 30, 1782.

3) Rev. Alexander Craghead:
his birth date is unknown and also his wife’s name, but is thought to be Jean. He moved from Penn. to Virginia and then to Sugar Creek N.C. where he died in 1766. He and his wife had the following children: A. Thomas B. Craghead, born 1750 and married Elizabeth Brown. Rockbridge Co. Va. marriage bonds show that Thomas Craighead and Elizabeth Brown obtained a marriage license August 21, 1781. At a court held in Washington County Va. September 17, 1782, ordered that Thomas B. Craighead a regular Presbyterian minister have a license to solemnize rites of matrimony in this county according to law. B. Robert Craghead, born June 27, 1751 and married Hannah Clark. C. Nancy Craghead, born _____ and married (1) Rev. William Richardson , (2) George Dunlap. They had a daughter that married Andrew Crockett. D. Rachel Craghead, born ______ and married David Caldwell D.D. E. Jane Craghead, born ______ and married Patrick Calhoun F. Margaret Craghead, born _____ and married Mr. Carruth. G. Mary Craghead, born ______ and married Samuel Dunlap. H. Elizabeth Craghead, born ______ and married Alexander Crawford

4) John Craghead:
born in Ireland and married Rachel R_____. They lived on a large farm in Cumberland County Penn. and had the following children: A. Thomas Craghead, born March 5, 1735 and married Margaret Gilson. B. John Craghead, born 1743 and married Jane Boyd. C. James Craghead, born ______ and married Isabella Gilson. D. Catherine Craghead, born November 1748 and married William Geddes. E. Rachel Craghead, born September 15, 1776 and died young.

These are some of the first Craghead (Craighead)’s in America”…. Excerpted from http://www.virginiaroom.org/digital/files/original/33/3469/CragheadFamily.pdf, (pgs. 4-6)

Sources

Thomas CRAIGHEAD, Esq. of White Hill, PA, author of a letter dated 16 Dec 1845 and reprinted in Rupp's "Hist. of Dauphin, Cumberland, etc.", is identified by Mamie Wood as the grandson of Thomas and Margaret [Gilson] Craighead, and a nephew of William Gilson. ["In Loving Memory of my Grandmother, Mary Alexander GILSON Widney and of my mother Miriam Anna WIDNEY Wood", by Mamie E. Wood.]

• http://www.virginiaroom.org/digital/files/original/33/3469/CragheadFamily.pdf, (a compilation of research and documents by Paul D Craghead of Roanoke, Virginia, entitled "The Craghead Family of Western Virginia", research started circa 1960's)

- CRAIGHEAD references -

CAR0000 Wood, Mary E. "In Loving Memory of My Grandmother, Mary Alexander Gilson Widney and of my mother Miraim Anna Widney Wood". Located at Historical Society of Pennsylvania Library, Philadelphia.

CRA0001 Wood, Mary E. "Abstracts Genealogy of the Gilson Family of Pennsylvania and Ohio". Located at Historical Society of Penn. Library, Philadelphia.

CRA0002 Craighead, Rev. James Geddes. The Craighead Family: Descendants of Rev. Thomas & Margaret Craighead. Phil., 1876.

CRA0003 Letter written by Thomas Craighead, Jr. of Whitehill, written 16 Dec 1846 and reprinted in I. Daniel Rupp's History and Topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, etc., 1846.

CRA0004 "Rev. Thomas Craighead" Men of Mark. Rec'd from AnneStone.

CRA0005 Curran, James T. "Craighead Family History”. 1998 Edition rec’d from James T. Curran.

CRA0010 Rupp, I. Daniel. History of Lancaster County ... Lancaster, PA: G. Hills, 1844. (Republished for S.W. Penn. Gen. Services, 1984.) R974.815 R946 H.

CRA0011 Rupp,I.D. History and Topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, ... Lancaster, PA: G. Hills, 1846, p.440-44.

CRA0012 Nevin, Rev. Alfred. Churches of the Valley: Old Presbyterian Congregations Phil.: Joseph M. Wilson, 1852. 974.84 K2n

CRA0013 Ellis, F. & Evans, S. History of Lancaster Co., Penn. Phil: Everts & Peck, 1883, p.311.

CRA0014 "Old Mother Cumberland". The Pennsylvania Magazine, Vol.24. Phil.: Hist. Society of Penn., 1900.

CRA0015 Penn. Archives. 5th Series, Vol.6, p.316.

CRA0016 DAR Patriot Index, p.160

CRA1767 "original Survey". Commonwealth of Pennsylvania: Dept. of Internal Affairs, Bureau of Land, Survey Book F, p.154. LDS #988683. CRA1764 IGI, 1988 Ed., vers.2.13 [Listing for birth and marriage of John CRAIGHEAD].

CRA1773a "Original Survey". Commonwealth of Pennsylvania: Dept. of Internal Affairs, Bureau of Land, Survey Book C-35, p.156. LDS #1004653.

CAR1773b "Indenture from John & Rachel CRAIGHEAD to Thomas CRAIGHEAD". Cumberland County Recorder, Deed Book C-Vol.1, p.424. LDS #21048.

CRA1776 "Indenture from John CRAIGHEAD to Gilston CRAIGHEAD". Cumberland County Recorder, Deed Book D-Vol.1, p.467. LDS #

• Family Genealogical Records.

Agnes Craighead born 1736 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and died about 1796 in Leesburg, Washington County, Tennessee was the daughter of John Craighead and Rachel Montgomery. She married John Alexander (1733-1814).

Agnes Craighead whom we shall call Nancy Craighead-57 to keep the two separated was born March 17, 1740 and died November 9, 1790 in South Carolina was the daughter of Rev. Alexander Craighead.

Nancy is the diminutive form of Agnes. It would be unlikely Rev. Alexander Craighead would give two living daughters with the same name.

Agnes (Craighead) Alexander the source most quoted found in Alice Norris Parran’s, “Register of Maryland’s Heraldic Families,” is an ambiguous statement. “John Alexander 1733-1808 m Agnes Craighead 1736-1776.

Agnes (Craighead) Alexander date of death is known to be wrong because her youngest daughter Elizabeth was born in 1780 and Agnes was alive in 1792.

When Agnes died her youngest child, Elizabeth Alexander went to live with Hannah and William Dewoody, who were married in Washington County, Tennessee in 1791.

Rev. Alexander Craighead’s will was dated April 9, 1765, it omits Agnes, wife of John Alexander, while naming daughters and sons: Margaret, Nancy, Jane, Rachel, Mary, Elizabeth, Robert and Thomas. (Mecklenburg County, North Carolina Will Book Vol. A, pp. 167-168).

Nancy mentioned in the will was married first to Rev. William Richardson and after his death to George Dunlap. (Rev. James Geddes Craighead, “The Craighead Family,” (Philadelphia, PA: 1876), p. 51).

Both Alexander and his brother John Craighead are son of Rev. Thomas Craighead and his wife Margaret Holmes, who migrated to Martha Vineyard from Londonderry, Ireland in 1714-1715. There is no documented prove that John had a middle name Holmes.

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