Robert Craighead Jr (abt. 1734 - 1790)

Born about 1734 in Baltimore, Maryland, British Colonial America

Ancestors

Husband of Maria (Cox) Craighead — married 1762 in Gloucester, New Jersey

Descendants

Died Dec 1790 at about age 56 in Gloucester, New Jersey, United States

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Biography

Robert Craighead Jr was a Marylander.

Robert Craighead Jr served with the Maryland Colony during the French and Indian War.

Veteran of the French and Indian War:
Records show he served in 1756 while a resident of Baltimore, Maryland; “served in Gist 's military company… “On 13 July 1756, a Robert Craghead, age 2l, born Maryland, enlisted in Baltimore in the military (survey, scouts? ) company of Christopher Gist. Gist was serving under George Washington at the time, who was having great difficulty getting recruits.”…..

Robert Jr. was born about 1734 in Baltimore, Maryland to Robert Craighead Sr and (Unknown) Craighead (evidence shows his mother most likely to be Widow Key”- widow of John Key). She is known to be of Swedish heritage. His mother passed away when Robert was a young boy about 1735. His father moved to Baltimore Maryland either during their marriage or after her death, taking his son Robert, Jr., with him.

At about 5 yrs of age, his father “bound him out”. In June 1738, "Robert Creaghead, age 5, son of Robert" was bound to Gervase Biddison, in Baltimore Co, with consent of his father "to learn him the trade of common weaver". (Court procedures liber HSW la, p 222).

Marriage: Robert Jr married Maria (or Mary) Cox in Swedesboro, Gloucester Co., New Jersey) in about 1762. Mary was born about 1743 in Swedesboro, Gloucester Co., New Jersey. She is the daughter of Swedish parents, Eric Cox (also spelled Cock) and Magdalena (Unknown) Cox. They had seven children and resided in the Woolwich Township in Gloucester County, New Jersey. (In 1779 and 1783, he is recorded in the Tax Lists in the Woolwich Township of Gloucester County, New Jersey).

The children of Robert Craighead, jr and Maria (Cox) Craighead:

1. Elizabeth, born 1763, wife of John Cox
2. Rebecca, born 1763, wife of Daniel England
3. Job, born October 12, 1764
4. William, born March 17, 1769
5. John, born December 31, 1771
6. Mary (or Maria), born September 8, 1775
7. Joseph, born January 12 1780.

[The Records of Trinity Episcopal Church (Old Swedes) Swedesboro, Gloucester County, New Jersey: (1785-1975)]

Robert passed away in 1790 in Gloucester, New Jersey and is buried at the Trinity Episcopal Churchyard in Swedesboro, Gloucester County, New Jersey

Robert Craighead, Jr., of Gloucester County, New Jersey:
“Robert Craighead, Jr., settled in Woolwich Township, Gloucester County, New Jersey. His age is known from the 1738 apprenticeship document and his military service records. Documents further detail his life: his marriage and children,[35] his 1756 service in the French and Indian War, when he was a resident of Baltimore, 21 years old, and a hunter,[36] his half-brother William Key’s will,[37] a census in 1779,[38] and his burial record on 31 Dec 1790.[39]“…. Excerpted from https://alvispat.wordpress.com/craighead-robert-sr-of-baltimore-and-virginia/

Notations on his parents, Robert Craighead Sr and the Widow Key:
“ Robert Craghead Sr who married Katherine Ward in 1736 was the father of:

1. Robert Craghead bcl734 in Baltimore, who died in Gloucester Co, NJ;
2. John Craghead bc1740 in Bedford Co, VA;
3. Polly Craghead Kemp bc 1743 in Virginia
4. Peter Craghead bc1750 in Virginia.
5. (? )Charlotte Craghead bc 1765

It is likely, however, that prior to l734, Robert Sr married a widow Key with son William Key, and that she was the mother of Robert Craghead Jr bc1734. Widow Key possibly was the former Jane Smith, of Gloucester Co, NJ. widow of John Key (Kay) Jr of Gloucester Co. The Robert Craghead who married Katherine Ward in Baltimore in 1736, and had a son Robert born cl734, would likely have been born prior to 1715. The fact that he bound out his son Robert at age 5 in 1738 might indicate that his wife died by that year. Katherine was probably not the mother of Robert Jr., since he was born two years prior to the marriage, and since other evidence shows the mother of Robert Jr to have been a Widow Key. ”……..excerpted from CRAIGHEADS IN EARLY MARYLAND, a 10 page essay prepared by Dave Casto; Revised January 1991

Notations on Robert Craighead Jr:
“ Robert Craghead Jr bcl734 appeared in Gloucester Co, NJ, in the 1760's, after having served in Gist 's military company. He married Maria Cox., of local parents, left several children, and died in 1798 in NJ. The will of William Key of Gloucester Co, NJ, died 1774, named him as a half-brother. His preacher's diary labeled him "an Irishman, born 1734 in MD. About 1768, in Gloucester Gouty, New Jersey, a Robert Craghead married Mary Cox, daughter of Swedish parents Eric and Magdalena Cox. At least 6 children were born (Rebecca, Job, William, John, Mary, Joseph). This Robert died in 1790 in Gloucester County”.…. Excerpted from CRAIGHEADS IN EARLY MARYLAND, a 10 page essay prepared by Dave Casto; Revised January 1991

Excerpt from the Will of William Key, dated Sept. 16, 1774 (makes notations of his children’s names and his half-brother Robert Craighead Jr):
“ 1774, Sept 16. Key William, of Woolwich Township, Gloucester Co., yeoman: will of. Wife, L50, and L20 yearly. Sons Job, John, William, Joseph and Thomas, and my daughters, Hannah Beckett and Sarah Key, L100 to each. My half brother, Robert Craghead, L30. . . . The will of William Key of Gloucester Co, NJ, died 1774, named him [Robert Craghead] as a half-brother. His preacher's diary labeled him "an Irishman, born 1734 in MD"…..

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 1876 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:
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:
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

• The Cra(i)ghead Family: VA-MO, 1953, by Mrs W B Craghead and Mrs F A Craighead.

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~craighead/archives/casto.txt.

• Minotty, Paul. The Records of Trinity Episcopal Church (old Swedes), Swedesboro, Gloucester County, New Jersey, 1785-1975. (Woodbury, N.J: Gloucester County Historical Society, 1979), p 28 https://archive.org/details/recordsoftrinity00mino/page/28/mode/2up

• https://alvispat.wordpress.com/craighead-robert-sr-of-baltimore-and-virginia/

• CRAIGHEADS IN EARLY MARYLAND, a 10 page essay prepared by Dave Casto; Revised January 1991

• *http://www.virginiaroom.org/digital/files/original/33/3469/CragheadFamily.pdf; (pg.4), (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)

• Robert Craighead in the Pennsylvania and New Jersey, U.S., Church and Town Records, 1669-2013; Name: Robert Craighead; Event Type: Residence; Residence Date: 1734; Residence Place: Woolwich, Gloucester, New Jersey; Denomination: Episcopal; Organization Name: Trinity Episcopal Church

• Robert Craighead in the New Jersey, U.S., Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1643-1890; Name: Robert Craighead; State: NJ; County: Gloucester County; Township: Woolwich Township; Year: 1779; Record Type: September Tax List November Tax List; Page: 002; Database: NJ Tax Lists Index 1772-1822

• Robart Craighead in the New Jersey, U.S., Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1643-1890; Name: Robart Craighead; State: NJ; County Gloucester County Township: Woolwich Township; Year: 1783; Record Type: July Tax List August Tax List; Page: 004; Database: NJ Tax Lists Index 1772 1822

• https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/59907-the-journal-and-biography-of-nicholas-collin-1746-1831-the-journal-translated-from-the-original-swedish-manuscript?viewer=1&offset=0#page=262&viewer=picture&o=ocr&n=0&q= The journal and biography of Nicholas Collin, 1746-1831 : the journal translated from the original Swedish manuscript, page 305.

• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/106087418/robert-craighead : accessed 28 April 2022), memorial page for Robert Craighead (1734–Dec 1790), Find a Grave Memorial ID 106087418, citing Trinity Episcopal Churchyard, Swedesboro, Gloucester County, New Jersey, USA ; Maintained by ziaref (contributor 47679000) .

This person was created through the import of Shortened files.ged on 30 December 2010.