Alexander Crawford (1715 - 1764)

Born 1715 in Clydesdale, Lanarkshire, Scotland

Ancestors

Husband of Mary (McPheeters) Crawford — married 1740 in Augusta County

Descendants

Died Oct 1764 at about age 49 in Buffalo Gap, Augusta, Virginia

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Biography

Alexander Crawford was a Virginia colonist.

Alexander Crawford is a member of Clan Crawford.

Alexander was born about 1715. He was the son of William Crawford and Mary Douglas.

According to the Lancaster, Pa; Lancaster County Historical Society, 1921; Pages 147-155; 23 cm; which can be found on Lancaster History. org; "Alexander Crawford was a resident of Lancaster county, Pa.; January 9, 1740. Prior to 1748, all the parties removed to Augusta county, Va. (see Crawford Vs. Renick, Augusta suit records) Series: Journal of the Lancaster County Historical society; V. 25, No. 10; Call number: 974.9 L245 V.25; Location: LCHSJL--Journal Article (reading room). [1]

The first deed admitted to record in Augusta co, Va wason December 9, 1745, from Andrew Pickens to William McPheeters; Deed Book, Page 1. Will Book page 1.

He and his wife were killed by Indians about 1764 in the colony of Virginia, which is now Buffalo Gap, Augusta, Virginia.

Nelson Crawford provided the information that Alexander was a gunsmith by profession.

Baptism And Christening Records List of Baptisms by John Craig Augusta co, Virgina 1740-1749 Published by L.B.Katke A record of the names of the children baptized by the Rev. John Craig, both in his own and in the neighboring Congregations, where God in his providence ordered his labours. Wherein the time and place and the parents' name that presented the children are all recorded: Note if the child belonged to the Congregation no place is named. For the use of the Congregation beginning anno Dom 1740.

June 1746:

Alexander Crawford a child baptized named William) At North Mountain.

by John Craig in Augusta co, Va. [2]

Alexander and Mary (McPheeters) had the following children;

• William Crawford- married Rachel Sawyers.
• Margaret Crawford- married John Houston.
• Elizabeth "Bettie" Crawford- married William Stainer and or ??Humphreys.
• John Crawford- married 1.Margaret Peggy Crawford, daughter of Patrick Crawford and Sarah "sally" Wilson, 2. Mary Craig, 3. Sarah "Sally" Newman.
• Edward Crawford, a Presbyterian minister near Abingdon, Virginia and a Presbyterian Minister in Tennessee.
• James Crawford- died in 1803. He married his cousin Rebecca McPheeters. He was a Presbyterian Minister and Migrated to Walnut Hill near Lexington, Kentucky. James and Rebecca McPheeters are buried in the Walnut Hill Cemetery.
• Martha Crawford, Craig- married Alexander Craig.
• Mary Crawford married in 1797 to Gilbert Campbell.
• Robert Crawford- married Martha Paxton, who was born 1753.
• Samuel Crawford- born 1759.
• Alexander Crawford, Jr. (Twin?) ^{[citation needed]}
• Rebecca Crawford, Sawyers - (Twin?) was born 1752, married John Sawyers.

Death

Nelson Crawford also provided information on their deaths. Alexander and Mary were in their garden working on their garden when they were attacked by Indians and killed. The children that were still at home were on the hillside and witnessed their parents being murdered, their mother was scalped and their father was burned into ashes as the house was also burned.

From Find A Grave: Memorial #59411614^[1]

"Alexander Crawford and his wife were murdered by Indians, in October, 1764, it is believed. All we know certainly in regard to Crawford's latter days is, that he was alive February 18, 1762, when he became one of the securities of Thomas Gardiner, jr., in a guardian's bond; and that he was dead by November court, 1764, when his administrator qualified.

His wife's maiden name was Mary McPheeters. He acquired an extensive tract of land in Augusta, covering a part of the Little North mountain, and extending far out into the plain. It embraced sixteen hundred and forty acres. His dwelling stood on a knoll, at the eastern base of the mountain, and looked out towards the rising sun on a wide tract of level land. It was "beautiful for situation." The spot is about two miles northeast of Buffalo Gap, and a hundred yards south of the present residence of Baxter Crawford, a great-grand-son of Alexander and Mary. The site of the house is now marked by a thicket, surrounding a pile of unhewn stones which composed the chimney

Here Alexander and Mary Crawford had twelve children, seven sons and five daughters. They had an abundance of all the good things the times and country afforded, and until the Indian wars arose, lived in peace and plenty. They belonged to a God-fearing race, and doubtless walked in the old ways of their pious ancestors. The father and mother, were, however, both slaughtered by savages, on their premises, with no human eye near enough to witness the tragedy.

Much uncertainty has existed as to the date of the occurrence. But at November County Court, 1764, William McPheeters qualified as administrator of Alexander Crawford, and, although some of the latter's descendants insist upon an earlier date, it seems highly probable, if not absolutely certain, that the slaughter was perpetrated in October of the year mentioned.

The rumor had gone abroad that an invasion by Indians was threatened, and all the Crawford family had taken refuge in a house at the Big Spring. This house was called a fort, being better able to resist an attack than most dwellings of the period, and was often resorted to by the people around in time of danger. It is probably the ancient stone house, still standing and used as a dwelling, on the south side of Middle river, two miles south of the present village of Churchville, and about three miles from Alexander Crawford's. It has long been known as the "old Keller house." The windows are few in number and very narrow, hardly more than a foot wide.

On the day of the slaughter, early in the morning, it is said, Alexander Crawford and his wife returned home to procure a supply of vegetables, while two of their sons, William and John, went upon the mountain to salt the horses which had been turned out to graze. From their elevation on the side of the mountain, the two youths saw the smoke and flames of the burning homestead.

We may imagine that the men of the neighborhood were somewhat slow to assemble. No one knew but his house would be attacked next, and every man felt it necessary to protect his own family if possible. When the people rallied and repaired to the Crawford place, the dwelling had been consumed by fire. The charred remains of Alexander Crawford were found in the ashes, showing that he had been killed in the house. His wife's body was found outside, and it was inferred that she had attempted to escape, but was overtaken and tomahawked. The remains of both were gathered up and buried in the Glebe graveyard.

The sale bill of Alexander Crawford's personal estate amounted to 333 British P. about $1,114, a larger sum than was common at that day. We mention as some indication of the state of the times. that among the articles sold by the administrator were a still and a wolf trap. All the family records and other household effects perished with the dwelling.

According to Genealogies of Kentucky Families from The Register of the Kentucky Historical Society, Vol. I Record for Genealogies of Kentucky Families from The Register of the Kentucky Historical Society, Vol. I:"

Research Notes

memoir of S.B. McPheeters

Date: 1718

Place: Clydesdale, Lanarkshire, Scotland ^[2][1]

Date: OCT 1764

Place: Buffalo Gap, Augusta, Co., Va^[3][4][1]

Place: Swoope, Augusta County, Virginia, USA^[1]

Type: Arrival

Date: 1740

Place: Boston, Massachusetts^[5]

Date: 1718

Place: Clydesdale, Lanarkshire, Scotland^[6][1]

Alexander Crawford Date: 20 Nov 1764 Location: Augusta Co., VA Notes: This probate record was originally published in "Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia, 1745-1800. Extracted from the Original Court Records of Augusta County" by Lyman Chalkley. Remarks: John McFeeters' bond, as administrator of Alex. Crawford. Description: Decedent Book: WB3-363

U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-197. [3]

From Find A Grave: Memorial #59411614^[1]

Alexander Crawford Sr

Gender: Male

Birth Date: 1715

Birth Place: South Lanarkshire, Scotland

Death Date: 26 Sep 1764

Death Place: Buffalo Gap, Augusta County, Virginia, United States of America

Cemetery: Glebe Cemetery

Burial or Cremation Place: Swoope, Augusta County, Virginia, United States of America

Has Bio?: Y

Spouse: Mary McPheeters Crawford

Children:

Edward Crawford

James Crawford

Martha Craig

John Crawford

William Crawford

Rebecca Sawyers

Alexander Crawford

• Christening (about 3 July 1715) Clydesdale, Lanark, Scotland ^{[citation needed]}

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5} Find A Grave, database and images ( accessed 12 July 2019), memorial page for Alexander Crawford, Sr (1715–26 Sep 1764), Find A Grave: Memorial #59411614, citing Glebe Cemetery, Swoope, Augusta County, Virginia, USA ; Maintained by Dancing With Ghosts (contributor 47068368) .
2. ↑ Source: #S-1505933828 Note: http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=sse&db=genepoolb&h=1093579&ti=0&indiv=try&gss=pt Data: Text: Name: Alexander Crawford birth date: 1718 birth place: Clydesdale, Lanarkshire, Scotland APID: 1,5769::1093579
3. ↑ Source: #S-1503734856 APID: 1,5771::631210
4. ↑ Source: #S-1503734856 APID: 1,5771::631209
5. ↑ Source: #S-997633195 Page: Place: Boston, Massachusetts; Year: 1740; Page Number: 5 APID: 1,7486::712345
6. ↑ Source: #S-1505933828 Note: http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=sse&db=genepoolb&h=1093579&ti=0&indiv=try&gss=pt Data: Text: Name: Alexander Crawford birth date: 1718 birth place: Clydesdale, Lanarkshire, Scotland APID: 1,5769::1093579

• "Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : modified 02 August 2019, 02:57), entry for Alexander Crawford Sr(PID https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/4:1:LRVH-5GV); contributed by various users.

See also:

• Descendants of Alexander & Mary McPheeters Crawford : pioneer settlers of Augusta County, Virginia, 424-428

Supplement to the Annals of Augusta County, p. 424. Joseph A. Waddell. J. W, Randolph and English, Publishers, Richmond, Virginia, 1888. Annals of Augusta County, Virginia Supplement online link

• https://archive.org/stream/annalsofaugusta00wadd/annalsofaugusta00wadd_djvu.txt
• Annals of Augusta
• Source: S-1503734856 Title: Family Data Collection - Deaths Author: Edmund West, comp. Publication: Ancestry.com Operations Inc APID: 1,5771::0
• Source: S-1505933828 Title: Family Data Collection - Births Author: Edmund West, comp. Publication: Ancestry.com Operations Inc APID: 1,5769::0
• Source: S-1507004305 Title: Ancestry Family Trees Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members. Page: Ancestry Family Tree Data: Text: http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=55305322&pid=639
• Source: S-997633195 Title: U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s Author: Ancestry.com Publication: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc APID: 1,7486::0

• Amanda Crawford Arbogast Forbes and Lucetta Crawford Sammis, compilers, Descendants of Alexander & Mary McPheeters Crawford: Pioneer Settlers of Augusta County, Virginia (Baltimore, MD: Gateway Press, 1980), page 65; FHL microfiche 6110842 at MidWest Genealogical Library.
• William M. Clemens, Crawford Family Records: An Account of the First American Settlers and Colonial Families of the Name of Crawford (New York: William M. Clemens, 1914), p. 10. [available online at FamilySearch - https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/viewer/218570/?offset=&return=1#page=1&viewer=picture&o=info&n=0&q=]
• Helen McPheeters Rice, The McPheeters Family (Winter Park, FL: No publisher, 1956), p. 168. [available online at FamilySearch https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/viewer/277253/?offset=&return=1#page=1&viewer=picture&o=info&n=0&q=]

Acknowledgments

• WikiTree profile Crawford-1328 was created through the import of Westbrook_Rister_Pittman_Armst.ged on Jul 12, 2011 by Gary Westbrook.
• Thanks to Rae Ball for starting Crawford-4933 on Feb 16 2013.