Was James Crawford of NB colony born, a Loyalist or an emmigrant from eithr Ireland or Scotland?

Question

Looking for further information on James Crawford. Records from the Miramichi are inconclusive although indicate that the family was in the lumber business. Lumber was the main industry in this area during the late 1700 and 1800's. It is known that James had a daughter Jane(1820-1866) who married a WIlliam McKenzie of Nelson Miramichi. The Mckenzie homestead is a stones throw from the old mill. If anyone has any information regarding the Crawford of this area, particularly James and family I would love to hear from you. Thanks

Answer 1

From a quick search for all McKenzies in NB in Canada census for 1851, we find there are only 8 of them, all in Nelson, Northumberland, NB

https://familysearch.org/search/record/results#count=20&query=%2Bsurname%3Amckenzie~%20%2Bresidence_place%3A%22nelson%2C%20new%20brunswick%2C%20canada%22&collection_id=1325192

William (1814),
Jane (1820),
Murdoch (1840),
Mary (1842),
James S (3 Jan 1843),
Margaret A (1846),
Ann E (1849),
William (1851)

just by looking at the names and ages, it looks pretty much like a single family and almost certainly the one you're after.

I must admit that at this point I spent quite a while looking for the family in the UK & Ireland, but couldn't find them.

Ended up going back to Canada, & found New Brunswick census of 1851, you can even view the the original doc here

http://automatedgenealogy.com/censusnb51/SplitView.jsp?id=3209

So looks like William is of Scottish heritage and Jane, English, though they were themselves born in Canada.

Couldn't find any records anywhere in Canada pre 1850's until another child Marion in 1859, by which time the family have moved to Miramichi, Northumberland, NB

As far as tracing back to the UK, we need the names of both parents for either Jane or William, or the exact date of birth or baptism of any one of them.
 

Comments

This is the correct family tree and this family is there in the 1861 and 1881 censuses as well. I still can not find information on Jane's family prior to this cenus.

WIlliam and Jane raised a large family in Nelson Nothumberland Co. NB. As well as Marion Serena there was Murdoch, James Sewell, Mary Jane( died young), Margaret Ann, Annie Eliza, WIlliam John, Richard, Joseph Allan,  and Mary Jane ( 2nd).

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Murdoch Mackenzie born sometime around 1775, appears to have come to NB via Halifax  from England, and may have been working for the Hills Bros. before coming to NB with his wife Mary Burk Cleveland. Land titles show that the Mackenzie property on the Miramichi was deeded from William Cleveland of Halifax to Mary Mackenzie and then to her sons, one of whom was William.

Answer 2

John & Jane (Henderson?) Crawford came from County Tyrone, Ireland settling in Stamford, CT around 1733. Their son James was born in America. He received a grant of land in Kingston. He had a brother John who also came to NB & settled next to James.  Presumably he was a loyalist. I'm told there is a book that states that "all of James Crawford's children received grants of land in Midland, New Brunswick. One of my GG Grandfathers was a James Crawford who was married to Elizabeth Burnett.

Stephen G.

Answer 3

James Crawford was born on 13 April 1743 at Pound ridge, Westchester County, New York.  He was the son of John Crawford and Jane Henderson.  James Crawfordmarried Rachael Benedict.  Jame Crawford immigrated in May 1783 to Saint John, New Brunswick; in the 1851 census his son Daniel is shown to have"entered the colony".                                                                                                                                    John Crawford was born circa 1707 at County Tyrone, Ireland. He was the son of John Crawford.  John Crawford married jane Henderson circa 1729 at County Tyrone,Ireland. John Crawford left a willon 15 December 1770 at Westchester, New York.                                                                                                                                Loyalist John Crawford was born 7 June 1738 at Stamford, Fairfield County, Connecticut. He was the son of John Crawford and Jane Henderson.  John Crawford married Mary Brown. John Crawford died 4 February 1818 at Kings County, New Brunswick, at age 79. He was buried on 2 February 1818 at Trinity Anglican Church Cemetery, Lingston, Kings County. New Brunswick.  Jane Henderson was born circa 1709 at County Tyrone, Ireland. She married John Crawford, son of John Crawford, circa 1729 at County Tyrone, Ireland. Janr Henderson died after 1770, probably Pound Ridge, Westchester County, New York.

Answer 4

Jane Crawford was married to my ggggrandfather William Mackenzie. They had my gggrandfather Richard Mackenzie (1854). Together with Grace Thompson had my ggrandfather John James Mackenzie (1892) He with Elizabeth Doncaster (Duncaster 1898) had my grandfather Richard Mackenzie. I do not know much about the Crawfords but would love to know more if you find out.

Answer 5

I found a photo of some relatives in what appears to be a lumber camp. Am not sure if the photo was from my Grandmother L. Stephenson/GGM L. Crawford's side of the family or the Randall side of the family. My maternal side of the family are UEL descendants who lived are buried in Lakeside/Hampton, NB.