John Crawford (abt. 1649)

Born about 1649 in Crawfordland, Fenwick Parish, Ayrshire, Scotland [uncertain]

Descendants

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Biography

Land Records

Extensive land records in Middletown. The earliest is a warrant to John Crawford in Middleton, Mounmouth County "in right of himself and his wife" dated 14 Nov 1678. See NJ Land Records database.

Death

John Crawford of Middletown died intestate before 21 Feb 1689/90 when an inventory of his estate was made by William Merel (Merrell) and William Jones; sworn 29 May 1699.^[1]

Slaves

The abstract of the inventory of his estate includes

• a negro boy £50

There may be additional information in the original inventory, it's available from the State Archives.

Notes

Note NI00808Spelling variations: Crawfurd, Crawford, Craufford, Crafford.

John immigrated from Ayrshire, Scotland in 1672. He landed in Massachusetts or Connecticut, traveled to Long Island and then to Middletown, Monmouth County, NJ.

He purchased land next to Richard Stout.

Note: #NI00736

Note NI00736Spelling variations: Crawfurd, Crawford, Craufford, Crafford.

John immigrated from Ayrshire, Scotland in 1672. He landed in Massachusetts or Connecticut, traveled to Long Island and then to Middletown, Monmouth County, NJ.

The youngest son of the 4th Earl of Richmond (who was descended from the Duke of Brittany) was granted lands in the Barony of Craufurd (from "crow ford") in Lanarkshire in the 12th century by King David I and the family took the surname from the placename. In 1127 Sir Gregan Crawford was involved in the legendary incident when King David was saved from a stag (and founded the Abbey of Holyrood as a result).

In 1296 Sir Reginald Crawford was appointed sheriff of Ayr. His sister married Wallace of Elderslie and thus became the mother of William Wallace the great Scottish patriot. Needless to say, the Crawfords rallied to his cause.

The main branches of the family were Crawford of Auchinames (in Renfrewshire) who received a grant of land from Robert the BruceRobert the Bruce and Craufurd of Craufurdland (in upper Clydesdale). Sir William Craufurd of Craufurdland was a brave soldier who was knighted by King James I and fought for King Charles VII of France. The castle at Craufurdland was much extended in the 17th century. The castle passed to the Howiesons in 1793 and was restored in the 1980s.

Other lines of Crawfords began in the reign of James III when descendants of Archibald Craufurd created the families of Auchenairn, Beanscroft and Powmill. Archibald's son John was killed at the Battle of Flodden in 1513.

In the 16th century, Thomas Crawford of Jordanhill was a member of the household of Lord Darnley, husband of Mary Queen of Scots. During those turbulent times he captured Dumbarton Castle in 1571 with 150 men by scaling the supposedly impregnable rock and later received the surrender of Edinburgh Castle.

Lawrence Crawford (1611-45) fought for Gustavus Adolphus in the Thirty Years War and returned to Britain to fight for the Parliamentary forces against King Charles I.

The Crawford clan motto is "Tutum te robore reddam" which means "I will give you safety by strength".

from: http://www.rampantscotland.com/clans/blclancrawford.htm

Sources

1. ↑ Nelson, William (ed.), Calendar of Wills, Administrations, Etc. Volume I, 1670-1730. Documents Relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Trenton, NJ: Archives of the State of New Jersey, 1901, volume 23, page 117

Acknowledgements

• WikiTree profile Crawford-2190 created through the import of Mary Lee Morris.GED on Aug 18, 2011 by Lawrence Schliessmann. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Lawrence and others.