Another James Crawford

I thought I had figured out those James Crawfords who appear on multiple family trees with intermingled records and families. To my surprise, I have found another one in Fleming County, Kentucky. James, the husband of Sarah Vansandt, died in May 1836. This is the James Crawford I already knew about.

When I located the will of James Crawford, I found the will of another James Crawford dated September 1836. This James Crawford was the husband of Elizabeth D. Crawford, daughter of Mrs. Stockton. Not only are there TWO James Crawfords in Fleming County, Kentucky, but they both die in 1836!

Fleming County Kentucky
Probate Records
Vols. D-E 1829-1837
FS Film 344040 DGS 4818899

image 316 – start of book E

Image 522
Page 463

James Crawford Will

---

I James Crawford of Flemingsburg Fleming County
Kentucky being of sound mind an disposing memory
do make ordain constitute and appoint this my last
will and testament I do hereby nominate constitute
and appoint my wife Elizabeth D Crawford the executrix
of this my last will and testament. And as I have full
confidence in her I do not with the County Court to require
of her security for the faithful execution of this my will
I hereby fully authorize and empower my said executrix
of her discretion to sell and dispose of any or all
of my estate both real or personal and to convey and [purfect]
the title to the purchaser or purchasers thereof after the
payment of my debts I wish a settlement of my estate
my wife to take her thirds and the reside to be
distributed amongst my children in equal proportions
and each childs estate to be kept separate I also
appoint my wife guardian to my children without being
required to give security She will educate them
in the best manner my estate and the [?]

page 464

of the Country will afford when my children arrive
to the age of twenty one years or marry I wish them to have
their portions of my estate If my wife shall marry it is then
my wish that my wife shall cease to act as the guardian
to my children under her appointment by this will and that
their estate be placed in the hands of guardians and that
will be required to give security as the law directs
My executrix will pay or give her mother Mrs. Stockton such
a sum of money as will satisfy her for her relinquishment of dower
in the lands and real estate I purchased of her husband
Joshua Stockton deceased. It is further my will that Mrs. Stockton
my wife’s mother shall live and enjoy the house and lot with
the appurtenance thereunto annexed that she now has in possession
together with the lot of ground I own adjoining the Seminary
containing about seven and one half acres during her natural
life. I request my friends Francis T Hord and William A
Beattie to give to my wife all the aid and assistence in their
power in winding up my business and collecting my debts
In case the County Court shall require security of my
wife for the execution of any of the trusts confered in her by this
will and she shall desire it she is fully authorized
to select such person as she may choose to be associated
with her as executrix or guardian [mad] this will
to execute the trusts hereby confirmed
In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and
affix my seal this 7th day of September in the
year of our Lord 1836
Jas Crawford Seal
Signed Sealed and
acknowledged in the presence
of Francis T Hords
Thos Porter
L W Andrews
At a court held for Fleming County on the 26th day of September
1836 this writing purporting to be the last will and testament
of James Crawford decd was produced in court and
proved by the oaths of Thos Porter and L W Andrews
two of the subscribing witnesses thereto to be the will of
said Crawford and the said will is duly recorded
Att
G M Stockton Clerk

______
Fleming County KentuckyCourt Minutes (order book)V. E-F Oct 1827-Aug 1940FS Film 343960 DGS 7646999
KY-Fleming-Court-VolE-1827-1840

Image 463 page 197

September Court 1836

A writing purporting to be the last will & testament of James Crawford decd was produced in court &proved by the oaths Thomas Porter & L M Andrews two of the witnesses to said will and ordered to be recorded and on motion of Elizabeth D Crawford the executrix named in said will who made oath according to law no bond or security being required of the said executrix by request of the will of said decedant Probate of said will is granted her in due form of law and ordered that D. K. Stockton Mo Donaldson J Huddelson & John a Davan or any three of them being first sworn view and appraise the slaves if any & personal estate of said decedent and report an inventory thereof to the next County Court____Ordered that Elizabeth D Crawford be appointed guardian to Phebe Crawford orphan of James Crawford dec no bond or security being required by the court agreablyt o the will of said decedant——Ordered that Elizabeth D Crawford be appointed guardian to James Crawford orphan of James Crawford decd no bond or security being required by the court agreeably to the will of said decedent_____Ordered that Elizabeth D Crawford be appointed guardian to Frances Crawford infant orphan of Jas Crawford decd no bond or security being required by the court agreeably to the will of said decedent

Crawford Marriages – Fleming County Kentucky

The will of James Crawford in Fleming County, Kentucky lists his children, giving the married names of his daughters. This makes it possible to match up the marriage records with the legacees from the will.

Legacees

• daughter Mary Kennerey [married William Kenny  October 19th 1809 ]
• son Crawford
• late son Henry Crawford
• son Josiah Crawford
• daughter Margery Blankenship (Maargary Kenney) [married John Kenny September 18 1810]
• late daughter Sarah Conran [married Jonathan Cochran April 7th —— (likely 1814)]
• son James Crawford [married Fanny Mills February 15 1821]
• Son Samuel Crawford
• Daughter Jane Hamlett [married Joseph Hamlet March 22 1820]
• daughter Elizabeth Crawford
• son Joshua Crawford [married Mary Howard 1828 Feby 14]
• daughter Ann Barton
• son John L Crawford

Fleming County KentuckyMarriagesReturns 1798-1891FS Film #005552779
Image 17 

Alexander Crawford to Rebecca Alexander by Benjamin Northcut 24 June 1810

Image 18

Isaiah Crawford to Sarah Hillards by Rev. Benjamin Northcott January 27th 1814 Jonathan Cochran to Sarah Crawford by Rev. Benjamin Northcott April 7th —— (likely 1814)Jacob Crawford to Elizabeth Jackson by Daniel Moss March 19 1814 
Image 20

James Crawford to Fanny Mills by Benjm Northcott February 15 1821 
Image 61

William Kenny to Mary Crawford by Benjm Northcout October 19th 1809 John Kenny to Margery Crawford by Benj Northcott September 18 1810
Image 60

James Johnston to Nancy Crawford by A G Houston October 25th 1825 
Image 50 

Joseph Hamlet to Jane Crawford by Benj Northcott March 22 1820 
Image 133 – start of book B
Image 155 

1828 Feby 14 – Joshua Crawford and Mary Howard by Benjamin Northcott 
Image 156

1830 Oct 7 Adam C Crawford and Elizabeth James by William Wilson

Image 158

1837 Dec 26 John P Cochran and Mary Ann Crawford by Benjamin Northcott 

Will James Crawford of Fleming County Kentucky

James Crawford’s 1835 will found on pages 435-436 of Book E in Fleming County, Kentucky

Legacies

• daughter Mary Kennerey
• son Crawford
• late son Henry Crawford
• son Josiah Crawford
• daughter Margery Blankenship (Maargary Kenney)
• late daughter Sarah Conran
• son James Crawford
• Son Samuel Crawford
• Daughter Jane Hamlett
• daughter Elizabeth Crawford
• son Joshua Crawford
• daughter Ann Barton
• son John L Crawford

James Crawford Will

---

In the name of God Amen. I James Crawford(farmer) of Fleming County and Commonwealthof Kentucky in the seventy seventh year of my agebeing of sound mind and memory. And knowing theuncertainty of this life and the certainty of deathdo make and ordain this my last will andtestament in manner and form followingItem I will that my executors herein after to benamed pay all my just debts of what kind soever out ofany monies or property whatsoever that I may die possessinItem I give devise and bequeath unto my daughterMary Kennerey twenty five dollars unto my sonCrawford twenty five dollars unto the heirs of mylate son Henry Crawford deceased forty dollars (tendollars of the same being of debt due unto my saidson Henry from me unto my son Josiah Crawford. Thirty dollars my daughter Margery Blankenship
page 436

(one Margary Kenney Thirty Dollars unto the heirs of mylate daughter Sarah Conran deceased thirty dollars unto myson James Crawford thirty dollars unto my son SamuelCrawford thirty dollars unto my daughter Jane Hamlettthirty dollars unto my daughter Elizabeth Crawford thirtydollars unto my son Joshua Crawford and unto mydaughter Ann Barton thirty dollars. all of which to themand their heirs and assigns forever. I give the same unto my son John L Crawford I have give a sum equal to the abovemaking him in full equal to any of my heirs any divisionwhatsoever taken int considerationItem it is my will that the above legacees be paid withinone year after my decease except the heirs of my deceaseddaughter Sarah Crawford whos legacy I wish may be putat interest until shuch times as they may marry or comeat the age of twenty one yearsItem the remainder of my estate that may be left after payingmy debts and defraying and paying all contingencies I wishdivided equally amongst my children or rather among theseveral legatees above named and described to them andunto their heirs and assigns I give devise and bequeth thesame forever Lastly I nominate constitute and appoint my sons James and Josiah Crawford executorsof this my last will and testament hereby revokingall former wills by me made and confirming this aloneto be my last will which I seal publish and declare this27th day of September in the year of our Lord onethousand eight hundred and thirty fiveInterlined in the ninth line (the heirs of)and in the thirteenth line (at)Jame Crawford (seal)In presence ofDouglas [I Muin]Elias P. DavisThomas R main
At a court held for Fleming County on 23rd day of May 1836this writing purporting to be the last will and testament ofJames Crawford deceased was produced in courtand was proved by the oaths of Douglas [I Miur] and EliasP. Davis two of the subscribing witnesses thereto to be the willof said Crawford and the said will was ordered to recordwhich is duly doneA M Geo N Stockton Clerk

Fleming County KentuckyProbate RecordsVols. D-E 1829-1837FS Film 344040 DGS 4818899

Tree Hint Issue

When working with Ancestry hints, do you look at the ‘Member Tree’ hints, or do you just ignore them? I look at them and often accept them without adding information to my tree. This creates a connection to other researchers that I can go back to.

While working with a non-ancestor, Rev. James Crawford (1752-1803), the suggested member trees really puzzled me. Many were trees for the James Crawford that married Rebecca Anderson. However, they also included the family information for the James Crawford that married Sarah VanSant

Other trees were for the James Crawford that married Rebecca Anderson. These trees included the wife and children of Rev. James Crawford.

Since I was getting photo and story hints for the correct James, I tried a search of public member trees for Rev. James Crawford to see if it pulled up trees for the correct James. This search did pull up some trees for other James, but it did find several trees for Rev. James Crawford.

The trees found by the search of public member trees should be the trees suggested as member tree hints. 
I have all of these James Crawford families in my Ancestry tree, Heartland Genealogy. I have attached source information to document their lives and to document that they are separate families. Thus, I don’t understand why the hinting system is suggesting the wrong set of trees.

James Crawford Husband of Sally

James Crawford was born on 17 Apr 1772 in Virginia, British Colonial America.^1–5

     He was listed on the tax rolls  in 1800 in Garrard, Kentucky, United States.⁶

⁷ He registered a stock mark in 1811 in Washington Township, Preble, Ohio, United States.⁸ James  voted in first election in 1814 in Washington Township, Preble, Ohio, United States.⁹
He filed land entry papers indicating full payment for the NW 1/4 S14 T7 Range2E on 8 Jun 1816 in Ohio, United States.10

     He was listed on the tax rolls  in 1818 in Preble, Ohio, United States.¹¹ James was listed on the tax rolls  in 1819 in Preble, Ohio, United States.¹² He was listed on the tax rolls  in 1820 in Preble, Ohio, United States.¹³ He was listed with 1 male 10-16, 1 male 45 and over, 1 female under 10, 2 females 10-16, 2 females 16-26, 2 females 45 and over in Washington Township, Preble, Ohio, United States on 1 Jul 1820.¹⁴ James was listed on the tax rolls  in 1821 in Preble, Ohio, United States.¹⁵

     He sold land of Preble County Ohio, being the E 1/2 NW 1/4 S14 T7 R2E for $300 on 11 Dec 1821 in Preble, Ohio, United States.¹⁶ He  purchased  on 11 Dec 1821 in Preble, Ohio, United States.¹⁷ James was listed on the tax rolls  in 1822 in Preble, Ohio, United States.¹⁸

     He was listed on the tax rolls  in 1823 in Preble, Ohio, United States.¹⁹ He was listed on the tax rolls  from 1827 to 1850 in Gasper Township, Preble, Ohio, United States.²⁰ James was listed with 1 male 20-30, 1 male 50-60, 1 female 15-20, 1 female 20-30, and 1 female 50-60 in Gasper Township, Preble, Ohio, United States in 1830.²¹ He was listed on the tax rolls  in 1832 in Gasper Township, Preble, Ohio, United States.²²

     He was listed with 1 male 5-10, with 1 male 10-15, 1 male 60-70, 1 female under 5, 1 female 15-20 and 1 female 70-80 in Gasper Township, Preble, Ohio, United States on 1 Jul 1840.²³ James was listed as 78 year old white male farmer born VA with $2000 in real estate along with Sarah Crawford and Martha Stoner at Gasper Twp. in Gasper Township, Preble, Ohio, United States on 2 Aug 1850.²⁴ He bequethed $50 to his granddaughter, Martha Stoner^7,25–26

     He signed a will on 25 Oct 1851 in Preble, Ohio, United States.^7,26 James died on 5 Jul 1854 at the age of 82 in Preble, Ohio, United States.^{2–3,5,27–28} He was buried after 5 Jul 1854 in Mound Hill, Preble County, Ohio.^3,5,28
James Crawford and Sarah “Sally” Smith were married on 12 Sep 1799 in Garrard, Kentucky, United States.^29–35Sarah “Sally” Smith was born on 25 Feb 1770 in Virginia, United States.^2,28,36–37 She  on 24 Jul 1780 in Richmond, Richmond (city), Virginia, United States.³⁸ She was also known as Sarah Duggins on 22 Jan 1788. Sally  sold land  on 16 Jun 1794 in Amherst, Amherst, Virginia, United States.³⁹ She  sold land  on 16 Jun 1794 in Amherst, Amherst, Virginia, United States.⁴⁰ She lived in Preble, Ohio, United States in 1807.²⁷ Sally lived 80 year old white female born VA at Gasper Twp. in Gasper Township, Preble, Ohio, United States on 2 Aug 1850.²⁴ She  sold land  on 19 Jan 1856 in Preble, Ohio, United States.⁴¹ She died on 2 May 1856 in Preble, Ohio, United States.^2,27–28,37 Sally was buried after 2 May 1856 in Mound Hill, Preble County, Ohio.^28,37

        1. Gilbert, Audrey, Obituary Abstracts 1850-1890 from Eaton Register & Eaton Democrat newspapers in Eaton, Preble County, Ohio (Owensboro, KY: McDowell Publications, 1981), p. 13 (Crawford.OH.015, 059).        

2. Ohio Death and Cemetery Records (: ), p. 115 Preble County Ohio Mound Hill Cemetery Section 6, Eaton Ohio (Crawford.OH.009). Hereinafter cited as Ohio Death and Cemetery Records.        

3. Ancestry, U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current (Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012).        

4. James Crawford, Mound Hill Cemetery, Eaton, Ohio (); photo taken by Marcia Philbrick.        

5. Find a Grave, database and images, Find a Grave (www.findagrave.com : viewed online July 2017), memorial for James Crawford (1772-1854), Find a Grave Memorial no. #8559177, created by Beverly, citing Mound Hill Cemetery, Eaton, Preble County, Ohio; accompanying photograph by Marcia Philbrick, James Crawford.        

6. Kentucky, Tax Lists, 1799-1801, James Crofford, 1800; database with images, Ancestry.com http://www.ancestry.com : viewed online March 2019. Original Source: Second Census of Kentucky, 1800.        

7. Anita ShortPreble County Ohio Wills Vol. II 1836-1854 (Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1995), image 91 of 98 – page 31; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online January 2019; https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/49305/FLHG_PrebleCntyWills-0091?pid=85857.        

8. Records of Stock Marks Washington Township Preble County Ohio (: ), p. 57 (Crawford.OH.087).        

9. History of Preble County Ohio (Cleveland, OH: H. Z. Williams, 1881), p. 135.         

10. United States Bureau of Land Management, “General Land Office Records,” database with images, BLM.Gov (http://glorecords.blm.gov : viewed online March 2019), William Sellers and James Crawford.        

11. Ohio, Preble. Duplicate Tax Records of Preble County, OHio 1816-1838.  Film #528382 DGS 4849213. James Crawford, 1818 : image 73; digitized images, Family Search http://www.familysearch.org : viewed online March 2019.        

12. Ohio, Preble. Duplicate Tax Records of Preble County, Ohio 1816-1838, Crawford James Junr, 1819; .        

13. Ohio, Preble. Duplicate Tax Records of Preble County, Ohio 1816-1838, Crawford James Jnr, 1820; .        

14. 1820 U.S. Census, Preble County Ohio, population schedule, Washington Township, p. 106, James Crawford; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online October 2016); NARA microfilm publication M33.        

15. Ohio, Preble. Duplicate Tax Records of Preble County, Ohio 1816-1838, Crawford James Jnr, 1821; .        

16. Ohio, Preble. Deeds, 1819-1824. Preble County Recorder of Deeds, Eaton, OH. James Crawford, 11 Dec 1821 5: 86; digital images, Family Search http://www.familysearch.org : viewed online June 2018.        

17. Ohio, Preble. Deeds, 1819-1824, Crawford James, 15 Jan 1822; .        

18. Ohio, Preble. Duplicate Tax Records of Preble County, Ohio 1816-1838, James Crawford, 1822; .        

19. Ohio, Preble. Duplicate Tax Records of Preble County, Ohio 1816-1838, James Crawford, 1823; .        

20. , Preble County Ohio Personal Property Tax List 1827-1842 (Utica, KY: McDowell Publications, 1987), 1827 (Crawford.OH.054). Hereinafter cited as Preble County Ohio Tax List 1827-1850.        

21. 1830 U.S. Census, Preble County Ohio, population schedule, Gasper Township, Preble County, Ohio, James Crawford; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online February 2018); NARA microfilm publication M19. .        

22. Ohio, Preble. Duplicate Tax Records of Preble County, Ohio, 1831-1834. CRAWFORD, 1832 Tax Record Vol 1118: image 288 and 292; database with images, FamilySearch http://www.familysearch.org : viewed online April 2018.        

23. 1840 U.S. Census, Preble County, Ohio, population schedule, ; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com ; NARA microfilm M704.         

24. 1850 U.S. Census, Preble County Ohio, population schedule, Gasper Township, Preble County, Ohio, image 4 of 23, household 577, James Crawford; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online July 2016); National Archives Publication M432.         

25. Probate packet for James Crawford of Preble County, Ohio, , .        

26. Ohio, Preble. Will Book C.  Film #Film 005868427. James Crawford, 28 Jul 1854 Book C: image 555; digital image, Family Search http://www.familysearch.org : viewed online January 2019.        

27. Gilbert, Audrey, Obituary Abstracts 1850-1890 from Eaton Register & Eaton Democrat newspapers in Eaton, Preble County, Ohio (Owensboro, KY: McDowell Publications, 1981), p. 13 (Crawford.OH.015).        

28. , (Crawford.OH.062), Mound Hill Cemetery, , .        

29. Preble County Ohio Will Abstracts 1836-1854 Volume II (Arcanum, Ohio: Anita Short, 1967), p. 31.         

30. , Record of marriages in Garrard County, Kentucky for the period of years 1796 to 1851 inclusive; records of wills in Garrard County, Kentucky for the period of years 1796 to 1851 inclusive (Wallins Creek, Kentucky: Burns, 1933), p. 29 (Crawford.KY.043). Hereinafter cited as Garrard County Kentucky Marriages and Wills 1796-1851.        

31. Dodd, Jordan, “Virginia, Marriages, 1660-1800,” Ancestry.com, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online (July 2016), Salley Smith.         

32. “Kentucky, Compiled Marriages, 1802-1850,” database, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online July 2017), James Crawford – Sally Duggins.         

33. Kentucky, County Marriages, 1783-1965, Garrard, Kentucky, Sally Duggins, 12 Sep 1799; database with images, Ancestry.com http://www.ancestry.com . viewed online March 2018.        

34. Kentucky, Garrard. Marriages, 1797-1954.  Film #004260348. James Crawford – Sally Duggins, Sept 12, 1799 17997-1853: 78 (image 10); digital images, Family Search http://www.familysearch.org : viewed online January 2019.        

35. Garrard County, Kentucky, Courthouse, Bond for marriage of James Crawford and Sally Duggins, #101, James Crawford, 12 September 1799; County Clerk, Garrard County, Kentucky, Lancaster, KY.        

36. Gilbert, Audrey, Obituary Abstracts 1850-1890 from Eaton Register & Eaton Democrat newspapers in Eaton, Preble County, Ohio (Owensboro, KY: McDowell Publications, 1981), calculated birth p. 13 (Crawford.OH.015).        

37. Find a Grave, database and images, Find a Grave (www.findagrave.com : viewed online July 2017), memorial for Sally Smith Crawford (1770-1856), Find a Grave Memorial no. #8559179,        

38. , The Deeds of Amherst County Virginia 1807-1827 Books L-R (Easely, SC: Southern Historical Press, 1985), p. 17 (Duggins.VA.004). Hereinafter cited as The Deeds of Amherst County, Virginia 1807-1827.        

39. , E-mail message from (Amherst County, Virginia) to , Book G, page 383 (Duggins.VA.005).       

41. Ohio, Preble County. Deeds, 1805-1963.  Film #008587952. Sally Crawford, Jan 1856 44: 225; digital image, Family Search http://www.familysearch.org 

Re-Searching

Do you ever go back thru your research trying to use your older research to try and find new information? If so, that is what I’m working on with my James Crawford brick wall. As part of that process, I’m reviewing the other Crawford families I’ve identified and trying to prove/disprove a relationship with my ancestor, James Crawford.

Thus, I was looking at the James Crawford who was a Presbyterian minister at Walnut Hill Church outside of Lexington, Kentucky. Not only am I trying to find additional information, but I’m also trying to make sure I have good source citations for the information I have already located.

For Rev. James Crawford’s death date, I had cited Kentucky Obituaries 1787-1854

Since my citation had included my filing code, Crawford.KY.001, I could locate my notes.

These notes are typical of my early days of genealogy research. They are handwritten and usually contain the title of the source and repository where I found it. My early research rarely contained a full citation.
Curious as to how accurately I recorded the information, I decided to see if I could find this information on Ancestry. From various Barefoot Genealogist’s Ancestry videos, I knew that I should search Ancestry’s collections and not rely on the hinting system. 
Thus, I repeated my search for a James Crawford who died in 1803 in Kentucky.

The results from this search had only one suggested source for the death: Find a Grave Index.

Even though I didn’t come up with the Kentucky Obituaries source, I elected to continue looking. I then did a search of the catalog for Kentucky Obituaries.

This search provided me a link to the Ancestry database, Kentucky Obituaries, 1787-1854. The Source Description did not indicate that the database was pulled from the book I used years ago. Hoping that the database contained similar information as found in the book, I did a search for James Crawford who died in 1803. 

Unfortunately, that search produced NO results.

When I edited the search to be less ‘Exact’, I got a page of results, including the reference to Rev. James Crawford that I was hoping to find.

Clicking on the image in the results list took me to a digital image from what appears to be a page from the book. 

Thus, I was able to verify that my handwritten notes were correct. This source is an ‘index’ and not the original newspaper entry. However, it does provide additional information that I did not have in my handwritten notes: “KG 4/19”. Since the images were browsable, I was able to go to the first image, where I discovered that the database is pulling from the book I used for my notes.

Browsing images at the first of the book, I was able to locate information indicating that KG stands for Kentucky Gazette.

The next challenge was to try and locate an actual image from the April 19, 1803 issue of the Kentucky Gazette. My first attempt to locate the newspaper was in Newspapers.com.

I also tried searching Genealogy Bank and Chronicling America. None of my searches proved successful. I then tried to use Ancestor Hunt‘s list of Kentucky newspapers to see if I could get to a digital image. Again, I was unsuccessful. 
I then tried a simple Google search for ‘Kentucky Gazette April 19 1803’. 

Clicking on the first link took me to a ‘transcription’ of the paper. When I clicked on the ‘item link’ I got to a digital image of the paper.

Thus, my re-searching for the Kentucky Obituaries source in my handwritten notes led me to a digital copy of the obituary. 
In the process, I learned

• Ancestry contains a digital image of the Kentucky Obituaries, 1787-1854 book (and several other books containing Kentucky records)
• the Kentucky Obituaries, 1787-1854 database is NOT included in the list of search results from a search of All Collections.

Based on my experience, I believe that I Ancestry has a lot of resources that I haven’t used . Thus, I need to go beyond searching for the individual in all collections to searching the ‘Card Catalog’ to see what resources are available for a locality and then searching those resources.

Common Ancestor Puzzle

Do you ever participate in one of Blaine Bettinger’s DNA quizzes? Or, do you ever see someone else’s post about their DNA stats and decide to investigate your own? I know I often take the time to look at the data and see how my data compares.

That happened two days ago when someone (and unfortunately I don’t know who and can’t find the original post) posted about his Ancestry DNA Common ancestors. Basically, the poster indicated how many common ancestors he had at each cousin level and wondered how that compared to other testers.

Thus, I decided to look at mine:

• One 1st cousin
• Three 2nd cousins
• Five 3rd cousins

With over 3,000 4th cousin or closer DNA matches, I expected a lot of common ancestors at the 4th cousin level. Thus, I was shocked to only find EIGHT.
Out of curiosity, I looked at my incomplete ThruLines spreadsheets to see how many cousins I have identified so far.

Not only do the numbers differ for 4th cousins, but they also differ for how many 2nd and 3rd cousins I have descending from a common ancestor. 
This sent me back to my matches list. When I looked at the number of shaky leaf icons in my matches list, the number of the shaky leaf icons for 1st thru 3rd cousins matched the number of cousins using the common ancestor filter.
The next level is a little deceiving. On the matches list this level is 4th thru 6th cousin — not just 4th cousins. So I started counting the shaky leaf icons. I had counted 155 shaky leaf icons and was still in the 4th-6th cousin section. Since I had reached a match length of just 22 cM, I stopped counting.
Once I realized that the shaky leaf is not always synonymous with common ancestor, I went back and started looking for the term ‘common ancestor’ by the shaky leaf. I quickly counted over 8 4th-6th cousins with the words ‘common ancestor’. Studying the first 15 of those ‘common ancestor’ matches, I found it odd that three of the 15 matches had two trees with a tree size of 7 and one tree in the list with a tree size of 2. When I looked at those very small trees, a common ancestor was not shown on the tree.

Since I descend from Isom Gallimore, it is possible that Isom Gallimore is our common ancestor. However, nothing in my match’s tree connects my match to Isom Gallimore. Yet, this match comes up using the ‘Common Ancestor’ filter.

Going back to my match list, I wondered why some of my known cousins don’t appear as common ancestors. For example, several descendants of my 2nd Great Grandfather, George Mentzer, have tested but aren’t listed on the ‘common ancestor’ list. 

This match descends from George Mentzer thru his son Ernest. My tree not only contains information on George Mentzer, but on his children and grandchildren.

Thus, our two trees should contain enough information to connect our two trees. Thus, I expected to find this match on the ThruLines screen for George Mentzer. 

Unfortunately, the ThruLines screen does not show George’s son Ernest and the link to my DNA match — even though our trees both contain Ernest as a son of George Mentzer.

Since this Mentzer match has an unlinked tree, I’m wondering if that is keeping the ‘common ancestor’ and ThruLnes from working for this match.
Unfortunately, I don’t have an explanation for only EIGHT 4th cousin matches showing up  with the ‘Common Ancestor’ filter. 

Can anyone else explain this?

DNA Stats

Randy Seaver of Genea-Musings is known for his Saturday Night Genealogy Fun challenges. His blog post, DNA Tests and Analysis Summary wasn’t a Saturday Night Genealogy Fun challenge, but I decided that I needed to view it as a challenge to review my DNA results.

Gedmatch

• highest cM match – 387.2 cM
• # matches sharing 68 cM or more – 9
• # matches sharing 34 cM or more – 53

yDNA matches

• 18 at 111 markers with genetic distance of 6 or higher
• 52 at 67 markers with genetic distance of 1 or higher

FamilyTree DNA

• Total family finder matches – 1384
• Highest cM match – 406 cM

MyHeritage

• Total Matches – 10481
• Highest cM match – 215.4 cM
• Theories of Relativity – 14

Ancestry – My Test

• Total Matches – 89,966
• 4th Cousin or Closer – 2,998
• Highest cM match (excluding immediate family) – 1007 cM
• DNA Circles  – 48
• Shared Ancestors (believe there is an issue with this – previously reported to Ancestry) – 192
• ThruLines – 218

Ancestry – Brother #1

• Total Matches – 101,751
• 4th Cousin or Closer – 3,770
• Highest cM Match (excluding immediate family) – 1042 cM
• DNA Circles – 47
• Shared Ancestors (believe there is an issue with this) – 188

Ancestry – Brother #2

• Total Matches – 93,791
• 4th Cousin or Closer Matches – 3,210
• Highest cM Match (excluding immediate family) – 748 cM
• DNA Circles – 47
• Shared Ancestors (believe there is an issue with this) – 184

Ancestry – parent

• Total Matches – 60,919
• 4th Cousin or Closer Matches – 2,184
• Highest cM Match (excluding immediate family) – 1861 cM
• Shared Ancestors – 228

Even though I have transferred my Ancestry DNA results to as many places as possible, I prefer working with my Ancestry results.

• I have more results on Ancestry.
• More of my 2nd and 3rd cousins have tested on Ancestry
• Ancestry ThruLines is proving to be very helpful.

Botetourt Virginia Titheables

Last Wednesday, I had the opportunity to visit the Family History Center in Topeka, Kansas. During this visit, I was able to access digitized images from Botetourt County, Virginia. I was thankful these records were available at the family history center since they were locked at affiliate libraries.

Botetourt County, Virginia
List of Tithables, 1770-1789
FS Film 9106467 DGS 7856374

Looking for Crawford, Douglass, Maxwell

1770

Image 9
Anderson, Lemuel – 1
Crawford, James – 1
Dooley Kenery – 1

Image 14 – List of Tithebles take in by William Ingles
Image 15 James Craford – 1

Image 16 –
Henry Dooley
Samuel Bozewell

image 17 – start of 1771

Image 19 – List of tithables take by Benjamin Estil 1771
Wm Maxwell
J L Maxwell
John Maxwell
Image 20 – left side – col. 2 – Wm Crawford

Image 20 – right side – List of Tithables taken by John Boxman

image 22
List of the Tithables on the Head of Little River

Image 23
List of Tithables [my] Company
John Maxwell

Image 25 A list of the tithables in the Lower District
of New River

Image 26
A list of tithables taken from the north side
Buffelo Creek to the County line & from Mountain [Harris]
tax for the year 1771
William Crawford

Image 29
Tithables no returned at Agt Court 1771

Image 31
A list of tithables taken in by Walter Crockett from William
Sayers to the Head of Holstans RiVer for the year 1771

Image 33
A list of Tithables in Capt Campbells Company

Image 34
A list of Tithables in Capt Bledsow Company
John Douglass
John Douglass

Image 37
John Crawford – 2
John Crawford – 2
Wm Crawford – 1

Image 42 – 1772

Image 45 List of tithables on Jacksons River including the Cord parchased and Down James River as Lord as James Lawrence
taken according to order Court by John Robinson Jun the 10th 1772

Image 47
Lists Tithables for
Craigs Creek taken
by Ben Hawkins 1772
Crawford John – 1
Crawford John Junr – 1
Crawford Andrew – 1
Crawford William – 1
Crawford Elias – 1

image 52 List of Tithables taken in Capt James Thompson’s Company 1772
Henry Dooley

Image 58
A list of Tithables in Capt Doachs and my own company for the year 1772
Walter Crockett

Image 61 A list of the Tithables on the North side of Buffaloe Creek
Botetourt County taken by Wm McKee 1772

Image 63 – new list – but no heading at top of page
Crawford John – 1
Crawford Samuel – 1

Image 68 A list of tithables in Capt Campbells for 1772 take by R D.

Image 70 A list of tithables in Capt Bledsoes & Capt Looney Company for 1772
Returnt to R. Douch

Image 72
A list of the tithables in the upper settlement of Little River

Image 73
A list of the tithables on new river & sinking creek

Image 76 A list of tithables taken in by James McGavock from James River to Buffalo Creek from Mountain to Mounty of the year 1772
Craford William 2
Maxwell John – 2
Maxwell James – 1
Maxwell William – 2
Maxwell THomas – 1

Image 78 List of titheables taken by Ohis[ons]

1773

image 83 – 177[3] A list of tithable taken by order of court
Wm Mc[th]ee
names on lists
Crawford John – 1
Crawford John Junr – 1
Crawford William – 1
Crawford Josiah – 1
Crawford Andrew – 1
Crawford Andrew [z] 1

Image 85 A list of tithables taken by Benjamin Estil for year 1773
Crawford William – 2
Maxwell John – 1
Maxwell William – 1

Img 86 – Maxwell Thomas – 1

image 87 The list of tithables from William Huggards up Jacsons River to the County line and to the western waters

Image 90 A list of the tithables on the waters of Breenbriers 1773

Image 91 – right side – List of the tithables from Buffalo Creek to the North River Below the great road taken by James [timbold] in compliance to an order of court to him Directed 1773

image 92
A list of the tithables from the mouth of Craigs Creek up the cowpaster to the county line
and up jecksons river to William Hogarts

Image 97
A list of tithables taken by Geo Skillens for a part of the County of Botetourt and order of the court for the year 1773

image 99 Lit of delinquents

Image 101 List of deliquents
Thos Maxwell – no inhabitant Fincast Co – 0

Captain Love’s Company of Militia

On my way home from the Northeast Kansas Library System’s monthly board meeting, I stopped in Topeka to use the library and archives at the Kansas State Historical Society. One of the books I used was Montgomery County, Virginia: The First 100 Years. [Text by Judge C. W. Crush; Index by Mrs. Frances Terry Ingmire. St. Louis, MO: Mrs Terry Ingmire, 1982.]

On page 94 of this book is a list of Captain Love’s Company of Militia. Since James Crawford was listed as a lieutenant for the company, this list may prove useful to my Crawford research. By knowing the names of the various men in this company, I can search their pension records for mention of James Crawford (or any other Crawford).

Page 94

A list of Capt. Love’s Compy. of Militia — April 5th 1781
William Love, Capt.
James Crawford, Lt.
James Smith, Lt.
James White, Ensign
George Erving, Sergt
David Busher, Sergt
Philip Dutting
John Lashley
John King
Abram Gooding
Christley Vaught
George Vaught
Nathan Morgan
Archy Reagh
William Smith
Peter Neast
Warren Filpot
Adm Dulton
Peter Greger
Peter Laughton
James Fork
John Vaught
David Vaught
Jese James
James James
William Moore
John Brown
Geo. Douglas
Danl. Pearee
Edward Crawford
Michl Plankepicker
Gasper Vaught
David Kirkwood
William James
Kaser Wells
Hugh Con
Christopher Bulyes
Mikl. Burton
John Burton
Zac. Plankepicker
Michl. Branser
John Hunt