Have you ever just stumbled across something that others may seem minor when it provides major clues. That’s what happened yesterday when I did a simple Google search for ‘Isaac Crawford Nancy Miller’.
section 5, township 61,l range 30, is the owner of 223 acres of land, about 120 acres of which are under fence and in a fine state of cultivation. He has a comfortable house, a good barn and a fine orchard. Mr. Crawford the son of Isaac and Nancy (Miller) Crawford, both Kentuckians by birth. During his infancy his parents died, and he was reared by his grand parents. At the age of two years he was taken to Garrard County, Ken- tucky, where he remained until ten years of age. In 1833, he moved to Clay County, Missouri, continuing to reside there until about the year 1838, when he came to Gentry County. In 1846, he went to Santa Fe, New Mexico, returning to Gentry County in the spring of 1847. In 1849, he took a trip to California and remained there until June, 1851, when he again came to Gentry County, and here he has since lived. He located on his present farm in 1852, and is a prominent farmer and stock raiser of this vicinity. Mr. Crawford was married in Gentry County, October 14, 1852, to Elizabeth Wheeler, who was born in Garrard County, Kentucky, September 3, 1833. She is the daughter of Benjamin and Sophia (Bradshaw) Wheeler, both of Garrard County. The result of this union was twelve children, ten of whom were living: Sophia J., James A., Benjamin, Isaac N., Ulysses, Annie, Miriam, Cenie Margaret, Lueva and Elsie. Mr. Crawford and wife are both members of the Baptist Church.
Not only does this biography contain information about the travels of George W. Crawford as an adult, but it explains how Isaac Crawford’s children got from Indiana to Kentucky.
Since several of Nancy Miller’s siblings settled in the same area of Missouri at about the same time, this biography suggests that I need to do more research on those Miller siblings to learn more about the children of Isaac and Nancy Crawford.
Thanks Google for leading me to this biography. These are fantastic hints!
Do you keep a research log? I have to admit that I would likely get a ‘failing grade’ for this part of the genealogy standard. I’ve tried using a paper log and a spreadsheet log, but don’t seem to be able to keep it up. Thus, I don’t have a ‘master index’ to locate my research notes. In May, Pat Richley-Erickson, posted a question to the Facebook group, The Organized Genealogist, asking group members how they organize their research notes. This was followed up by a Wacky Wednesday presentation, Organizing Active Research Notes.
I’m just now starting to watch this presentation, but have already picked up on a hint that I would like to implement in my own research: incorporate the link to the actual file in my notes. (Thanks Cousin Russ for sharing this hint from Drew Smith.) Even though I seem to fail at keeping a formal research log, I have found a tool that helps me keep track of my active research. That tool is Scrivener. Scrivener is actually a tool designed for writers to organize their research. There are a variety of resources that helped me learn to use Scrivener for genealogy.
I’m not using Scrivener to write a family history. However, I am using it to collect and organize my research notes. Having discovered Scrivener, I have started creating a Scrivener project for each surname I am actively researching. Within a project, I create a folder on the Research corkboard for the county. My current research project is my CRAWFORD research. Since much of this research involves counties with shifting county boundaries, I’m using the date the county was formed as part of the folder name.
Even though I have to manually sort the folder, having the year the county formed helps me realize that I likely have to look in multiple counties. This date is also a clue to approximate start dates for records in that county. Then within that county folder, I can
create a file to take notes
import images of documents
transcribe the images of documents
When I take notes, I try to put all of the information needed for a citation at the top of the page. Then I add notes from the source.
When I import an image, I can switch to a split screen with the image on the top and a ‘transcription’ file on the bottom.
By transcribing these records, I can copy/paste the transcription into notes or the citation detail in my RootsMagic. I also am copying this information into blog posts so that I can more easily share them with other researchers. These files can also be exported in a variety of formats.
As I’m researching several different Crawford families in early Kentucky and beyond, I’ve found Scrivener to be extremely helpful. All of my notes are in this project. Thus, this tool has become my ‘Research Log’.
Have you been following all of the Facebook posts about organizing and tracking your genealogy research? If you haven’t then you might want to check out some of these posts:
If you haven’t joined these or other genealogy groups on Facebook, then you are missing out on a lot of help!
Because of the recent discussions around organizing one’s genealogy, I thought I’d share what I’ve found useful. Since my genealogy adventure began prior to the Internet, I started with a lot of paper. Thus, I had to have a way to organize it so I could go back and find my notes. As Drew Smith has suggested, I used the SURNAME as my first level of organization. Because I had too much information to fit in one folder for the SURNAME, I subdivided my notes. Below is an example of how those folders were named for one of my surnames:
Crawford
Crawford – Letters
Crawford – Census
Crawford – Kansas
Crawford – Indiana
Crawford – Ohio
Crawford – Kentucky
Crawford – Virginia
As my research has broadened to include the siblings and others of the Surname living in the area, I started adding sub-folders for those individuals. At first, I was just using the person’s name for the folder. However, the computer would sort those folder alphabetically. Growing frustrated with the alphabetical arrangement, I changed the way I named the folders to put the year of the person’s birth first. Thus, the folders get arranged chronologically.
I have applied the same concept to my file names. When I find a record for an individual, I start the file name with the date of the document, followed by brief sourcing info and end with the name(s) associated with the document.
It took me a while to develop this organization method and naming pattern. And, my system is far from perfect, but it works for me.
Do you have a brick wall? Does that brick wall involve identifying the father of an ancestor? At some point, many of us face such a brick wall.
One of my brick walls involves my ancestor, James Crawford. My James Crawford married Sally Duggins in 1799 in Garrard County, Kentucky. All of my research efforts have not punched a hole in this brick wall. Thus, I’m using the FAN (friends acquaintances, and neighbors) club method to branch out and try to find a way around this brick wall. I’m currently researching all of the Crawford families in the area of Garrard County, Kentucky during its early days of settlement.
One of those families is James Crawford and his wife Rebecca Anderson. My current theory is that this James Crawford might be an uncle to my ancestor. Thus, I’m hoping that by researching James and Rebecca and their children, I might find something relating to my James Crawford. Unfortunately, identifying the children of James and Rebecca is proving to be difficult.
This book identifies the children of James and Rebecca as William Crawford, James Crawford, Isaac Crawford, Ann Crawford, Jane Crawford, Cynthia Crawford, and Polly Crawford. Even though this information is just a hint, it has proven valuable in locating records for the children of James and Rebecca. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to locate a will, probate record or even a deed that identifies these children as the children of James and/or Rebecca Crawford.
When it comes to Isaac Crawford, some other researchers show his father as George Crawford and not James. Thus, I’m trying to figure out whether there are two Isaac Crawfords in the Garrard County, Kentucky area at the same time or whether someone has an incorrect father for Isaac Crawford – and that someone could be me.
My theory: The Isaac Crawford married to Nancy Miller is the son of James and Rebecca Crawford.
Do I have any rock solid evidence to support this theory? No! I only have tidbits of information that might connect Isaac to James and Rebecca Crawford. Most of what I have simply places Isaac Crawford in the same area as James and Rebecca during the same time period.
I have found records placing James and Rebecca Anderson living along Paint Lick Creek in Madison and Garrard Counties, Kentucky.
In 1809, there is an Isaac Crawford on the tax list for Garrard County, Kentucky. A James Crawford and a Wm Crawford are listed on the same page of this tax list. (Note: This page does not include a George Crawford.)
Isaac is also listed on the 1810 and 1811 tax lists for Garrard County, Kentucky. However, James Crawford is not listed on these tax lists. In 1811, James Crawford is said to have moved to Jefferson County, Indiana (Vawter Family in America).
Since James Crawford moved to Indiana, it is possible that a son named Isaac might also move to Indiana. In 1815, an Isaac Crawford registered land at the Jeffersonvlle land office. Jefferson County, Indiana deeds indicate that an Isaac Crawford and Nancy his wife sold land in Jefferson County, Indiana. Isaac and Nancy again sell land in 1822. In 1823, an Isaac Crawford purchases land in Bartholomew County, Indiana. Other researchers indicate that Isaac and Nancy (Miller) Crawford died in 1824.
I have yet to find a record or records linking Isaac Crawford to James Crawford, thus, I have to consider the possibility that there are either two Isaac Crawfords married to a Nancy or that Isaac’s father is George Crawford. My next step is to contact other researchers to see if they can provide information to prove or disprove my theory.
The first place I looked was on the FamilySearch tree. That tree currently shows George Crawford as the father of Isaac. Since the change log allows me to see who made changes to Isaac Crawford [LQ5D-25H], I can see who is in the ‘James camp’ and who is in the ‘George camp’.
I have used the FamilySearch messaging system to contact these researchers – and I have received a hint that there is a court record involving Isaac’s sister, Polly Guthrie, that may identify the children of James.
Some might wonder why I’m spending so much time investigating Isaac since he isn’t my ancestor. The primary reason is that I’m hoping that by following James and Rebecca’s children, grandchildren, etc. I will stumble across some clue that will take me around my brick wall and identify the parents or siblings of my ancestor. My second reason is that one of my DNA matches descends from Isaac and my match is in the ‘George’ camp.
As part of my CRAWFORD research, I’m trying to determine whether the Isaac Crawford of Jefferson County, Indiana is the same Isaac Crawford who married Nancy Miller in Garrard County, Kentucky. Thus, I’m trying to locate information on potential children. One of those potential children is Elizabeth Crawford who married Aristippus Brown in Clinton County, Missouri.
Unfortunately, I’m having trouble locating much information on Aristippus Brown. What I’ve been able to locate is a marriage record, land records and mentions in county histories.
Aristippus Brown was married to Elizabeth Crawford in Clinton County, Missouri on 3 August 1836.
According to the History of Davies and Gentry Counties, MIssouri, Aristippus Brown was from Kentucky and lived near Genntryville in 1839. The history indicates that Aristippus Brown moved to California.
In May of 1840, Aristippus Brown and Elizabeth Brown his wife, sold land in Garrard County, Kentucky. This deed identifies Elizabeth as Elizabeth Crawford, daughter of Isaac Crawford and granddaughter of Jacob Miller.
Garrard County Kentucky Land and Property
Deeds, Vols. N-O 1838-1843 FamilySearch Film 183247 DGS 8568105
Page 396
No. 1381 Aristippus Brown [sc] to William W Duff Deed This Indenture made and entered into this 2nd day of May in the year 1840 between Aristippus Brown and Elizabeth Brown his wife, late Elizabeth Crawford, daughter of Isaac Crawford son in law of Jacob Miller decd of the County of Clinton and State of Missouri, by James Crawford their attorney in fact of and part and William W Duff of Garrard County and State of Kentucky of the other part, witnesseth that the said James Crawford attorney as afsd for and in consideration of the sum of seventy five dollar rs to him in hand paid, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledg ed has sold and by these presents conveys to the said Duff, all
page 397
the right, title and interest of the said Brown and wife in and to a tract of 197 1/2 acres of land, lying in Garrard Co Ky on the waters of Paint Lick, and being the same on which their ancestor Jacob Miller died, and from whom said Interest descended, being the one sixth of one eleventh part of said land supposed to be a fraction over three acres to the said Duff his heirs [jc] And the said Brown and Elizabeth his wife, by their said attorney James Crawford by these presents covenant and agree to and with said Duff that they will warrant and forever def end the title to the Interest aforesaid free adn discharged of all right Interest claim or demand of themselves their heirs or assigns and from the claim or claims of all and every other person or persons, whatever to said Duff, his heirs [jc] absolutely In testimony whereof the said parties of the first part by their aforesaid attorney have hereunto set their hands and affix ed their seals the date afsd Aristipus Brown (seal) Elizabeth Brown (seal) by James A Crawford (seal) State of Kentucky Garrard County I certify that this deed from Aristippus Brown and Elizabeth Brown his wife, by James A. Crawford their attorney to William W. Duff was produced to me in my office on the 2nd day of May 1840 and acnd by the said James A. Crawford attorney as afsd to be his act and deed for the purposes therein mentioned. Whereupon the said deed together with this certificate is truly recorded, this 2nd day of May 1840. Alex R McKee ck
According to the ‘Early History of Gentry County’ published in the 13 February 1936 edition of the Albany Ledger (Albany, Missouri), Aristippus Brown was living in Miller Township of Gentry County about 1845.
In June of 1845, Aristippus Brown of Mills Township was appointed justice of the peace according to the History of Davies and Gentry Counties.
In July 1847, Aristippus Brown sold land in Gentry County being a fractional part of section 33, Township 56 range 33 containing twenty five acres. The deed did not mention a wife.
Gentry County, Missouri Deeds v. C-D 1842-1850 FS Film 1005936 DGS 8593563
Page 41
This deed, made and entered into this twelfth day of July, eighteen hundred and forty seven by and between Aristippus Brown of Gentry County and State of Missouri of the first part, and William R. Powe of Clinton County and State of Missouri of the second part, witnesseth, that the said party of the first part for and in consideration of the sum of one hundred and eighty dollars to him in hand paid by the said party of the second part receipt whereof is hereby confessed and acknowledged has granted, bargains and sold, and by these presents doth grant, bargain and sell, convey and confirm unto the said party of the second part, and to his heirs and assigns forever, a certain tract, piece or parcel of land, lying and being in the County of Clinton and State of Missouri to wit: the lot or South part of fractional section thirty three (33) in Township fifty six(56) of range thirty three (33) containing twenty five acres and twenty hundredths of an acre more or less. To have and to hold the same, with all the rights privileges and appurtenances thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining unto him, the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns forever; the said Aris tippus Brown, party of the first part hereby covenanting that he his heirs executors and ad- ministrators will warrant and defend the title to the said premises and every part thereof,
page 42
to him the said party of the second part & to his heirs and assigns, against the lawful claim or claims of all and every person or persons whatsoever, claiming or to claim the same or any part thereof. It witness whereof, the said party of the first part has hereunto set his hand and seal, the day and year first herein written. Aristippus Brown (SS) Done in presence of State of Missouri County of Clinton ss Be it remembered that on this twelfth day of July eighteen hundred and forty seven, before me, the undersigned Clerk of the Circuit Court with- in and for the County aforesaid, personally came Aristippus Brown, who is personally known to me to be the same person whose name is subscribed to the foregoing instrument of writing, as party thereto, and he acknowledged the same to be his act and deed for the purposes therein mentioned. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal (S.S.) of said Court, on the day and year above written. Winslow Turner, Clerk Mem. The foregoing deed was received by me for record on the 12th day of July A.D. 1847. Winslow Turner, Recorder.
In June 1848, Aristippus Brown filed patents for two tracts of land in Gentry County, Missouri. Certificate 5112 was for 40 acres in section 1, Township 60 Range 31. Certificate 4664 was for the SE 1/4 Section 36, Township 60, Range 31. (Bureau of Land Management)
Certificate No. 5112
The United States of America To all to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting: Whereas, Aristippus Brown, of Gentry County, Missouri has deposited in the General Land Office of the United States, a Certificate of the Register of the Land Office at Plattsburg whereby it appears that full payment has been made by the said Aristippus Brown according to the provisions of the Act of Congress of the 24th of April, 1820, entitled “An Act making further provision for the sale of Public Lands,” for Lot number One of the North East fractional quarter of section one in Township sixty one of Range thirty one in the District of Lands subject to sale as Platts burg, Missouri, containing, Forty acres according to the official plat of the survey of said lands, returned to the General Land Office by the Surveyor General, which said tract has been purchased by the said Aristippus Brown Now Know ye, that the United States of America, in consideration of the Premises, and in conformity with the several acts of Congress, in such case made and provided, Have given and granted, and by these presents do Give and Grant, unto the said, Aristippus Brown and to his heirs, the said tract above described; to have and to hold the same, together with all the rights privileges, immunities and appurtenances of whatsoever nature, thereunto belonging, unto the said Aristippus Brown and to his heirs and assigns forever In Testimony whereof, I James K Polk President of the United States of American, have caused these letters to be made Patent, and the seal, of the General Land Office to be hereunto affixed. Given under my hand, at the City of Washington, the first day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty eight and of the Independence of the United States the seventy second by the President; James K Polk by J F Stephens [Afor} Sec’y S H Laughlin Recorder of the General Land Office
______
Bureau of Land Management Patent Image
Pre-Emption Certificate No. 4664
The United States of America To all to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting: Whereas Aristippus Brown of Gentry County Missouri has deposited in the General Land Office of the United States, a Certificate of the Register of the Land Office at Plattsburg, whereby it appears that full payment has been made by the said Aristippus Brown according to the provisions of the Act of Congress of the 24th of April, 1820, entitled “An Act making further provision for the sale of Public Lands,” for the South East quarter of Section Thirty Six in Township Sixty two of Range Thirty one in the District of Lands subject to sale at Plasttsburg Missouri containing one hundred and sixty acres according to the official plat of the survey of the said Lands, returned to the General Land Office by the Surveyor General, which said tract has been purchased by the said Aristippus Brown Now Know ye, that the United States of America, in consideration of the Premises, and in conformity with the several acts of Congress, in such case made and provided, Have given and granted, and by these presents do Give and Grant, unto the said Aristippus Brown and to his heirs, the said tract above described: to have and to hold the same, together with all the rights, privileges, immunities and appurtenances of whatsoever nature, thereunto belonging unto the said Aristippus Brown and to his heirs and assigns forever. In testimony whereof, I James K Polk President of the United States of America, have caused these Letters to be made Patent, and the Seal of the General Land Office to be hereunto affixed. Given under my hand, at the City of Washington, the Tenth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty eight and of the independence of the United States the twenty second By the President: James K Polk by J K Stephens [Sfor] Sec’y S. H. Laughlin, Recorder of the General Land Office
In 1876, Aristippus Brown was listed on the California Voter Registration records living in Lake County, California.
I’m hoping that by learning more about Aristippus Brown, his wife Elizabeth Crawford and her siblings I’ll be able to determine whether the Isaac and Nancy Crawford of Jefferson County, Indiana is the Isaac Crawford who married Nancy Miller in Garrard County, Kentucky.
Have you been frustrated by Ancestry hints that seem illogical? I know I have. I seem to get hints for records from England when my ancestor was born, lived and died in the states. That’s why I’m excited about the new ‘beta’ tool to report those bad hints to Ancestry. Not only can I report ‘bad’ hints, but I can report ‘duplicate’ photos and explain why a hint is valid.
To enable this new feature, I had to ‘turn it on’. This is done by opening the EXTRAS menu
and pick ANCESTRY LAB from the bottom of the menu.
The HINTS FEEDBACK is the new feature. To make it work, click on ENABLE.
With HINTS FEEDBACK enabled, I am prompted to ‘tell’ Ancestry why I am ignoring or accepting a hint. For example, I don’t accept the hints for the flags, and other images that others have attached to their tree. Below is an example of a hint I would not accept
When I clicked on IGNORE for this hint, a window opened for me to indicate WHY I am ignoring the hint.
Since there isn’t a SAVE, SUBMIT or CLOSE button, I’m assuming that I can submit my reason and close the window by clicking on the X in the upper right corner of the window. I also try to IGNORE hints for images that I have already saved in the individual’s gallery.
In this case, I just clicked on ‘I already have this information’
The above examples are for hints for photos. It is also possible to provide feedback for record hints. Below is a hint for Ida Angelina Briles Barr for a Kentucky will.
To evaluate this record, I have to compare the information in this record to the information I already know about Ida Barr. Ida Angelina Briles Barr appears on the census records in Coffey County, Kansas from 1870 thru 1940. These census records indicate that Ida was born in Iowa. In addition, the census records for Ida as a child show her living in the household of Noah Washington Briles and his wife, Sarah. Since the suggested record included images of the Kentucky will, it was easy to read the will and determine that this Kentucky will is for a different BRILES family. Thus, I will click NO to reject this record. Besides just clicking that the place and relationship was wrong, I added additional information to explain why this hint was not valid.
Not only can I enter information as I work thru new hints, but I can go back and enter information for hints that I had previously ignored. When I go to the HINTS page for an individual in my tree, I have the option of seeing hints I’ve already accepted and those I’ve already ignored. If I click on the Ignore link, I can see those ignored hints.
Then, I can enter the ‘reason’ I ignored each of the hints on this page.
Submitting this feedback to Ancestry will take more of my time. However, it should help Ancestry ‘fine-tune’ their hinting system to make it more accurate. The more information I can provide Ancestry about these hints, the better the hinting system will become.
Please join me in providing this feedback to Ancestry!
Saturday Night Genealogy Fun Here is your assignment if you choose to play along (cue the Mission Impossible music, please!):
1) It’s Father’s Day in the USA on Sunday, so let’s talk about our fathers.
2) Show us your favorite photograph of your father – the one that shows him in the best light possible. Describe the occasion, the setting, and the people in the photograph.
One of my favorite pictures of my father (Eugene Crawford) is of him in his physics classroom at Dodge City Junior College.
Another favorite picture is of dad trying to read while I was sitting in his lap.
Another group of favorite pictures are of us during Christmas time in 1953.
Have you ever encountered some random information in a Facebook post that led you to look for additional records? That was my experience recently when someone posted in the Families of Garrard County, Kentucky group about the Sellers-Kennedy riot.
Since my Crawford family left Garrard County before 1820, I haven’t paid much attention to the history of the county after that. One of the Crawford lines I’m tracking from the Garrard County area had two daughters marry into the Sellers family. (William Sellers married Sarah Crawford and James Sellers married Mary Crawford) These particular Sellers families also moved out of the county.
At this point, I don’t know how the Sellers of the 1873 riot connect to the Sellers family of the 1790s but I’m guessing they do connect.
One of the comments on the post mentioned the search for Sellers deeds. When I looked back at my research, I realized I did not have the deed for the sale of land. Since those records are easily accessible on FamilySearch, I located that deed today.
At first glance, this deed may be for land that belonged to James Sellers and Mary Crawford.
Garrard County, Kentucky Land and Property
Deeds, Vols. R-S 1849-1859 Family Search Film 183249 DGS 8191827
Deed Book R page 480 image 245
No 3799 Isaac Marksbury Commissioner to James Anderson (deed) This indenture made and entered into this day of September 1830 between Isaac Marksbury Commissioner appointed under a decree of the Garrard Circuit Court pronounced at the June Term 1830 wherein James Sellars heirs are complete and James Sellar heirs are deft of one part and James Anderson of Garrard County of the other part, witnesseth that whereas by a former decree of the Garrard Circuit Court pronounced in the above suit, the said Isaac Marksbury as Commissi oner was authorized and directed to sell a certain tract of land lying on the waters of Sugar Creek, which descended to the said heirs from their ancestor James Sellars, which sale was mad and Nathan Sellars became the purchaser thereof, and it appearing that said Nathan has sold said land to the said James Anderson, and the said Garrard Circuit Court having appointed & authorized the said Isaac Marksbury to make the conveyance, to said Anderson now therefor in consideration thereof the said Isaac Marksbury by these presents does sell alien en[seoss] and convey unto the said James Anderson the following tract or parcel of land lying and being in the County of Garrard and bounded as follows to wit Beginning at A a stone corner to James Anderson running from thence N 80 degrees W 160 poles to a stake another corner of said Anderson in Downings back line, thence with said line N 10 degrees E 160 poles to a large poplar thence S 80 degrees E 160 poles to an old stump on a washed hill side thence South 10 degrees W 26 poles to a stake in a field thence East 28 poles to 3 beeches in the creek thence up the creek with its meanders S 20 degrees W 28 poles S42 degrees W 10 poles to the mouth of a branch at a sugar tree thence up the branch N 80 degrees W 21 1/2 poles to an Elm in the old line thence with said line S 10 degrees W 102 poles to the beginning containing 164 acres and 3 roods.
page 481
To have and to hold the afsd tract or parcel of land with all and singular the appurtenances thereunto belonging to him the said James Anderson his heirs [pd] in fee simple forever and the said Isaac Marksbury as Commissions afsd does covenant that he will warr ant and defend the title of said land to him the said Anderson his heirs [fd] against the claim or claims of all persons claiming throu gh or by the heirs of James Sellars, decd. In Testimony whereof he has hereto set his hand and seal the day & year above Isaac Marksbury Commissioner Garrard circuit Sct It appears from the records of the Garrard Circuit Court Clerks office of which court I am clerk that this deed was produced in open County by Isaac Marksbury Comm on the 24th day of March 1831, and acknowledged by him to be his act and deed approved and ordered to be recorded and handed over to the clerk of the Garr ard County Court for record in his office. I have therefor recorded the same in the deed Book of the Garrard Circuit Court & have handed the same to the Clerk of the Garrard County Court to be by him recorded this 2nd April 1830. Alex R McKee Clerk Garrard Circuit Ct This deed has a clue that hopefully will lead to more records:
decree of the Garrard Circuit Court pronounced at the June Term 1830 Now to locate the correct set of court records and find the Sellars case in those records!
I’m trying to figure out whether the Isaac Crawford and wife Nancy of Jefferson County, Indiana are the Isaac Crawford who married Nancy Miller in Garrard County, Kentucky. Thus, I’m tracking the transfer of land by heirs of Jacob Miller, Nancy Miller’s father.
In May 1840, James and John Crawford were identified as sons of Isaac Crawford when they sold their 1/6th of 1/11th of Jacob Miller’s land to William Duff. Going back through the deeds, I have identified three other deeds where protions of Jacob Miller’s land was sold to William Duff. Two of those deeds also involve heirs of Isaac Crawford.
Aristippus Brown to William Duff — 2 May 1840
Garrard County Kentucky Land and Property
Deeds, Vols. N-O 1838-1843 FamilySearch Film 183247 DGS 8568105
Book N Page 396
No. 1381 Aristippus Brown [sc] to William W Duff
Deed This Indenture made and entered into this 2nd day of May in the year 1840 between Aristippus Brown and Elizabeth Brown his wife, late Elizabeth Crawford, daughter of Isaac Crawford son in law of Jacob Miller decd of the County of Clinton and State of Missour, by James Crawford their attorney in fact of and part and William W Duff of Garrard County and State of Kentucky of the other part, witnesseth taht the said James Crawford attorny as afsd for and in consideration of the sum of seventy five dollar rs to him in hand paid, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledg ed has sold and by these presents conveys to the said Duff, all
page 397
the right, title and interest of the said Brown and wife in and to a tract of 197 1/2 acres of land, lying in Garrard Co Ky on the waters of Paint Lick, and being the same on which their ancestor Jacobe Miller died, and from whom said Interest descended, being the one sixth of one eleventh part of said land supposed to be a fraction over three acres to the said Duff his heirs [jc] And the said Brown and Elizabeth his wife, by their said attorney James Crawford by these presents covenant and agree to and with said Duff that they will warrant and forever def end the title to the Interest aforesaid free adn discharged of all right Interest claim or demand of themselves their heirs or assigns and from the claim or claims of all and every other person or persons, whatever to said Duff, his heirs [jc] absolutely In testimony whereof the said parties of the first part by their aforesaid attorney have hereunto set their hands and affix ed their seals the date afsd Aristipus Brown (seal) Elizabeth Brown (seal) by James A Crawford (seal) State of Kentucky Garrard County I certify that this deed from Aristippus Brown and Elizabeth Brown his wife, by James A. Crawford their attorney to William W. Duff was produced to me in my office on the 2nd day of May 1840 and acnd by the said James A. Crawford attorney as afsd to be his act and deed for the purposes therein mentioned. Whereupon the said deed together with this certificate is truly recorded, this 2nd day of May 1840. Alex R McKee ck
George W Crawford to W Wo Duff – 6 Nov 1844 Garrard County KentuckyLand and Property Deeds, Vols. P-Q 1843-1859FamilySearch Film 183248 DGS 8568106 Book Ppage 253
No 2489 George W Crawford to W W DuffDeed For and in consideration of the sum of $75.00 to me paid thereceipt of which I acknowledge I George W Crawford of Garrard CountyKentucky have sold aliened and conveyed and by these presents do sell alien andconvey unto William W. Duff of the County and State afsd all the right titleinterest and claim I hold in a tract of 197 1/2 acres of land lying n theCounty afsd on the waters of Paint Lick Creek and being the same on which my ancestor Jacob Miller decd was from whence said interest descendedbeing the one sixth of one eleventh supposed to be three acres to the saidWilliam W Duff his heirs and assigns forever and I do by these presentscovenant and agree to [?] with said Duff to warrant and forever defendthe title to the interest afsd free from the claim of myself my heirs etcand from the claims of all and every other person or persons whatsoever to thesaid William W Duff his heirs [sc] absolutely and forever.In testimony whereof I the said George W Crawford hereto set myhand and affixed my seal this 6th day of November 1844George W CrawfordState of KentuckyGarrard CountyI Alexander McKee clerk of the Garrard County Court do certifythat the foregoing deed of conveyance from George W Crawford to WilliamW Duff was this day produced to me in my office and acknowledgedby the said Crawford to be his act and deed for the purposes therein mentioned.Whereupon the same is timely admitted to record. Given under my handthis 6 day of November 1844Alex R McKee ck
Henry Miller and wife Jane to William w Duff – 3 Oct 1844 Garrard County KentuckyLand and Property Deeds, Vols. P-Q 1843-1859Family Search film 183248 DGS 8568106 Deed Book P Page 244
No 2479 Henry Miller & wife to William W DuffDeed This Indenture mad this the 3rd day of October in the year of ourLord one thousand eight hundred and forty four between Henry Millerand Jane his wife of the County of Washington and state of Kentucky of theone part and William W Duff of the County of Garrard and state afsdof the other part Witnesseth that the said Henry Miller and Jane hiswife for and in consideration of the sum of twenty five dollars per acre [jc]in hand paid to them, the receipt where of they do hereby acknowledge hathgranted bargained and sold and by these presents do grant, bargain and sellunto the said William W Duff his heirs and assigns forever, a certain tract orparcel of land, containing one hundred and ninety seven and a half acreswith the exception of nine acres and a fraction belong to the heir ofIsaac and Nancy Crawford lying and being in the county of Garrard, on thewater of Paint Lick creek. Beginning at a white oak and sugar tree marked(A) corner to Mrs Henderson thence with her line North 73 E 35 3/4 poles to astone corner to A Wallace decd thence with his line North 16 West 73 poles toa Lynn on the South Bank of Sd branch corner to said Wallace thence withhis line North 9 3/4 East 70 poles to a stone in a lane, his corner, thencealong the lane with Wallace North 14 west 49 poles to another stone cornerto Wallace on Browns line thence North 70 East 50 poles to a stone in a branchcorner to Lackey thence South 59 1/4 West 80 poles to a stake (now a stone) page 245
corner to said Lackey near the road at the turn of the lane, thence South11 West 162 poles to a large white oak (and two dogwoods gone) thence South29 East 64 3/4 poles to a sugar tree, corner to Mrs. Henderson, thence South80 East 99 poles to a fallen red oak (now a stone) corner to Mrs. Hendersonthence 21 West 49 3/4 poles to th beginning. To have and to hold thesaid tract of land with its appurtenances to the said William W Duff, hisheirs and assigns forever, and the said Henry Miller and Jane his wife forthemselves their heirs exr and admrs to warrant and forever defend the saidtract of land except the above named 9 acres belong to the Crawfordheirs with its appurtenances to the said Wm W Duff his heirs and assignsagainst the claim of all and every person or persons whatsoever.In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hand and seals thisday and year first above writtenHenry MillerJane MillerState of KentuckyWashington CountyI William P Booker clerk of the county court for the countyaforesaid do certify that on the day of the date hereof this deed from HenryMiler and Jane his wife to William W Duff was acknowledged before meby the said Henry Miller to be his act and deed and the said Jane Millerwife of the said Henry being examined by me privily and apart fromher husband declared that she did freely and willingly seal anddeliver said writing and wishes not to retract it, and acknowledges saidwriting again shown and explained to her to be her act and deed,andconsented that the same may be recorded. Whereupon said deed togetherwith the foregoing certificate is certified to the proper office for recordwhere the premises be. Given under my hand the 3d day of Oct 1844W B Booker CWCBy J P S[horn] DCKentucky Garrard County [Jct]I Alexander R McKee clerk of the Garrard county court do certifythat the deed from Henry Miller and Jane his wife to William W Duff wasthis day produced to me in my office for record. Whereupon the said deedtogether with the certificate thereon [and ?] and the certificate are trulyrecorded. Given under my hand this 25th day of October 1844att Alex R McKee ckby John Wilson DC
Garrard County Kentucky Index to deeds, 1797-1935; deeds, 1797-1866; births, 1789-1801
Deeds, Vols. N-O 1838-1843 FS Film 183247 DGS 8568105
Book N page 406
No 1387 James & John Crawford to Wm W Duff
This Indenture made and entered into this 13th day of May in the year 1840, between James Crawford & John Crawford, sons of Isaac Crawford, who was a son-in-law of Jacob Miller, decd of the County of Garrard & State of Kentucky on their part, and William Duff of the sd County and State of the other part, witness eth that sd James Crawford & John Crawford for and in consideration of the sum of twenty five dollars each to them in hand paid the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged have sold and by theses presents do convey tot he sd Duff all the right, title and Interest they hold in a tract or parcel of land containing 197 1/2 acres, lying in Garrard Cty Ky on the waters of Paint Lick, and being the same on which their ancestor Jacob Miller died and from whence sd int erest descended, being the one sixth of one eleventh of said land to each James and John Crawford supposed to be sixth acres to the said Duff, his heirs [jc] and the said James and John Crawford by these presents covenant and agree to and with said Duff that they will warrant and forever defend the title, the inter est aforesaid free and discharged of all right, interest, claim or demand of themselves their heirs or assigns and from the clai m or claims of all and every other person or persons whatever to the sd Duff, his heirs absolutely. In testimony whereof the parties of the first part have hereunto set their hands and seals the date afsd James A Crawford (seal) John Crawford (seal) State of Kentucky Garrard County I certify that this deed form James A. Crawford and John Crawford to William W Duff was pro duced to me in my office on the 13th day of May 1840 and ack nd by the said James A. and John Crawford to be their act and deed for the purposes therein mentioned. Whereupon the said deed, together with this certificate is truly recorded this 13th day of May 1840 Alex R McKee ck Garrard County Court
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