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Garrard County Names

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Do you use a list of FAN (Friends, Acquaintances, Neighbors) club names when researching county records for your family? If so, do you ever struggle with remembering how the members of your FAN club fit together? If so, you are not alone.

As I’m getting back into my CRAWFORD research and Garrard County, Kentucky records by reading an order book, I’ve found that I not only need a list of names, but a diagram of how they might fit together. Since I don’t own any software to easily create such a diagram, I used Microsoft Publisher and multiple text boxes to create my diagram of the CRAWFORD families in early Garrard County, Kentucky along with some associated families.

In the early tax records for the area, I have identified four CRAWFORD families with land in what becomes Garrard County: Rebekah Crawford, William Crawford, James Crawford and Mary Crawford. Based on research of these four families, their spouses and potential children, I have been able to identify contemporaries who had ties to these families. This is the generation that settled the region.

  • Absalom Adams (father of Feathergill Agams)
  • Feathergill Adams
  • Isaac Anderson
  • James Anderson
  • John Anderson (father of Rebecca Anderson)
  • Rebecca Anderson
  • Samuel Anderson
  • Samuel Campbell
  • James Crawford
  • John Crawford
  • William Crawford
  • George Douglas(s)
  • Rebekah Douglas(s)
  • John Gass
  • John Kennedy (brother of Thomas Kennedy)
  • Bazeleel Maxwell
  • John McElwee
  • Jacob Miller
  • William Morrison
  • Nathan Sellers

Since many of the potential children of the four CRAWFORD families were married in early Kentcuky, I can add their spouses to my list. This is the generation that mostly moved away from the Garrard County area.

  • John Crafton
  • Robert Creath
  • Elizabeth Davis
  • Alexander Duggins
  • William Guthrie
  • David Hall
  • Martha Knight
  • Nancy Miller (daughter of Jacob Miller)
  • James Sellers (son of Nathan Sellers)
  • William Sellers (son of Nathan Sellers)
  • Sally Smith
  • Abigail Trowbridge
  • Beverly Vawter
  • Lucy Vawter

As I read the court order book, I will be looking for any mention of the following surnames:

  • Adams
  • Anderson
  • Campbell
  • Crafton
  • Crawford
  • Creath
  • Davis
  • Douglas(s)
  • Duggins
  • Gass
  • Guthrie
  • Hall
  • Kennedy
  • Knight
  • Maxwell
  • McElwee
  • Miller
  • Morrison
  • Sellers
  • Smith
  • Trowbridge
  • Vawter

Hopefully, these court records will help me learn more about these Crawford families and their migration to Kentucky. 

Adams on Sugar Creek

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Garrard County, Kentucky
Deeds 1787-1902; indexes, 1899-1960

Vol. C 1793-1796
Family Search DGS 183284 Film 008141322

Book C page 554 – image 291

This Indenture made this 6th day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety five Between Charles Bland of the County of Madison and State of Kentucky of the one part and Fethergill Adams of the state and County aforesaid of the other part witnesseth that for an inconsideration of the sum of one hundred and twenty pounds current money of the aforesaid state to him in hand paid by the said Fethergill Adams, the receipt whereof the said Charles Bland do hereby acknowledges and himself therewith fully satisfied and contented hath granted bargained sold aliened and confirmed and by these presents doth grant bargain sell alien and confirm unto the said Feathergill Adams one certain tract or parcell of land containing one hundreds and twenty six acres situate lying and being in the County of Madison and on the waters of Shugar Creek being the [apperend] of a seven hundred acre survey assigned to Walker Daniel by Green Glay and bounded as follows to wit Begining at three beech trees standing in Moses Dooley’s south and north line of his five hundred acre survey and on the west side of a small drain extending from thence south eighty one degrees east at thirty four poles crossing Jno Clarks road in all one hundred and ninety four poles to three beach trees standing in William McClures line thence

image 292 — Page 555

with his line south forty five degrees west two hundred and seventy poles to a Shugartree standing in the said Dooleys south and north line thence with sd Dooleys line north two hundred and eighteen poles to the Beginning with its appurtenances To have and to hold the said land and premises with every of its appurtenances unto the said Feathergill Adams and his heirs forever and the said Charles Bland for himself his heirs exors and admors the said tract of land and premises unto the said Feathergill Adams his heirs Exors and Admors shall and will warrante and defend against the claim of him the said Charles Bland his heirs executors and Administrators or from any other person or persons by or under him or them and against the claim of all and every other person or persons whatsoever In witness whereof the said Charles Bland for himself his heirs exors and Admors hath hereunto set his hand and affixed his seal the day and date above written.
Charles Bland (LS)
Phillis (her mark) Bland (LS)
Signed Sealed acknowledged
and delivered in presence of

At a court held for Madison County on Tuesday the 6th day of October 1795.
This Indenture was acknowledged by Charles Bland and Phillis his wife to be their act and deed she being first privately examined as the law Directs and relenquished her right of dower therein and ordered to be records.
Teste Will Irving MCC

Configuring Crawford FAN Club in My Tree

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Do you have ‘floating’ or ‘orphan’ trees in your Ancestry tree? I know that I do have ‘floaters’ in my tree. I recently watched a Genealogy TV video by Constance Knox on how to make connections to link some of those ‘floaters’ to my big tree.

Today, I decided to get this set up for some of the members of my Crawford FAN Club:

First, I created a ‘Custom Tag’ called FanClub Crawford and attached it to each member of the FAN club.

I also added comments:

  • Explain FAN club membership
  • Explain links located at bottom of page
  • Provide link to my blog — particularly the Untangling James Crawford post when appropriate

Hopefully, this will not only help me ‘migrate’ around my tree, but also help others see potential connections among this group of people.
This process has been very helpful since it helped me put in writing the members of the fan club. 

Maybe Brothers

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Have  you ever found people of the same surname in a census record and later wondered whether they were an unknown sibling? If so, then you understand when I wonder whether Alexander Crawford could be a sibling to the other Crawfords who married in Lincoln County, Kentucky prior to 1800?

Alexander Crofford is listed on the 1789 tax list for Lincoln County, Kentucky. Even though I have been researching other Crawford families in this area, I had ignored Alexander Crofford because other researchers have identified Alexander Crawford as a descendant of Alexander Crawford and Mary McPheeters.

However, when I found Alexander Crawford on the Pulaski County, Kentucky tax lists along with William Crawford, I began to research Alexander Crawford.

  • Adams Crawford Land
  • Adams Will

The will of Thomas Adams identified the wife of Alexander Crawford as Margaret McElwee, niece of Thomas Adams. Since Alexander Crawford married Margaret McElwee in Lincoln County, Kentucky in 1788, I believe the Alexander Crawford of Pulaski County, Kentucky is the same Alexander Crawford found in the Pulaski County records.

The Find a Grave entry for Alexander Crawford uses family relationships in Augusta County, Virginia to make the case that the Alexander Crawford of Pulaski County, Kentucky is likely descended from Alexander and Mary McPheeters Crawford — or a relative of this Alexander Crawford.

I would like to argue that Alexander Crawford is related to one or more of the Crawford families in early Lincoln and Madison Counties.

First, most of the connected families identified on the Find a Grave site are found in Lincoln County. William McElwee appears on court records for 1783. Several Logan family members are on the 1787 tax list for Lincoln County, Kentucky. 

Also located in Lincoln County, Kentucky are several Crawford family members: James Crawford, John Crawford, John Crawford, William Crawford, Rebekah Crawford and Mary Crawford.

William Crawford and James Crawford lived along the Paint Lick Creek. Tax records indicate that both owned land surveyed by the Kennedys. This William Crawford is the same William Crawford found on the Pulaski County Kentucky tax records along with Alexander Crawford.

Besides Alexander Crawford, three other Crawfords were married in Lincoln County, Kentucky. Mary Crawford marriage James Sellers in 1791. James Crawford married Martha Knight in 1793. Sarah Crawford married William Sellers in 1795. Rebekah Crawford gave permission for the marriage of Mary and Sarah. It is believed that Rebekah Crawford’s maiden name was Douglas. Nathan Douglas and James Crawford provided the bond for the marriage of James and Martha. Thus, Mary, James and Sarah are believed to be children of Rebekah and thus siblings.

Alexander Crawford and Margaret McElwee were married in 1788 in Lincoln County, Kentucky. Unfortunately, none of the names listed on the marriage bond connect Alexander Crawford to the other Crawfords. However, the date and place support the theory that Alexander Crawford is a sibling of Mary, James and Sarah Crawford.

At this time, all I have is circumstantial evidence tying Alexander Crawford to the other Crawford families in Lincoln County, Kentucky. I invite all Alexander Crawford researchers to join me in trying to locate documentation of Alexander’s parents.

Feathergill Adams Deed

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Garrard County Kentucky
Deed Book A
page 690 – 691

This Indenture made this 21st day of January 1803
between Richard Cave & Elizabeth his wife of the county of Woodford and Common
wealth of Kentucky of the one part and Feathergill Adams
of the county of Garrard and State aforesaid of the other
part witnesseth that the said Richard Cave and Eliza
beth his wife for and in consideration of the sum of one
hundred pounds current money of the Commonwealth
of Kentucky to them in hand paid by the said Feather
Gill Adams, the receipt where of they do hereby acknowledge
and they themselfes fully satisfyed an content therewith
and for themselves and their heirs de freely clearly and
absolutely bargain and sell unto the aforesaid Feathergill
Adams and unto his heirs and assigns forever, one
certain tract dividend or parcel of land containing by

survey one hundred acres situate lying and being in the
County of Garrard on Sugar Creek and bounded as follows to wit
Beginning at two white oak trees, the North East corner of the
aforesaid Caves four hund acre survey on the aforesaid Sugar
Creek from thence west sixty four poles crossing Sugar Creek
to a Beech Tree form thence South forty five Degrees West
one Hundred and thirty three poles to a Sugar Tree from thence
South two degrees East twenty Eight Poles to a Buckeye &
Sugar Tree from thence East one hundred and sixty
poles to a Beech and Black Walnut tree standing on a
hill side in Caves old line and with said line North
one hundred and sixty six poles crossing Sugar Creek
to the beginning with tis appertainances to him the said
Feathergill Adams and to his heirs and assigns forever
and the said Richard Cave and Elizabeth his wife for them
selves and their heirs do and shall and will by these presents
forever warrant and defend the Title of the afore said one
hundred acres of Land be the same more or less with all and
every of its rites and appertainances against the claim or
claims of all and every other person or persons whatsoever
unto the aforesaid Feathergill Adams and unto his heirs
and assigns forever. In testimony where of the aforesaid
Richard Cave and Elizabeth his wife hath hereunto set their
hands and affixed their seals the day and year first above
written.

Richd Cave
Elizabeth Cave
Signed Sealed and acknowledged
in presence of us

no names listed

Woodford County to wit Jany 21st 1803
I George Brook Clerk of the County Court of the said
county do certify that the within named Richard Cave this day person
ally appeared before me in my office and ackd this in denture to be
hi act and deed and the same is Freely adm to record
Test G Brook C O

Garrard County Jany 24th 1803
I Benj Lotcher Clerk to the oOurt offr do

do certify that this indenture from Cave to Adams was [Esd] in my office and that [It was]
with the certificate thereon was admitted
commited a true copy thereof to record in my office
Teste Benj Letcher CC

Adams Will

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Since the deed for Adams Crawford’s purchase of land was from the estate of Thomas Adams, I decided to try and locate a probate record or will for Thomas Adams. I was able to locate an 1808 will for Thomas Adams in Pulaski County.

Pulaski County, Kentucky

Wills 1801-1838
FS FIlm 598753 DGS 4820049

Page 46 Image 37
Pulaski County Kentucky

Adam Thomas

I Thomass Addams being of a sound mind and good
memory do make and ordain this my last will
and testament after recommending my soul to
God hoping for a glourious resurrection there the
interpresilion of the Lord Jesus Christ; as to my
wourldly concerns my will is that they shall
be disposed of n the following manner to wit
[Item] the my will is that my sister Jane
McIlewee have all the rents of my land during
her life but to have no power to make a tresfer of
said land my will also that at the death of
my sister should she be  longer lives is
that all my lands should be sold and my
will is also that in [nesse] to wit Marhtay
Gilman have a likely young Negro wentch
not to excede seventeen years of age

Page 47

The said negro to be n the position of my
self and sister during our lives then to be
disposed of as above and in case there should
be no negro goal in that case my will is
that my nese above mentioned shall have
three hundred dollars out of the money arising from the
sail of any of my lands, I will to Jane
Gilmore sew a large Vallom of [Jasefus]
Ritins now in posstion of said Gilman
I will also to my nese above to wit Martha
Gilmore my bed and fernuture my will
is also that after my just debts and being
charges are paid the hole the ballence of
my estate to be disposed of in the following
manner, to wit, they nefew William McK[?]
and my nese as before mentioned to wit
Marthy Gilmore with all the heirs of the
said Marthey and Jane Gilmore
that shaul be livint at the [t?]
this my will should be executed and all
the heirs my nese Margret Crofford wife of
Alexander Crofford that shall be living as a[?]

page 48

The estate as before mentioned to be equally
decided amon the above mentioned legetees
my will is also that my trusty friends John
James, William Hamilton see that the
into fully and justly executed signed and
delivered in presents of us Sept the 23 1[?]

Thomas Addams

John James
Joseph McAllaster
John Presston

At a Court held for Pulaski County on Monday
27th day of June 1808 This will was proven
the true last will and testament of Thomas
Adams decd by the oath of John James [J?]
Preston two of the witnesses thereto and [?]
another court held for the said county
Monday the 22d day of August in the said
year the said will was fully proven to be [?]
act and deed, of the said Thomas Adams [?]
the oath of Joseph McAllaster, another wit[ness]
thereto, and the same has been duly recorded in
my office as per order of said court
Test Will [Fox]

Adams Crawford Land

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From my research in the Pulaski County, Kentucky tax records, I knew that Adams Crawford owned land in Pulaski County. In order to try and figure out whether Adams Crawford might be related to my Crawford Research, I tracked down the deed where Adams Crawford purchased land.

Pulaski County Kentucky

Deeds Vol. 3
FS Film  DGS 007896972

Page 229 – Image 397

Deed where Adams Crawford purchases land.

This indenture made and entered into this 6th day of May in the year of
our lord one thousand eight hundred and seventeen between John James executor
of Thomas Adams and of the one part and Adams Crawford of the other part
all of Pulaski County and State of Kentucky witnesseth that for and in consideration
of the sum of five hundred and seventy five dollars to the said James in hand paid the receipt
whereof is hereby acknowledged the said John James hath thus bargained
and doth and [with] by these presents bargain sell and convey to the said Adams
Crawford, a certain tract or parcel of land lying and being in the county
aforesaid containing two hundred acres be the same more or less and on
the waters of the Sinking Vally and bounded as followeth to wit
Beginning at thence Red Oak sapling thence S 46 degrees west 171 poles to a
white oak and ash thence south 44 degrees east 188 poles to two post oaks thence
north 46 degrees east 171 poles to three water Black Oaks thence north 44 degrees west
188 poles to the beginning with all its appertanances to have and to
hold the said 200 acres of land to the said Adams Crawford and his
heirs forever and the said John James doth warrant and defend the
said tract of parcel of land from all persons claiming through or by

page 230 (image 398)

by the said Thomas Adams dec’d to the said Adams Crawford and his heirs
forever but not from any other claims whatever in witness whereof the
said John James hath herein to set his hand and seal this day and
year above written

John James

Witnesses
Josiah Evans
D F James
John Canford