Same Alexander?

Do you struggle with ‘same name’ issues in your genealogy research? I know that over the years I have struggled to either separate two people or prove that the records I found apply to my ancestor and not to someone else of the same name.

My newest struggle is with someone that I currently can’t even connect to my tree. I found an Alexander Crawford who married Margaret McElwee in Lincoln County, Kentucky in 1788. This marriage is one of four Crawford marriages that occurred in early Lincoln County:

• 1788 – Alexander Crawford married Margaret McElwee
• 1791 – Mary Crawford married James Sellers
• 1793 – James Crawford married Martha Knight
• 1796 – Sarah Crawford married William David Sellers

My ancestor, James Crawford married Sally Duggins in 1799 in Garrard County, Kentucky. Garrard County was formed from Lincoln County, Kentucky in 1796 — the year Sarah and William Sellers were married.

Thus, these 5 Crawford couples were married in the area of 1788 Lincoln County, Kentucky within an 11 year time period. Based on the marriage bonds and some land records, it is believed that Mary, Sarah and the James that married Martha Knight are all children of Rebekah Crawford who purchased land in Garrard County from George Douglas.

Since my ancestor, the James Crawford who married Sally Duggins, lived in the same area as the James Crawford who married Martha Knight, it is thought that they are somehow related, possibly cousins.

So that leaves Alexander Crawford. Is Alexander a sibling to Mary, James and Sarah? Or, is he possibly a sibling to my James Crawford?

In hopes of proving that Alexander Crawford is a sibling to one of these two families, I’ve done some research on Alexander. Although I haven’t done extensive research on Alexander, I have established a basic timeline for him.

Birth	abt Jan 1767	Augusta County, Colony of Virginia, British Colonial America
Tax	1789	Lincoln, Kentucky, United States
Tax	1800	Pulaski, Kentucky, United States
Residence	1810	Somerset, Pulaski, Kentucky, United States
Residence	1820	Somerset, Pulaski, Kentucky, United States
Death	7 Jul 1823	Pulaski, Pulaski, Kentucky, United States9
Burial	1823	Mount Pleasant Baptist Cemetery, Pulaski, Pulaski, Kentucky, United States

Since my goal was to figure out whether this Alexander Crawford was related to any of the other Crawford families in early Garrard County, Kentucky, I started looking at trees hoping to find someone with parents for Alexander Crawford.

And I found several trees showing Rev. James Crawford and Rebecca McPheeters as the parents of Alexander. This lineage would make the Alexander Crawford who married Margaret McElwee a grandson of Alexander Crawford and Mary McPheeters.

Although Rev. James Crawford may have been an itinerant minister, he did not live in the Garrard County area. Instead he raised his family in Fayette County. Thus, I decided to look at information about the descendants of Alexander and Mary (McPheeters) Crawford to see if the Alexander Crawford of Pulaski County was a grandson.

Thus, I turned to the book, Descendants of Alexander & Mary McPheeters Crawford: Pioneer Settlers of Augusta County, Virginia by Amanda Crawford Arbogast Forbes and Lucetta Crawford Smmis. This book identifies the children of Rev. James Crawford as

• Mary Crawford – died unmarried
• Martha Crawford (1775-1831) married Charles McPheeters
• Alexander Crawford (1782-1845)
• Elizabeth Crawford (1789-1845) married Joseph Galloway
• Sarah Crawford (1801-1841) unmarried
• Rebecca Crawford (1803-1833) unmarried

p. 205.

Also in the book is some information from the Fayette County, Kentucky will of Alexander Crawford.

p. 206.

Comparing the information I have compiled for the Alexander Crawford of Pulaski County, Kentucky with the information in the book about descendants of Alexander Crawford and Mary McPheeters, I don’t believe these two Alexander Crawfords are the same person.

However, I am basing my conclusion on one book. Since that isn’t sufficient evidence to convince others, more research is needed to support my conclusion. Perhaps in the process, I will stumble on something that leads to information connecting the Alexander Crawford of Pulaski County to the Crawfords of Garrard County.

Sources for Alexander Crawford who married Margaret McElwee:

        1. Dodd, Jordan R., Kentucky Marriages Early to 1800 (: Precision Indexing Publishers, ), p. 49.

        2. “Family Tree”, database, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online November 2016), Alexander Crawford / Margaret McElwee Family; undocumented and unnamed family tree submitted by wendyhar, [contact information for private use]; Crawford Tree.

        3. Find a Grave, database and images, Find a Grave (www.findagrave.com : viewed online 3 September 2020), memorial for Alexander Crawford (1767-1823), Find a Grave Memorial no. #186274065, created by Sandra Lytch, citing Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Somerset, Pulaski County, Kentucky;, Alexander Crawford.

        4. Kentucky, Lincoln County. Tax Books, 1787-1875.  Film #DGS 007834472. Alexander Crofford, 1789 : image 104; digital images, Family Search http://www.familysearch.org : viewed online 4 September 2020.

        5. “Kentucky, Tax Lists 1799-1801,” database online, Genealogy Publishing Company, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online August 2019), Alexander Crawford.

        6. “Kentucky, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes ndex, 1810-1890,” database, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : viewed online July 2019), Alexander Crawford.

        7. 1810 U.S. Census, Pulaski County, Kentucky, population schedule, Somerset, Pulaski County, Kentucky, image 16, Crawford Alexander; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online August 2019).

        8. 1820 U.S. Census, Pulaski County, Kentucky, population schedule, Somerset, Pulaski County, Kentucky, image 7, Alexr Crawford; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online August 2019).

        9. “Family Tree,” database, Ancestry.com, Alexander Crawford / Margaret McElwee Family.

        10. Find a Grave, database and images, Find a Grave (www.findagrave.com : viewed online 3 September 2020), memorial for Alexander Crawford (1767-1823), Find a Grave Memorial no. #186274065,

        11. “Family Tree,” database, Ancestry.com, Alexander Crawford / Margaret McElwee Family.

        12. Find a Grave, database and images, Find a Grave (www.findagrave.com : viewed online 3 September 2020), memorial for Alexander Crawford (1767-1823), Find a Grave Memorial no. #186274065,

DNA JOY!

My mind is ‘jumping up and down’ with joy this morning. Another CRAWFORD researcher contacted me this morning to let me know he had found out his haplogroup: R-Y88686. That is the SAME haplogroup as my brother.

We FINALLY have some evidence that we are related!

We both descend from James Crawford of Preble County, Ohio. His James Crawford was born in 1770 in Augusta County, Virginia and died in 1833 in Warren County, Indiana. My James was born in 1772 in Virginia and died in 1854 in Preble County, Ohio.

Both men were living in Kentucky prior to 1800. His James married Martha Knight in 1793 in Lincoln County, Kentucky. My James married Sally Duggins in 1799 in Garrard County, Kentucky. (Garrard County was formed in 1797 from Lincoln and Madison counties.)

In 1811, his James filed land entry papers showing he had made the final payment for the SW 1/4 of Section 14, Township 7 Range 2 East in Preble County, Ohio. In 1816, my James filed similar land entry papers showing he had made the final payment for the NW 1/4 of Section 14, Township 7, Range 2 East in Preble County, Ohio. Yes, they owned adjoining land.

These two families appear to have migrated together for over 100 years. Thus, we have long suspected a relationship.

Not only has our yDNA tests shown us that we need to keep looking for that relationship, but it has added a third James Crawford to the mix. This James was also in Garrard County prior to 1800. James was born in Augusta County, Virginia in 1758 and died in Jefferson County, Indiana in 1836. In 1779, this James Crawford married Rebecca Anderson Maxwell in Montgomery County, Virginia.

So that’s three members of our haplogroup:

• three James Crawfords
• all in Garrard County, Kentucky prior to 1800
• all born in Virginia – likely in early Augusta County, Virginia
• no father/son relationship between any of the three James Crawfords

The fourth member of our haplogroup descends from William Nelson Crawford. William was born in 1829 in Ohio. Little information about William has been found prior to his marriage to Julia Ann Decious in 1864 in Lassen, California. By 1877, William and Julia were living in Klickitat County, Washington. William died in Klickitat County in 1907.

This William Crawford may have been the 21 year old William Crawford listed in the household of William Crawford (son of James and Martha Crawford) on the 1850 census in Pike Township, Warren County, Indiana.

If so, that would place William Nelson Crawford in Warren County, Indiana along with James and Martha Crawford and their children and with my ancestor Nelson G. Crawford, son of James and Sally Crawford.

This new haplogroup information says these four families are related. We just need to do more digging to figure out how!

Kennedy to Crawford Deed

Deed-KY-Lincoln-Crawford-Kennedy

Lincoln County Kentucky
Deed Book A
page 219 image 120
FH Microfilm 192238

Kennedy to Crofford

This Indenture maid this 19th day of April in
the year of our lord one thousand seven hundred and
eight six between Thos Kennedy of the county of
Lincoln and State of Virginia of the one part and James
Crofford of the state and county aforesaid of the other

---

part Witnesseth that for and in consideration of
the sum of one hundred pounds current money
paid by the said James Crofford to sd
Kennedy he hath granted bargained and sold and by
these presents do grant bargain and sell unto the sd James
Crofford his heirs exceters admrs or assigns one certain
trackt or parcel of land containing two hundred acres
of land lying in the county of Lincoln on the waters of
Paint lick ajoining John Kennedy Station place on the
north and bounded as foullieth to wit beginning at
the north east corner of John Kennedy station settlement
at a sugartree thence west with said Kennedy line one
hundred and fifty poles to two sugartrees on said Kennedy
line and on Samuel Gordons line, thence North ten
degrees East two hundred and thirteen and half poles to a
sugartree bounded by Gordons line thence East one
hundred and fifty poles to small Elm tree thence south
ten degrees west [two] hundred and thirteen & half poles to the

the beginning with all ways waters water courses proffits
heridetaments unto the said James Crofford his heirs and
assigns forever doth hereby warrant and forever defend the
said described land and witness whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and seal the day and year above written
Thos Kennedy
Agness Kennedy
Signed sealed & delivered
In the presence of us
At a court continued and held for Lincoln County the
19th day of April 1786
This indenture was acknow
ledged by the said Thomas Kennedy and Agnes his wife (she be
ing first privily examined as the law directs to be their act
and deed and ordered to be recorded.
Test Willis Green CLB

Sellers Mystery

Have you ever seen names on documents and wondered how they fit into your tree? That’s my situation right now with the SELLERS family!

My ancestor, James Crawford, married Sally Duggins in Garrard County, Kentucky in 1799. James Sellers signed the bond and was one of the parties named in the bond.

Know all men by these presents that
we Jams Crawford and James Sellers are
hito and firmly bound unto James Garrard
Esqr Governor of Kentucky in the just and
full sum of fifty pounds current money
to which payment will and trust to be
made we bind ourselves our heirs [so] jointly
and surrally firmly by these presents seald and
dated this 12th day of Sept 1799
Th eCondition of the above obligation
is such that whereas there is a marriage shortly
into to be solemnized between the above bound
James Crawford and Sally Duggins for 
which a licenses has issued now if there 
be no lawful cause to obstruct the sd
marriage then the above obligation so
be void. Else to remain in full force and 
virtue
James Crawford (seal)
James Sellers (seal)

In 1816, James Crawford and William Sellers purchased land in Preble County Ohio as joint tenants.

Ex of Such June 18 1816
James Madison, President of the United States of America
To all To Whom These Presents Shall Come, Greeting
know Ye, that William Sellers assignee of George Harlan and
James Crawford in his own right
having deposited in the General Land Office a Certificate of the Register of the Land Office
at Cincinnati whereby it appears that full payment has been made for
the Northwest quarter of Section Fourteen of Township Seven
in Range Two lying East of the Meridian line
of the lands directed to be sold at Cincinnati
by the Act of Congress, entitled “An act providing for the sale of the lands of the United
States in the territory north-west of the Ohio, and above the mouth of Kentucky river,” and
of the acts amendatory of the Same: There is granted, by the United States, unto
the said William Sellers & James Crawford the quarter lot or
section of land above described: To have and to hold the said quarter
lot or section of land, with the appurtenances, unto the said
William Sellers & James Crawford their heirs and assigns forever, as
tenants in common and not as joint tenants
In Testimony whereof, I 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 sixteen and of the Independence
of the United States of America, the fortieth.
By the President, James Madison
Josiah Meigs Commissioner of the General Land Office

So who are James and William Sellers?

James and William Sellers are likely two of the seven identified children of Nathaniel Sellers. Nathaniel and several sons, including James, Samuel and William, appear on the early tax lists in Lincoln County, Kentucky. Two other sons, Joseph and Nathan, are on tax lists in Bourbon County, Kentucky during the same time period.

In 1791, James Sellers married Mary Crawford. Five years later (in 1796), William Sellers married Sarah Crawford. Thus, there is a connection between the Sellers and the Crawford families.

However, James and William Sellers are believed to be brothers-in-law to the James Crawford that married Martha Knight. James Sellers and Samuel Sellers witnessed the consent given by John Goodpastor for the marriage of Martha Night to James Crawford.

This is to certify that I John Goodpastor
gardien do fully give my Consnet to the
Marrage contract between James Crawford
and Martha Night as witness my hand and
Seal this ninth day of March 1793
John Goodpastor
James Sellers
Samel his mark Sellers
The bond for the marriage of James Crawford and Martha Night was guaranteed by Nathan Douglass.

Know all men by these presents that we James Crawford
and Nathan Douglass are held and firmly bound unto
His Excellency Isaac Shelby Esquire Governor of Kentucky in
the sum of fifty pounds current money to the payment
whereof to be made to the said Governor and his sucessors we
bind our selves our heirs etc firmly by these presents, sealed
with our seals and dated the 12th day of March 1793
The Condition of the above obligation is such that whereas
then is a marriage shortly intended to be solemnized between
the above bound James Crawford and Martha Night for
which a license has paid Now if these be no lawful cause
to obstruct the said marriage then this obligation to be void
or else to remain in full force
James Crawford
Nathan Douglass
Sealed Delivered
in presence of
Willes Green

The James Crawford who married Martha Knight (Night)  is believed to be the son of Rebekah Crawford and thus the brother to Mary Crawford who married James Sellers and to Sarah Crawford who married William Sellers.

Since land records show that James and Martha Crawford owned land in Barren County, it has been assumed that the James Crawford on the sale of land by Rebecca Crawford was the James Crawford married to Martha Knight.

Thus, it is believed that the children of Rebekah Crawford include James, husband of Martha, Mary and Sarah. This explains the Sellers names on the marriage consent for Martha Night.

However, it doesn’t explain a connections between James Crawford, husband of Sally Duggins, and James or William Sellers.

Thus the mystery!

At this time, my hypothesis is that my ancestors mother was a sister to James, William and Samuel Sellers. That would make James Crawford (Sally Duggins) a nephew to James Sellers who signed the marriage bond and a nephew to William Sellers who was a joint tenant.

My autosomal DNA results support this hypothesis. I have identified 9 DNA matches who trace their line back to Nathaniel David Sellers, father of James and William Sellers. This would make us some aspect of a sixth cousin. On average, we share 11.5 cM. When I checked the Shared cM Project, there is a 61.80% probability that we could be sixth cousins.  Unfortunately, I have several surnames in common with each of those matches. This makes it difficult to use the DNA to prove my hypothesis.

So, can you help unravel this mystery?

Suit Against George Douglass

Lincoln County Kentucky
Court Order Books 1781-1919

Vols. 2 1785-1786
FS Film 192253 – DGS 7763893
A suit against George Douglass for ejectment was discontinued.

Image 339

June Court 1785

Solomon Saveall of the
Demise of James Speed Plt
ag
George Douglass
In Ejectment for one
Missuage one plan
tation 900 acres of
land fifty acres of mea
dow and fifty acres of
pasture situate in the Parish and
County aforesaid
Ordered that the suit be discontinued

John Crawford on Jury

Lincoln County Kentucky
Court Order Books 1781-1919

Vols. 2 1785-1786
FS Film 192253 – DGS 7763893

John Crawford served on a jury during the February 1785 Court in Lincoln County, Kentucky.
Image 325

February Court 1785

Samuel McDowell assee
of Ann Lindsay Exr of Wil
liam Poage Deceased Plt
ag
Abraham Chapline Deft
In Case
This day dam the parties by their Attornies, and there upon
came also a jury, to wit, Richard Jackman, William
Stafford, Charles Gabliff, James Mason, James THomp
son, John Patterson, John McKee, William Patton, Samuel
continued on next page

Samuel McKee, John Crawford, Nathaniel Logan and
Thomas Black who being elected tryed and Sworn well and truly
to try the Issue joined upon their Oaths do say that the
Defendant does not owe to the Plaintiff the Debt in Declaration
mentioned nor any penny thereof as by pleading he hath alledged.
It is therefore considered by the Court that the Plaintiff take no
thing by his Bill, but for his fals clamour be in Mercy
and that the Defendant go hence without day and recover a
gainst the Plaintiff his Costs by him about his defence in
His behalf incurred and the said Plaintiff may be taken.

1785 Kentucky Court

Lincoln County Kentucky
Court Order Books 1781-1919

Vols. 2 1785-1786
FS Film 192253 – DGS 7763893

William Crawford served on a jury in the Lincoln County, Court during the February 1785 term.

Image 321

February Court 1785
John Seekright of the Demise of John Parks
[?ale] an Infant by his
Guardians John Cowan
and Joseph Davis Plt
ag
John Kincaid
In Ejectment for one
[messuage] one tenement
and 1000 acres of land
Situate in the County
of Lincoln and Parish
of Kentucky

This day came the parties by their Attornies and there
upon came also a jury, to wit, James Davis, James Logan
James Thompson, James Knox, John Edmunson, Jo
seph Scott, Edward Worthington, John Patterson, John
Berry, George Davidson, Thomas Montgomery and
William Crawford who being elected tried and sworn well
and truly to try the Issue joined upon their oaths do say
that the Defendant is guilty of the Trespass and Ejecment
in the declaration mentioned, It is therefore considered
continued on next page

by the court that the Plaintiff recover against the said Defen
dant his [Tennyet] to come of and in the lands in the Declaration
mentioned, and his costs by him about his suit in this behalve
expended and the said defendant n Mercy.

John Kennedy Deceased

Lincoln County Kentucky
Court Order Books 1781-1919

Vols. 1-2 1781-1786
FS Film 192253 – DGS 7763893

Image 227

July court 1784
On the motion of Martha Kennedy who made oath
and executed and acknowledged bond as teh law di
rects a certificate is granted her for obtaining
letters of Administration of the Estate of John
Kennedy Deceased

Ordered that George Hart, Samuel Denis Aquil
la Carmack and and Thomas Henry or any three of
them being first sworn do appraise the Estate of
John Kennedy deceased and return the apprais
ment to the court

Cowan vs Crawford

Lincoln County Kentucky
Court Order Books 1781-1919

Vols. 1-2 1781-1786
FS Film 192253 – DGS 7763893

Image 168

February Court 1784

John Cowan Pltf
against
William Crawford Deft
In Tx over
By consent of the parties, it is ordered that all
matters in difference between them relative to this
first be referred to the arbitration and determination
of James Speed and Joseph Davies and their award
or the award of such persons as they shall choose for
umpire in case they disagree to be made the
judgement of the court

Image 179

page 154
March Court 1784

John Cowan Plt
against
William Crawford Deft
In [Trover or Frover]
This day came the parties by their attor
nies and the arbitrators to whom all
matters in difference between the said
parties were referred, returned their report
in these words, to wit, 5th March 1784
“We the within refferees do award that
The plaintiff be cast in his suit and pay
costs. James Speed, Joseph Davis
It is therefore the opinion of the Court that
the defendant go hence without day and
recover against the plaintiff his costs by him
about his suit in this behalf incurred

Maybe Brothers

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.