Data Review – Preble County Ohio Marriages

Have you ever gone back thru some old research to discover that you’ve missed some details that might help break thru a brick wall?

Well, I decided to review my research of Polly Crawford and her family. Polly is the sister of my ancestor, Nelson G. Crawford. Unfortunately, I don’t have a lot of research for Polly and her family.

I decided to begin my review by looking at marriage records from Preble County, Ohio to see what I could learn about Polly and her children.

In looking thru my notes, I discovered that I had pulled records for Crawford, Duggins, and Sellers surnames from Ancestry’s database Marriage Records Vol. I 1808-1830 and Vol. II 1831-1840 for Preble County, Ohio.

In looking thru this data, I recognized names for children of several known residents of Preble County Ohio: James and Sally Crawford (my ancestor, James and Martha Crawford, Nathan Sellers, and William and Sarah (Crawford) Sellers.

However, there were several Crawford and Sellers names that I didn’t recognize. Thus, I decided to use the tree on FamilySearch to see whether I could figure out who all of these people are. To my surprise, I discovered some additional families whose children were married in early Preble County, Ohio.

• Joseph Sellers / Rachel Summers – Joseph is a brother to Nathan Sellers and William Sellers (Joseph Sellers FamilySearch LBK3-VH6)
• David Lloyd Daniel Crawford (FamilySearch L2QD-4RS)
• William Crawford / Isabella McClure (FamilySearch L8WF-J2M)
• Thomas L. Crawford (FamilySearch KZYF-WRL)

Even though I can connect Joseph Sellers and his family to other Sellers families in my data, I don’t know enough about these three Crawford families to place them in my vast pool of Crawford data.

Information on FamilySearch for David Lloyd Daniel Crawford and Thomas L. Crawford indicates that these two families had at least some tie to Maryland. FamilySearch has both of these men as sons of David Crawford II (1740-1812) and Lydia Loyd and grandson of David Crawford I (1710-1785) and Jane Douglas.

On the other hand, William Crawford has Virginia ties – BOTETOURT Virginia ties. FamilySearch shows William as the son of John Crawford (1720-1796) and Margaret Jane Brown.

At this point, I have nothing to tie these three Crawford families to the other Crawford families living in Preble County, Ohio prior to 1830: James Crawford and wife Sally Duggins and James Crawford and wife Martha Knight.

So now, I not only need to update my research of Polly Crawford Stoner and her children but I need to research these other Crawford families in early Preble County, Ohio.

Below is a listing of the various families. Bold text indicates that their marriage record was found in the Ancestry resource.

Nathan A. Sellers / Sarah Finley

•   Mary Sellers md 1797 Benjamin Neal Bourbon KY
•   Elizabeth Sellers md 1797 William Snodgrass Bourbon KY
•   Flones Eleanor Sellers md 1807 Daniel McCoy Bourbon KY
•   Jannet Jane Sellers md 1811 Henry Duggins Preble OH
•   Sally Sarah Sellers md 1805 Bourbon KY
•   Margaret Sellers md 1809 John Bell
•   Nancy Sellers md 1810 John Hawkins
•   Elsa Ann Sellers md 1810 Preble James Cox
•   Nathaniel Finley Sellers md 1822 Mary Barnes Preble OH
•   Rebecca Finley Sellers md 1818 Alexander McCracken Preble OH

William David Sellers / Sarah Crawford

•   Nathan Douglas Sellers md 1818 Susanna Hawk Preble
•         Anna M Sellers md 1840 George Morrow Preble
•   Rebekah Crawford Sellers
•   Nancy Sellers md 1817 John Scott Sellers Preble
•   John Howard Sellers md 1825 Catharine Auter Preble
•   Mary (Polly) Sellers md 1830 Jacob Swihart Preble
•   Margaret Sellers md 1832 Harvey Wilson Preble
•   Celia Amanda Sellers md 1837 William West Preble
•   Jane Hunter Sellers

Joseph Sellers (FS LBK3-VH6) / Rachel Summers

•   Mary Elizabeth Sellers md 1810 George Hardy ?Preble
•   Mary Sellers
•   Sally Sellers md 1818 Jacob Hawk Preble
•   Nathan Sellers
•   Robert A Sellers md 1819 Elizabeth Ward Preble
•   John Scott Sellers md 1817 Nancy Sellers Preble
•   Joseph Sellers Jr md 1821 Elizabeth Ward
•   Jane Sellers md 1821 Ebenezer Bridge Preble
•   Nancy Jane Sellers md 1820 Benjamin Goldsmith Preble
•   David Sellers md 1838 Isabella Shields Preble
•   Elizabeth Sellers
•   Orpha B. Sellers md 1837 David Johnson Cass IN
•   William B Sellers md 1831 Rebecca McLane Cass, IN

James Crawford / Martha Knight

•   Elizabeth Crawford md 1816 Moses Lincoln
•   Sarah Crawford md 1817 David Shankland Preble, OH
•   Mary Polly Crawford md 1831 Oliver Swank Warren IN
•   John Douglas Crawford md 1819 Mrs. Sarah Crawford 1819 Preble
•   William Allen Crawford md 1827 Letitia Snodgrass Preble
•   Rebecca Crawford md 1854 William Hatton Warren IN
•   Nancy Crawford md 1832 Washington Pugh Warren IN
•   James S. Crawford md 1835 Rachel Shelby Knox IN
•   Harvey Harrison Crawford md 1834 Mary Pugh Warren IN
•   Celinda Crawford md 1840 John French Warren IN

James Sellers / Mary Crawford

•   John Crawford Sellers md 1821 Fannie Brown Garrard, KY
•   Rebecca Sellers md John Finley Seller (son John Selelrs & Elizabeth Finley) Garrard, KY
•   Nathan Sellers me 1824 Mary Yowell Lincoln KY
•   Sarah Sellers md 1826 William Elder Garrard KY
•   William Harvey Sellers md 1830 Mariah Williams Putnam, IN
•   Harrison Perry Sellers md 1833 Margaret Vanlandingham Putnam, IN
•   James Nelson Sellers md 1838 Matilda McCoy Missouri

James Crawford / Sally Duggins – my line

•   Nelson Crawford md in Warren County, IN
•   Polly Crawford md in Preble County, OH
•   Henry Duggins md in Preble County, OH
•   William A. Duggins md in Preble County, OH

David Lloyd Daniel Crawford (FamilySearch L2QD-4RS)

•   Jacob Crawford md 1818 Mary Miller Preble OH
•   Rachel Crawford md 1817 Thomas Cassady Preble OH
•   Abigail Crawford md 1817 Valentine Phillips Preble OH
•   Evan A Crawford md 1823 Mildred Roebuck Preble OH
•   Elizabeth Betty Crawford md 1825 Robert Webb Rush IN
•   Lydia Crawford md 1826 James McManus (no place given)
•   David Henry Crawford md 1834 Nellie Eleanor Roberts Clinton OH — NOT SURE HE BELONGS IN THIS FAMILY
•   Sarah Crawford md 1831 Samuel Stallard Rush IN
•   David Aperman Crawford md 1835 Margaret Cassady Rush, IN

William Crawford (FamilySearch L8WF-J2M)/ Isabella McClure

•   Elizabeth Crawford md 1809 Jacob Lybrook Preble, OH
•   Mary Crawford md 1811 Samuel Hanna no place given
•   Eleanor Crawford md 1813 James Hanna Franklin, IN
•   Phoebe Crawford md 1819 William Hanna Franklin, IN
•   Anna Crawford md 1819 Jacob Miller Franklin, IN
•   Sarah Crawford md 1821 John Hanna Franklin, IN
•   Martha Crawford
•   Maria Crawford md 1824 John Shultz IN
•   Isaac Crawford md 1829 Mary Ann Shroyer Union, IN
•   Martha Crawford md 1825 Samuel Eikenbary Franklin, IN
•   Rebecca Crawford md 1827 Thomas Wolverton, Union, IN
•   Isabella Crawford md 1832 Jeremiah Bake Union, IN

Thomas L. Crawford (FS KZYF-WRL) md Mary “Polly” Carney

•   John Crawford – possibly John Crawford who married Polly Hawk in 1817
•   Mary Crawford md 1822 Joseph Olmstead Preble, OH
•   Susanah Crawford md ~1820 George Loy OH
•   Samuel Crawford md 1823 Elizabeth Loy Preble, OH
•   Evan Crawford
•   Sarah Crawford
•   Thomas Crawford md ? Delilah Teford

Below is the data I abstracted from the Ancestry record for Preble County Ohio marriages. I have added probably family ties based on my the family structures found on FamilySearch.

Ancestry.com. Preble County, Ohio Marriage Records Vol. I 1808-1830 and Vol. II 1831-1840 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.Original data: Short, Anita. Preble County, Ohio Marriage Records, 1808-1840 2 vols. in 1. Baltimore, MD, USA: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1994.

Image 19 0f 161 — Image saved to Crawford\Ohio folder OH-Preble-Marriage-Records-VolOne-image19-Crawford
Crawford, Evan A. to Allillia Roebuck 11-13-1823 by George Chideler, M G. page 119 [FS Evan Crawford LZ69-FZC Evan is son of David Lloyd Daniel Crawford]

Crawford, Jacob to Polly Miller 2-12-1818 by Richard Shourt, J. P. page 72 [FS Jacob Crawford LK7S-QH6 Jacob is son of David Lloyd Daniel Crawford]

Crawford, John to Polly Hawk 11-13-1817 by John Hardy, M. G. page 60 [FS John Crawford KCHX-RHV]

Crawford Samuel to Elizabeth (no last name given) 4-6-1823 by Peter Banta, J. P. page 118 [FS Samuel Crawford LTSL-DXY], Samuel is son of Thomas L. Crawford and Mary Carney]

Crawford William, A [FS 2SHS-ZG6] to Luticia Snodgrass 3-15-1827 by Robert Rhea, J.P. page 157 [William son of James and Martha]

Image 35 saved as OH-Preble-Marriage-Records-Vol1-Im35-Crawford
Huet, Philip to Hannah Crawford 11-4-1813 by Martin Ruple page 34 [FS Philip Huet KZDJ-6Q2]

Image 40 saved as OH-Preble-Marriage-Records-Vol1-Im40-Crawford
Lincoln, Moses J to Elizabeth Crawford [FS 4JKG-G67] 9-19-1816 by R. Dooly page 54 (Elizabeth Crawford is the daughter James and Martha)

image 50 saved as OH-Preble-Marriage-Records-Vol1-IM50-Crawford
Olmsted, Joseph to Polly Crawford 3-21-1822 by Isaac Stephens, J. P. page 108 [FS Joseph Olmsted LK7D-2ZR Mary is daughter of Thomas L. Crawford and Mary Carney]

Image 52 saved as OH-Preble-Marriage-Records-Vol1-Im52-Crawford
Philips, Valentine to Abigale Crawford 11-6-1817 by John Quinn, J. P. page 63 [FS Valentine Philips LK7S-CZP Abigail is daughter of David Lloyd Daniel Crawford]

Image 59 saved as OH-Preble-Marriage-Records-Vol1-Im59-Crawford
Shanklin, David to Sally Crawford [FS K2CT-K2Z] 9-27-1817 by John Hardy, M. G. page 66 (Sally Crawford is the daughter James and Martha)

image 23 saved as OH-Preble-Marriage-Records-Vol1-Im23-Duggins

Duggin, Willian to Sally Neal 4-29-1819 by John Hardy, M. G. page 89 [William Duggin is step-son of James Crawford, son of Sarah Smith Duggins Crawford]

Dugin, Henry to Jannet Sellers 5-16-1811 by John Hardy page 19 [Henry Dugin is step-son of James Crawford, son of Sarah Smith Duggins Crawford] [Jannet Sellers is daughter of Nathan A. Sellers and Sarah Finley]

image 13 OH-PReble-Marriage-Records-Vol1-Im13-Sellers

Bridge Ebenezer to Jane Sellers 4-5-1821 by Isaac Stephens, J.P. page 103 [Jane Sellers (FS K2MJ-ZXM) is daughter of Joseph Sellers and Rachel Summers]

image 19 (saved with Crawford surname)
Cox, James to Elsa Sellers 1-2-181- by James Crawford, J. P. page 8 [Elsa Sellers is daughter of Nathan A. Sellers and Sarah Finley]

image 28 saved as Oh-Preble-Marriage-Records-vol1-im28-Sellers

Goldsmith, Benjamin to Nancy Sellers 3-16-1820 by James Crawford, J. P. page 94 [Nancy Sellers (FS LHRG-WGJ) is daughter of Joseph Sellers and Rachel Summers]

image 30 OH-Preble-Marriage-Records-Vol1-Im30-Sellers

Hardy, George to Polly Sellers 1-16-1810 by Samuel Westerfield page 8 [Polly Sellers is Mary Elizabeth Sellers (FS MVRB-7LX) daughter of Joseph and Rachel Sellers]

Image 32 saved as OH-Preble-Marriage-Records-Vol1-IM32-Sellers

Hawk, Jacob to Sally Sellers 9-1-1818 by James Crawford, J. P. page 77 [Sally Sellers (FS LWBM-2JD) is daughter of Joseph Sellers and Rachel Summers]

Hawkins, John to Nancy Sellers 7-9-1810 – lisc [Nancy Sellers (FS LKT4-GHD) is daughter of Nathan Sellers and Sarah Finley]

image 35 OH-Preble-Marriage-Records-Vol1-Im35-Sellers
Huffman, Simeon to Nancy Sellers 12-14-1828 by Thomas Winters, M. G. page 173

Image 42 saved as OH-Preble-Marriage-Records-Vol1-Im42-Sellers
McCracken, Alexander to Rebecka Sellers 4-16-1818 by John Hardy, J. P. page 72 [Rebecka Sellers is dauther of Nathan A. Sellers and Sarah Finley]

Image 58 OH-Preble-Marriage-Records-Vol1-Im58-Sellers
Sellars, Nathan D to Susanah Hawk 9-22-1818 by James Crawford, J. P. pag e78 [Nathan D Sellers (FS LWBM-R9L) is son of William David Sellers and Sarah Crawford]

Sellers, Ephrain to Katharine Boffworth 1-9-1817 by William Williams, M.G. pge 56 [Ephraim Sellers may be Ephraim Zellers (FS LCPK-6WC)]

Sellers, John to Nancy Sellers 12-11-1817 by John Hardy, M.G. page 69 [John Sellers (FS 27FC-TWH) is son of Joseph Sellers and Rachel Summers] [Nancy Sellers is daughter of William David Sellers and Sarah Crawford]

Sellers John H to Catherine I Auter 3-8=1825 by Robert Rhea, J. P. page 136 [John Sellers (FS L4TB-PGX) is son of William David Sellers and Sarah Crawford]

Sellers, Joesph to Elizabeth Sellers 7-27-1821 by James Crawford, J. P. page 108 [Joseph Sellers (FS L8Q1-LV3) is son of Joseph Sellers and Rachel Summers; Elizabeth Sellers is widow of Robert Sellers]
Sellers, Nathan F to Mary Barnes 11-5-1822 by Isaac Stephens, J. P. page 106 [Nathan F. Sellers is son of Nathan A. Sellers and Sarah Finley]

Sellers, Robert to Elizabeth Ward 5-13-1819 by James Crawford, J. P. page 90 [Robert Sellers (FS L8Q1-LVL) is son of Joseph Sellers and Rachel Summers]

Image 63 – page 57
Swihart, Jacob to Mary Selelrs 6-24-1830 by David Bridge, J.P. page 201

image 132 OH-Preble-Marriage-Records-Vol2-Im132-Selelrs
Sellers, David to Isabella Shields 1-23-1838 by Henry Kumler, M. G. pge 360 [David Sellers (FS L8QR-KPZ) is son of Joseph Sellers and Rachel Summers]

image 142 saved as OH-Preble-Marriage-Records-Vol2-Im142-Sellers
West, William H. to Celia Amanda Sellers 8-3-1837 by I. Stephens, J. P. page 334 [Celia Amanda Sellers (FS L4TB-5DY) is daughter of William David Sellers and Sarah Crawford]

image 144 saved as OH-Preble-Marriage-Records-Vol2-IM144-Sellers
Wilson, Harry H. to Margaret Sellers 2-2-1832 by David Bridge, J. P. page 234 [Margaret Sellers (L4TB-5Q4) is daughter of William David Sellers and Sarah Crawford]

image 145 saved as Oh-Preble-Marriage-Records-Vol2-im145-Sellers
Zeller, Isaac (FS KH4V-2GF) to Levinia Enochs 3-1-1838 by Henry Kesling, J. P. page 347

Zellers, David A to Susan E Sellers (FS KHH7-KNG) 11-17-1840 by George Bonebreak, Eld. page 384

image 122 saved as Oh-Preble-Marriage-Records-Vol2-Im122-Sellers
Morrow, George [FS LCXK-QR5] to Anna M. Sellers 11-5-1840 by John M. Gray, J. P. (no page # 390-391) [Anna M. Sellers is Fannie Marie Sellers (FS LK5P-Q3C), daughter of Nathan Douglas Sellers and Susanna Hawk]

Image 61 OH-Preble-Marriage-Records-Vol1-Im61-Crawford
Stoner, John to Polly Crawford 1-18-1821 by R. Dooley, M.G. page 109 [Polly Crawford is daughter of James and Sally Crawford]

Image 41 OH-Preble-Marriage-Records-Vol1-Im41-Crawford
Lybrook, Jacob to Elizabeth Crawford 8-17-1809 by Train Caldwell page 6 [FS Jacob Lybrook KD71-FPZ Elizabeth is daughter of William Crawford and Isabella McClure]

image 17 OH-Preble-Marriage-Records-Vol1-Im17-Crawford
Casada, Thomas to Rachel Crawford 12-23-1817 – lisc [FS Thomas Cassady Jr LK7S-Q13 Rachel is daughter of David Lloyd Daniel Crawford]

Bride’s Index image 74 – OH-PReble-Marriage-Records-Im74-BridesIndex
Bride’s Index image 75 – OH-Preble-Marriage-Records-Im75-BridesIndex

Image 11 OH-Preble-Marriage-Records-Vol1-Im11-Crawford
Black, Jacob to Sally Crawford 1-1-1829 by N. Benjamin, J.P. page 174 [FS for Jacob Black LZXB-W85]

Clues from a Letter

Do you ever re-look at a document and discover a new clue? That was my experience when a 4th cousin sent me a copy of a letter – a letter that I think I’ve seen before.

Dodge City, Kansas, March 29, 1907
Dear nephew (William Clay Crawford)
Your ????? to hand. I am glad to hear from you. Your Grandfather
Crawford lived to be 56. Died with colic. Your Grandmother died
about the same age with typhoid. From your Great Grandfather
Crawford lived until the age of 72 and died with sunstroke. our
Great Grandmother Crawford lived 78-don’t remember what caused here
death. Your Grandparents were born in Ohio and died in Warren
County, Indiana (W. Lebanon?). Your Great Grandparents moved from
Kentucky and died in southern Ohio. Your Great Great grandparents
came from Scotland and are buried in Kentucky not far from
Lexington. You are of strong hearty people and ought to live to
be an old man with proper care of your health. I am in only
tolerable health myself. I am muscular paralysis. Will stop off
and see you and family and next time I am through if possible.
Kindly regards to your family
From you affectionate uncle.
J.. H. Crawford
(James H. Crawford)

Clues:

• Names in parentheses suggest this is a transcription and not a typed letter
• nephew, William Clay Crawford, son of a brother of James H. Crawford
• Grandfather – Nelson G. Crawford – died at age 56 of colic
  • Born Oct 1808, died March 1864 – age 55 / cause of death unknown
• Grandmother – Martha Smith Crawford – died of typhoid
  • Cause of death unknown
• Great Grandfather – James Crawford – lived until 72 and died of sunstroke
  • According to tombstone, James Crawford was born April 1772 and died July 1854 at age 82
  • Cause of death unknown
• Great Grandmother – Sally Smith Duggins Crawford – lived until 78
  • According to tombstone, Sally Crawford was born Feb 1770 and died May 1856 at age 86
  • Cause of death unknown 
• Grandparents – Nelson G. Crawford and Martha Smith Crawford – born in Ohio
  • According to 1850 census – Nelson G. Crawford born in Ohio
  • According to 1850 census  – Martha Crawford born in Indiana
• Grandparents – Nelson G. Crawford and Martha Smith Crawford – died in Warren County, Indiana (W. Lebanon)
  • Both Nelson G. Crawford and Martha Crawford are buried in the West Lebanon (Warren County) Indiana cemetery
• Great grandparents  – James Crawford and Sally Smith Duggins Crawford – moved from Kentucky and died in southern Ohio
  • James Crawford and Sally Duggins were married in 1799 in Garrard County, Kentucky
  • James Crawford and Sally Crawford are buried in the cemetery in Eaton (Preble County), Ohio
• Great Great Grandparents – ? unknown – came from Scotland
  • yDNA evidence supports tie to Crawford family in Scotland
• Great Great Grandparents – ? unknown – buried near Lexington
  • Parents of James Crawford have not been identified
  • This statement could be about either SMITH family (Martha’s line or Sally’s line)
  • Current records for James Crawford are from Garrard County, Kentucky
  • No evidence of a relationship between Rev. James Crawford of Lexington, Kentucky and James Crawford who married Sally Duggins
  • DAR records from this time period (1907) have records for two different James Crawfords mixed up. Thus, it is possible that this statement is a result of similar confusion about several different James Crawford families.

This letter supports a lot of my current findings. It also reminded me that my research isn’t done – that I need to continue seeking records. In reviewing this letter, I discovered that I need to review my documentation and bring it up to today’s standards.

Who Is This James Crawford?

Have you ever run across a record in a county you’ve been researching and have no idea how the person in the record fits with known families in that area? Well, that’s my situation — and it is anoter James Crawford.

James and Martha Crawford sold land in Barren County, Kentucky. Tax lists for Barren County show a James Crawford with 200 acres on the Marrowbone River. These tax lists also show another James Crawford with 50 acres on the Marrowbone. This second James Crawford is thought to be James and Sally (Smith Duggins) Crawford.

I’ve also identified the family of David Crawford who died in Barren County, KY in 1812.

Now, I’ve found a deed for a James Crawford and Patsy his wife selling land in Wythe County Virginia to Peter Kinson. This 1806 deed indicates that James and Patsy were living in Montgomery County, Ohio at the time.

So, who is this James Crawford? Patsy could be a nickname for Martha. Unfortunately, every record I’ve seen for James and Martha use her given name and not the nickname, Patsy.

Being in Montgomery County, Ohio in 1806 would imply that James and Patsy were early settlers of that state.

Based on that, I checked History.Geo’s First Landowners Project. There are 3 entries for James Crawford in Preble County. Two of these entries are for James and Martha while the third is for James and Sally. The Montgomery county entry is for Robert C. Crawford in 1816. Darke County has two entries: Alexander Crawford 1832 and Norman B Crawford 1831.

The Bureau of Land Management’s General Land Office Records has 3 entries for Crawford in Montgomery County. All of those entries are for Robert Crawford.

A search of ‘Settlers and Builders’ of Ohio does not include any James Crawford nor any Crawford in Montgomery County, Ohio.

Since the 1882 book, History of Montgomery County, Ohio has been digitized and is part of the book collection on FamilySearch, I searched it for James Crawford. Other than references to Col. William Crawford, the only Crawford reference from the early history was in a section on James Grimes. James Grimes emigrated from Rockbridge County, Virginia in 1805 travelling thru Crab Orchard, Kentucky. The James Grimes section names Mr. Crawford as one of those who made the trip with him.

At this point, I can’t place the James Crawford in this deed.

Dooley

Have you ever seen a name in a deed or court document and thought to yourself, ‘Hey, I’ve seen that name before?’ Well that was my situation when I was looking at tax records for Barren County, Kentucky.

Since I found James Crawford with 200 acres of land on the Marrowbone listed on the 1800 tax list for Barren County, KY, I started looking for other people owning land on the Marrowbone. That’s when I found Moses Dooly Junr also owning 200 acres of land on the Marrowbone.

Not only was Moses Dooly Junr in Barren County, but so was his father and brothers.

I remembered the Dooly name from my Garrard County map of the original land owners. Moses Dooly had a land grant (#912) for land in the line fork of Sugar Creek.

This land is near the Mary Crawford land purchased from Richard Cave. Mary’s land would be to the East of Moses Dooley’s land. Just to the Southwest of Moses Dooley’s land is the land grant for Jacob Myers. Some of this land was sold to George Douglas. George Douglas then sold a portion to Rebekah Crawford.

So when I saw Moses Dooly Junr as a potential neighbor to James Crawford, I started paying attention to the Dooly family. Since James and Martha Crawford sold 200 hundred acres of land on the Marrowbone (see Barren County Connection), I believe the James Crawford in the tax record is the James Crawford married to Martha Knight. However, I haven’t found the deed for James’ purchase of the land. Thus, I can’t say for certain which James Crawford is listed in the tax record.

As I was researching the two James Crawfords in Preble County, Ohio, I discovered the Dooly family on the tax records in Preble County, Ohio. The 1816 Preble County, Ohio tax list shows Moses Dooley Senr and Moses Dooley along with several other members of the family.

Since I’ve found the Dooley family and likely both James Crawford families in Barren County, KY and Preble County, OH, I began wondering if Moses Dooley was on the tax lists for Lincoln or Madison Counties. Thus, I returned to the tax lists for Lincoln County, KY where I had previously found George Douglas and Rebekah Crawford along with some Sellars families in 1787. I didn’t find any Dooley names living near Rebekah Crawford in 1787. So, I checked Madison County, KY where I found Moses Dooley and John Doly in 1787.

This places Moses Dooley in the same taxing district as Mary Crawford, James Crawford and William Crawford in 1787. 

This may all be coincidence, but it appears that the Dooley clan followed the same migration path from the Garrard County, Kentucky area in 1787 to the Barren County, Kentucky area in 1799 to Preble County, Ohio in 1816.
Thus, I’ve added the Dooley surname to my FAN club.

Will of James Crawford

Preble County, Ohio
Wills V.1, B-C 1808-1854
FS Film 564860 DGS 5868427

Image 555
page 389

James Crawford Will
The State of Ohio Preble County
In the Matter of James Crawfords Will
Be it remembered that heretofore to with before
the Probate Court within and for the County of Preble
and State of Ohio, held at the Court House in Eaton the
28th day of July Eighteen hundred and fifty four, by
John V. Campbell Judge of said Court the last will
and testament of James Crawford late of Gasper Township
in the County deceased was this day brought before
the Court and was proved by the oaths of Isaac Stephens
and Edward Laning two of the witnesses thereto whose
examinations were reduced to writing, and it
appearing to the satisfaction of the Court that the said
James Crawford at the time of executing said will
was of full age of sound mind and memory
and not under any restraint. It is ordered that
said will and the proof so reduced to writing be
recorded. And thereupon our motion of Nelson G. Crawford
the Executor in said will named. It is ordered that Letters
Testamentary be granted to the said Nelson G. Crawford
who thereupon gave in Undertaking with William
Duggins senr. and Nathaniel R Lockwood security
to the acceptance of the Court in the penalty of
Eight hundred Dollars conditioned according
to law whereupon it is ordered by the Court that
Joseph L. Campbell, John Halderman jr and
Thomas Stephens appraise the personal property
of said estate said will is in the words & figures
following to wit. I James Crawford, of Preble
County Ohio, do make and publish this my last
will and testament in the manner following
and first. It is my will that all my just debts
and funeral expenses be fully paid out of my estate
and secondly, I give devise and bequeth

Page 390

to my wife Sally Crawford the full use privilege and
benefit of all my estate both real and personal to be held
used, occupied and enjoyed by her during her natural life
for the purposes of affording her a comfortable and competent
support and maintainance during her said natural life and
for no other use or purpose. I give and bequeth to my
grand daughter Mary Ann Wikle fifty dollars to
be paid to her out of my estate within a reasonable
time after the death of my said wife. I give and
bequeth to my grand daughter Martha Jane Stoner
fifty Dollars to be paid to her out of my estate at the
time last above mentioned. And lastly, I give, devise
and bequeth to my son Nelson G Crawford all the residue and
remainder of my estate both real and personal of every kind
and description whatever to be held used occupied and
enjoyed by him and his heirs and assigns forever as an
absolute estate of inheritance subject however to the
incumbrance of the life estate herein created in favor
of my said wife and the two legacies herein before mentioned
to my said grand daughters. I wish it distinctly understood
that at the decease of my said wife and on payment of the
two legacies above mentioned my said son Nelson is to
have all of my estate and property, real and personal
of every kind and description whatever as I have said
before and I do hereby appoint my said son Nelson
G. Crawford Executor of this my last will and
testament. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my
hand and seal this 25th day of October 1851
James Crawford (seal)
Signed and sealed in the presence of us: I Stephens E Laning
said testimony is in the word and figures following to wit
The State of Ohio Preble County Probate Court of Preble
County July 28th AD 1854. Personally appeared in open Court
Isaac Stephens & Edward Laning of lawful age, who being duly
sworn depose and say that the paper writing now exhibited in Court
is the last will and testament of James Crawford late of Preble County deceased
That they saw him sign and heard him acknowledge the same; that they
signed the same as witnesses in his presence and at his request and that at the time
of executing the same, he was of full age, of sound mind and memory, and not
under any restraint. I, Stephen E Laning, Sworn & subscribed
in open Court the 28th day of July AD 1854, John W. Campbell, Probate Judge
And afterward to wit: before the Probate Court aforesaid, to wit
on the 3rd day of October AD 1854 Sally Crawford widow
of James Crawford late of this county deceased this day
appeared in open court and made her election to take
the provisions of her deceased husbands will in lien
of her dower.

Barren County Connection

Have you ever questioned whether an ancestor lived in a certain place because the migration path was illogical?

Well, that is the case with our Crawford research. James Crawford and Martha Knight were married in Lincoln County, KY in 1793. James Crawford and Sally Duggins were married in Garrard County, KY in 1799. Both families migrated to Preble County, Ohio.

So when clues pointed to at least one of them being in Barren County, KY (South of Lincoln and Garrard), those clues were questioned because it seemed illogical for these couples to migrate South before migrating North to Ohio.

That gut feeling was proven incorrect when a Barren County deed was discovered. This 1821 deed was for the sale of land by a James Crawford of Preble County, Ohio. Records place both James Crawfords in Preble County, Ohio at the time. So far, no record has been found for a third James Crawford in Preble County, Ohio in 1821.

Since the deed identifies the wife of James Crawford as Martha, this deed places James and Martha owning land in Barren County, KY. Another set of deeds for the sale of land in Garrard County, KY by Rebecca Crawford and James Crawford, both of Barren County, provide additional evidence that James Crawford was in Barren County, KY (See Rebekah’s Land)

Barren County Kentucky
Deed Book J page 1
Family Search Film #007899153 image 12

This Indenture made the eleventh day of December in the year of or Lord
one thousand eight hundred and twenty one between James Crawford of the
county of Preble state of Ohio of the one part and John Moorehead
of Barren County Kentucky state of the other part and
witnesseth that the said James Crawford for and in consideration
of the sum of two hundred dollars recents to the said James Craw
ford in hand paid the receipt of which is hereby acknowledge
have granted bargained aliened conveyed & confirmed & by these presents
do grant bargain sell alien convey and confirm unto the said John
Moorhead his heirs & assigns forever a certain tract of land containing
two hundred acres of the county of Barren & State of Kentucky on
the waters of Marrawbone bounded as follows to wit: beginning
at a maple & hickory running thence west 119 poles to a chestnut
& hickory thence south 179 poles to two black oaks thence east 179
poles to a popular & dogwood thence north 179 poles crossing a 
branch to an ash and hicory thence west 60 poles to the beginning
to have and to hold the said granted patented & bargained premaces
with all the privileges and appurtenances to the same belonging
or in any wise apertaining in the only proper use benefit and behoof
of the said John Moorehead his heirs and assigns. and the said
James Crawford doth for himself his executors and administrators
do hereby covenant promise & grant to and with the said John Moorhead
his heirs & assigns that before the ensealing ‘ho’ the sd James
Crawford was the true sole & lawful owner of the above barga
ined premises & was lawfully seized and possessed of the
the same in his own rights and good perfect & absolute
estate of inheritance in the fee simple and had in himself good
right full powers lawful authority to grant bargain sell convey
and confirm the said bargained premises in the manner aforesaid
and that the said John Moorehead his heirs & assigns shall at
and at all times forever hereafter by force & virtue of those
presents lawfully peaceably and quietably have hold use
occupy possess & enjoy the said demises & Bargained premises
with the appertenances free & clearly acquitted exonhorated are
discharge of an all & all manners of former or other gifts [grow]
to sales incumbrances if what name or nature soever that might
in any measure or degree obstruct or make void this present
deed.
Furthermore, the said James Crawford for himself his heirs
executors & administrators doth covenant & engage the above demise
premasis to him the said John Morehead his heirs & assigns
agants the lawful claims of any person or persons whatsoever
forever hereafter to warrant secure & defend by these presents

page 2
In testimony whereof, the said James Crawford & Martha his wife has
hereunto set their hands and seal the day and year first above written
James Crawford
Martha (her mark) Crawford
Sealed and Delivered
in the presence of us
David Williamson
Nathan D Sellers
The state of Ohio Preble County SS
Before us the undersigned two of
the justices of the peace in & for the sd county came personaly James
Crawford and Martha Crawford wife of the said James Crawford
the within named grantors she bing examined separate & apart from
her said husband they acknowledge the within deed of
conveyance to be their voluntary act and deed for the use and purpose therein
mentioned In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands and
seals this 11th day of December 1822
Isaac Stephens
David Williamson

Kentucky, Barren County. Deeds. Film #007899153. James Crawford to Alexander Moorehead, 11 Dec 1821 J: 1-2; digital images, Family Search http://www.familysearch.org : viewed online January 2019.

Arrival in Ohio

Have you ever ‘lost’ an ancestor for a period of time? That’s my situation with my ancestor, James Crawford.

James and Sally Duggins are married in Garrard County, Kentucky in 1799. In 1813, there is a land record where James Crawford has made full payment for the NW 1/4 of Section 14, Township 7, Range 2. Thus, I’m trying to figure out where James and Sally were living shortly after their marriage. The county history suggests that James was living in Preble county by 1810. Unfortunately, there are TWO James Crawfords living near each other. This makes it difficult to determine which James Crawford is being referenced.

Since Kentucky tax lists have been helping me figure out who was living where in Lincoln, Garrard and Madison counties. Unfortunately, the Preble County, Ohio tax lists do not begin until 1816.

However, these tax lists contain two clues that I overlooked the first time I used them.

• James Crawford owning the NORTHWEST quarter of Section 14, Township 7, Range 2 appeared on the tax lists at a later time than the James Crawford owning the SOUTHWEST quarter of the same section
• The James Crawford owning the NORTHWEST quarter was referred to as James Crawford Junior

When I first used these tax lists, I likely hadn’t figured out who owned which piece of ground. That knowledge is essential to understanding these tax lists.

• James Crawford and Sally Duggins purchased the NW 1/2 of Section 14, Township 7, Range 2 as tenants in common with William Sellers in 1813.
• James Crawford and Martha Knight purchased the SW 1/4 Section 14, Township 7, Range 2 in 1811

These tax lists reinforced what I and other researchers have assumed:
My James Crawford ancestor was the one referred to as Junior
Unfortunately, I still don’t know where James and Sally were living between 1799 and 1813.
My notes from the tax lists thru 1820:
Preble County Ohio
Tax Records
1816-1826
FS Film 528382 DGS 48949213

Looking for

• Crawford,
• Sellers
• Duggins (step-sons of James Crawford who married Sally Smith Duggins)
• Lincoln, Moses  married 1816
• Shanklin, David married 1817
• Crawford John
• Douglas b1798
• Crawford William Allen (b1803)

1816
Image 9 – C
Image 10

• Crawford James – 150 acres – R 2 T7 S14 NO PART GIVEN- Preble 3 D – 37 C – 5 M
• NO Other Crawford

Image 11

• Dugans Henry – 50 acres – R2 T7 S10 SE same 1D – 12C – 5

Image 20 – L

• No Moses Lincoln

Image 30

• Sellers Joseph – 150 acres – R2 – T7 Section 10 NE – same – 3-60
• Sellers Joseph – 160 acres – R2 – T7 S14 – SW – same – 3-60

Image 31

• Sellars Nathan 80 acres R2 – T8 – S36 NW Preble – 1-80
• NO SHANKLAND

image 40 – 1817

POOR COPY

Missing first part of alphabet pages torn

image 44-45 – parts of names missing –

• NO MOSES LINCOLN found

image 54 – 2 – parts of names are missing

Image 55 –

• Sellers, Nathan with 80 acres R2T8S35 NW — but other names torn away

Image 56

• Sellers William – 40 acres R2T7S14 SW – Crawford from James Crawford

Image 65 – 1818
Image 72 – C

• Crawford James – 110 S14-T7-R2 SW Preble 1-65Image 73
• Crawford James Junr – 75 – S14-T7R2 NW Preble -12-50 new entry

Image 74 – D

• NO John Douglas Crawford or any other CRAWFORD
• Dougan Henry – 50 – s10-T7-R2 SW Preble – 75

IM 82 – L

• NO MOSES LINCOLN

Image 94

• Sellers Joseph – 160 – S4 T7 R2 SW Preble 2-40
• Sellers Joseph – 160 S10-T7 R2 NE Preble 2-49Sellers Joesph – 160 S10 T7 R2 – NW Prelbe 2-40
• Sellers Nathan – 80 – S35 -T8 R2 Nw Preble -120
• Sellers Nathan 40 – S10 T7 R2 Sw – 1-10Sellers Nathan 38 S9 T7 R2 NE Preble -55
• Sellers William 40 – S14 T7 R2 SW Preble -60
• NO David SHANKLAND

Imge 105 – 1819
Image 113

• Crawford James – 110 acres – S14 T7 R2 Sw Preble 1-72-5image 114
• Crawford James Junr – 75 S14 T7 R2 NW Preble 1-31-2

Image 116

• Dugan Henry – 50 S10T7R2 SW Preble 87-5
• No Moses Lincoln

Image 139 – S

• Sellers – Joseph 160 S4-T7-R2 SW Preble
• Sellers Joseph 160 S10 T7R2 NE Preble
• Sellers Joseph – 160 S10 T7 R2 NW
• Sellers Nathan 80 S35-T8R2 NW
• Sellers Nathan 110 S10T7R2 Sw
• Sellers Nathan 38 S9T7R2 NE
• Sellers William 40 S14T7R2 SW

Image 142

• Sellers William 75 S14T7R2 NW Preble

image 150 – 1820

Image 159 

Image 160

• Crawford David L – 162 R2T9S25

Image 162

• Crawford James 110 R2T7S14 SW
• Crawford James Jnr 75 – R2T7S14 NW

Image 164

• Duggins Henry 50 R2T7S10 SW

Image 181

• Lincoln Moses J 30 R2T7S14 NE

Image 197

• Sellers Nathan Senr 110 R2T7S10 SW
• Sellers Nathan Senr 38 R2T7S9 SE
• Sellers Nathan Senr 80 R2T8S35 NWImage 198
• Sellers William 75 R2T7S14 NW
• Sellers William 40 R2T7S14 SW

Image 199

• Sellers Joseph M 80 R2T7S10 NW

Image 200

• Sellers Robert (Estate of) 80 R2T7S4 sW
• Sellers Joseph Senr 80 R2T7S10 NW
• Sellers Joseph Senr 35 R3T4S26 SE

Perspective

Does your genealogy have a brick wall FAN club that involves several branches of the surname along with lots of same name issues? Well, the parents of my ancestor, James Crawford (1772-1854) has such a FAN club.

While working with some other researchers from the FAN club, but unfortunately not my line, I created a ‘traditional’ time line outlining the information I had on the individuals in the FAN club.

This timeline included all of the facts for each individual in the time line. Thus, it is long. I used color coding to identify various lines and counties.

Even though the data is here, this form of timeline hasn’t helped me advance my research.

Yesterday, I started a different version of a time line. This timeline has the different family groups across the top and the year down the side. In the intersecting cell, I’m recording brief info about the event and the county/state where they lived. I’m using color coding for the locations.

For this timeline, I limited the people to the following:

• two James Crawfords of Preble County (James/Sally and James/Martha)
• their suspected mothers: Rebecca Crawford and Mary Crawford (md Moore)
• suspected uncles of one of the James Crawfords: James/Rebecca and William/Elizabeth
• suspected siblings: Sarah Crawford (William Sellers) and Mary Crawford (James Sellers)
• step-sons of my ancestor: Henry Duggins and William Duggins
• daughter of my ancestor: Polly Crawford md John Stoner

By looking at the information in this format, I’ve been able to track the land transactions. This has allowed me to quickly see which tracts of land only had one transaction (purchase or sell), allowing me to look for the other transaction.  I’m also seeing other ‘holes’ in my research of these people. Hopefully, as I fill in those ‘holes’, I will find records tying these Crawford families together.

I’m thankful I tried looking at the information from a different perspective!

 

 

Tennants in Common

I’m trying to use deeds to help separate information for two James Crawfords who resided in Preble County Ohio at the same time. They both owned parts of section 14, Township 7 North, Range 2 East.

As discussed in my post, James Crawford of Preble County, I use the selling of the land to figure out which James Crawford owned the land. I also use their wife’s name to help me keep them straight. James and Sally are my ancestors while James and Martha may or may not be related.

James (Martha) Crawford filed a patent for the Southwest quarter of section 14 township 7 North, range 2 East in 1812.

Four years later, my ancestor, James Crawford along with William Sellers, husband of Sarah Crawford filed a patent as ‘tenants in common’ for the northwest quarter of section 14 township 7 North range 2 East.

After looking at an article about Tenancy in Common, I now understand the exchange of land between James Crawford and William Sellers in 1821. Basically, James purchases the West half of the quarter from William Sellers

and sells the East half of the quarter to William Sellers.

Preble County Ohio Deed Book 5 page 86

The final land transaction involving James Crawford’s land is after his death. His step-son, William Duggins, and his widow, Sally Crawford, sell the land. Within the deed is a statement that the land was transferred to William Duggins by Nelson Crawford, James’ son and heir.

The purchase of the land as ‘tenants in common’ by William Sellers and James Crawford adjoining land purchased by another James Crawford just makes everything more confusing. William Sellers wife, Sarah Crawford, is believed to be the sister of the James Crawford (b1770) who married Martha Knight. If that is the case, then why is William Sellers essentially sharing land with the James Crawford (b1772) that married Sally Duggins?

Research Logs

Do you have one task that ‘genealogy experts’ recommend that you just don’t seem to be able to tackle? For me, that tends to be a research log.

Even though I have a ‘research log’ from my early days of research, I haven’t been consistent with keeping that log — especially with Internet searching. And, I really could use a comprehensive research log now!

I have the opportunity to apply for a ‘brick wall’ consultation at the upcoming Topeka Genealogical Society conference in April. As part of that application, I need to submit a list of sources already checked. With forty years of research and a lot of same name issues, I could really use a complete research log!

For this application, I am going to submit James Crawford (1772-1854) of Preble County, Ohio as my brick wall ancestor. James married Sally Duggins in 1799 in Garrard County, Kentucky before migrating to Ohio by the early 1800s. The research question I would like assistance with is “Who is James Crawford’s father?”

Seems simple enough, right. Unfortunately, there are a lot of same name issues with researching this ancestor.

1. Next door neighbor in Preble County, Ohio was James Crawford (1770-1833) who married Martha Knight in 1793 in Lincoln County, KY. This James Crawford migrated from Preble County, OH to Warren County, IN where he died. Also migrating to Warren County, IN from Preble County, OH at about the same time was Nelson G. Crawford, the son of James and Sally (Smith Duggins) Crawford.
2. There is a third James Crawford (1758-1836) living in Madison and Garrard counties in Kentucky prior to 1800. This James Crawford was married to Rebecca Anderson and migrated to Jennings County, IN and then to Jefferson County, IN.
3. Garrard County KY histories refer to a Rev. James Crawford. There was a Rev. James Crawford (1752/3 – 1803) at Walnut Hill Presbyterian Church in Fayette County, KY. Rev. James Crawford was married to Rebecca McPheeters.
4. DAR applications by descendants of James Crawford and Rebecca Anderson appear to have records mixed up with a James Crawford (1757-1836) who resided in Fleming County, KY. This James Crawford was married to Sarah Vansant.

So, I not only need to identify sources I’ve checked for James and Sally (Duggins) Crawford, but also sources I’ve checked for all of these other James Crawfords.

To start re-creating such a research log, I used RootsMagic to print an individual summary report, complete with bibliography for each of these James Crawfords. I then copied the bibliography entries into Notepad where I could remove the leading punctuation and clean up any other errors.

From Notepad, I copied the entries into Excel. Since there were blank lines between each bibliography entry, those blank lines copied over to Excel. To eliminate the blank lines, I sorted by the bibliography column. This pushed all of the blank lines to the bottom of the list.

Unfortunately, that only gets sources that I’ve cited in RootsMagic. I had drawers full of research that would need to be added to this list of sources used. Fortunately, I have scanned most of that research. Unfortunately, I named the scanned files with the Dollarhide code I used to file the paperwork.

Since the code was part of my citations in Master Genealogist, I can find the paperwork when working from a source in my program. However, these file names don’t tell me where I got the information in each of those files. When I open the file, it is usually a handwritten document (remember my research is up to 40 years old).

Unfortunately, I don’t have a full citation on these old notes. However, I usually have a fairly accurate title. When I started working my way thru my Ohio notes, I was just Googling the title. Part way thru, I realized that I could probably find the information faster using WorldCat.

In some cases, I didn’t have enough of the title to find it via WorldCat. In those situations, I used the FamilySearch catalog and searched for the place associated with the resource. Then I drilled down to the type of information (history, tax, deeds, probate, etc.).

So far, I’ve been able to find the bibliographic information thru either WorldCat or FamilySearch. This bibliography information was added to my Excel spreadsheet along with the filing code.

In the process, I also took the opportunity to change the file name so that it included an abbreviated version of the title of the resource.

In some cases, these files were actual copies of records. In those cases, I changed the file name to indicate the type and source of the record.

Yesterday, I managed to make it thru the process of identifying and renaming my Ohio files for Crawford. However, I still need to do my Kentucky files and my Virginia files. Since I have done some FAN club research, I should also add the files for Duggins and Sellers along with the bibliographies for the females appearing on the early Kentucky tax lists: Rebecca Crawford and Mary Crawford.

Lesson learned:

Use better file names

Keep a research log!