I’m struggling with ‘same name’ issues. Particularly in regards to Alexander Crawford. I believe there are two different Alexander Crawfords.
- Alexander Crawford who married Margaret McElwee in Lincoln County, Kentucky in 1788 and likely lived in Pulaski County, Kentucky
- Alexander Crawford, son of Rev. James Crawford of Fayette County, Kentucky and grandson of Alexander Crawford and Mary McPheeters
Other researchers disagree with me. Thus, I’m on a quest to locate documentation to hopefully resolve this issue.
Today, I’m working with census records. Since these are all pre-1850 census listings, they can’t be depended upon to prove family relations. However, they can help establish places of residency.
Using the family information for Rev. James Crawford from the book Descendants of Alexander and Mary (McPheeters) Crawford, I can determine approximate ages for the various census years.
Name | Birth Year | Death Year | Sex | Age 1810 | Age 1820 | Age 1830 | Age 1840 |
Rev James Crawford | 1752 | 1803 | m | ||||
Rebecca McPheeters | 1755 | 1830 | f | 55 | 65 | 75 | |
Martha Crawford | 1775 | 1831 | f | 35 | 45 | 55 | |
Alexander Crawford | 1782 | 1845 | m | 28 | 38 | 48 | 58 |
Mary Crawford | 1784 | f | 26 | 36 | 46 | 56 | |
Elizabeth Crawford | 1789 | 1845 | f | 21 | 31 | 41 | 51 |
Sarah Crawford | 1801 | 1841 | f | 9 | 19 | 29 | 39 |
Rebecca Crawford | 1805 | 1830 | f | 5 | 15 | 25 | 35 |
Using the above chart, I can then look at the census records for Fayette County and compare the tick marks to potential family members.
In the 1810 census for Fayette County, Kentucky (where Rev. James Crawford lived), I was able to find a Rebecka Crawford as the head of household on the census with 12 total people in the household:
- Free white males 26-44: 1 – son – Alexander Crawford – age 29
- Free white females 10-15: 1 – daughter Rebecca Crawford – wrong age – she would have been 5
- Free white females 16-25: 3 – daughters Sarah age 9, Elizabeth age 21, Mary age 26
- Free white females 45 and over: 1 – Rebecca Crawford
- Number of slaves: 6
- number of household members under 16: 1
- Number of household members over 25: 2
- number of household members: 12
In the 1820 census for Fayette County, Kentucky, I was able to find Alexander Crawford listed as a 26-44 year old male head of household.
- Males 26-44 — 1 – Alexander age 38
- Females 16-25: 2 – sisters Sarah age 19 / Rebecca age 15
- Females 26-44: 2 – sister Mary age 36 / Mother Rebecca age 65
- Slaves – Males 26-44: 2
- Slaves Female under 14:5
- Slaves Female 14-25: 2
- number of persons engaged in agriculture: 3
- Free White persons over 25: 4
- total free white persons: 6
- Total Slaves: 9
Alexander Crawford again appeared as the head of household in the 1830 census for Fayette County, Kentucky.
- Males 40-49: 1- Alexander age 48
- Females 20-29: 1 – sister – Rebecca age 25
- Females 30-39: 2 – Sisters Sarah age 29, Mary age 46
- Females 70-79: 1 – Mother Rebecca age 75
- Free colored persons Females 24-35: 1
- Slaves Males 24-35: 1
- Slaves Males 36-54: 1
- Slaves Females under 10: 3
- Slaves Femlaes 10-23: 2
- Slaves Females 24-35: 2
- Free white persons 20-49: 4
- Total Free white persons: 5
- Total Slaves: 14
- Total free colored persons: 1
The 1840 census of Fayette County, Kentucky also lists Alexander Crawford as a head of household.
- Males 50-59: 1 – Alexander age 58
- Females 30-39: 1 – Sister Rebecca age 35
- Females 40-49: 1 – Sister Sarah age 39 or Mary age 56
- Free colored persons – males 36-54: 1
- Slaves males under 10: 9
- Slaves males 10-23: 2
- Slaves Males 36-54: 1
- Slaves Females under 10: 7
- Slaves Females 10-23: 2
- Slaves Females 36-54: 2
- Persons employed in agriculture: 4
- No. white persons over 20 who cannot read and write: 1
- Free white persons 20-49: 2
- Total free white persons: 3
- Total free colored persons: 1
- Total slaves; 23
- Total all persons – free white, free colored, slaves: 27
The above census records support an Alexander Crawford living in Fayette County, Kentucky between 1820 and 1840. Although there are a few discrepancies, the tick marks appear to line up with the Rev. James Crawford family structure. Thus, there is support – but not definitive proof – for the theory that the Alexander Crawford in these census records is the son of Rev. James Crawford.
If there are two separate Alexander Crawfords, then there should be a second set of census records. I used the information I had compiled on the family of Alexander Crawford of Pulaski County, Kentucky to create a similar table showing ages of the family members in the various census records.
Name | Birth Year | Death Year | Sex | Age 1810 | Age 1820 | Age 1830 |
Alexander Crawford | 1767 | 1823 / 1838 | m | 43 | 53 | 63 |
Margaret McElwee | 1766 | 1832 | f | 44 | 54 | 64 |
Adams Crawford | 1789 | 1869 | m | 21 | 31 | 41 |
Andrew Crawford | 1791 | 1878 | m | 19 | 29 | 39 |
Martha Crawford | 1801 | f | 9 | 19 | 29 | |
John A. Crawford | 1803 | 1838 | m | 7 | 17 | 27 |
Shelby Crawford | 1805 | 1870 | m | 5 | 15 | 25 |
Harrison Crawford | 1808 | 1870 | m | 2 | 12 | 22 |
Unfortunately, the census records for Alexander Crawford in Pulaski County, Kentucky are more difficult to line up with these known family members. In the 1810 census, this could be explained if one of the sons and his family was also living in the household
- Free males under 10: 4 – ? grandsons?
- Free males 10-15: 3 – sons John, Harrison, Shelby
- Free males 16-25: 1- son Adams or Andrew
- Free males: 45 and over: 1- Alexander
- Free females under 10: 1 – unknown
- Free Females 10-15: 2 — ? granddaughters?
- Free females 10-15: 2 – unknown
- Free females 16-25: 1 – daughter Martha or wife of Adams or Andrew
- Free females 26-44: 1 – wife Margaret
- Number of household members under 16: 10
- Number of household members over 25: 2
- Number of household members: 14
The 1820 census of Pulaski County, Kentucky showing an Alexander Crawford is even more confusing. If this is the same family, then Alexander likely has at least one if not two daughters-in-law living with him along with several grandchildren.
- Free white males under 10: 2 – ? grandsons
- Free white males 10-15: 2 – ? grandsons
- Free white males 45 and over: 1 – Alexander Crawford
- Free white females under 10: 1 – ? granddaughter
- Free white females 10-15: 1 – ? granddaughter
- Free white females 16-25: 2 – daughter Martha Crawford and 1 daughter-in-law or 2 daughters-in-law
- Free white females 45 and over: 1 – Margaret McElwee Crawford
- Free white persons under 16: 6
- Free white persons over 25: 2
- total free white persons: 10
- Total all persons: 10
A search of the 1830 Pulaski County, Kentucky census for Crawford does not include an Alexander Crawford in the results.
This study of Kentucky census records does support
- an Alexander Crawford living in Fayette County, KY at the same time as an Alexander Crawford lived in Pulaski County, KY.
- the Rev. James Crawford family unit living in Fayette County under the name of Rebecka Crawford in 1810 and Alexander Crawford in 1820, 1830 and 1840.
Since the Pulaski County, Kentucky census records are hard to match up with the family unit of Alexander Crawford and Margaret McElwee, it is hard to conclude that the Alexander Crawford shown in these records is the husband of Margaret McElwee.
Thus, I need to locate more records to support my position that these are two different Alexander Crawfords.