USA > Virginia > Augusta County > Augusta County > Annals of Augusta County, Virginia, with reminiscences illustrative of the vicissitudes of its pioneer settlers (A Supplement) > Part 41
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Some dissatisfaction having arisen among the Indians in regard to the Treaty of Lancaster, a conference was held at Logstown, on the Ohio, in 1752, between chiefs of the Six Nations and Joshua Fry, Luns- ford Lomax and James Patton, Commissioners of Virginia ; and another deed was executed by six chiefs, consenting to the deed of July 2, 1744, and promising to assist and protect British subjects settled "on the southern or eastern part of the river called Alleghany." This deed was
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dated June 13, 1752, and was witnessed by George Croghan, Thomas McKee, William Preston and others.
Logstown was on the western bank of the Ohio, eighteen miles below Pittsburg. It was an important Indian town, and consisted of sixty or seventy cabins inhabited by a number of confederated tribes, including Shawnees. (See page 48.)
At Fort Pitt, on July 10, 1775, the chiefs and sachems of the Six Nations, in consideration of twelve thousand Spanish dollars, "or the value thereof in merchandise," and also "the great justice and integ- rity " of George Croghan to the Indians, conveyed a tract of land on the south side of the Ohio River, beginning opposite the mouth of French creek, or Beef river, etc., etc., containing by estimation six millions (6,000,000) of acres. The deed was signed by six chiefs, one making the mark of "the hill," another of " the mountain," etc. ; and was witnessed by John Campbell, Thomas Hosier and George Rootes.
On the 30th of July, 1777, George Croghan "of Fort Pitt, in the State of Virginia," by deed to Dr. Thomas Walker and others, in consider- ation of five thousand Spanish dollars, conveyed "one clear eight and fortieth part " (125,000 acres) of the tract granted by the Indians to Croghan. Among the witnesses to this deed were George Rootes and Strother Jones.
George Rootes is said to have lived in Augusta, near the Stone church, but we have found no trace of him in our county archives. From the catalogue of William & Mary College, we learn that, in 1771, Philip Rootes, son of Philip Rootes of Augusta, was a student at that institu- tion ; and in 1779, Thomas Rootes, of Augusta, was a student there. Strother Jones was the son of Gabriel Jones of Augusta.
The deeds herein referred to are printed in full in the book called the "Page Family in Virginia."
THE MCKEES.
Ten or eleven brothers named McKee came from Ireland to America in 1738, and settled near Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Three of these- Robert, William and John-came to Augusta county, but at what date is uncertain. Their descendants state that it was about 1760, but the records of the county show that John McKee purchased a tract of land in the forks of James river, on August 16, 1752.
I. Robert McKee died June 11, 1774, aged eighty-two years, and his wife, Agnes, January 29, 1780, aged eighty-four. They had two sons, William and John.
I. William McKee, son of Robert and Agnes, was born in 1732, and, probably while living in Pennsylvania, was, with his father, at Braddock's defeat. He married his first cousin, Miriam, daughter of John McKee, Sr. His residence was a few miles west of Lexington, and the farm is
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now (1888) owned by descendants of the Rev Dr. Baxter. It is said that he was at the battle of Point Pleasant, and if so, probably belonged to Colonel Fleming's Botetourt regiment. He represented Rockbridge repeatedly in the Legislature, and in 1788 was the colleague of General Andrew Moore in the State Convention which ratified the Federal Con- stitution. He was also one of the first trustees of Liberty Hall Acad- emy. In 1796 he removed to Kentucky, and died there in 1816. He was known in Virginia as Colonel McKee.
Samuel McKee, the fifth son of Colonel William McKee, was born in 1774. He was a member of Congress from Kentucky from 1809 to 1817, a State judge, and also Judge of the United States district court. His sons were Colonel William R. McKee, who was killed at the battle of Buena Vista in February, 1847; Judge George R. McKee, and Dr. Alex- ander R. McKee. Lieutenant Hugh W. McKee, of the United States Navy, a son of Colonel William R., was killed May II, 1871, in a fight between the men of several war steamers and the Coreans, of South- eastern Asia.
James McKee, the thirteenth son of Colonel William McKee, was the father of the Rev. Dr. J. L. McKee, Vice-President of Centre College, Kentucky.
2. John McKee, the other son of Robert and Agnes, married Esther Houston, aunt of General Sam Houston. A son of his, also named John, was a member of Congress from Tennessee, and one of the first United States Senators from Alabama.
II. William McKee, the pioneer, died in Virginia. His family moved to Kentucky about 1788-'90, and most of his descendants live in that State.
III. John McKee, the youngest of the three brothers who came to the Valley, lived on Kerr's creek, now Rockbridge. His wife was Jane Logan, and was killed by Indians, as related on page 115. He married a second time, as appears from a deed executed March 14, 1774, by "John McKee and Rosanna, his wife, of Kerr's creek, Augusta county," conveying two hundred and eighty-one acres of land, part in Augusta and part in Botetourt, Rockbridge not having been formed at that time. He died March 2, 1792, aged eighty-four. Several of his eight children went to Kentucky, others remaining in Virginia. His de. scendants are numerous.
THE CRAWFORDS.
Alexander and Patrick Crawford, brothers, were among the earliest settlers in Augusta county. They are presumed to have been natives of the north of Ireland, like most of their cotemporaries in the county, but nothing can be learned about their early history. The descendants of both say there was a third brother who also came to the Valley, but
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whose name they do not know. It may be that this third brother was the grand-father of William H. Crawford, of Georgia, whose father, Joel Crawford, removed from Nelson county, Virginia, to South Carolina, in 1779.
Alexander Crawford, the elder of the two, married Mary McPheeters, but whether in Ireland or America is not known. He acquired an ex- tensive tract of land in Augusta, covering a part of the Little North mountain, and extending far out into the plain. It embraced sixteen hundred and forty acres. His dwelling stood on a knoll, at the eastern base of the mountain, and looked out towards the rising sun on a wide tract of level land. It was " beautiful for situation." The spot is about two miles northeast of Buffalo Gap, and a hundred yards south of the present residence of Baxter Crawford, a great-grand-son of Alexander and Mary. The site of the house is now marked by a thicket, sur- rounding a pile of unhewn stones which composed the chimney.
Here Alexander and Mary Crawford had eleven children, seven sons and four daughters. They had an abundance of all the good things the times and country afforded, and until the Indian wars arose, lived in peace and plenty. They belonged to a God-fearing race, and doubt- less walked in the old ways of their pious ancestors. The father and mother, were, however, both slaughtered by savages, on their premises, with no human eye near enough to witness the tragedy.
Much uncertainty has existed as to the date of the occurrence. But at November County Court, 1764, William McPheeters qualified as ad- ministrator of Alexander Crawford, and, although some of the latter's descendants insist upon an earlier date, it seems highly probable, if not absolutely certain, that the slaughter was perpetrated by some of the Indians who made the second raid upon Kerr's Creek, in October of the year mentioned.
The rumor had gone abroad that an invasion by Indians was threat- ened, and all the Crawford family had taken refuge in a house at the Big Spring. This house was called a fort, being better able to resist an attack than most dwellings of the period, and was often resorted to by the people around in times of danger. It is probably the ancient stone house, still standing and used as a dwelling, on the south side of Middle river, two miles south of the present village of Churchville, and about three miles from Alexander Crawford's. It has long been known as the "old Keller house." The windows are few in number and very narrow, hardly more than a foot wide.
On the day of the slaughter, early in the morning, it is said, Alex- ander Crawford and his wife returned home to procure a supply of vegetables, while two of their 'sons, William and John, went upon the mountain to salt the horses which had been turned out to graze. From their elevation on the side of the mountain, the two youths saw the smoke and flames of the burning homestead. On the same day, pro- bably, the home of John Trimble, some three miles off, on Middle River, was assailed, as is related elsewhere.
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We may imagine that the men of the neighborhood were somewhat slow to assemble. No one knew but his house would be attacked next, and every man felt it necessary to protect his own family if possible. When the people rallied and repaired to the Crawford place, the dwell- ing had been consumed by fire. The charred remains of Alexander Crawford were found in the ashes, showing that he had been killed in the house. His wife's body was found outside, and it was inferred that she had attempted to escape, but was overtaken and tomahawked. The remains of both were gathered up and buried in the Glebe grave- yard.
The sale-bill of Alexander Crawford's personal estate amounted to £334, 178, 9d, about $1, 114, a larger sum than was common at that day. We mention as some indication of the state of the times, that among the articles sold by the administrator were a still and a wolf-trap. All the family records and other household effects perished with the dwelling.
It is related that Alexander Crawford was ambitious to be the founder of "a clan," such as we read of in Scottish history, and impressed it upon his children that they must respect the right of primogeniture then existing by law. His oldest son, William, did not approve of the scheme, and thus his father's wishes were defeated. The latter was a skilled worker in iron.
The children of Alexander and Mary Crawford were-
I. William Crawford, who is named first in every list. In an old grave-yard, on a high hill overlooking Middle river, on the farm of the late Ephraim Geeding, is an ancient sand-stone, flat on the ground and broken in two. The inscription upon it, which is nearly illegible, is as follows :
"Wm. Crawford, departed this life October 15, 1792, aged 48 years." He was therefore twenty years old when his parents were massa- cred. His will was proved in court at December term, 1792. In it he mentions his wife, Rachel, and his children, Alexander, James, John, William, George, Polly, Nancy, Jenny and Rachel. He also alludes to James Elliott as a neighboring land-owner, and from this person, prob- ably, the highest point of the Great North Mountain was named. Of the children of William Crawford-
I. Alexander married Rachel Lessley, and his children were, (1.) William, whose wife was a daughter of Colonel Andrew Anderson, and whose children are Andrew A. Crawford, Mrs. Baxter Crawford, Mrs. Joseph B. Trimble and others. His youngest son, James Robert, gradu- ated at the Virginia Military Institute, served on the staff of Colonel William L. Jackson during the late war, was wounded at Droop Moun- tain, and died April 26; 1864. (2.) Polly married James Lessley, her second cousin, and is still living (1888) on a part of the domain acquired by her great-grandfather, Alexander. (3.) Rebecca, wife of Captain James Bell, whom she long survived. (4.) James, who married his full cousin, Rachel, daughter of John Crawford, and died in Texas.
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(5.) Rachel, wife of Henry Bear, whose son, Christian A. Bear, now lives on a part of the 1,640 acre tract. (6.) Alexander, whose wife was Mary Hottle, and whose children are William T. Crawford and others. He was the founder of ' Crawford's Springs," now called Augusta White Sulphur.
2. James Crawford, son of William, married Nancy Sawyers and went to Tennessee.
John, William and George, the third, fourth and fifth children of Wil- liam, also went to Tennessee.
6. Polly, wife of John Armstrong, had two sons: William, who went to Texas, and John, who went to Missouri.
7. Nancy, wife of James Tolman of Pocahontas county.
8. Jenny, wife of John Gillespie of Tennessee.
9. Rachael died young and unmarried.
II. Edward Crawford, son of Alexander and Mary, graduated at Prince- ton College in 1775, and was licensed as a preacher in 1777. He was a member of Lexington Presbytery at its organization, September 26, 1786, and was appointed to preach for a month in Tygart's Valley and Harrison county. At the meetings of Presbytery, in April and Septem- ber, 1792, at Lexington and Harrisonburg, respectively, he was the Moderator. Subsequently, he became a member of Abingdon Presby- tery, living in Southwest Virginia or East Tennessee.
III. John Crawford, third son of Alexander and Mary, was married three times successively. His first wife was Peggy, eldest daughter of his uncle, Patrick Crawford, by whom he had one daughter, who mar- ried Daniel Falls and went to Ohio. His second wife was Mary Craig, by whom he had a son, Samuel, and five daughters. Samuel went to Illinois, and is said to have had sixteen children. Nothing is known of the five daughters, except that one of them, Polly, was the wife of the Rev. Samuel Gillespie of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
The third wife of John Crawford was Sally Newman of Fredericks- burg, and she had five children who lived to maturity : James, William and John, all of whom emigrated to Missouri, about 1838; a daughter, Nancy, wife of LeRoy Newman, her first cousin; and another, Fanny, wife of Henry Rippetoe, who still survives.
John Crawford was a man of great energy and activity. It is said that he was engaged in all the expeditions of his day against the Indians, including Point Pleasant. He was a soldier during the whole Revolu- tionary war, and when not in the field was employed in making guns and other weapons, having acquired his father's skill as an iron-worker. The day after the battle of the Cowpens, in which he participated, he was promoted from the ranks to a first lieutenancy on account of his gallantry in that celebrated battle. He was also at Guilford, and with General Greene in all his southern campaign. Yet he never would ac- cept pension or bounty lands.
Like his father, however, John Crawford was desirous of acquiring a large landed estate, and there was a brisk competition between him and
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his neighbor, Francis Gardiner (pronounced by the old people " Francie Garner ") as to the ownership of the Little North Mountain range. As related, each discovered about the same time that a certain tract of a hundred acres had not been patented, and both sought to acquire it. Gardiner got ahead of Crawford by starting to Richmond first, but the latter mounted a blooded mare and never rested till he reached the capital, passing his rival on the way. Crawford emerged from the land office with his title complete, and met Gardiner at the door going in. The mare, which was no doubt worth much more than the land, died from the effects of the trip.
It is a pity to spoil a grand story by suggesting a doubt in reference to it, but it must be mentioned that such a trip to Richmond could hardly have been necessary in order to obtain title to vacant land, as the county surveyor was authorized to make the entry. Nevertheless, the main portions of the story are well authenticated.
The rivalry between the two neighbors waxed hot, and meeting one day while prospecting on the mountain, they became engaged in a fight, of which one or both, no doubt, duly repented.
John Crawford died at his home on Buffalo branch, in January, 1832, and was buried in Hebron church-yard. His tombstone gives his age as ninety-one years, and, if correctly, he was the oldest son of Alex- ander and Mary, instead of the third.
IV. James Crawford, fourth son of Alexander and Mary, became a Presbyterian minister, and was licensed to preach in 1779, He removed to Kentucky, and was for many years pastor of Walnut Hill church, near Lexington.
V. Alexander Crawford, fifth child of Alexander and Mary, was at the battle of Point Pleasant. His first wife was a Miss Hopkins, and his second a Mrs. McClure. The children of the first wife were Polly, Betsy, Kitty and Sally; and of the second, James E., William, George, Samuel and Robert. He lived on Walker's creek, Rockbridge, and was - for many years an elder in New Providence church. His death oc- curred June 19, 1830. Three of his sons-William, George and Samuel -died young. Robert lived and died on his father's homestead in Rockbridge. A grandson of his, Rev. Alexander Crawford, is now (1888) pastor of a church at Campbellsville, Kentucky. James E. Craw- ford spent the latter years of his life in the Great Calf Pasture, Augusta. His children are Baxter Crawford and others.
[Another Alexander Crawford died the latter part of 1764, or early in 1765. The inventory of his estate was filed March 19, 1765. He had at least two children, Mary and Rebecca, for whom a William Crawford qualified as guardian in 1768. What family he belonged to, we cannot ascertain.]
VI. Rebecca, daughter of Alexander and Mary Crawford, married John Sawyers, and went to Tennessee or Kentucky.
VII, Bettie Crawford is said to have died in Kentucky.
VIII. Samuel Crawford, the eighth child. Nothing is known of him,
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except what we find in his will, if, indeed, he was the Samuel Crawford whose will was admitted to record at July court, 1795. It speaks of testator's wife Elizabeth and son William; authorizes his brother James to sell land "in Cumberland "; directs his executors to sell a lot in "Nashville, in Cumberland "; and appoints William McPheeters, John Crawford and testator's widow, executors. The son William is said to have gone to Tennessee.
IX. Robert Crawford is said to have married a daughter of his uncle Patrick. The will of a person of this name was proved and admitted to record, October 29, 1810. The testator mentions his wife, Sarah, and his children, George, Elizabeth, Hugh, James, Jane, Robert, William and John. John and William Poage were appointed executors. Noth- ing more can be ascertained in reference to this family. It is strange that they should have disappeared from the county, "leaving no rack " behind.
X. Martha Crawford married Alexander Craig of the Little Calf Pas- ture, Augusta county. All her children went West, except the late Robert Craig, who died at his home near Craigsville, in 1872.
XI. Mary Crawford died unmarried at the home of her sister, Mrs. Craig.
Patrick Crawford lived on the farm lying on Middle river, east of the macadamized turnpike, now owned by his descendant, John H. Crawford. His wife was Sally Wilson. They had nine children-four sons and five daughters. In 1756, Patrick Crawford was a member of Captain James Allen's company of militia, and at a court-martial held September 2, 1757, he was fined for not appearing at a general muster. His will was proved in the county court, December 18, 1787, and his personal estate, including slaves, amounted to £2,462, 35, 7d, about $8,216.
In regard to several of his daughters, much confusion and uncertainty exists. Elizabeth, the oldest child, and wife of Alexander Robertson, is said to have been born October 18, 1751, although the Rev. John Craig baptized Martha, daughter of Patrick Crawford, in November, 1748. The probability is that this child, Martha, died in infancy, and that another born later was called by the same name. The next daugh- ter, Margaret, or Peggy, was the first wife of her cousin, John Crawford, of North Mountain. One daughter is said to have married a McChes- ney-her father refers in his will to his grandson, George McChesney. Another daughter, Sarah, married Robert Crawford. Martha, born May 10, 1761, was the second wife of Colonel Andrew Anderson, Mary, or Polly, the youngest daughter, was the wife of James Crawford, who will be mentioned hereafter.
The sons of Patrick and Sally Crawford were:
I. George Crawford, to whom his father left the plantation on which he resided. He was born October 1, 1754, and married Nancy Winter. Mrs. Crawford's parents were William and Ann Boone Winter, the latter an aunt of Daniel Boone. Elizabeth Winter, a sister of Mrs. Crawford,
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married Abraham Lincoln, the grandfather of President Lincoln; and Hannah Winter, another sister, married Henry Miller, the founder of Miller's Iron Works, on Mossy creek, Augusta county. (See page 40). It may be mentioned that the grandfather of President Lincoln, then living in the part of Augusta county which is now Rockingham, at- tended a court-martial at Staunton, March 13, 1776, as captain of a militia company. His name was written " Abraham Linkhorn."
All the children of George and Nancy Crawford were daughters, viz : 1. Nancy, wife of John Miller ; 2. Hannah, wife of Harry Miller ; 3. Sally, second wife of James Bell, died childless ; 4. Jane, first wife of Franklin McCue ; 5. Martha, wife of Peter Hanger ; 6. Polly, wife of James Bour- land; 7. Rebecca, died unmarried; and 8. Margaret, wife of James Walker, died childless.
II. John Crawford, second son of Patrick and Sally, and known as Major John Crawford, was born March 29, 1764. His wife was Rebecca Allen, daughter of Captain James Allen (see "The Allens,") and his chil- dren were: I. Elizabeth, wife of Captain William Ingles ; 2. Sally, wife of John Hyde ; 3. Margaret, first wife of Cyrus Hyde ; 4. James, known as Major James Crawford, married Cynthia McClung, of Greenbrier, whose son, John . H., owns the Patrick Crawford farm ; 5. John, married Harriet McClung, of Greenbrier; 6. George W., died unmarried ; 7. Ann, or Nancy, second wife of Franklin McCue; 8. Mary, wife of Dr. Edward G. Moorman ; and 9. Rebecca, wife of Stuart McClung, of Greenbrier.
III. William Crawford, son of Patrick and Sally, was born August 6, 1767. His wife was Nancy Smith. (See. "The Smiths.") He lived in Rockingham, and was the father of the late Benjamin Crawford, of Staunton, William Crawford, of Fort Defiance, and others.
IV. James Crawford, twin brother of William, died unmarried.
The James Crawford, who married Mary, daughter of Patrick Craw- ford, died in 1798, leaving to survive him his widow and six children. A seventh child was born after her father's death. His sons were George, William, James and John; and his daughters, Sarah, Elizabeth and Polly. George died unmarried and under age; William also died unmarried, as did James, who was known as "Jocky Jim Crawford "; John married Margaret Bell, daughter of Major William Bell, and died in 1819, without issue; Sarah Crawford married Charles McClung, Elizabeth married Colonel Samuel McClung. and Polly (the posthumous child) was the first wife of John Allen. (See " The Allens.")
We have found it impossible to obtain any satisfactory account of the parentage of the late Colonel James Crawford. or of his relationship with the Patrick Crawford family. His father, said to have been named John. died while a young man, leaving two children-James and Samuel. These boys were reared by a paternal uncle called "Robin," who re- moved to Kentucky. James Crawford, recently mentioned, who died in 1798, is said to have been a brother of John and Robin. Colonel Crawford was a lawyer in Staunton for many years. After retiring from
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the bar to his farm, he was an efficient justice of the peace, president of the county court, etc., etc. His first wife was a sister of Erasmus Stribling, and his second, the widow of his cousin, John Crawford. Cap- tain Samuel Crawford, brother of James, was the Lieutenant Crawford of the war of 1812. (See page 233.) His wife was a daughter of the Rev. William Wilson.
THE BELLS.
Three or more persons named Bell, not at all related, as far as known, were among the early settlers of Augusta county. Two of these, and perhaps three, were named James. A James Bell was a member of the first County Court.
To distinguish between the families, we shall designate them by the respective neighborhoods in which they lived-North Mountain, Stone Church, and Long Glade.
North Mountain Betls .- The first of this family in the county was James Bell, who located on a tract of land one mile and a half east of Buffalo Gap, on a part of which his descendant, John Christian, lives at present (1888). It was his dwelling that was raided by Indians, as related on page 30. His children were three sons, James, Samuel and Francis, and three daughters, Ann, Betty and Mary.
I. James Bell, son of James, removed to Kentucky and located near Lexington. He was a near neighbor of Henry Clay, who consequently visited the Bells of Buffalo Gap several times on his trips to and from Washington.
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