|
 Our
Crabtree Line - English
"The Crabtree family originated in
Yorkshire, England -- the name coming from the fact that they lived by the
Crabtree in the County of York. The earliest record (from the Crabtree's of
Southwest Virginia--no longer in print) was of John Crabtree who lived in
Yorkshire around the end of the 14th century; William Crabtree of Yorkshire,
during the same time period; William Crabtree of the Parish of Snaithe,
Yorkshire 1412; and a bit later, John Crabtree of Halifax, Yorkshire. All
the Crabtree's are thought to have common origin in the Crabtree's of
Yorkshire." (Crabtree Tule River Patriarchs, Marilyn Meredith, 1984, Golden
West Publishers)
The Crabtree name can, with a high degree of accuracy, be traced back to
14th century England. At about that time the use of surnames became popular.
As far as we know, the Family Crabtree started in only one place, a village in
Yorkshire. It seems that this large family group was centered about one
large Crabapple Tree! The first known record of a Crabtree coming to America
was in 1622 in Massachusetts. The record of these Crabtree's vanishes until
some Crabtree's magically appear in Philadelphia and then move on to
Baltimore. (Source: "The Crabtree's of Southwest Virginia".
 There are two conflicting stories on the
parents of William, some authors site one couple and others another. I
have not had time to investigate this discrepancy yet.
From a recent trip to the LDS Library in Salt Lake, I have several excerpts
from books published on this Crabtree line, one is "Leaving a Trail,
Crabtree,Bales, Jackson and Presley by Norma Jean Crabtree, Prinit Press,
Dublin, Indiana I also have the book "The Crabtree's of South West Virginia"
from which some of this information is derived.
First Generation
John CRABTREE b: ABT. 1550 d: 1587
married on June 10. 1574 to Alice b: ABT. 1555 d: 1614.
NOTES: For John
Crabtree: John Crabtree was a Husbandman 'Farmer' under the STANLEY
Family in 1583. His first wife is unknown, but she died in 1573 & in 1574 he
married Alice surname unknown. John had a brother William born
1550+, buried 29 May 1587, about 1573 William married Ellen surname unknown,
buried 10 Dec 1613 John's will was dated 1 Jun 1585 and was PROVED 29 Jan
1587 or 88, all the children except the last named in his will.
John Crabtree and
Alice
Unknown had the following Children:
|
i |
William CRABTREE b: ABT 1576
in Broughton, Lancashire, England |
|
ii |
Jone CRABTREE b: ABT 1577 |
|
iii |
Margaret CRABTREE b: ABT 1578 |
Second Generation
William CRABTREE b: ABT. 1576 d:
1632 married a Grace Cortney. b: ABT. 1576 d: 1622.
They had the following children:
|
i |
Thomas CRABTREE b: 19 SEP
1610 in Broughton, Lancashire, England |
|
ii |
John CRABTREE b: 6 MAR
1595/96 |
|
iii |
Mary CRABTREE b: 18 MAR
1598/99 |
|
iv |
Abraham CRABTREE b: 17 JAN
1600/01 |
|
v |
Ashworth CRABTREE b: ABT 1602 |
|
ii |
Catherine CRABTREE b: ABT
1604 |
|
vii |
Margaret CRABTREE b: 16 NOV
1606 |
|
viii |
Isaac CRABTREE b: ABT 1608 |
Third Generation
Thomas CRABTREE
19 SEP 1610 in Broughton, Lancashire, England and
Married Rebecca Unknown:
They had the following Children:
|
i |
Thomas Crabtree Jr. b: 1 JAN
1649/50 in Broughton, Yorkshire, England |
|
ii |
Mignon CRABTREE b: ABT 1636 |
|
iii |
Samuel CRABTREE b: ABT 1638 |
|
iv |
David CRABTREE b: ABT 1640 |
|
v |
Anna Marie CRABTREE b: ABT
1642 |
|
ii |
John CRABTREE b: ABT 1644 |
|
vii |
Rebecca CRABTREE b: ABT 1646 |
Fourth Generation
Thomas James CRABTREE b: abt 1657
married Elizabeth WEBBER.
They had the following children:
|
i |
William H. CRABTREE b: 6 MAR
1681/82 in Broughton, Yorkshire Co., England |
|
ii |
Sarah M. CRABTREE b: ABT 1674 |
|
iii |
John Joseph CRABTREE b: ABT
1676 |
|
iv |
Lewis CRABTREE b: ABT 1678 |
|
v |
Charlotte CRABTREE b: ABT
1680 |
Fifth Generation
 William Crabtree I was born
March 6, 1682 in Broughton, Yorkshire,
England, son of James (Thomas) Crabtree and Elizabeth Webber
in several generations
after this couple the name Webber shows up as a middle name,
including my own in the early 1800s in Kentucky, proving to me at least, of
the connection.
On May 3, 1703 (age 21) in Broughton,
William married
Jane P. Halstead (age 15). Jane was born
June 6, 1687 in Migby, York County, England, daughter of James
Halstead and Grace Courtney (DeCourtney). Note: Jane's name could
be Pendleton, but her last name is unproven at this point.
NOTES: William Crabtree and
Jane E. Halstead sailed from England in 1705 with
their one year old son, William Jr., and settled on a plantation where Stout
Bottle Creek flows into Deer Creek in Baltimore County, Maryland (now
Harford County). Deer Creek, in turn, flows into the Susquehanna near Port
Deposit.
William was a farmer who probably lived near Leeds in Yorkshire County,
England. He received a grant of several hundred acres in Baltimore County,
Maryland, no doubt to encourage him to migrate to America and settle on the
lands of Lord Baltimore.
William was bonded to James Hogg from 1698-1703
as a Husbandman. Jane Halstead was bonded to James Hogg from
1698-1703 as well. The Crabtree's
were members of the Church of England and attended the Anglican church in
Old Joppa Towne, MA.
 The Crabtree family grew and prospered in the New
World. William increased his land holdings and was even able to purchase the
services of an Irish indentured servant name Alexander Anderson.
William had a second servant as referred to in his will plus a Negro who may
have been an indentured servant or possibly a slave. On October 12, 1716,
William received a grant of land 'Patent FF #7' of l00 acres in Baltimore
County, Maryland. This tract of land called "Labour" lay in Baltimore CO. in
Wood Forest. The deed states "beginning at a bounded white oak Standing in a
bottom branch of Deer Creek...."
A descendant, Royale Crabtree, visited the
site of William's home, however, nothing remained but a small building.
Royale also examined the grants held by William from Charles II, King of
England. In this neighborhood also lived the Italian family of Poteet, the
Pyke and Throckmorton families, and the plantation of the former Count Louis
Dumas, called, 'Frenchman's Repose', who had fled from France to Holland.
His son, Louis, came to America and was married to Catherine. Their
daughter, Catherine, married William's son, James Crabtree.
Several years later on
April 1725, he had l00 acres surveyed which he had
purchased from Thomas Bond on the south side of Deer Creek. This land
was located on a ridge between Winters Run and Deer Creek beginning at three
chestnuts being the bounds of Abraham Whitacres land. In 1730 William
II purchased 100 acres in Maryland, Baltimore Co. which was called "Begin".
In 1738 a tract called "Williams Lott" was sold to James Billingsley.
A tract called "Brothers Lott" was surveyed as 95 acres in 1745.
Thomas bought 18 acres from his brother William. On Aug 4, 1757 he
sold James Perrin 100 acres called "Begin" on Deer Creek. On Sep. 16,
1757, William and Thomas sold James Perrin 63 acres of "Brothers Lott".
William I died September 10, 1756 (age 74) in Baltimore County, Maryland,
and Jane died there on March 17, 1759 (age 71).
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An abstract of Wm.
Crabtree's will is as follow:
I, William Crabtree of Baltimore County in the Providence of
Maryland, being weak and sick in body, but in perfect sound mind
and memory thanks be give to Almighty God, therefore but calling to
mind the uncertain state of this transitory life do for the better
settlement of my temporal affairs and disposal of such Estate as God
has blessed me withal, make and ordain this may last will and
testament revoking and thereby disannulling all former will or wills,
testament or testaments by me heretofore made and herby constituting
and appointing this present writing to contain my last Will and
Testament, which I make as follows,
Viz: I give and bequeath to my
loving wife Jane Crabtree my dwelling plantation with one
hundred and fifty acres of land of the Southern most and during her
natural life or widowhood that shall first happen then to go to my
son, William Crabtree, his heirs and assigns forever. I likewise
give and bequeath unto my loving wife Jane Crabtree one
Irish serving lad called Alexander Anderson, during her widowhood
then to go to my son William Crabtree,
2nd, I give and bequeath
to my son, Thomas Crabtree, one servant man that Samuel Webb
owes me, to him and his heirs and assigns.
3rd. I give and bequeath to
my son John Crabtree one hundred and fifty acres of land
adjoining to where he now lives, being the northeast part to him, his
heirs and assigns forever.
I also give and bequeath to my son, John
Crabtree, one Negro boy called Duke to him, his heirs and assigns
forever, but my will is that my son John Crabtree shall pay unto
his brother, James Crabtree, Five Pounds current money in goods
and chattels. And also unto his brother Samuel Crabtree Five
pounds current money in goods and Chattels. And as for the remaining
part of my Estate, personable Estate, my will and mind is that my
wife, Jane Crabtree, shall have her equal thirds out of it and the
remainder to be equally shared betwixt my five sons, and three
daughters, share and share alike without any administration.
I further appoint that my wife, Jane Crabtree, and 5 sons and 3
daughters shall at an equal share in paying all my just debts and
burying in a decent manner.
In witness whereof I shall to this present writing containing one side
and piece of paper, set my hand and affix my seal the day and year
above written. His mark.
William X Crabtree
Signed, Sealed and Delivered in the Presence of Thomas Bond, Jacob
Bond and Rebecca Pattee. This will was probated on October 9, 1756 by
the oath of Jacob Bond.
Jane Crabtree died March 17, 1759 in Baltimore County, Maryland.
ACCOUNTS
WILLIAM CRABTREE 1757-58 Hall of Records, Annapolis, MD. Will
Department Labor 41 pg. 337: The Account of James Billingsley
Executor of William
Crabtree State of Baltimore County Deceased.
This Accountant Chargeth himself with the whole
amount of the Deceased Inventory Exhibits unto
the Perrogative Office amounting to the Sum of L62 16 1O ½
And he Graves allowance of the following Payments
and Disbursements Viz.
Of Current Money due from the Deceased to a Alexander
Anderson as of Account proved and paid by this
Accountant as of Receipt Appears L 0 12 6
Of Current Money paid the appraisers for their services
and Drawing the Inventory 0 10 0
Of Funeral Charges allowed being Charged to John Crabtree 1 6 7
Of Current money paid by this Accountant to Thomas
Crabtree one of the Sons of the Deceased in part of his
filial portial as of Receipt Appears 3 -- 10 1/2
Of Current Money paid by D0 the didow of the
Deceased Jane Crabtree for her third part of the
Deceased Estate 9 15 0
Of Money paid John Crabtree for himself and
Samuel Crabtree by this Accountant as of
Receipt Appears 7 11 10 ½
Of D of sum to James Crabtree as of this Recept
Appears for Part of the Deceased Estate 6 0 0
Of Current money paid by this Accountant to
William Grabtree as of his Receipt Appears part
of Deceased Estate 5 15 1
Of Current money paid Benjamin Colgate for a
Horse valued by two Referrees 7 0 0
Of Current money allowed for Reping and
Threshing the Wheat 1 16 6
Of D0 allowed it being a mistake in the
Lands of Abraham Jarratt 0 7 0
Of Current money paid William Young for
approved Account against the Deceased 0 13 3
Of Current money allowed for Cominy fees paid by this Account. 22A
at 12/6.
Of 50 D Job? paid William Young Deputy Commissary for Paying this
account and Drawing Stating this Account
1 0 0
0 9 0
Of _ of Coat allowed this Account on L 13 16 10 1 7 O~
This is a final aoct.
Payments y Disbursements Balance due
The Estate Accounts for
L47 19 0~
14 10
~ 2 1 10x
January 5th, 1759 James Billingsly Ex. of William Crabtree makes
oath that the above Account is Just and True which after due
Examination is 0
BY
Win. Young D'y Com'y of Baltimore County
**John Crabtree did not take care of Samuel Crabtree, as one
researcher stated. He only collected some money to give to Samuel,
along with some for himself.
Charlotte Fisher.
78
January 1st, 1759 Estate Accounts Final distribution Book.
Liber 2 Folio 78. pg. 28 1758 Book - Annapolis file - William
Crabtree's Estate, Baltimore Co., Md.
James Billingsley Executor of William Crabtree dec'd.
To the deceased's estate then amounted for L 62.16.1O~
By Disbursements allowed b 47.19. O~
Balance due to be served accordingly to law and the deceased's Will
is Balance to be distributed
~J!LW.OL
b 62.1 6.1O~
The above balance is thus distributed viz?
To the widow one third which is 11.19 3/4
To ditto a servant lad not appraised.
To Thomas Crabtree one servant man not appraised.
To John Crabtree one Negro boy called Duke not appraised.
The residue to be equally divided between his five sons and
daughters.
1729- Gift: William Crabtree to son Thomas. 2 steers, 2 cows and a
yearling, June 4, 1729 - Leber J 3 Vol. 18
1747- Gift:William Crabtree to John
150 acres of Turkey Forest November 4, 1747
1756 Sept. 10 A True and perfect Inventory of the foods and chattles
rights and credit of William Crabtree late of Baltimore County,
Deceased, taken and appraised by the subscribers
wearing ap. Cattle
To his wearing apparrel -10-
To 2 cows at 3L10 ea 7-
To 2 ditto ones small at 3~ each 6-
To 2 large heifers at 2~10 each 5-
To 1 small steer at 1~10 each 1-10-
To 2 small ditto at 30~ each 3-
To 2 yearlings at 15L each 1-10
Sheep
House
Hogs
To 2 sheep at 7L each -14
To one old house 3-
To 2 hogs at 1OL each
4 small ditto at 7L ea 2- 8
To 8 pigs at 2~ each
Beds
To one old feather bed and furniture -16-
To one old D Boalster and Ruggs 2-15
To 1 old flock bed and furniture 2- 5
Tindercask
To 2 old sider barrels at 2b each -4-
To 2 large ditto old at 5~ each -10-
To 1 ditto & ditto at 4~ -4-
Ironware
To pair small rings and 3 wedges -10-
To a parcell of carpenter tools -11-
To one iron trestle - 3-
To 2 old iron tooth harrow containing
37 teeth -12- 6
To One pair plow chains -10-
To a parcell of horse harness -11-
To one old plow with shear and coulter - 5-
To I old broad ax, narrow ditto 1
hatchett - 3-
Hides
To 2 slauter hides at 5 f pound -11-
To 2 broad hoes one harrow ditto one
grubing ditto - 5-
To one old cross saw - 5-
To one old chart -10-
Pewter
To 12 Pc of pewter a~ 1/6 -18-
To 13 1/2 d old at g -10-12
To 1 tin quart pott 1
To pair of old sheeps head 6
To 2 old sifters 1
To 2 earthen Bottles 6-
To 1 pail and one piggen 4- 6
To 1. old coin bagg 2- 6
To 2 old wheels one worling one linning 5
To 1 frying pan 5/ 5
To 1 iron pott and pott hooks at 8
To one large d and ditto old 8
To iron 2/6 2-6
To 4 old rush bottom chairs 2/ 8
To one bell 3
To a clevis and bold a hook and swingle
tree and staples 7 gamblet one belt
buckle & some old iron 4
To one old popler table 1/6 one old
large d 2/6 4
To one old hammer - 9-
To one old tobacco hogshead 3/2 old tubs
and one old washing tubb d 6
To 9 # tobacco at 10 / 16-10
To one old chizel and one old hoe 1
To? of wool 9
To 36 1/2 busheal of wheat at 3/ 5- 9- 6
To 24 bushels of indian corn at 2/ 2- 8-
To 164 side of pork at 20/1097 side of
dried beef at 3 2-17-
To one pair old wool cards 6/ to d at 1/ 1- 6
To one frying pan at 1/6 1 bee at 1/ 2- 6
To one yard of cotton at 3/9 1-10 1/2
by credit at Rob Adairs store for 2
by Abraham Jarrett
by d in cash due from Abraham Garrett 5
by d paid by Ditto Abraham Garrett 7- 6
to one bushel of oats 1- 6
To one old hammer and one old handsaw, file 1
Signed by the two nearest of kin 62-16-10 1/2
Daniel Preston
Thomas Johnson
his
James X Grabtree
mark
his
John X Crabtree
mark
Signed by the two greatest creditors
his
John X Crabtree
mark
November 3rd 1756 James Billingsley Executor of William Crabtree
late of Baltimore County deceased made oath on the holy Evangalist
of Almighty God that the written arid foregoing is a just and
perfect inventory of all and singular the goods and chattles which
were of the decd that were come to his hands at the time of the
making thereof and that what hath since or shall hence after come to
his hands or possession he will return in an additional inventory
that he knows of no concealment of any part or parcell thereof by
any person whatsoever that if he shall discover any concealment of
suspect any to be he will acquaint the commissionary General for the
time being or his Deputy with such discovery or cause of suspicion
that it may be inquired into and that he will well and truly give an
account of all and every part of the deceaseds personal estate that
shall hereafter come to his hands, possession or knowledge. Sworn
before
(?) Young D. Commissionary.
Jan. 5, 1759 Estate Accounts.
Final Distribution Book, Liber 2, Folio 78, p. 28
1758 Book, Annapolis file. William Crabtree's Estate. Baltimore Co.,
Md.
Amount 1L~.17.10 secured by law
62.16.10 balance to be distributed
To widow, 1/2 shich is 11.19. 3/4
To Thomas Crabtree, one servant man not appraised
To widow a servant lad not appraised
To John Crabtree one Negro boy called Duke not appraised
Residue divided equally between his five sons and three daughters.
(no names shown)
Children: William, Thomas, Grace, Ann, James, John, Elizabeth and
Samuel.
|
| William I, Land Records
1. "Baltimore County Debt Book- 1754", published
by F. Edward Wright, Inhabitants of Baltimore County, 1692-1763,
(Silver Spring, MD: Family Line Pub, c1987), p 51.
William
Crabtree Junr was mentioned, William Crabtree part of Turkey
Forrist, and William Pike part of Whitikers Lot.
2. Purchase of 100 acres of land on the southside of Our Creek
by William Crabtree from Thomas Bond known as "Crabtree Lott",
26 Apr 1725, Arah Miller Fritz and Margaret Milam McProud, The
Crabtrees of Southwest Virginia, (Pecos, TX: Hawks Printing,
1965), p 22 Norma Jean Crabtree, Leaving a Trail, (Dublin, IB:
Prinit Press, 1987), pp 3 and 4.
3. Purchase of 100 acres of land in Baltimore County by William
Crabtree, 1726, Arah Miller Fritz and Margaret Milam McProud,
The Crabtrees of Southwest Virginia, (Pecos, TX: Hawks Printing,
1965), p 22 and in Norma Jean Crabtree, Leaving a Trail,
(Dublin, IB: Prinit Press, 1987), pp 3 and 4.
4. Purchase of 100 acres of land "Crabtree Addition to Baltimore
County", 1734, Arah Miller Fritz and Margaret Milam McProud, The
Crabtrees of Southwest Virginia, (Pecos, TX: Hawks Printing,
1965), p 22 and in Norma Jean Crabtree, Leaving a Trail,
(Dublin, IB: Prinit Press, 1987), pp 3 and 4. Norma Jean
identified the date as 25 Jul 1723.
5. Gift of 100 acres of land known as "Crabtree Lot" by William
Crabtree to Grace Hayes, 4 Jun 1728, Baltimore County, MD Deed
Book K, p 20 as viewed in LDS microfilm 0013572, Baltimore
County, MD Index to Grantors A-Z (1655-1769). Information also
found in Robert W. Barnes, Baltimore County Families 1659-1759,
(Baltimore: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1989), p 142 and in Arah
Miller Fritz and Margaret Milam McProud, The Crabtrees of
Southwest Virginia, (Pecos, TX: Hawks Printing, 1965), p 22.
6. Gift of 100 acres of land, two steers, two cows, and a
yearling by William Crabtree to Thomas Crabtree, 1729, Baltimore
County Deed Book K, p 22, as viewed in LDS microfilm 0013572,
Baltimore County, MD Index to Grantors A-Z (1655-1769) and in
LDS microfilm 0013581, Baltimore county, MD General Index to
Land Records A-Z (1655-1769) and in Arah Miller Fritz and
Margaret Milam McProud, The Crabtrees of Southwest Virginia,
(Pecos, TX: Hawks Printing, 1965), pp 18 and 22. The cattle were
apparently recorded on 4 Jun 1729 in Liber J 3, vol 18.
7. Purchase of 300 acres of land known as "Turkey Forest" by
William Crabtree and Thomas Johnson from Charles and Daniel
Carroll, 2 Nov 1739, Baltimore County, MD Deed Book IA, p 298 as
viewed in LDS microfilm 0013581, Baltimore county, MD General
Index to Land Records A-Z (1655-1769) and in Arah Miller Fritz
and Margaret Milam McProud, The Crabtrees of Southwest Virginia,
(Pecos, TX: Hawks Printing, 1965), p 17.
8. Gift of 150 acres of land, part of "Turkey Forest", by
William Crabtree to John Crabtree, 4 Nov 1747, Baltimore County
Deed Book T. B. E, p 579 as viewed in LDS microfilm 0013572,
Baltimore County, MD Index to Grantors A-Z (1655-1769) and in
LDS microfilm 0013581, Baltimore County, MD General Index to
Land Records A-Z (1655-1769) and in Arah Miller Fritz and
Margaret Milam McProud, The Crabtrees of Southwest Virginia,
(Pecos, TX: Hawks Printing, 1965), pp 18 and 22. According to
Fritz, Thomas Franklin, a brother of Benjamin Franklin, was a
witness. Information also found in Robert W. Barnes, Baltimore
County Families 1659-1759, (Baltimore: Genealogical Pub. Co.,
1989), p 142. Barnes recorded the amount as 300 acres. 300 acres
could be correct because John sold two 150 parcels in Turkey
Forest later, but a second review of the index in film 0013572
showed 150 acres. Perhaps John purchased the other 150 acres at
another time.
9. Sale of 32 acres of land known as "Brothers Lott" (part of a
95 acre parcel) by William Crabtree to Thomas Crabtree, 16 Sep
1757, Baltimore County, MD Deed Book G, p 64 as viewed in LDS
microfilm 0013572, Baltimore County, MD Index to Grantors A-Z
(1655-1769), in LDS microfilm 0013581, Baltimore county, MD
General Index to Land Records A-Z (1655-1769), and in Arah
Miller Fritz and Margaret Milam McProud, The Crabtrees of
Southwest Virginia, (Pecos, TX: Hawks Printing, 1965), pp 17 and
18. |
William Crabtree and Jane Pendleton Halstead were married 03 May 1703 in
Broughton, Yorkshire, England had the following children:
|
i |
William Crabtree
-II Born abt 1704 in England. William died in Washington Co.,
MD abt 1774, he was 70.
William Crabtree II was born May 15, 1704 in Yorkshire, England, the
eldest of eight children of William Crabtree I and
Jane Pendleton Halstead.
On February 17, 1725 (age 20) in Kingsville, Baltimore County,
Maryland, he married Mary Pyke (age 17). Mary was born November
15, 1707 in Baltimore County, Maryland, daughter of William Pyke Sr.
and Mary Quamore. William II and Mary had five children, all born in
Baltimore County, Maryland: 1. William Crabtree III (1726-1777) m.
Hannah
Whitaker * 2.
ISAAC CRABTREE, b. 1757, Baltimore Co, Maryland; d. Bet.
1844 - 1847, Wayne County, Kentucky; m. SALLY PIKE, 1780, Baltimore
Co, Maryland; d. Unknown. Isaac served in the Virginia Militia as did
his brothers.
Isaac Crabtree Was One Of Two Survivors Of The
James Boone Massacre. (more below).
|
Notes for WILLIAM CRABTREE III:
This
family lived near Saltville Virginia.
2.
Elizabeth Crabtree (1728) m
James Poteet Sr. 3. Mary Virginia Crabtree (1730-) m. William Pike 4.
John Crabtree (1732-1802) m. Jemima Cook & Hannah Butcher 5. Thomas
Crabtree (1734-1774) m. Elizabeth Barton -
William, Jr., the eldest
son of William and Jane, does not appear on the record of births. He
is, however, mentioned several times in the will of his father. He
grew up in Baltimore County and followed in his father's footsteps,
farming the fertile bottomlands of northeastern Maryland. He owned
several hundred acres of land on which he raised livestock, tobacco
and wheat. It is said that William had strong religious beliefs; on
one occasion, he refused to pay for the services of a local teacher
after it became known he was Catholic. William, a strong Protestant,
could not condone this 'papist' instructing his children. William II
died before 1758 (age 54) in North Carolina, and Mary died before 1777
(age 70).
William Crabtree III, was among the most noted of the American Long
Hunters, he served in the Militia as well as in Lord Dunmore's war as
a scout and was said to have been tall and slender with red hair. He along with his
brother John, his brother in law John
James Poteet, went to Bedford Co. VA. about 1756-57. Later
he moved on to Washington Co. VA settling in the area where the city of
Saltville now stands. He received pay for services in the French
and Indian War in 1758, in 1774 he served as Scout and Guard at an
upper Fort. He reportedly was a Lt. in the Battle of Kings Mountain
under Gen. Campbell. He was reportedly captured by the Indians and
later escaped as recounted by John Carr.
He owned 98 Acres on North Fork, 5-26-1774, and 79 Acres on Rich
Valley North Fork Holston 12-5-1774.
Two other long hunters
of Powell Valley were William Crabtree and James Aldridge, both of
whom were probably in Wallen's hunting party of 1761. Of these two,
John Redd, says: "I have seen them both frequently, but know nothing
of interest connected with their long hunts. More of an Indian scout
and hunter than a farmer, William Crabtree was a real backwoodsman,
tall, slender and with slightly red hair."21 The Crabtree's lived on
the Holston, a numerous family, with many of the same name,
therefore it is hard to distinguish which William was the long
hunter, but it is believed he was the William who was a son of
William and Hannah Whittaker Crabtree whose residence was at the Big
Lick near Saltville. If so, he was born in Baltimore County,
Maryland, circa 1748. His first wife was Hannah Lyon, sister to the
long hunter, Humphrey Lyon. After her death he was married in 1777
to Katherine Starnes and she died in Tazewell County in 1818. The
father of William Crabtree, whose name was also William, lived near
the Salt Works (now Saltville) where he died in 1777. Redd says: "I
know not where Crabtree was from originally. In 1777 he was living
on Watauga, not far above its junction with the Holston. I know not
what finally became of him. He was about thirty years of age."
Of the long hunter, James Aldridge, this writer has been unable to
recover any data of significance, as he seems to be mentioned in
none of the court records. Some writers have said that he lived on
the New River, but John Redd says he lived in the neighborhood with
the Crabtrees on Holston. He is described as being about 30 years of
age, a dark haired, heavily built man, stoop shouldered, but with a
spritely mind.
Humberson Lyon was another of the long hunters who early hunted on
the Cumberland. He was a brother-in-law to William Crabtree, having
married his sister, Hanna Crabtree. His will was exhibited in
Washington County, Virginia, court on March 16, 1784, and proven by
the oaths of Isaac, Job, and Hanna Crabtree, and who, along with
William Crabtree were witnesses to the will. Abraham Crabtree was
Administrator and his Securities were William and James Crabtree.
The will was probated March 16, 1784, and he left his estate to his
wife and sons, William, James, Stephen, and Jacob, and daughter
Susanna. Humerson Lyon was a Juror in Fincastle County in 1773, and
was recommended Captain in the Washington County, Virginia militia,
October 9, 1780.
* Jacob Crabtree,
son of William Crabtree III and Hannah Whitaker, born about 1759,
Bedford, Virginia, went with a company of thirty men, in March of
1775, led by Daniel Boone, and marked a path through the forest to the
Kentucky River. They arrived on April 6, 1777 at Big Lick on the
Kentucky River just below the mouth of Otter Creek. Here it was
decided to build a town called Boonesborough.
The men in the
expedition were: Daniel Boone, Squire Boone, Edward Bradley,
James Bridges, William Bush, Samuel Coburn, Coln. Richard Calloway,
Capt. Jacob Crabtree, Benjamin Cutbuth, David Gass, John Hart,
William Hays, William Hicks, Edmund Jennings, Thomas Johnson, John
Kennedy, John King, William Miller, William Moore, James Nall, James
Peeke, Barlet Scary, Reuben Seary, Michael Stoner, Samuel Tate, Oswell
Townes, Capt. William Twitty, John Vandeman, Felix Walker |
I have Hannah Whitaker married to
William Crabtree III and John married to
Hannah Butcher.
"Marriage of William Crabtree and Hannah
Whitaker", 27 May 1746, as recorded in St. John's and St. George's
P.E. Church Parish Registers 1696-1851, Baltimore and Harford Cos.,
MD, p 195 as viewed in LDS microfilm 0014132. Information also
recorded in Robert Barnes, Maryland Marriages 1634-1777, (Baltimore:
Gen Pub. Co., 1975), p 43; in Robert W. Barnes, Baltimore County
Families 1659-1759, (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1989),
p 143; in Henry C. Peden, Jr., St. John's and St. George's Parish
Registers,
Baltimore and Harford County, Maryland 1696-1851, (1987), p 88; in
Norma Jean Crabtree, Leaving a Trail, (Dublin, IN: Prinit Press,
1987), p 4; in Arah Miller Fritz and Margaret Milan McProud, The
Crabtree's of Southwest Virginia, (Pecos, TX: Hawks Printing, 1965),
p 26; and in Roderick Stephen Lewis, The Crabtree Family of Wayne
County, W. Va., (Huntington, W. Va: author, 1975), pp 1-3,5.
Information also recorded in the LDS IGI for Maryland. Batch #
8625208, sheet 71, listed the marriage on 2 May 1746 in Joppe, St.
John's Parish, Baltimore County. Info also in Anne Wynn Laningham,
Early Settlers of Lee County, Virginia, Vol 1 (Media Inc:
Greensboro, NC, 1977), pp 95 and 97.
"Marriage of Jno. Crabtree and Hannah Butcher", 22 Apr 1755, as
recorded in St. John's and St. George's P.E. Church Parish Registers
1696-1851, Baltimore and Harford Cos., MD, p 212 as viewed in LDS
microfilm 0014132. Information also recorded in Robert Barnes,
Maryland Marriages 1634-1777, (Baltimore: Gen Pub. Co., 1975), p 43;
in Robert W. Barnes, Baltimore County Families 1659-1759,
(Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1989), p 143; in Henry C.
Peden, Jr., St. John's and St. George's Parish Registers,
Baltimore and Harford County, Maryland 1696-1851, (1987), p 98; in
Arah Miller Fritz and Margaret Milan McProud, The Crabtree's of
Southwest Virginia, (Pecos, TX: Hawks Printing, 1965), p 20; and in
Roderick Stephen Lewis, The Crabtree Family of Wayne County, W. Va.,
(Huntington, W. Va: author, 1975), pp 1-3,5. Information also
recorded in the LDS IGI for
Maryland per batch # 7536503, sheet 11. Info also in Anne Wynn
Laningham, Early Settlers of Lee County, Virginia, Vol 1 (Media Inc:
Greensboro, NC, 1977), p 95.
Ralph |
|
ii |
Thomas Crabtree -
Born on 12 Oct 1707 in Baltimore Co., MD. Thomas married Mary
or Susannah Poteet. In 1729 received a gift from his father
of 100 acres, 2 steers, 2 cows, a yearling.
MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS FROM NORTH
CAROLINA From Abstracts of N, C, Wills, by Olds: O r a n g e
Co:
CRABTREE, THOMAS - 1774 - William ,
John, Mary, Elizabeth, James, Thomas
Thomas Crabtree, son of William and Jane married a Poteet girl, John
Poteet had three sons and three daughters, namely James, Thomas,
John, Susannah, Elizabeth, and a girl whose name is undetermined,
There was also a son, Abraham, who may have been a twin of
Elizabeth, born June 20, 1717, and who may not have lived to
maturity, John Poteet Srs wife was Elizabeth. Elizabeth Poteet,
daughter of John & Elizabeth, married Charles Simmons at St, Johns
Church, Oct, 19, 1742. James Poteet married Elizabeth Crabtree Sept.
20, 1748.
(This is not proved to have been the son of John and Elizabeth) ,
Thomas Crabtree married either Susannah Poteet or her sister. The
will of John Poteet of Baltimore Co, would probably determine which
daughter was married to whom, Thomas Crabtree removed to Orange Co,,
North Carolina, died at Hillsboro in 1774. The Carolina Crabtree's
are of the Poteet line; The Poteet family lived on an adjoining
plantation in Baltimore County. Old Giwanni (John) Patitte was an
Italian, his descendants are known as Pateets, Pateete, Pattee, and
many other variants, Petite, Pettitt.
Abraham Isaac Whitaker and Mary Pattee were married 15 Dec, 1757,
James Whitaker and Catherine Pattee were married 1 Sept. 1747,
Devisor Crabtree, Thomas, Crabtree, Wm, |
|
iii |
Grace Crabtree -
Born on 29 May 1711 in Baltimore Co., MD. Grace married John
Hayes. |
|
iv |
Ann Crabtree -
Born on 15 JAN 1713/14 in Baltimore Co., MD. Ann married William
Wilburn\Welborn. |
|
v |
James Crabtree -
Born on 20 FEB 1715/16 in Baltimore Co., MD. James died in Washington
Co., MD in Aug 1784, he was 69. James married Catherine Dumas\DeMoss,
daughter of Louis and Catherine Dumas (later known as DeMoss).
Catherine died BET. AUG 1784 - JUN 1796. Children:
William, Thomas, James, Lewis. |
|
vi |
John Crabtree -
(September 5, 1718 ~1799) our line; it is
John's nephew Isaac who is with Daniel Boone's party when they
go into Kentucky (the first time) for exploration purposes.
Isaac witnessed Daniel Boone's son being tortured and killed before he
himself escaped. More on the story at the end of this
page. |
|
vii |
Elizabeth Crabtree - Born on 13 Dec 1720 in MD. Elizabeth married James
Billingsley. |
|
viii |
Samuel Crabtree -
Born on 25 Jul 1725 in MD, married Ester unknown. |
Next in line is John Crabtree, I know little about him, and his
children. I find it hard to believe he only had two children, and am
currently researching this link as it is my weakest one.
Notes: From the Annals of Southwest Virginia, 1769-1800, pg. 1203
| Date |
Grantee |
Acres |
Location |
Actual Settlement |
| 1781, Aug 27 |
Crabtree, John |
150 |
Poor Valley |
1775 |
| 1782, May 3 |
Crabtree, James |
400 |
Rich Valley |
|
| 1781, Aug 27 |
Crabtree, James |
400 |
Rich Valley |
|
| 1785, Mar 23 |
Crabtree, Jacob |
147 |
Rich Valley |
|
| 1786, Mar 24 |
Crabtree, Jacob |
170 |
Clinch River & North Side McClenahan's Elk Garden Tract |
|
| 1795, Nov 13 |
Crabtree, William |
200 |
Top Flat Mountain & on Waters Laurel Fork |
|
| 1795, Nov 17 |
Crabtree, William |
200 |
On Mattinlee's Creek in Double Clinch Mountain |
|
| 1796, Mar 7 |
Crabtree, Abraham |
25 |
South Side North Fork Holston River |
|
Sixth Generation
 John Crabtree. Born on 5 Sep 1718 in Baltimore co., MD. John died in
Randolph Co., NC BET. 26 AUG 1799 - MAY 1800, he was 80.
He married Margaret , Note that there is an early deed for a John Crabtree in Randolph
County NC signed by the same mark as made by him when he sold land back in
Md. with wife Margaret. This proves connection to Maryland Crabtree's and to
the immigrant William, who I am sure he was father of our John who married
Lydia York.
There were
three Johns, one left and went to Washington County, he had wife Nancy. That
left our John who died in 1798 and the older John (Prob. from Md. that also
died before 1800).
John Crabtree and wife Margaret
migrated from Baltimore County, Maryland to
Randolph county, North Carolina about 1770. From one of the books it is said
that John Crabtree, son of William, was in Orange county, VA in 1738 with
his brother James Crabtree who married Catherine Dumas. It goes on to
say that John Crabtree and Louis Dumas were involved in a religious dispute
with a non-Episcopalian Minister.
Birth: 1748, Kingsville, Baltimore County, Maryland, USA
Death: 1798, Randolph County, North Carolina, USA
John Crabtree, Jr. was the third child of the five known children born to John
Crabtree, Sr. and his wife Margaret W. Beness. All five of their children were
born in Kingsville, Baltimore County, Maryland. There may have been more than
five children.
The known children of John Crabtree, Sr. and his wife Margaret W. Beness are:
1. Mary Ruth Crabtree, b. 1745 MD; d. 1801 NC
2. Jane "Janey" Crabtree, b. 1747 MD; d. 1824 KY
3. John Crabtree, Jr., b. 1748 MD; d. 1798 NC
4. James Crabtree I, b. 1750 MD; d. 1829 KY
5. William Crabtree, b. 1758; d. 1836 NC
It is believed that after his mother Margaret W. Beness age 32 died 17 March
1759 in Kingsville, Baltimore County, Maryland the remaining family migrated to
colonial North Carolina to start a new life. Several Crabtree families including
John Crabtree, Sr. with his five young children migrated into colonial Orange
(now Randolph & Alamance) County, North Carolina around 1760. Several other
Crabtree family members most likely in the same wagon train migrated together
into colonial Orange (now Randolph & Alamance) County, North Carolina in same
time frame.
Ten years after arriving in North Carolina John Crabtree, Jr. age twenty two
married Lydia York age seventeen his neighbor on 1770. The marriage was
most likely conducted in the Sandy Creek Baptist Church established in 1755.
Perhaps the Rev Shubal Stearns, her fathers pastor, performed the ceremony.
The seven children of John Crabtree, Jr and Lydia York are:
1. Thomas Crabtree, b. 1772 NC; d. 1886 KY
2. Sarah Crabtree, b. 1774 NC; d. 1847 IN
3. James Crabtree, Sr., b. 1776 NC; d. 1855 KY
4. Isaiah Crabtree, b. 1782 NC; d. 1859 KY
5. John H Crabtree, b. 1784 NC, d. 1875 IN
6. Benjamin Webber Crabtree, b. 1788 NC; d. 1875 IN
7. William Crabtree, b. 1790 NC; d. 1857 IN
Note:
There are no remaining tombstones for this couple. However it is believed Lydia
York and her husband John Crabtree, Jr. are most probably buried in the Sandy
Creek Baptist Church Cemetery. Most likely they are buried near her father
Thomas York's grave next to Rev Shubal Stearns in the old section of this
historic cemetery.
Family links:
Parents:
John Crabtree (1718 - 1800)
Margaret W Beness Crabtree (1727 - 1859)
Spouse:
Lydia York Crabtree (1753 - 1798)
Children:
James Crabtree (1776 - 1855)*
Siblings:
Jane Crabtree White (1747 - 1824)*
John Crabtree (1748 - 1798)
James Crabtree (1750 - 1829)*
*Calculated relationship
Burial:
Sandy Creek Baptist Church Cemetery
Staley
Randolph County
North Carolina, USA
Created by: Dennis York
Record added: Jul 13, 2015
Birth: 1727
Kingsville
Baltimore County
Maryland, USA
Death: Mar. 17, 1859
Kingsville
Baltimore County
Maryland, USA
Margaret W. BENESS age seventeen married on 22 Apr 1744 in Kingsville,
Baltimore County, Maryland to John CRABTREE Sr. age twenty six.
Margaret W. BENESS died 17 Mar 1759 age thirty two perhaps from
complications at child birth of a sixth child. The widower John CRABTREE Sr. and
his unmarried children migrated into colonial Orange County, North Carolina by
about 1760.
The five children of Margaret W. BENESS and John CRABTREE Sr. are:
1. Mary Ruth CRABTREE, b. 1745 MD; d. 1801 NC
2. Jane "Janey" CRABTREE, b. 1747 MD; d. 1824 KY
3. John CRABTREE, Jr., b. 1748 MD; d. 1798 NC
4. James CRABTREE I, b. 1750 MD; d. 1829 KY
5. William CRABTREE Lieutenant 1812 War, b. 1758; d. 1836 NC
John Crabtree (1718 - 1800)
Children:
Jane Crabtree White (1747 - 1824)*
John Crabtree (1748 - 1798)*
James Crabtree (1750 - 1829)*
*Calculated relationship
Note: The Saint Pauls Lutheran Church Cemetery was selected as only a possible
location of burial in Kingsville, Baltimore County, Maryland.
Burial:
Saint Pauls Lutheran Church Cemetery
Kingsville
Baltimore County
Maryland, USA
Plot: Unknown
Created by: Dennis York
Record added: Aug 20, 2015
Find A Grave Memorial# 150998169
John I Crabtree, born 05 Sep 1718 in Kingsville, Baltimore
Co., Maryland; died 1799 in Randolph Co., NC; married (1) Catherine Beness; died
Unknown; married (2) Mary Ann Unknown 1734; born 1718 in Maryland; died Unknown;
married (3) Margaret W. Crabtree 22 Apr 1755; born Abt. 1727; died Unknown.
Notes for John I Crabtree:
John Crabtree. Born on 5 Sep 1718 in Baltimore co., MD. John died in Randolph
Co., NC BET. 26 AUG 1799 - MAY 1800, he was 80. John married Margaret (?).
Born abt 1727. This couple Migrated from Baltimore County, Maryland to
Randolph county, North Carolina about 1770.
They had the following children:
i John Crabtree (1748 - ~1798); married Lydia York
From the book: "Crabtree's of
Southwest Virginia": John Crabtree, son of William and Jane
Crabtree, born in Baltimore Md., Sept. 5, 1718. Nov 4, 1747:
Gift: For the natural love I bear to my son John, from his father, 150
acres of Turkey Forest, Witness, Thomas Bond, Jr., John Bond and Thomas
Franklin (a brother of Benjamin Franklin, July 14, 1759: John bought
the old home of William who had lost it in a suit.)
Oct 25, 1765: John sold
to Thomas Jackson, Jr., land on Our Creek, part of Turkey Forest, S. W.
quarter of tract, plantation, houses, orchard, garden and improvements.
Oct 25, 1765: John
Crabtree sold to Bennett or Barnett Johnson land on Deer Creek, plantation,
houses, garden, orchard, etc., 150 acres. John Crabtree paid taxes
through 1769 when his name disappears from rent rolls and debt books.
Thought to have gone to Southwest Virginia.
Continuing: It should be
mentioned here that there was a John Crabtree who died in Washington County,
VA in 1802. He left two sets of children, widow Jemima. In as
much as the first daughter of his first wife was named Hannah, this could
have been the John who married Hanna Butcher and who was a son of William
Crabtree and Mary Pyke. In his interesting will, he mentions his
daughters, Mary, Sr. by his first wife, and Mary, Jr. by his second wife.
Who I call 'our' John Crabtree deeded 100 acres on Sandy
Creek in Randolph County to John Crabtree, Jr., in 1771, witnessed by
Semore York. (I believe this is
John Senior giving his son John Jr. land as the York's were connected to
the Crabtree's ~ John Jr. married Lydia York).
They had the following children: (my note: I only know that John and
James are their children)
|
i |
John
Crabtree (1748 ~1798);
married Lydia York, probably in Randolph County, North Carolina;
our line. |
|
ii |
Jane "Janey" Crabtree, b. 1747, MD; d. 1824 KY |
|
iii |
Mary Ruth Crabtree? b. 1745, d. 1801 NC |
|
iv |
William Crabtree, Lieutenant 1812 War, b. 1758, d.
1836, NC. |
|
v |
James Crabtree,
born Randolph County. |
Note:
Crabtree, William,
Mary W17689, NC Line, sol was b 25 Dec 1758 in Baltimore County MD &
moved to NC when quite small & was living in Orange County NC at enl &
sol apl there 31 May 1833, so m Mary Spearman or Speorman in Oct 1775 at
Hillsboro NC & she was b 30 Mar 1759 in MD & at the age of 7 yrs her
parents moved to NC, sol d 10 or 15 Dec 1836, wid appl 3 June 1838
Orange Cty NC & was still there in 1843, children were; Margaret, b 20
Jul 1776, Elizabeth, b 25 Feb 1779, Leurainey b 11 Mar 1782 & Haynes or
Haines b 15 Aug 1784, no other children were mentioned.
James Crabtree 250 ac; warrant #888 issued Dec. 3, 1778 by Ralph Gorrell, Guilford Co entry taker, to James Crabtree for 250 ac on waters of Sandy Cr, begins on W corner of John "Crabtree" Sr.'s land, runs W to John Crabtree Jr.‘s S to a conditional line, & W to a conditional line with Tobias "Messer" and Timothy "Cood": 250 ac surveyed-Jul. 23 1784 by
William Millikan: John Alred &. Tobias Mosser, chain carrier’s; grant 4 71 issued Aug. 18,1787.
(John Allred Sex: M Birth: 1744 Marriage 1 Margaret Julian b: 1746 in Frederick Co., VA) James B. CRABTREE Birth: 20 Feb 1715/16 in Kingsville, Baltimore County, Maryland Death: 30 Aug 1784 in Winchester, Frederick County Virginia. Marriage 1 Catherine DeMoss -- James and Catherine Crabtree and in-laws, Louis and Catherine Demoss moved to the part of Frederick County Virginia, before 1745, which later became Berkley County which is now part of West Virginia.
This was the home of Timothy Cude. Both families settled on the Opequon River where Louis Demoss established a mill. Their sons, Charles and Pierre, fought in the Revolutionary War. James was appointed Captain in the Va. militia.. Page 1055 in the Annals of Southwestern Virginia ,1769-1800. "April 19,1780 Thomas Jefferson, Governor 1779 appointed James Crabtree captain of the Virginia Militia of Washington County.
The Journal of the House of Delegates of the Common wealth of Virginia dated Nov. 11, 1794 shows James Crabtree receiving a pension for his services under General Green. Will was probated in Winchester, Virginia. His heirs were his wife Catherine, sons William, James, Thomas, and Lewis. (“FREDERICK COUNTY VIRGINIA MINTUTES OF COURT RECORDS 1743 - 1745” by John David Davis --P. 266, Catherine Demoss, gift deed to John Demoss, witness David Vance, John Smith & James Crabtree)
John Crabtree York birth: ABT 1781 in Randolph Co., NC Note: Bride: Elizabeth Kivet Groom:
Crabtree York - Bond Date: Jan 1807 - County: Randolph - Record #: 01 309 - Bondsman: Jeremiah York - Witness: J Bain - Bond #: 000115339
Notes: I've checked the 1790 and 1800 Newberry, SC census, and can find no
Crabtree's listed. However, in the 1790 Edgefield Co., Census, there
is a William Crabtree listed and he has 1-1-4-", translating into: one
male over 16, one male under 16 and 4 females. This William could be
the one who says he lived a short time in SC below.
There is also a Samuel Crabtree listed in the Edgefield census, but there is
no information on the people in his household.
Abstracts of Rev War Pension Files
Crabtree, John, R2419, NC Line, appl
24 Oct 1835, Montgomery Cty IL a res of South District, sol was b 31 May
1763 or 1764 in Randolph Cty NC & lived there at enl & after the war sol
lived a short time in SC & lived about 30 yrs in Muhlenberg Cty KY, sol
mentions Rev John Jordan & William Jordan.
Crabtree, William, R2421, NC Line,
appl 8 Nov 1842 Christian Cty KY aged 79 in Aug 1842
(born 1763) sol lived in Randolph Cty NC at enl, sol lived in Florida
in 1832, after the war sol lived in Randolph Cty NC then moved to Edgefield
Dist SC then to Houston Cty GA for a short time then to Jckson Cty FL then
moved to KY, sol mentioned his bros house burning in Edgefield Dist SC (no
date)
1790 Randolph County Census Crabtree's:
139 Crabtree James 2 - 1 - 4 - 3
137 Crabtree John 1 - 6 - 2 - 0 *
*(one male over 16, six males
under 15, 2 white females, no slaves ~ this tally of individuals correlates
PERFECTLY with the number of sons and daughters John had, more data below)
and these York's are living nearby (our Lydia York marries John Crabtree,
and I suspect that is them in the 1790 census
202 York Henry 1 1 3 . .
203 York William 1 1 3 . .
204 York Samuel 1 . 5 . .
205 York Silvana 2 1 2 . 1
206 York Semore 1 2 4 . .
215 York Jeremiah 1 4 5 . .
Seventh Generation
 John Crabtree - was born Abt. 1748
in Randolph County, and died 1798 in Randolph Co.,
NC. He married LYDIA (LIDITHE) YORK Abt. 1770. She was born Abt. 1752
in Randolph Co., NC, and died Abt. 1798 in Randolph Co., NC. Lydia was the
daughter of Thomas York and Elinor Silver. See the
YORK line.
His
son James 1855 Will, Christian Co., Ky., listed all of the children of John
and his wife Lydia York Crabtree. There was a Death Certificate for James
who died in Christian Ky in 1855 (at the Ky. Archives) which gives the names of his parents John and
Lydia (York) Crabtree. Also a law suit back in Randolph Co., NC. names all
of the heirs of John which are the same as names given by James in his 1855
Will.
From "Deed Abstracts" of Books A-B-C-D-E
and F for Christian County, Kentucky for the years 1797-1817 -
Manuscript ion Preparation by Christian County Genealogical Society, Inc.
Indexed by Rosemary Guthrie Rawlins, Published by Christian County
Genealogical Society, Inc., 1987.
Christian County, Kentucky - Deed Book
E-24 November 7, 1814 - Hugh Fulton gives to a community for a meeting
house those named James Allen, William Edgar, Gabriel Roach, Buckner Haygood,
Matthew Wilson, John Crabtree, John D. Gorin, John Brown, John
Winder, John McFarland, Stephen Terry, Sr. and Henry Gorin a 2 acre
tract of land in Christian Co. They are to build a large and
convenient house which is to be known by name of Liberty Meeting House, free
for any congregation of Christians (Shakers excepted) to worship in on
Saturday and Sabbeth on any day when school is in vacation. Signed
Hugh Fulton.
John Crabtree married Lydia York
and had the following children:
|
i |
James
Crabtree - b. February 03, 1784, Randolph Co., NC; d. June 04,
1855, Antioch Cemetery, Christian Co., KY; m. MARGARET CRABTREE,
November 28, 1803, Christian Co., KY; b.
September 13, 1784; d. September 10, 1864, Antioch Cemetery, Christian
Co., KY. James' will is below.
This family moved to Indiana, but looks like they came back, at least
for a while; their son James W. indicates he was born in Indiana.
 From "Christian County,
Kentucky, Historical and Biographical edited by William Henry Perrin: "
James Crabtree, a North Carolinian, in 1800 settled on the place where
John Harrison now lives. He brought some fifty slaves with him,
much fine furniture and silver plate, and maintained quite an air of state.
Besides running a blacksmith shop on his farm, he is said to have
manufactured both castor and linseed oils. He owned more than 1,000
acres of rich land and besides was rich in sons and daughters. Their
descendants still live in the county."
WILLARD ROUSE JILLSON' S - - THE KENTUCKY LAND GRANTS -
Grant South of Green River
(Head right claims : Va. had reserved for her Revolutionary
soldiers all lands in Kentucky, south of Green River, from its head to the
Carolina line, to Tennessee River to Ohio River, £ran Ohio to Green.) p. 284
Crabtree, Jas. Jr. 72
acres Bk. 6, page 60, 6/13/1804 - Christian Co. Little River
Crabtree, James 100 acres Bk. 6, page 66, 4/28/1803 - Christian. Co.
Little River
Crabtree, James 150-acres Bk. 6, page 68, 4/18/1808 - Christian Co. Little River
Crabtree, James 200 acres Bk. 7, page 9, 3/29/1799 - Christian Co, Little River
Crabtree, Wm. 100 acres Bk. 11, page 195, 10/4/1803 - Logan Co. Torrpin Creek
Crabtree, James 200 acres Bk. 12, page 191,
3/29/1799 - Christian Co, Little River
Crabtree, Joniah 400 acres Bk. 14, page 578, 6/25/1805 - Christian
Co, Drake Creek
Crabtree, John 200 acres Bk. 16, page 50,
3/2/1803 - Christian Co, Little River
Crabtree, Abraham 200 acres Bk. 18, page 66, 3/18/1799 - Green
County Cumberland River
Grants South of Green River - ( cont'd, )
Crabtree, Joniah l30 acres Bk. 19, page 283, 10/27/1807 - Henderson Co, Buffalo Creek
Crabtree, James 200 acres Bk. 19, page 462, 5/14/1802
- Christian Co, Little & Pond Rivers
Crabtree, Benjamin 100 acres Bk. 21, page 3, 12/12/1805 - Christian Co. Little & Pond Rivers
Crabtree, James 200 acres Bk. 21, page 4, 5/6/1807 - Christian CO. Little River
Crabtree, Benjamin 37 acres Bk. 23, page 72, 4/12/1816 - Christian Co. Little River
Crabtree, Benjamin 127 acres Bk. 24, page 95, 6/24/1818 - Christian Co. McFarland Fork
Crabtree, Benjamin 100 'acres ~ k . 24, page 121, 7/25/1818 - Christian Co,
Pond River
Crabtree, William 12 acres Bk. 24, ' page 308, 4/11/1817 - Christian Co, Little River
Crabtree, James, Sr. 14 acres Bk. 24, page 308, 5/6/1817 - Christian Co. Little River
Crabtree, Abraham 99 acres Bk. 26, page 63, 3/25/1806 - Cumberland Co. Sulphur Creek
Crabtree, Isaac 200 acres Bk. 29, page 179, 11/27/1813 - Wayne Co. Beaver
Creek
This couple is in the
1850 Christian County Census:
39 692
736 Crabtree James 70 M Farmer 1,500 - N. Carolina
40 692 736 Crabtree Margaret 65 F - N. Carolina - X
41 693 737 Crabtree James W. 26 M Farmer - Indiana - X
42 693 737 Crabtree Elvira 22 F - Kentucky
1 693 737 Crabtree Mary A. 2 F - Kentucky
2 693 737 Crabtree John 10/12 M |
|
ii |
Isaiah
Crabtree, born in 1782; married
Ruth Lindley, daughter of John Lindley
and
Sarah Pyle.
This is our line, more below. |
|
iii |
John H.
Crabtree Born ? in Randolph Co., NC. he married Rebecca
Calvin, in Christian Co., KY. Born abt 1793 in Newberry, SC.
Rebecca died in Posey Co., IN. -
Lucinda. Born abt 1811 in Christian Co., KY. Lucinda died in Gibson
Co., KY on 13 Dec 1883, she was 72. On 30 Jan 1825 when Lucinda
was 14, she married Caleb Overton, in Posey Co., IN. Born abt 1804.
Caleb died in Gibson Co., KY; Sally. Born abt 1813; Job. Born abt 1816
in Posey Co., IN. On 2 Jun 1839 when Job was 23, he married
Polly Calvin, in Posey Co., IN; Thomas. Born abt 1817 in Posey Co.,
IN. On 16 Apr 1840 when Thomas was 23, he married Manerva
Garrison, in White Co., IL. Born abt 1826 in IL; Nancy. Born abt 1820
in Posey Co., IN. On 20 May 1838 when Nancy was 18, she married
John Burns, in Posey Co., IN; Lydia A. (~1822-1871)
(note: this is Al's line).
Name: John Crabtree
was born in Randolph county, North Carolina, May 3, 1763 (my
note, who is this, he should be born more like 1784 as I have above. He entered the service in 1780 under Capt. Edward Williams; he again enlisted under Capt. John Knight. Coming to Illinois, he settled in Montgomery county, in what was known as the "Street Settlement," about four miles from Hillsboro. He was among the early settlers, and lies buried in the family graveyard not far from the old homestead. "North Carolina Records."
He married second Elizabeth (Gale) Bevins
Feb. 24, 1824, Posey County, Indiana. You had this I believe.
Maiden name was Gale. She was either a widow or divorcee. Since
Rebecca died and left him with young children, I think he might have
brought Elizabeth in to care for children and do house hold work. You
have the story of the law suit which I traced back to Indianapolis.
John had got the governor to have the charges against him dropped.
Elizabeth actually spent a night in jail before John bailed her out. I
understand that she was called Betty by her family. I am descended
from John H. Crabtree and second wife Elizabeth
(Gale) Bevins Crabtree.
Elizabeth was born 1794 Pa. and died after 1860 census.
John died aft 1870 census where he was living with his son Isaiah.
Minerva Jane my gt. gt. grandmother first married Robert Clark Davis as
I said. After his death she married her nephew Robert Clark Smith. He
was son of Peter Smith and Sally (Davis) Smith. Sally sister to Robert
Clark Davis above. Minerva's brother Isaiah married Mary
Jane Smith sister to Robert Clark
Smith. Both Smith and Davis families are from Rowan County, NC. |
|
iv |
William
Crabtree, born 1812? - William married Sarah Bennett, in
Christian Co., KY.
(Note: This is
Helen's and George's line) - From George Crabtree in AR: After the
death of John Crabtree, our William was apprenticed to Jonathan
McCollum. As you know from the York will, Jonathan's wife was a sister
of John Crabtree's wife Lydia. |
|
v |
Benjamin
Webber Crabtree, b. 1783, according to the 1850 Missouri census,
he m. NANCY PYLE, December 24, 1811, Christian Co.,
KY. She died fairly young in Christian/Hopkins county and
Benjamin remarried. It looks like he moved to Missouri at some
point, several of his nieces and nephews were there too.
Census Research on Benjamin:
1810 census:
Benjamin Crabtree
1 M 26-44 b. 1766-1784
1820 census:
Benjamin Crabtree
2 M 0-10 1 F 0-10 - b.1810-1820 - 2 boys, 1 girl
1 M 26-45 1 F 26-45 (Benjamin and Nancy)
1 person in agriculture
1 male slave 14-26
1 female slave 14-26
1830 census:
Benjamin Crabtree
1 M 0-5 - b. 1825-1830 - 1 boy
1 F 5-10 - b. 1820-1825 - 1 girl
1 M 5-10 - b. 1820-1825 - 1 boy
1 F 10-15 - b. 1815-1820 - 1 girl
1 M 10-15 - b. 1815-1820 - 1 boy
1 M 40-50 - b. 1780-1790 - Benjamin
(was Ben widowed??) (yes according to notes on Ancestry, Nancy died
sometime in the 1830s.
Ben is not on the 1840 -1850 Christian Co census. He is listed on
the will of his sibling, James, in 1855?
Found this-- It could be Ben:
1850 census of Cedar Co., MO, #444:
Benj. Crabtree 67 NC
Parthenies? 58 NC
Leah/Noah? 16 male KY
Nancy 14 KY
From Census Records I've determined the
following:
1810-1815 = 1 boy
1815-1820 = 1 boy, 1 girl
1820-1825 = 1 boy, 1 girl
1825-1830 = 1 boy
5 children: 4 boys, 2 girls |
|
vi |
Thomas
Crabtree,
nothing else is known about Thomas. |
|
vii |
Sarah
Crabtree - in her brother's will, she is called Sarah Stuart.
|
Eighth Generation
 Isaiah Crabtree was born born in
1782; and died June 25, 1859, his tombstone is pictured left and he and his family
are buried in the Crabtree Cemetery that I discovered in person in June
2004.
Isaiah married
Ruth Lindley, daughter of
John Lindley
and
Sarah Pyle.
(I am related to the Pyle's and Lindley's a few other ways besides
this one).
Isaiah Crabtree and Ruth Lindley were married on April 24, 1807. Our
Margaret was born March 8, 1807. There is a court action, below that
cites Isaiah he had begotten a bastard child upon the body of Ruth Lindley and
he was ordered to pay support. Obviously he decided to marry her
instead. On right is Ruth ad Isaiah's marriage bond, and below left,
is the permission slip her mother signed giving her permission to marry.
There is a death record at the Kentucky Archives for Isaiah Crabtree, born
1782, died June 25, 1859 in Christian Co., KY. This Isaiah is the son of
John Crabtree (died 1798, Randolph County, NC) and Lydia York as proved by
the record of the Randolph County Court 1794-1800 wherein John White sues
the heirs of John Crabtree; Isaiah Crabtree is one of the seven defendants,
as children of John and Lydia. Isaiah died of "Dropsy" according to Kentucky
death records.
Isaiah Crabtree is also named in the will of James Crabtree (died In
Christian County in 1855) as a brother to James. This James also has a death
Record in the Kentucky Archives which names his parents as John and Lydia.
Here are the names of the six other defendants: They are siblings of Isaiah;
Thomas, Sarah, (married a Stewart), James married Margaret Crabtree
(Maiden name Crabtree); John H. married (1) Rebecca Calvin; Benjamin,
married Nancy Pyle; and William married (1) Sarah Bennett.
Crabtree, Isaiah
Acres: 150
Book: 39
Survey Date: 3-10-1855
County: Hopkins
Water Course: Drakes Cr
Reference: THE KENTUCKY LAND GRANTS
Volume 1 ~ Part 2
CHAPTER X. GRANTS IN THE COUNTY COURT ORDERS (1836-1924)
THE COUNTIES OF KENTUCKY
page 1105
Notes:
11 May 1806* - Isaiah Crabtree
who stands bound by recognizance to appear here this day and answer a charge
of Bastardy for
begetting a female bastard child upon the body of
Ruth Lindley this day appeared in discharge of the same whereupon the
said Ruth Lindley being examined it is considered by the Court that the said
Isaiah Crabtree is the father of the said Bastard child and that he
pay five pounds per year for twelve years for the support and education of
the said child and that James Thompson and Frederick Farmer be
appointed trustees for the purpose of receiving and paying over the sum
aforesaid for the purpose aforesaid. Whereupon the said Isaiah
Crabtree together with
Joseph Gamble and Robert Elder his securities entered
into bond with in the penalty of one hundred twenty pounds conditioned
agreeable to Law.
* The
transcriber
of this court case
thinks this date may be wrong because it was out of
order (date-wise) with the rest of the court cases (click on link to view
record) . I believe it should read 1807 which would make more sense as
it would be about a month after the illegitimate child was born. Our Margaret was
born March 8,
1807. But, Isaiah
and Ruth married April 24 of 1807;
so it doesn't make sense for a suit to be brought on Isaiah AFTER he married
Ruth, so something is screwy with the date as the transcriber noted.
I suppose it has to be considered that Ruth could have lied to her daughter
as to the date of her birth to cover up the fact she wasn't married when she
gave birth.
Burrell Terry is a witness to Isaiah Crabtree's
will in 1859 in Hopkins County, KY.
Burrel's mother was
Margaret Crabtree. The will lists Isaiah's children as
B. W. Crabtree, James Crabtree, and Brother as John W. Crabtree, Executed
by B. W. & James Crabtree, Witness Burrel Terry and Neil
Campbell.
On a trip to the LDS library in Salt Lake
in October 2003, I discovered the article below in a 1994 edition of
"Yesterday's Tuckaways" a genealogical newsletter published by the Hopkins
County Genealogical Society. I have now located this cemetery and the photos I took are on this page.
|
Crabtree Cemetery
Feb 3, 1994
Dear Mrs. Hammers,
Found this cemetery so near Hopkins Co. line and thought it might be
helpful in your research. It's just back there, no road. The
only way I could ever go back would be in the Jeep with Michael Brown
who camps and hunts in the area. Interesting grave site.
Anna Hunsaker Meador
Copied November 2, 1993 by Anna and Timothy Meador
Located in strip mining area near Christian - Hopkins Co. line. My
topographical map states the boundary line has not been established.
It's in a wooded area where the strip mining workers are cutting
timber in preparation for stripping coal. What a shame ! We were taken
to the site in a jeep by Michael Brown who lives in the Castleberry
community. He found it while hunting and camping in the area. To him
we are forever grateful.
Cemetery Listing: (my notes in red)
|
Ida
Woodruff
1885-1912 |
John
York
Crabtree
April 25, 1822 - Nov 20, 1847 |
|
Fannie
Woodruff
1850-1906 |
(Note -
John Y. Crabtree married Susanna Johnson Dec 19, 1844, Christian
Co., KY) |
|
Nicy
Woodruff
1875-1906 |
Isaiah
Crabtree (my maternal 4th great
grandfather)
Jan 1, 1782 - June 25, 1859
Aged 77 yr |
|
J. B.
Woodruff - May 1, 1852
Mar 15, 1887 |
Ruth,
wife of Isaiah Crabtree
Aug 10, 1775 - May 15, 1830
Aged 44 yrs (Note - Isaiah Crabtree married Ruth Lindley April
24, 1807)
(my maternal 4th
great grandmother) |
|
Lunicy,
wife of H. P. Woodruff
Nov 26, 1831 - April 25, 1856
dtr of Isaiah & Ruth |
B. W.
Crabtree
Feb 1, 1829 - Dec 2, 1894
Benjamin Webber Crabtree, son of
Isaiah and Ruth |
|
Martha,
Wife of B. W. Crabtree
Dec 22, 1836 - July 9, 1862 |
Mary
Crabtree - April 10, 1820
Feb 19, 1884 - Aged 64 years
could be a daughter of Isaiah and Ruth? |
| |
Mother -
Maria J. wife of Zimri Crabtree
April 10-1820-Feb 19, 1884 -
Note - Zimri Crabtree married Maria Jane Crabtree, Christian
Co., KY (Jan 24, 1838 (license issued) marriage on Jan 2, 1838. |
I do not know who the
Woodruff girls are, but a cousin, a descendant of Louincy, filled me
in: "I may
have found a clue on those 3 Woodruff names. My records show that
Hiram Patilla Woodruff's & Lounicy Crabtree's son James Benjamin
Woodruff married Susan "Fanny" Wheeler. I have her birthdate as 1852
but could be wrong. Also, their oldest child was Lunicy Woodruff, b.
1875.
I don't have an Ida Woodruff that matches those very early dates.
Also, if correct, she was 107 years old when she died. She must have
been same generation as KY immigrant Samuel Nathaniel Woodruff and may
have been his unmarried sister (or other relative).
Hope this helps. I enjoyed your pics of the old graveyard and am sure
it was a thrill for you to finally locate it." Best, Charles |
Isaiah Crabtree and Ruth Lindley
had the following children:
|
i |
Margaret Crabtree -
Born March 7, 1807
Married George Terry in Hopkins County, KY
- Our Line - Picture taken in the
Terry Cemetery
in Hopkins County, KY |
|
ii |
Susen
[sic]
Crabtree, b. 1811 in Kentucky, she married George Washington 'Wash' Crabtree,
February 14, 1831, b.
1809, TN. At this point in time (2009) I can not determine who
George Washington's parents are. I first thought he was a son
of Benjamin Crabtree and Nancy Pyle, but they didn't marry until
1811 in KY and were never in TN as far as I know. Since they
named their first boy 'James' I speculate his father could have been
a James Crabtree.
There were
the following families in TN in 1820:
Jackson
County, TN 1820
James Sr.
James Jr.
John
There were
also Yorks', Robert, William, Rebecca, Samuel, Thomas and James.
James Sr.
has a son born between 1804-1810, and could be George 'Wash'
Crabtree who marries Susen, but it's just guess at this point.
There were
also a Benjamin, James, Sr., James Jr. and John Crabtree listed in
the 1820 Robertson Co., TN Census in 1820, Robertson is just below
Christian County, KY.
Susen and
Wash first moved
to Missouri, sometime before 1840, (Note: Wash Crabtree sold
100 acres to George Terry in Hopkins Co., in 1836 and perhaps they
were getting ready to move to MO) then on to Oregon. Sarah, her sister,
below,
also went to Missouri. Jonathan Lindley and Clara Terry also
went to Missouri and then on to Oregon. Susan is found in the
1880 census but not afterwards; on ancestry she has a death date of
1892. Wash is in the 1900 @ 91 yrs, and I found on ancestry
that he died in 1901, Sept 13th in Stayton, Marion, Oregon.
Their
children put together from census records: Ruth Emeline, b.
1834, d. 1928, James L. ? b. 1836, William, b. 1838, Susan, b. 1839,
P. Ann, b. 1842, Pliny. b. 1846, infant, b. 1849
|
|
iii |
Mason Crabtree, b. 1824 ? I don't
know when Mason was born, and I wouldn't have known of his existence
if my cousin hadn't give me a letter that was written by Bessie
Terry telling who her family was. In it she mentions a Mason
Crabtree. Several of these children went to Missouri, and then
some went on to Oregon. I find this record on a Mason Crabtree
in Jasper County, Missouri:
 State
of Missouri Jasper County, November 22, 1841 - This is to satisfy that I Harrison Elliott a Minister of the Gospel
have this day solemnized the rights of matrimony between Mason
Crabtree and Amanda Lyan Darneal formerly? Amanda Lyon.
Harrison Elliott - filed for record on the 15th day of January AD
1842 and truly recorded on same day. Ellwood B. James Recorder
ex of?
I am guessing this is our Mason indeed. The
name is highly unusual and as I indicated previously, other siblings
in this line went to Missouri too.
 Mason Crabtree is listed in the 1850 Jasper Co.,
MO census as follows:
Mason Crabtree, 36, b. KY - b. 1814
Amanda Crabtree, 32, b. KY - b. 1816
Eveline Crabtree, 13, b. MO - b. 1837
Samuel Crabtree, 10, b. MO - 1840
Thomas Crabtree, 8, b. MO - 1842
William Crabtree, 5, b. MO - 1845
Isaac Crabtree, 2, b. MO - 1848
Something is really screwy, Mason doesn't age
between the 1850 and 1860 census and his children started coming
before he and his wife were married in 1841. He is also listed
as James Mason Crabtree in 1860 and his parents, if he is indeed the
son of Isaiah and Ruth Lindley Crabtree, they already had a son
named James.
In the 1860 Cedar County, MO census the family is
listed as:
James M. Crabtree, 34 - b. 1826
Amanda Crabtree, 38 - 1824
Thomas Y. Crabtree, 17 - 1843
William W. Crabtree, 15 - 1845
Isaac Taylor, 13 - 1847 - 1847
Washington Taylor, 11 - 1849
Henretty Lindly, 60 - 1800
From Ancestry I find that Isaac Crabtree was born
10 Jan 1847, Jasper, Missouri, died 5 June 1935 in Elk, Beckham,
Oklahoma, he married Elvira Simmons, 1845-1929 and they had William
F. Crabtree, 1870-1946. William Franklin Crabtree married
Lucrecia E. Hudson, 1869-1947, and had Berniece G. Crabtree,
1900-1993. Berniece Gayle Crabtree, 30 Oct 1900, Cedar,
Missouri, died 29, November 1993, Springfield, Greene, Missouri,
married Elton Errit Bryson, 1902-1994. |
|
iv |
Sarah (Sally) Crabtree, b. 1812 (Ruth and Isaiah
had three daughters born between 1807-1810 ~ per census records)
Descendants of Sarah Crabtree: Sarah
was born October 13, 1812, and died in 1837 when she was 25 yrs old.
She married William Hamby on 9 October 1824, she would have been 12
yrs old and even back then, I find this somewhat hard to believe,
but her father, Isaiah signed off on the marriage bond.
Sarah Crabtree died Abt. 1837 in Missouri. She married William
Hamby October 09, 1824 in Christian County, KY, son of John Hamby
and Bradbrook Greene. He was
born Abt. 1802 in Kentucky, and died August 01, 1858 in Cedar Co., MO.
Notes for William Hamby: Marriage license, permission for Sally
by Isaiah Crabtree, bond between William Hamby and Joseph Boling,
Performed by L. Brasher, J.P.
KY land grant, Christian Co., Ky. 100 acres, March 6, 1833:book C-2,
Watercourse Hardins Creek.
In
the 1830 Hopkins county Census, there is a Susannah Hamby living
next door to Isaiah Crabtree, his daughter.
1830, Christian Co. KY
1840, Crawford Co., MO
1850, Cedar Co., Mo -- William, Louisa, Cinthia, Addison, Licitha
Children of Sarah Crabtree and William Hamby are:
i. Lucintha Hamby, born 1828. LUCINTHA MARRIED CHARLES GARRETT
ii. Adison Y. Hamby, born 1830 ADISON MARRIED CATHERINE
unknown, note the Y as a middle initial for Adision, probably for
York.
iii. Licetta Hamby, born 1832. LICETTA WAS MARRIED TO JAMES
BEASLEY?
Burial: Hamby Cemetery, Cedar Co., MO
iv. Ezekiel Crabtree "Zeke" Hamby, born February 05, 1834 in Christian
Co., KY; died August 27, 1900 in Filey, Cedar Co., MO. Married
Mary E. Carter, had Felicia Jane, William Rovert, Elizabeth, Alice
and Sarah Agnes.
v. Mary C. Hamby, born 1835 in KENTUCKY. MARY MARRIED THOMAS J.
COOKSEY.
vi. Isaiah S. Hamby, born 1836 in MISSOURI; died 1865 @ 29 yrs.
Isaiah MARRIED MARTHA S. HILL 16 FEB 1860.
|
|
v |
 Thomas
Crabtree -
Born May 4, 1814 and died April 7, 1885
-
Thomas Crabtree is listed in the 1850 Hopkins County Census
(Household 561); 34 (birth year 1816); Wife Malinda (33) and daughters
Rutha (9), Nancy (4) and Lucinda (1) and Louisa
D. born in 1852, all born in KY. This Thomas
is living three doors down from Nathaniel S. Woodruff, another of our
lines, his father (Isaiah) is not
far away in household 607. Thomas b. 05/04/1814 d. 04/07/1886 is
Bur. Christian Privilege Cemetery with his wife Melinda. This family
is listed in the 1860 Hopkins Census in household 1038. |
|
|
John Crabtree, b. 1815, married
Malinda, had Nancy, James, Andrew, Benjamin and Isah (Isaiah?).
This John went to Missouri, and I wonder if he could be some
relation because he names a son Isaiah. Our Isaiah and Ruth
already have a son named John York Crabtree. |
|
vi |
Zimri Crabtree b. 4 April 1817; d. 8 June 1884;
bur. Oak Hill Cemetery west of Eugene in Lane
County, Oregon; m. Mariah Jane Crabtree b. 20 April
1821; d. 1 October 1873; m. 25 January 1838 in
Christian County, Kentucky Maria J. Crabtree. Zimri
was living in Oregon by 1854 when he attested to
James T. Chesher's land application in Lane County.
The following is a brief abstract of Zimri’s will
dated 23 March 1883, in which he named his wife Mary
C., step-son Frank W. Miller and Wm. L. Miller. His
daughters were Louise Mulkey, L. Ebbert, Mary
Fisher, Sarah Fisher, Marg. Jean, Clara Ann, Susan
Caroline. He named his son as George Crabtree and
grandson Zimri Mulkey. Exr: son-in-law Wm. P.
Fisher. Wit: G. B. Dorris, J. K. Bristow, T. W.
Shelton. (DAR FHL Film #857015-typescript)
In the 1880 Oregon, Lane, North Eugene District 65 Census, Zimiri is
listed at 63, making him born in 1817. He is in Oregon in the
1860 census Eugene City listed as 43, again making him born in 1817.
 Mariah
Jane Crabtree b. 20 April 1821, died in Oregon in 1873.
She married Zimri Crabtree 25 Jan 1838, Christian Co., KY. -
First 5 children born in Missouri Louisa, Lucille, Sarah E., George
W., Mary Ann. The rest of the children were born Oregon: Phillip,
Clara A., Margaret, Susan C., James B., Stephen R.
 They
are buried in the Oakhill cemetery in Eugene, Lane, OR. A son,
Philip, is buried next to them. He was born 06 March 1857, d 25 Nov
1862.Amoung their children, their daughter Louisa, married Wm Hayes
Mulkey. They had 3 kids. Wm Henry, Zimry, and Philip. All are buried
in the Mulkey cemetery, Eugene, Lane county, OR. I'll have to dig up
a list of their kids. Some of them were Mary Ann, Clara, Louisa.
Mary Ann was born in MO, Clara and Louisa were born in Or. Lucille
in MO, Stephen and Margaret in OR.
Daily Oregonian, sect 2, page 5
Mar 11 1928
George W. Crabtree
Eugene, Or., March 10 - (special)
George W. Crabtree, 78, resident of Drain for 15 years, died here
yesterday. He had been at the Pacific Christian Hospital for three
months. Four sisters: Mrs. Mary A. Fisher, Mrs. Louisa Mulkey, Mrs.
Sarah H. Fisher, and Mrs. D. O. Powell, all of Eugene, survive.
Zimri and Mariah's 7th child, Clara, married
William Powell on 8/7/1884. They had 2 kids Charles Zimri, and Jane.
Name: Fisher, Sarah Elizabeth
County of Death: Lane
Document #: 163
Birth date: 3 Nov 1841
Birth place: Freewater, MO
Death date: 1 May 1934
Place of death: Crow Stage, Eugene, Lane Co., OR
Residence: Crow Stage, Eugene, Lane Co., OR
Marital status: Widow
Spouse: Thomas Fisher
Father: Zimri Crabtree
Father's birth place: MO
Mother: M. J. Crabtree
Mother's birth place: MO
Informant: W. F. Fisher, Crow Stage, Eugene, OR
Funeral Home: Marion Veatch, Eugene, OR
Burial: Oak Hill Cemetery
Notes on Zimri Crabtree, her husband:
One note on ancestry indicates Zimri married his
first cousin, Mariah (Mary Jane) Crabtree. She is buried in
the Crabtree Cemetery in Hopkins County. This is confusing
because if she and Zimri moved to MO then to Oregon, how did she get
back here? One source indicates Zimri was in Stockton, MO on
March 20, 1846.
From a bio on J. W. Ebbert in Oregon comes this:
In 1859, Mr. Ebbert married Miss Unicy Crabtree,
who was born in Missouri, on March 20, 1840. Mrs. Ebbert's father,
Zimri Crabtree, was born in Kentucky, pioneered to Missouri, and
later to Oregon. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Ebbert: James E., Z. A., Mason, Roy, W. I., Mrs. Margaret Powers,
Mrs. Eliza Winsonreed, and Lily May.
|
|
vii |
Mary Crabtree, b. 15 April 1819, died 1887,
Empire, Christian County, KY. She married William Garvey Croft
august 1, 1850 in Hopkins county, KY and they had John York Croft
and George B. Croft. I have William's will and he names many
family members, including brother-in-laws, grand children, etc.
|
|
viii |
 
John York
Crabtree, born 1822, died 1847; 25 yrs old. Buried in
the Crabtree cemetery, his tombstone is at left; I am not certain
who this York (on right in picture) is/was. Obviously some
relation, but because the one on left was born in 1822, I know this
wasn't him as photography wasn't around. He could perhaps be
the son of James directly below. |
|
|
Note four year gap in children's
birth years here |
|
ix |
 James
Crabtree; was born April 4, 1826 and died
August 10, 1906
when he was 80 yrs old (according to his tombstone in Christian
Privilege cemetery.) James m.
Tabitha
Ezell d/o John A. Ezell & Mildred Woodruff 01/09/1870 Hop. Co.
This family is listed in the 1880 Hopkins Census with John as head of
household his wife Tabitha and their son John Y. and son
James W. D. |
|
x |
  Benjamin
Webber Crabtree; born Feb 1, 1829 and died December 2, 1894
when he was 65 yrs old, according to his tombstone pictured left. Benjamin Weber
married
Martha "Jane" Croft on Sept
1, 1859. Martha was born December 22, 1836 and died on July 9,
1862 when she was 26 yrs old (according to her tombstone in the
Crabtree Cemetery). Their children: Lenica
"Lemica" Crabtree and Jimmie
Crabtree.
Interesting side note: The Croft's
came from Germany in the 1700's. Starts with > Johann Frederick Krafft, b. 1716 Germany > John
Frederick Kroft (born 1745 South Carolina) > Martin Croft, b. 1772,
Chatham, North Carolina, > William Garvey Croft b: 9 DEC 1807 in South
Carolina, > Martha Jane Croft b: ABT 1837
(this is another line that was in South
Carolina (and North Carolina previous to SC) that came to
Christian/Hopkins Counties, KY around 1800 or so.) In the 1850
Hopkins Census, there are several Croft families living near the
Crabtrees and Terrys'.)
Benjamin and family are living in household 1125
in the 1860 Hopkins Census and his sister (our Margaret Crabtree) is
living two doors down in household 1127 with her husband George Terry
and their children.
Benjamin is also in the 1880 census, in
household 101, a few doors down from his brother James (household 99)
and just a few more doors down from George Terry and family (George
was their sister Margaret's husband, but she died in 1876.) In
the 1880 Census Benjamin is re-married to a Perniecy A. and they have
Ida
L., Emma M., and George J. Benjamin and his
first wife, Margaret are buried in the Crabtree cemetery, I did not
find a stone for his second wife, Perniecy. |
|
xi |
 Louincy
Crabtree, was born November 26, 1831 and died April 25, 1856 when
she was 24 yrs old. Her tombstone is pictured left. Louincy married
Hiram Patwiller Woodruff
on February 22, 1851 when she was 20 and died when she was 24,
probably in child birth. Sometime in 1856
Hiram re-married to
Mary Wright. Per John Woodruff's family history, (Hiram's
son) he states his step-mother was Mary Wright and his half-sisters
were Elizabeth Wills, Lenora Ann and Francis Patwiller (all dead he
notes). Louincy is buried in the family cemetery noted above.
There is a discrepency on when Louincy was born and when her mother
died, I can't figure it out, but they don't jive, i.e., Louincy was
born after her mother died...
|
Woodruff,
Hiram P |
1851 |
Lounicy Crabtree |
Hopkins |
KY |
|
Woodruff,
Hiram P. |
1856 |
Mary J. Wright |
Hopkins |
KY |
|
CRABTREE Notes: (note, some of these
notes are incorrect, I'm placing them here to sort out later)
Notes from the History of
Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade and Barton Counties, Missouri 1889 by
Goodspeed, there are a Benjamin, Washington, Zimiri and Mason
Crabtree mentioned in the records.
Christian Co. KY - FHL 465561
James Crabtree married Elizabeth Wells Book 1 p. 22 no return
would have been summer of 1821.
Samuel Crabtree married Polly Gambill p. 26 March of 1821 no
return
Emsley Crabtree married Elizabeth Pyle p. 30 22 November 1821
William Crabtree married Nancy McCullough p. 50 15 May 1828 by
Samuel Youngblood
William A. Crabtree married Polly Mezo p. 124 18 December 1832
Benjamin Crabtree was listed on the 1830 census of Christian
County, Kentucky, p. 35, where his household consisted of 1 male
under 5, 1 male 5-10, 1 male 10-15, 1 male 40-50
(Benjamin); 1 female 5-10, 1 female 10-15. No other Crabtree
families were in the immediate vicinity. The first piece of
property purchased by Benjamin in Christian County was between
1814-1816 and his last parcel was sold on 1 March 1837 to James
Cooper.[1] He was taxed on the Pond River by 1816. The Pond
River forms the eastern border between Christian and Muhlenberg
counties and then runs into Hopkins county on the Christian's
northern border. Washington Crabtree married in Hopkins County,
but Benjamin married 19 October 1831 in Christian County, Parthenia Redding. She was at least a second wife.
Benjamin Crabtree lived in the same area as John in 1840 and was
enumerated in Polk County, Missouri, with 1 male 5-10, 1 male
10-15, 1 male 50-60; 1 female under 5, 1 female 15-20, 1 female
50-60. In 1840 in Polk County, Missouri, was also Zimri Crabtree
with 1 male 20-30, 2 females under 5, 1 female 20-30 and 1
female 40-50. They were in Madison Twp., p. 193. In 1850 Zimri
was living in Cedar County, Missouri, in household #54. He was
33 years old, born in Kentucky. A few doors away in household
#28 lived Washington Crabtree, age 42, born in Tennessee.
Lane County, Oregon, Marriages
Martha Crabtree m. John Benson 23 Dec. 1855
Louisa Crabtreee m. W. H. Mulkey 13 Nov. 1855
Cedar County, Missouri
Isaac Crabtree married Elvira Simmons 7 June 1869 p. 312
Benjamin may have had sons: Washington, Zimri, John, Isaac and
Mason.
i. Washington Crabtree was b. 1 October 1806 in Washington
County, Tennessee; d. 13 September 1901 in Stayton, Marion
County Oregon; m. 24 February 1831 Hopkins County, Kentucky,
Susannah Crabtree b. 4 February 1810 in Hopkins County,
Kentucky; d. 3 February 1892 in Stayton, Oregon. He arrived in
Oregon 18 September 1853 and settled on 318 acres in Linn
County, Oregon. His first two children were born in Hopkins
County, Kentucky, and the remaining five born in Cedar County,
Missouri.[2]
ii. John Crabtree b. 1815 in Kentucky m. 31 May 1836, Polk
County, Matilda Barks, probably a daughter of Hilary. John was
enumerated in Polk County in 1840 in Madison Township with 1
male under 5, 1 male 20-30; 1 female under 5, 1 female 20-30.
They were in Dade County in 1850 in household #70 in 1850.
Children: Nancy, James, Andrew, Benjamin, Isah (Isaiah?).
iii. Zimri Crabtree b. 4 April 1817; d. 8 June 1884; bur. Oak
Hill Cemetery west of Eugene in Lane County, Oregon; m. Mariah
Jane Crabtree b. 20 April 1821; d. 1 October 1873; m. 25 January
1838 in Christian County, Kentucky Maria J. Crabtree. Zimri was
living in Oregon by 1854 when he attested to James T. Chesher's
land application in Lane County. The following is a brief
abstract of Zimri’s will dated 23 March 1883, in which he named
his wife Mary C., step-son Frank W. Miller and Wm. L. Miller.
His daughters were Louise Mulkey, L. Ebbert, Mary Fisher, Sarah
Fisher, Marg. Jean, Clara Ann, Susan Caroline. He named his son
as George Crabtree and grandson Zimri Mulkey. Exr: son-in-law
Wm. P. Fisher. Wit: G.B. Dorris, J.K. Bristow, T.W. Shelton.
(DAR FHL Film #857015-typescript)
iv. James Crabtree d. by 1849 in Cedar Co. Missouri; m. Minerva
Lindley daughter of Jonathan Lindley. On 21 February 1849,
Minerva Crabtree made application for letters of Administration
on estate of her husband James Crabtree, deceased.
Minerva Crabtree was head of household in Cedar County in 1850.
She was mentioned in the will of her father Jonathan Lindley,
recorded in Dade County on 27 Sept. 1843. Zimri Crabtree was a
witness to that will. (Will Book A:31) (Minerva Crabtree m. 22
September 1853 in Lane County, Oregon Robert Alexander.
Probate Book A of Cedar County, Missouri: Sep. 1848 Zimri
Crabtree received letters of administration on John Lindley, Sr.
dec’d. However, he was released by request the following term.
Cedar Co. Deed Book A:358 28 June 1852 Mason Crabtree and his
wife Amanda sold to Washington Crabtree for $300 the following
tracts SW quarter of SE quarter of S15-T35-R26 and NE of N
quarter of S22-T26-R35 containing 80 acres.
Zimri and wife Mariah Ann sold his land 28 March 1853 (A:367) to
Felix G. Linsey. Washington and Susan also sold on 28 March 1853
to Samuel W. Horn. Washington also resigned as county
commissioner, so they may have been getting ready to move to
Oregon.
[1] Christian County, Kentucky Deed Book E:3 and Book X:71.
[2] Linn County Oregon Pioneer Settlers
| The Will of Isaiah
Crabtree from Hopkins County, KY ~ Will book 10, pg. 44
I viewed his original will, at
the courthouse in the summer of 2005, and the pictures in this
paragraph are those digital pictures. As his signature is
so shaky, I don't believe he wrote the one pictured below.
Perhaps one of his sons did it for him, or maybe it was written
when he was feeling better.
 |
 |
 |
|
Isaiah Crabtree's Will |
Isaiah's original signature |
|
To all whom it may concern know
ye that I Isaiah Crabtree of the county of Hopkins and State of
Kentucky being old and frail in body, but of sane mind and by
the regular course of nature, ______ unto death, devise to make,
ordain, and publish the following as my last will and testament,
hereby revoking and annuling all former wills _
1st - I give to my son B. W.
Crabtree the remainder of the tract of land upon which I now
reside - not heretofore sold sold and conveyed by deed.
2nd - I devise that the
remainder of my estate of every description, be equally divided
among my children - and that David Isaiah Crabtree, son of John
Y. Crabtree, deceased - John Isaiah Woodruff, James Benjamin
Woodruff, and Luniey York Woodruff, infant children of Louincy
Woodruff, and the heirs of Sally Hamby, late Crabtree, be equal
heirs with my own children - that is to say, the children before
mentioned are to have equally divided between them , the part
that their parents would receive if they were alive - to Wit,
one child's part to each of the different families of children
before mentioned.
3rd - I hereby appoint my two
sons James Crabtree and B. W. Crabtree, Executors of this my
last will to carry the same into effect. November 27, 1858
attest
Burrell Terry
Neil Campbell
This instrument of writing was
this day produced in court and proved to be the last will and
testament of Isaiah Crabtree decd by the oath of Burrell Terry
ascribing
|
September 10th, 1859
The
following is a true inventory and appraisement of
the personal estate of Isaiah Crabtree Decd which
was the day produced to me by B. W. Crabtree,
Executor (to Wit)
|
1 |
Bedstead bed and bedding |
$20.00 |
|
1 |
clock (old one) |
4.00 |
|
1 |
" (new?) |
10.00 |
|
1 |
rifle gun |
8.00 |
|
1 |
cupboard |
10.00 |
|
1 |
table |
2.00 |
|
1 |
bed steads bed and bedding |
5.00 |
|
1 |
bureau |
5.00 |
|
1 |
bedstead bed and bedding |
10.00 |
|
1 |
open bed and saddle |
1.00 |
|
1 |
? cradle |
.78 |
|
2 |
pair of harness |
1.00 |
|
2 |
saddles and ___ bucket |
.40 |
|
1 |
____ stove irons |
.25 |
|
1 |
hoes and iron wedge |
2.0 |
|
1 |
square and sheep shiers |
.25 |
|
1 |
saddle |
10.00 |
|
1 |
wagon and bed |
25.00 |
|
1 |
wheat fan |
14.00 |
|
11 |
head of hogs |
30.00 |
|
2 |
head of cattle |
10.00 |
|
1 |
set of chairs? |
2.00 |
|
1 |
book |
.50 |
|
1 |
lot of kichen furnature and bed |
2.25 |
|
1 |
table and ? mare? |
5.75 |
| |
cash notes |
1,369.46 |
|
1 |
? can't read this one ~
|
50.00 |
| |
two wheels 50 one plow |
.50 |
| |
pair hatchet augers stilreds |
2.00 |
|
1 |
carpet |
5.00 |
|
1 |
log chane |
1.75 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
Bill of Sale |
|
Inventory |
|
 Until very recently, I had not known our
Margaret Crabtree's (above) ancestry. I built my case for
Isaiah
Crabtree as her father and Ruth Lindley as her mother through
extensive census research.
However, the most important document that "proved" the connection was a family
history written by
John Woodruff in
1915. In it he states that his mother is Louincy Crabtree,
daughter of Isaiah Crabtree, and further states that his mother's siblings
were: Jinice, York, Thomas, James, Webber, Peggy and Polly. Their
father was Isaiah Crabtree.
I have never seen the name Jinice before
and don't know if it's a nickname for another name or not. I've have seen
James listed near Isaiah, and Webber is actually
Benjamin, his middle name
being Webber.
In the 1850 Hopkins County Census, Ruth
Lindley is gone and according to her tombstone in the cemetery above, she
died in 1830. In the 1850 Census
Isaiah is head of household, and sons James, 24, Benjamin W. and Lawrence,
19 are there. Louincy, one of the daughters didn't marry until 1851,
according to her son's family history published in 1915, so I wonder where
she is in 1850? Isaiah is not in the 1860 Census as he died in
1859 when his will was probated in Hopkins County, KY.
|
This is a copy of the will of James
Crabtree on file in Christian Co., KY.
Will of James Crabtree:
In the name of God, Amen. I James Crabtree of the county of
Christian and state of Kentucky being of sound mind and judgment and
being aware of the uncertainty of life make this my last Will and
testament.
First: I desire after my decease that my funeral expenses shall be
paid out of my money on hand or so much of my means as may be requisit.
2nd: That all my just debts shall be paid.
3rd: That all my property, negroes, land and stock and every other
(species) go to my beloved wife Margaret Crabtree during her
natural life to be disposed of in any way she may choose except the
negroes which I desire shall be free at the death of my wife Margaret.
4th: After the death of Margaret, I desire that my negroes: Hannah,
Caroline, Joseph and Susan shall have fifty acres of land off the
south part of the (survey) on which I now live. I further desire that
they shall have one hundred dollars worth of property in addition of
the land above specified.
5th: Should Margaret die before Caroline, Joseph, and Susan reach 21
years of age--I desire that one or all of them being under that age at
Margaret’s death should be bound out until they are twenty-one years
old and that Joseph be bound out to a good man to learn a trade.
6th: I desire that each of my brothers: Isaiah Crabtree; Benjamin
Crabtree; John Crabtree; Thomas Crabtree or his heirs; William
Crabtree; also my sister Sarah Stuart shall each have one dollar cash
from my estate.
7th: That each of my wife Margaret’s brother and sisters or their
heirs shall have one dollar in cash from my estate. William Crabtree
heirs one dollar, Thomas Crabtree one dollar, (Emsley) Crabtree one
dollar, Martha Crabtree one dollar, Elizabeth (Willbourn) one dollar,
Darcas (Barked?/Parker) one dollar.
8th: After the death of my beloved wife Margaret, I desire that Thomas
W. Crabtree shall have the balance of my land after deducting out the
50 acres above specified and that my wife Margaret dispose of the
balance of the property as she may choose.
9th: I desire that James Crabtree Jr. and W. B. B. (isn’t legible) be
my executors and that they carry matters into affect as above
specified. November 22, 1855
James Crabtree, Sr.
Wm Crabtree
James Crabtree
Having by the fourth clause of my will to which this is a codicil
emancipated all my negroes and their increase. It is still my desire
they be free at the death of my wife and in case the law of the State
should prevent them from having their freedom as provided for, that my
executor or any other person who may administer with the (annexed)
take them and their increase to some free state at my expense, where
they shall be free. |
|
MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS FROM NORTH
CAROLINA From Abstracts of N, C, Wills, by Olds:
Orange Co:
CRABTREE, THOMAS - 1774 - William
, John, Mary, Elizabeth, James, Thomas
Thomas Crabtree, son of William and Jane married a Poteet girl,
John Poteet had three sons and three daughters, namely James,
Thomas, John, Susannah, Elizabeth, and a girl whose name is
undetermined, There was also a son, Abraham, who may have been a
twin of Elizabeth, born June 20, 1717, and who may not have
lived t o maturity, John Poteet SrO1s wife was Elizabeth.
Elizabeth Poteet, daughter of John & Elizabeth, married Charles
Simmons at St, Johns Church, Oct, 19, 1742. James Poteet married
Elizabeth Crabtree Sept. 20, 1748.
(This is not proved to have been the son of John and Elizabeth)
, Thomas Crabtree married either Susannah Poteet or her sister.
The will of John Poteet of Baltimore Co, would probably
determine which daughter was married to whom, Thomas Crabtree
removed to Orange Co,, North Carolina, died at Hillsboro in
1774. The Carolina Crabtree's are of the Poteet line; The Poteet
family lived on an adjoining plantation in Baltimore County. Old
Giwanni (John) Patitte was an Italian, his descendants are known
as Pateets, Pateete, Pattee, and many other variants, Petite,
Pettitt.
Abraham Isaac Whitaker and Mary Pattee were married 15 Dec,
1757, James Whitaker and Catherine Pattee were married 1 Sept.
1747, Devisor Crabtree, Thomas, Crabtree, Wm,
ORANGE COUNTY WILLS When Devisee Probated book-Pg 9
Wm., Jno, Mary, ~lizabeth- A-177
James & Thomas Crabtree
Saml, Nancy, Amelia, Abraham & Jas. Crabtree
Orange County Wills:
Crabtree, James
Crabtree, Thomas
Crabtree, Richard
Crabtree, Lurenny
Crabtree, Susanna
Crabtree, W i l l i a m
Crabtree, Elizabeth
Crabtree, Elizabeth
Crabtree, Abraham
Crabtree, Martha
John, Abram, Richard, 11/1832
Fanny, Sally, Elizabeth,
Polly, Clement Crabtree
& Charlotte Jackson
Harriet, Tempe, Martha, 2/1833
Ann, Abram, George, Jaco!:)
Samuel, Johp, Thomas, Wm.,
Peggy, Nancy, Hunter, Hetty,
Elizabeth, Susannah C r a b t r e e
Parthenia, Arthur Crabtree 5/1849
& Green Bobhitt
Ma? J- McKendall 11/1853
James W, Crabtree 8/1855
Eliza!:leth, Wm, E,, 9/1868
Weslev P., James, Wm,,
John &&:tree, Margaret
Workman & J u l i a Davis
Wesley Crabtree & Margaret -.-----
Workman
James Crabtree 5/1868
G r i v e t t e (?) CraL:itree 2/1876
Mahala Bacon, Lucy J. 11/1884
Whitaker, Bertha A- ~ Roberts
NORTH CAROLINA SERVICE OF WILLIAM AND MARY CRABTREE W 17689
Declaration was made in Orange Co., N.C. May 31, 1833. He died
Dec, 10 or 15, 1836, The following in regard to Wm. Crabtree
were obtained from the papers on file in pension
claim W. 17689, based upon his service in the Revolutionary War.
He applied under the Act of June 7, 1832. He was born Dec.
25, 1758 in Baltimore Co, MD, and moved to N. C. When quite
small. The names of his parents were not given. While
resident of Orange Co., N.C., Win. Crabtree enlisted June 1,
1779 and served three mos. as private in Capt. Thomas
Farmers company, Col. Hugh Tinning's N.C. Regiment engaged in
guarding the town of Hillsboro. He enlisted June 15 or 16, 1780,
and served 3 mos. under Capt. Thomas Fanner and Wm. Cummings
companies, Col. Stephen Moores N.C. Regiment. The soldier
married early in Oct. 1775, in Hillsboro to Mary Spearman
who was born 3/30/1759 in Md. and when about 7 years old moved
to N.C. The names of her parents were not shown. Mary
Crabtree, soldier's widow was allowed pension on her application
executed 6/3/1838, while a resident of Orange
Co., N.C. She was still living there in 1843. The following are
the names of the first 4 children of Wm. and Mary Crabtree:
Margaret b. 7/2O/l776 Elizabeth b. 2/25/1779: Laurency (or
Lurenny) b. 3/11/1782; and Haynes (or Haines) b. 8/15/1784.
No other names of children are shown. Her ce-&. was No. 2457. Issued Dec. 13, 1838, $20 per
annum, commenced Dec. 15, 1836.
NORTH CAROLINA SERVICE OF JOHN CRABTREE R2419
Declaration was made 1835, 24th October personally in Montgomery
Co., Ill. by John Crabtree, a resident of same, age 71 or 72,
who applied under the act of June 7, 1832 and states
he enlisted under Capt. Edward William as a militia man and was
sometimes under Col. Lopp and Littrell in Randolph Co., N. C. in
the spring of 1780 as he believes and served 12 months in
succession in tours of 3 mos, each? He again entered service
under Capt. John Knight in same kind of service viz: making two
full years service as a militiaman and was discharged from
service in same county, Randolph Co., N.C. In Spring of 1782, he
marched against the Tories in Randolph, Guilford and Rowan
counties, N.C. He was acquainted with general officers as he
served in detached company generally: he has no documentary
evidence, neither does he know of any person whose testimony he
can procure, who can testify to his service. He states he was
born in Randolph Co., N.C. 31 May 1763 or 1764, and lived there
when called to service, and has lived since the Revolution in
N.C., a short time in S.C., 30 years in Ky. in Muhlenberg Co.
and now lives in Montgomery Co., Ill. He states he Volunteered
in the militia. He received discharges every 3 mos. but all were
burned when his house was consumed with fire in S. C. Two
witnesses to his signature in Montgomery Co., Ill. were John
Jordan and Win. Jordan (or ord don). The John Jordan was a
clergyman and stated that they are well acquainted with soldier
John Crabtree. A letter in file from Miss Amy L. Crabtree,
Bloomington)Wisc. 19l& -stated he lived in Ga. where his first
wife (Hawkins) died. There was a second wife, Middy Ann Goff. He
died in Montgomery Co., Ill, age 84.
NORTH CAROLINA SERVICE OF WILLIAM CRABTREE R 2421 (OLD WAR
INVALID FILE NO, 2421)
Declaration made 1842, Nov. 8, in Christian Co., Ky, by m.
Crabtree, resident of said county, age 79 last August. He
applied under the Act of June 7, 1832, He also made declaration
in Muhlenburg Co., Ky., Sept. 1842. Says he entered service, age
15, in Randolph Co., N.C. in Aug. 1778. Volunteered for 3 mos.
under Capt. Bletcher. They rendezvoused at a village called
Dorchester and joined Gen. Sumpter and became scouting parties
against the B r i t i s h and Tories, served 3 mos. He again
volunteered and served as Sergeant of 3 mos. under
Capt. B r i t Fuller, and m e t at Salisbury; their company was
consolidated with Capt . John Williams, marched
through Charlotte to near Lynches Creek, when they joined Gen,
Morgan and wintered there. Marched back through Charlotte t o
near King1 s Mountain, then were discharged. After Guilford
Court House Battle again volunteered as Sergeant i n Capt. Wm.
Knights Company and served untilI782; they rendezvoused at Col.
Bedford's and were detached into scouting parties. We had an
engagement with the Tories commanded by Fannon at Michel Lowly's
where we again defeated them, We next engaged with Col. Bryant,
near Canaway River, where Capt, Knight got wounded i n the head,
We were again victorious, Then continued scouting i n parties u
n t i l the end of war 1782, Served 3 mos, as Sgt, under Capt.
Zullen and W i l l i a m s , 12 mos. under Capt Jno. Knight as
sgt. - in a l l 21 mos. That 10 years ago he resided i n Fla.
and was engaged i n service then, and although he knew of the
passage of the law of June 7, 1832, being i n service, he had no
opportunity
of proving his service - his witness resided i n Ky., and he nuw
wishes t o prove his service. He states he was born i n Randolph
Co., N.C. Aug. 1763 or 64. He lived a short t i m e i n
Randolph Co., N. C., then i n Edgefield D i s t . , S.C. then
for a short t i m e in Houston Co., Ga,, then moved t o Jackson
Co., Fla, where he continued t o reside ever since. Naw i n Ky.
for the purpose of promoting h i s claim' for pension. He
received 4 written discharges from his captains, all of which
were burned i n his brother s house i n Edgefield District, S.C. He mentioned in another application that his brother
was taken prisoner at one of the battles, but made his escape
shortly afterwards and i n his escape was severely wounded.
Affidavit 1853, by H. Oglesby, Oct. 19, 1853, i n Christian Co.,
Ky. i n 1842, Sept 20, Joseph Newton age 82 states he has been
acquainted with Wm. Crabtree, the applicant, since early
childhood, resided i n same neighborhood in N X . i n t i m e of
the Rev. and know of his 'being i n 3 of the battles and names
them. . .Affidavit i n Christian Co. , Kyo by Sarah Knieht, age
89, states on behalf of Joseph Newton and Wn. Crabtree for a
pension for their service i n the Rev. , she bows he served;
that he is acquainted with both gentlemen, raised i n
same neighborhood i n N.C. and knows Capt. John H i l l , who
was the step-father of Newton. Said H i l l commanded a Co. of
Militia during said war. She recollects that Win. C. belonged t
o same company in which her deceased' husband Capt. John Knight,
belonged to.
|
|
Crabtree Notes:
From George
Wm Crabtree of AR:
1855 is the correct date for the will of James Crabtree who is the
older brother of our William. In James' will he names his siblings,
including William, and also the siblings of his wife Margaret. The
death record of James names John and Lydia as his parents, so they are
also the parents of his brother William.
In Christian County there is also a will in Record Book F, pages
271-272 for an older James Crabtree who died in 1829. His estate was
distributed to his widow Sarah and Children: Patsey Gambell, Margaret
Crabtree (wife of James of the 1855 will), William Crabtree (not our
William), Elizabeth Wilburn, James Crabtree, Emsley Crabtree and
Dorcas Unisa Crabtree (she later married John C Parker).
Al (Al Gibbs of Mt. Vernon, IN) and I think there is a possibility
that the James who died in 1829 is a brother of John (the father of
our William), but we have no evidence to support that relationship.
Another note from George (AR) regarding some questions I have about
the will:
The persons named in the 1855 will as siblings of Margaret are, I
believe, her brothers and sisters. But, could there be others that
James chose not to name?
I don't know who Isey Crabtree, married Tom Gaylord, is. She may be a
dau of Revolutionary Soldier John Crabtree
who spent time in Christian Co. before going on to Montgomery Co., IL.
He had a bunch of children, more than twenty.
The James who married Peggy in 1803 is the James of the 1855 will.
They could be 1st cousins if her father James was a brother of our
ancestor John, which is a real possibility but not proved to my
knowledge.
I can't identify the James who married Ann Stuart. There was a James
who was an heir of the James who died in 1829. He could be the one,
and he might also be the James Crabtree, Jr., so designated to
distinguish him from the older James.
James, the brother of our William, is buried in Antioch Cemetery,
Christian Co., KY. His tombstone reads James Crabtree, Sr., age 79
yrs, 4 mo, 1 day, 3 Feb 1776, 4 June 1855 Margaret Crabtree is also
there, and her dates are 13 Sep 1784, 10 Sep 1864. This was copied
from Cemetery Records of Northern Portion of Christian County by Meader.
This 1855 James is supposedly a Veteran of the War of 1812 who served from
KY.
From a Crabtree family Bible owned by Edna Crabtree Williams had
saved, James Crabtree is listed as being born in Feb 9, 1776 and dying
June 4, 1850 (or 56?).
Notes for MARGARET CRABTREE:
From a Crabtree family Bible owned by Edna Crabtree Williams, Margaret
Crabtree is listed as being born in Sept 18, 1784 and dying Sept 10,
1865.
More About JAMES CRABTREE and MARGARET CRABTREE:
Marriage: November 28, 1803, Christian Co., KY
Notes for ISAIAH CRABTREE:
From George:
v. ISAIAH CRABTREE, b. 1782; d. June 25, 1859, Christian Co., KY; m.
RUTH LINDLEY, April 24, 1807, Christian Co., KY.
There is a death record at the Kentucky Archives for Isaiah Crabtree,
born 1782, died June 25, 1859 in Christian Co., KY. This Isaiah is the
son of John Crabtree (died 1798, Randolph County, NC) and Lydia York
as proved by the record of the Randolph County Court 1794-1800 wherein
John White sues the heirs of John Crabtree; Isaiah Crabtree is one of
the seven defendants, children of John and Lydia.
Isaiah Crabtree is also named in the will of James Crabtree (died In
Christian County in 1855) as a brother of James. This James also has a
death Record in the Kentucky Archives which names his parents as John
and Lydia.
Here are the names of the six other defendants: They are siblings of
Isaiah ; Thomas Crabtree; Sarah, married a Stewart; James married
Margaret Crabtree (Maiden name Crabtree); John H. married (1) Rebecca
Colvin; Benjamin, married Nancy Pyle; and William (my ancestor)
married (1) Sarah Bennett.
vi. JOHN H. CRABTREE, b. 1784, Randolph Co., NC; d. Aft. 1870,
Gibson Co., IN; m. (1) REBECCA CALVIN, September 13, 1804,
Christian Co., KY; b. 1784, Newberry SC; d. Posey Co., IN; m. (2)
ELIZABETH GALE BEVINS, February 24, 1824, Posey Co., IN; b. 1794, PA;
d. Aft. 1860, Posey Co., IN.
Notes for JOHN H. CRABTREE:
The majority of information on John H. Crabtree comes from Al Gibbs,
George W. Crabtree, Iva Robbinson, Barbara Cox Boone.
From Al:
I sincerely believe that John was buried at Saulmon Cemetery. He was
living with Isaiah (son) in 1870 census and I would think that Isaiah
would have been buried where parents were as well as his first wife
who was a sister to my gr gr grandfather Robert Clark Smith, they were
both children of Peter and Sallie (Davis) Smith.
More About JOHN CRABTREE and REBECCA CALVIN:
Marriage: September 13, 1804, Christian Co., KY
Notes for ELIZABETH GALE BEVINS:
According to a descendant of Elizabeth Gale Bevins, her name was
Elizabeth Gale. There is a lawsuit in the Posey County courts that the
state is suing Elizabeth and John for living together. They did, of
course, get married. According to our standards of today, this would
certainly not be anything to take to court.
More About JOHN CRABTREE and ELIZABETH BEVINS:
Marriage: February 24, 1824, Posey Co., IN
vii. WILLIAM CRABTREE, b. Abt. 1790, Randolph Co., NC; d.
October 1857, Gibson Co., IN; m. (1) SARAH (SALLY) BENNETT,
January 11, 1812, Christian Co., KY; b. February 15, 1792, VA; d.
September 16, 1834, Stewartsville Cemetery, Posey Co., IN; m. (2)
ELIZABETH HURT, August 28, 1847, Gibson Co., IN; b. 1815, PA or VA.
Notes for WILLIAM CRABTREE:
From George Crabtree in AR: After the
death of John Crabtree, our William was apprenticed to Jonathan
McCollum. As you know from the York will, Jonathan's wife was a sister
of John Crabtree's wife Lydia.
In the 1820 IN (Posey Co., IN) census, John H. and William are listed
as being land owners in Posey Co.
The 1820 Posey Co., IN, census list for the household of William
Crabtree the following:
1 m 0-10 (George) 2 f 0-10 (Lydia and Mary "Polly")
1 m 26-44 (William) 1 f 26-44 (Sarah)
The 1850 Posey Co., IN, census list a Samuel, age 51, b. NC and a
farmer. His wife is Ann, age 44, b. in OH. There is a child,
Louisa Clark, age 3, b. in OH living with them. I don't know who this
Samuel is, or where he fits, but I do feel that he is related, so I
have included this. In the 1880 Posey county soundex, there is
Moses Crabtree, age 44, his wife Helen, age 30, b. in KY and Maryette
(9) and b. in IL; Isabell (6) and b. in KY; and Julia (22, a niece who
was born in KY). |
|
JAMES BOONE KILLED OCTOBER 10,
1773
By Luther F. Addington
Although General Edward Braddock's army was defeated July 9, 1755 at the
Forks of the Ohio and his army retreated eastward, the English persisted in
renewing attacks upon the French and Indians until the French were expelled
from the Ohio River Valley. However, this victory brought little relief from
Indian attacks along Virginia's southwest border. To the contrary, the
threat of attacks became more intense; threat of danger merely moved from
one border to
another.
The Cherokees who had befriended the English in the French and Indian wars
were aroused to hating the southwestern Virginia frontiersmen even before
they reached their home in the South. On their way they stole horses to
replace those they had lost in the war. The white settlers ran down many of
the returning warriors and killed them. (1) This aroused among the Cherokees
a deep resentment and hatred for Virginia's westernmost settlers. The treaty
of peace signed between the English and French in Paris February 10, 1763
did nothing to allay the feeling.
Furthermore, the Cherokees, Shawnees and Mingoes realized that the Virginia
settlers were fast encroaching upon their favorite hunting grounds in the
Clinch River Valley, and they were determined not to give them up without a
vigorous protest.
It was while this resentment on the part of the Indians was beginning to
boil that Daniel Boone spent considerable time hunting in Southwestern
Virginia and Kentucky and decided to remove his family and some of his
neighbors from the Yadkin River in North Carolina to Kentucky.
In the summer of 1773 Daniel Boone met Captain William Russell in Clinch
Valley; and the two seemed to have agreed to unite a strong party for a
settlement in Kentucky, which place they meant to reach by way of Cumberland
Gap.
Boone, after making an agreement with Captain Russell for farming implements
and seed, returned to his home on the Yadkin. There he persuaded his wife's
people, the Bryans, and five other families to make the venture.
On September 25, 1773, they set out with what belongings they could take.
Upon reaching Wolf Hills, now Abingdon, Virginia, Daniel sent his
seventeen-year-old son, James, in company with John and Richard Mendenhall,
also of North Carolina, northward across country to Captain Russell's at
Castle's Woods to obtain flour and farming tools. Daniel said he and the
party would
follow the old wilderness trail through the Big Moccasin Gap, over Wallen's
Ridge, go into camp and let the women and children rest until James and his
party overtook them. (2)
At Captain Russell's home, Henry Russell, seventeen-year-old son of Captain
Russell, a man by the name of Isaac Crabtree, and two Negro slaves, Charles
and Adam, joined James' party in order to help with the load of flour and
farm implements. Captain Russell, himself, said he must follow later, since
he had some necessary work to do at home before leaving. He would join David
Gass who lived eight miles down river where he had laid claim to 435 acres
of land in the
Sinking Creek vicinity on the south side of the Clinch.
James and his party set out October 8, following the old Fincastle trail
down past David Gass' place and crossed Clinch River at Hunter's Ford, now
Dungannon. From that point they passed through Rye Cove, and took the
wilderness trail over Powell Mountain to the headwaters of Wallen's Creek.
James and his companions could see signs probably made by his father's
party; he knew that the place of rendezvous was but a few miles ahead.
However, darkness overtook them, and fearing they might lose their way, they
went into camp the evening of October 9.
They built a fire and ate a scanty meal. Then, lying down beside the fire,
they tried to sleep. Although weary from the long hard walk, they couldn't
sleep for the incessant howling of wolves evidently disturbed by the
firelight.
The Mendenhall boys were so alarmed at the weird howling that they walked up
and down, listening and making no effort to conceal their fear. Isaac
Crabtree, although he also may have been afraid, joked about the howling.
"You boys are cowards," he said. "Might as well get used to such noises.
Over in Kentucky where we're going wolves - and even buffaloes - will howl
from the tree tops."
The fire died down; its light dimmed. The howling reached further and
further into the forest. Little by little day dawned. The men and boys sat
up, stretched, listening. For a while there was no sound but the whimper of
the waters of Wallen's Creek and the eerie whisper of the wind in the trees.
But, suddenly, on the morning of October 10, that calm was broken by the war
whoop of Indians who rushed up with knife blades raised and guns cracking.
Henry Russell was shot through the hips and brought down. Then, an Indian
attacked him with a hunting knife and began to stab him. He grabbed the
knife blade with his bare hands, trying to protect himself. But he failed.
Soon he lay dead. Yet, the Indians shot arrows into his body. (3)
James was immediately attacked by a big Indian whom he knew to be Big Jim, a
Shawnee, who had roamed the Yadkin Country and had pretended to be a friend
of his father. Big Jim seemed to delight in whacking James with a knife and
pounding him with a tomahawk. Instead of killing the boy instantly, the big
Indian prolonged the torture.
The Negro Adam who had escaped to a pile of driftwood heard James cry out,
"Oh, Big Jim, please don't! I'm your friend. I thought you were my friend,
too. Oh, Jim, have mercy on me!"
But Big Jim gloating in his savage attack, continued to torture helpless
James until he screamed out in agony, "Kill me, Big Jim! Quick! Get it over
with!"
Big Jim was intent upon making death come with all the torture possible, and
he continued to whack away with his knife. James would, like Henry Russell,
grab onto the blade until his hands were cut to shreds. Even after death,
the slashing went on until the bodies were horribly mutilated. Then, leaving
a war club on the scene, the Indians slunk away into the forest. (4)
All in the party were killed save Isaac Crabtree and the two Negroes. Adam,
after watching the massacre from the driftwood, ran into the woods, tried to
find his way back to Castle's Woods but got lost and wandered alone several
days before finding his way out.
Negro Charles was taken prisoner and forced to travel with his captors.
About forty miles from the scene of the attack, two Indians quarreled over
possession of him, each wanting to take him North to sell him. Unable to
settle the dispute, the leader of the party slew Charles with a tomahawk;
and, then, the disputants ceased to argue.
Isaac Crabtree might have continued on the trail to tell Daniel Boone what
had happened to his son; but, instead, he took to the woods and returned to
Castle's Woods. Because of the outrage he became deeply embittered toward
all Indians and swore revenge; and later he did stir up trouble, which only
made Indian threats on the settlers more pronounced.
Later in the day Captain Russell, Captain Gass and their small party came
upon the murder scene. A runner was sent forward to warn Daniel to watch out
for a possible attack on his people. Others began to dig graves.
Upon receiving the bad news, Daniel Boone hurried his little crowd of people
into a ravine for protection. They put out sentinels and scouts.
The shocked and grieved Rebecca Boone could do nothing for her slain son,
but to show her respect she sent a runner back with a clean linen sheet in
which to wrap his body and keep it off the ground.
Some writers say that Daniel pursued the attackers down a creek and then
returned to camp to help defend the people there. At night a few of the
Indians stole toward the camp, but Boone's defenders shot at them and chased
them away. Upon scouting the premises next morning blood was found,
indicating that some of the bullets had hit their marks.
Although members of the party were alarmed, Daniel Boone still wanted to
continue the journey. Captain Russell, however, persuaded him to take his
family to the neighborhood of Castle's Woods and await a change in the
warlike behavior of the Indians. Boone had sold his possessions on the
Yadkin and could not well return there. So, he took Captain Russell's advice
and went with him to the Clinch River Valley. The remainder of the party
returned to the Yadkin or to the Holston settlements.
Boone said he didn't want to crowd the families in either Russell's or
Moore's Forts, both of which were in the Castle's Woods vicinity. He said he
could support his family during the autumn and winter with his trusty rifle;
and, if he could find an abandoned cabin he'd take it. (5)
Fortunately, Captain David Gass had such a cabin on his farm situated about
half way between Hunter's Ford, now Dungannon, and Castle's Woods, known as
the Sinking Creek area. To this cabin Bone took his family and settled down
for the winter.
It was believed that the Indians guilty of this attack were Cherokees and
Captain John Stuart, British Indian agent among the Cherokees, urged them to
give up the murderers; and, as a result, one chief was executed and another
escaped only by fleeing to the Chickaway tribe. It was learned later,
however, that the marauding band was composed partially of Shawnees because
some of the books and farming tools carried by the James Boone party were
found and brought in and delivered to the whites by the northern Indians as
a result of the treaty following Dunmore's War the next autumn. (6)
Soon after the massacre of the James Boone party Isaac Crabtree, who managed
to escape, threw the whole border into a state of panic when, keeping his
vow to kill all Indians he could, began his killing foray at a horse race in
the Watauga settlement in Tennessee. He shot and killed one Indian who was a
mere bystander at the races.
This murdered Indian was Cherokee Billy, a kinsman of an influential
Cherokee chief.
Settlers on the frontier were fearful of a revenge attack by the tribe. In
order to prevent such a war some of the leading settlers hastened to assure
the Cherokees of their disapproval of Crabtree's conduct. An award of 50
pounds English money was issued for Crabtree's arrest. To this amount
Governor Dunmore of Virginia added 100 pounds.
Several settlers knew of Crabtree's whereabouts and could easily have
collected the reward, but they had suffered so much from Indian attacks that
they had no inclination to turn up a man who had killed one of the savages.
It was thought that no further trouble would come from Crabtree, but later
hearing that a party of three Cherokees were hunting on the Nola Chucky
River, he hurried thither with intent of attacking them. But, when upon
arriving, he found thirty-seven instead of three. He returned to his
father's home at Big Lick, now Saltville, Virginia.
In order to quell his yen for private warfare the county officers of
Fincastle County persuaded him to join a military group whose job it was to
defend the border. (7)
FOOTNOTES:
(1) Summer, Lew P., History of Southwest Virginia, p. 70
(2) Addington, R.
M., History of Scott County, Virginia, p. 14
(3) Draper Manuscript, 6C14
(4) Draper Manuscript, 6C7-20; 6S79-83, 11CC12, 13C133
(5)History of Scott County, Virginia op. Cit. P. 15;
(6)History of Scott County, op. Cit p. 16
(7) Draper Manuscripts;
Pages 27 to 34
Son of WILLIAM
CRABTREE and HANNAH WHITAKER
JACOB CRABTREE, b. Bet. 1759 - 1760, Bedford Co, VA; d. March 19,
1846, Lee Co, VA.
Notes for JACOB CRABTREE:
JACOB CRABTREE, in March of 1775, went with a company of thirty men,
led by Daniel Boone, and marked a path through the forest to the
Kentucky River. They arrived on April 6, 1775 at Big Lick on the
Kentucky River just below the mouth of Otter Creek. Here it was
decided to build a town called Boonesborough. The men in the
expedition were:
Daniel Boone John Kennedy Squire Boone
John King Edward Bradley William Miller
James Bridges William Moore William Bush
James Nall Samual Coburn James Peeke
Coln. Richard Colloway Bartlet Seary Capt. Jacob Crabtree
Rouben Seary Benjamin Cutbuth Michael Stoner
David Gass Samuel Tate John Hart
Oswell Townes William Hays Capt. William Twitty
William Hicks John Vandeman Edmund Jennings
Felix Walker Thomas Johnson
Another Version of the Story
with slightly different details:
Issac Crabtree: In the year 1773, Daniel Boone and Benjamin Cutbirth went to Kentucky on a hunting trip. As they returned, they
met Captain William Russell in Clinch Valley. Russell lived at
Castlewood. They told him of the rich lands in the Cumberland and Ohio
Valley. Russell joined heartily into a plan with them to make a
settlement in Kentucky. They determined to arrange at once for a trip.
Boone could get flour, seed corn and farming tools from Russell for
the proposed settlement. Boone went on home to make immediate
preparations to return for the undertaking. He was enthusiastic
about the plan. He sold his home on the Yadkin River in North
Carolina, and organized a party to go from the Yadkin, from Castlewood
and from the Valley of Virginia. There would be quite a company coming
from different points to join in the undertaking. Arrangements were
made for the different groups to meet in Powells Valley the last of
September, 1773.
When Boone and his family and party reached Abingdon, then called Wolf
Hills, he sent his son James, 16 years of age, and John and Richard
Mendenhall of Guilford, North Carolina, to Captain Russell’s place to
inform him the party had started. They were to obtain the flour, seed
corn and farming tools, and join the party at the appointed place in
Powells Valley, apparently near the head of Station Creek about the
foot of Wallens Ridge, where the whole force would assemble for the
trip.
This prearranged meeting place was accessible from all points, as some
were coming from Powells Valley, some by the Lovelady Road, and some
by Kanes Gap and Stickleyville. Most of the travel at that time was by
Kanes Gap on Powells Mountain above Duffield. The Pattonsville route
across to Stickleyville did not come into general use until about
1804. The Kanes Gap route was evidently the one taken by Boone and his
party. Colonel Robert Spear was a very intelligent man who lived
to be more than a hundred years of age. He was a native of Lee County,
and removed with his father to Speers Ferry, then a part of Lee
County, in his boyhood days, in the year 1800, he made the trip
several times over the Boone Path, and knew the route well. Colonel A.
L. Pridemore talked with Spear in his old days. He was a man of good
memory, and served in the Virginia Legislature after he was ninety. In
talking with Pridemore, he definitely placed the route across Kanes
Gap, down by Stickleyville, and across Wallens Ridge to Station Creek.
The road passed a large spring just north of Stickleyville, on the
south side of Wallens Ridge. From this spring it is about three miles
to the foot of the Ridge on the north side.
It was a good day’s journey from Holston settlement to Powells Valley
by Kanes Gap. James Boone and companions were expected to join his
father at the appointed camping place by nightfall. From Captain
Russell’s place James and his party were joined by Henry Russell, 17
year old son of Captain Russell. Two of Russell’s slaves, Charles and
Adam, were along. Besides John and Richard Mendenhall there was
Isaac Crabtree. The party was heavily loaded. They came through
Rye Cove, and across Powells Mountain at Kanes Gap. They lost their
way and were delayed on the way. Night came on, and they were three
miles short of the goal, and had to go into camp at the Fannon Spring.
J. H. Duff’s map (Draper Mss 6 C 89) locates this point on the south
side of Wallens Ridge near Stickleyville. But they had gotten in sight
of Cumberland Mountain from Powells Mountain at Kanes Gap.
That night, when wolves howled dismally around their camp, the
Mendenhalls became afraid. Isaac Crabtree joked them and said
that in Kentucky they would hear “buffaloes and wolves howling in the
tree tops.”
At daybreak the next morning the party was attacked by Shawnee
Indians. They were taken by surprise. There were no indications of a
struggle or battle. In fact there is no evidence that they were even
armed. They were heavily loaded with supplies, and as they were
preceded by Daniel Boone’s party, and followed by William Russell and
David Gass, and as they expected to reach Daniel Boone’s camp that
night, it was perhaps thought that rifles would not be needed. At any
rate they were powerless before the enemy.
Only two of the party escaped, Isaac Crabtree and Adam the
slave. The two young men, James Boone and Henry Russell, were killed,
also John and Richard Mendenhall. Among the attackers was “Big Jim,” a
Shawnee who had once visited the Boones at their cabin. He was
recognized by James. Young Boone pleaded for his life and that of his
companions, but the Indians cruelly tortured them with knives. When
they would strike young Russell with a knife, he would seize the knife
with his hand. This caused his terrible bloody mutilation. When the
torture continued, James begged the Shawnee to end his work quickly
and not torture them any longer.
Charles the Negro was taken captive. It was learned later from the
Indians that two of the warriors quarreled on their way over which
would own the slave. To settle the quarrel, the chief killed the Negro
with his tomahawk. The other Negro Adam, wandered several days and
made his way back home to the settlement. He was set free several
years later by the will of Mrs. Russell.
Soon after the tragedy, Captain William Russell and Captain David Gass
came along and found the mutilated bodies of the victims. Daniel Boone
was reached at his waiting place and apprised of the tragedy. Some of
the party rushed back to Holston settlement for aid, and made the trip
and back the same day. This was good time over a trail like they had
to travel at that time.
Isaac Crabtree witnessed the killing of James Boone and his
companions. He was so enraged that ever after he tried to kill any
Indian that he might reach, friend or enemy. He would not tolerate the
presence of an Indian. Once while attending a horse race on the
Watauga, he spied there Indians watching the race, two men and a
squaw. One of the men was “Cherokee Billy,” a relative of Chief Connastota. Crabtree shot Cherokee Billy and tried to get the other
two, but was prevented by the crowd with much difficulty. It was
greatly feared that this might bring trouble from the Indians. There
was a local reward of fifty pounds sterling, and one hundred pounds
more by the governor, offered for Crabtree, but he was never
apprehended. Still he did not desist in his efforts to contact the
Indians. The only way those in authority could prevent him from doing
some overt act to cause grave danger to the pioneers along the
sparsely settled frontier was to keep him busy with necessary military
duties.
On the day of the tragic death of James Boone and his party, Boone’s
expected reinforcements arrived from different routes. There were
forty new comers, quite a good crowd on their way to Kentucky to make
the new settlement. But finding the grave situation, they were all for
immediate return to their home settlements. Only Daniel Boone was for
pressing on to their goal. He had sold his home on the Yadkin and had
nothing to go back to. His one big purpose was to make a settlement in
Kentucky, and he could hardly give up under my circumstances. But the
large company prevailed, and insisted on going back to await a more
favorable time.
James Boone and his companions were buried there at their camping
place. Their lonely graves remain unmarked and undiscovered. Daniel
Boone was known to have made a hasty visit to the place in 1775, but
it seems that no effort was ever made to permanently mark the graves.
The grief stricken father and mother of James Boone sadly returned to
Captain Russell’s place at Castlewood, and there lived in a deserted
cabin belonging to Captain David Gass. It was two years before the
trip could be undertaken again because of Indian troubles.
|
From Here see the
TERRY line. (Margaret
Crabtree married George Terry) |
