Col. William Crawford1

Family Chart
ID# 18486, (1744 - 1826)

Key Events:

Birth: 6 Aug 1744, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania2
Marriage: 1767, Alice Kennedy 2
Death: 18262
Burial: Glades Church, Cumberland Twp., Pennsylvania2

Copyright Notice

Narrative:

     Col. William Crawford was born on 6 Aug 1744 in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.2 After his father's death, William was bound by the Orphan's Court to Samuel Coombs in Loudon Co., Virginia.3 After he served his time he enlisted for five months under Capt. Campbell, a Scotchman, who was defending the frontiers with headquarters at Everets Fort on Big Capon, Hampshire Co., Virginia. The company wore the plaid and kilt.4
     William married Alice Kennedy, daughter of David Kennedy, in 1767.2
     William and Alice moved in 1770 to the west side of the Monongahela River, where William with the aid of a Negro servant named Cook had built a cabin, cleared five acres, and planted corn.5 The area west of the Monongahela was deeded to the whites by the Indians 5 Nov 1768, and was then sold to settlers beginning in 1770. William obtained a warrent for land there 16 Jul 1773, and Alice obtained a second warrent 26 Jan 1785. However they never completed the process of obtaining title by obtaining a patent. After his death the General Assembly passed an act authorizing his son-in-law, Henry Russell, to patent 499 acres in trust for William's heirs, which he did 1 Jan 1831, paying $32.70.6 The land they settled was near Carmichaels, in Cumberland Twp., Washington Co., and William lived there the rest of his life. He built a log house there about 32 feet long, two stories high, with four rooms on the ground floor.7
     An attach on a neighboring homestead in May 1774 lead by the Indian chief Logan caused the family to retreat temporarily to a nearby fort.8 Further Indian depredations in the spring of 1777 had caused William to move his family to Jacob Vanmeter's fort some three miles away. They returned home after about two weeks and several neighbors built cabins and a stockade there for thier mutual protection.9
     At the same time British loyalists were taking up arms against their neighbors who supported the American cause. William joined the forces commanded Col. Thomas Gaddis of Virginia, and was appointed a sergeant. He was involved in a number of engagments with Tory forces.10
     William was commissioned Captain of militia of Monongalia Co., Virginia, by Gov. Patrick Henry on 15 Mar 1779.11
     Conflicts between the Indians, encouraged by the British, and the settlers continued after the Revolution, and William was involved in the efforts to defend the settlers.
     William was commissioned as Lieutenant Colonel, 4th Battalion of militia in Washington Co., Pennsylvania, on 1 May 1786, by the Supreme Executive Council of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.12 William took part in a major effort was undertaken by Pennsylvania forces under Gen. Wayne in 1793 and 1794 succeeded in quelling Indian raids.13
     William died in 1826.2 He was buried in Glades Church, Cumberland Twp., Pennsylvania.2
     
Research Note, 2 May 2013:
There were two Col. William Crawfords in western Pennsylvania during the time leading up to the Revolution. The more famous one, from Fayette Co. was born about 1722 in Westmoreland Co., Virginia. He was captured and killed by Indians during a campaign in 1782.14

Children:
     Children with Alice Kennedy:

  • Mary Crawford15
  • Lizzie Crawford16
  • John Crawford17 (26 Sep 1772 - 8 Nov 1831)
  • Catherine Crawford18
  • Ruth Crawford19
  • Alice Crawford20 (16 Jul 1776 - 28 Oct 1850)
  • Nancy Crawford21,1 (6 Aug 1782 - 3 Aug 1864)
  • William Crawford19

Citations

  1. [S4077] Biographical History of Eminent and Self-made Men of the State of Indiana, dist 4 pg 83.
  2. [S4079] The William Crawford Memorial, pg 25.
  3. [S4079] The William Crawford Memorial, pg 37.
  4. [S4079] The William Crawford Memorial, pg 38.
  5. [S4079] The William Crawford Memorial, pp 25, 39.
  6. [S4079] The William Crawford Memorial, pp 119-21.
  7. [S4079] The William Crawford Memorial, pp 25, 121.
  8. [S4079] The William Crawford Memorial, pg 45.
  9. [S4079] The William Crawford Memorial, pp 51-2.
  10. [S4079] The William Crawford Memorial, pp 68-86.
  11. [S4079] The William Crawford Memorial, pp 105-6 provides transcription of commission.
  12. [S4079] The William Crawford Memorial, pp 109-11 provides transcription and copy of commission.
  13. [S4079] The William Crawford Memorial, pp 125-41.
  14. [S4079] The William Crawford Memorial, pp 145-51.
  15. [S4079] The William Crawford Memorial, pg 209.
  16. [S4079] The William Crawford Memorial, pg 214.
  17. [S4079] The William Crawford Memorial, pg 215.
  18. [S4079] The William Crawford Memorial, pg 277.
  19. [S4079] The William Crawford Memorial, pg 279.
  20. [S4079] The William Crawford Memorial, pg 280.
  21. [S4079] The William Crawford Memorial, pg 287, shows her eighth child of William Crawford.