"An Accounting of the Life and Services of Colonel William Crawford Esq. of Fayette County,

Pennsylvania; from 1732 to 1782. "

by George T. Kunath

May 11, 1953.

"The Early Years, 1732 -- 1767"

The subject with which this paper deals might seem at first glance not to be of any major importance, but in relating the story of the life and services of Colonel William Crawford it will doubtless begin to appear that he was no ordinary frontiersman in many respects, but, instead a most unusual individual. His life spanned some of the most exciting and interesting years in the formative period of the American nation; and to many of the most exciting events he was a participant as well as a witness. There were many famous men who lived during the years that William Crawford was an active figure in the life of a new nation; some of his contemporaries were among the most famous and revered men in the early history of our country. The most famous of all with whom William Crawford was an infinite and Good friend, was George Washington who early in his career became acquainted with Crawford and continued the close friendship that grew between the two men until Crawford's tragic death. While the career of Colonel William Crawford was in many respects the story of the typical frontiersman of his day and age, in some ways it was slightly different from the ordinary biography or life story of the frontiersman of that period. For, while William Crawford was not a great or famous man, he was one of the most popular and respected citizens on the frontier, and his long record of service to his country was one to do credit to any man of that day or this.

William Crawford was born in 1732, the same year as George Washington in what was at that time Orange County, Virginia, and is today Berkeley County, West Virginia. His parents were both of Scotch origins and his father was a respectable farmer in the region. When young Wilham was four years old, his father died leaving his widow and two sons surviving him. William being the eldest and Valentine the younger. The widow, Onora, shortly thereafter married again to a man named Richard Stephenson. Her second husband lived for ten years and upon his death left his widow and five sons; John, Hugh, Richard, James and Marcus, surviving him. There had been a daughter Elizabeth but she died while very young (1). The widow and her seven sons lived together in the Shenandoah valley of Virginia, which at the time was on the outer fringe of English settlement in Virginia. The seven boys were all apparently remarkable for their size and physical strength. Wilham Crawford received little or no formal schooling, but while he knew little of the polished refinements of society he did have a good knowledge of men and of numerous things which one living on the frontier of that day did not find in books.

It was in the winter of 1748-1749, while engaged in Surveying for Lord Fairfax, that George Washington first made the acquaintance of William Crawford and the Stephenson boys. Washington was at this time still a young man, and while engaged in running the surveys for Lord Fairfax in the Shenandoah region he often stayed at widow Stephenson's home. There in the spring evenings the men engaged in athletic contests of running, jumping and wrestling (2). in time William Crawford learned the rudiments Of surveying in his association with Washington, and finally decided to forsake the life of a farmer for that of the Surveyor, although he still continued to pursue the former vocation on occasion. This knowledge of surveying was to prove immensely valuable in later years to William Crawford when he had removed much farther westward on the frontier. The association with Washington ripened into a firm friendship which continued through the years until the time of Crawford's untimely death. As the years wore on Washington came to repose a great deal of trust and confidence in Crawford, and in time was to entrust to Crawford the responsibility for many of his western land holdings.

In the year 1755, when William Crawford was twenty-three years of age, the French and Indiana war broke out in the American colonies. As a consequence of this, young William left his Surveying and farming and decided to apply for a commission in the Virginia militia. Upon application to Governor Dinwiddle of Virginia he was granted the commission of ensign and immediatately joined a company of Virginia riflemen destined to augument the army of General Edward Braddock in the projected campaign

(1)  Butterfield, "Crawford!s Sandusky Expedition." pg. 81

(2)  Ep cit., pg. 82

against Fort Duquesne. Crawford!s company joined up with Braddocks army in its march through Virginia, and continued with the army to the site of the ill-fated ambush in July, 1755, which resulted in complete disaster for the English cause. Ensign Crawford was a participant in that battle, and on the long retreat that followed. For his bravery and gallantry in action during Braddockss campaign, Crawford was promoted in 1756 to Lieutenant. (4) During the three years following the defeat of Braddock Crawford was engaged in garrison duty or as a scout in the various western posts of Virginia and Pennsylvania. During these years the Indians, incited by the French, made numerous raids upon the frontier settlements of the Enghsh, and all but devastated the frontier. As a consequence of this long service, Crawford came to have a wide and intimate Knowledge of Indian warfare and of the best methods to be used in combating the savages who laid waste the English settlements. (5) In 1758 the English planned an expedition to retake Fort Duquesne, and the leadership of this venture fell to General Forbes. Washington was then the commander-in-chief of the Virginia troops, and he had available for service with the forces of Forbes two regiments of 1,000 men each. Washington commanded one of these regiments, and Colonel Byrd was commander of the other. Upon the authority of the Governor of Virginia, Washington obtained a commission as Captain for his friend William Crawford, and the latter thereupon raised a company of hardy pioneer farmers and hunters from his own neighborhood to augment the regiment commanded by Washington. (6)

Shortly thereafter, the Virginia forces under the command of Washington, and including Captain Crawford!s company, joined the regular troops under the command of Forbes and the entire army started on the march westward to the Forks of the Oluo. Crawford served throughout this entire campaign which resulted in the recapture of Fort Duquesae by the English forces in November of 1758. (7)  After this event, Captain Crawford remained in the service of Virginia for three more years -until 1761 and the end of the French and Indian War. (8)

After the war ended, William Crawford returned to his old homestead in the Shenandoah valley of Virginia, and again took up the dual occupation of farmer-surveyor. He remained here for the next six years, and was well thought of by his neighbors and friends. Willam Crawford was by then married to Hannah Vance (9)  and had by her three children: Sarah, John and Effie. All resided at the old homestead in the Shenandoah valley. As a consequence of his long service on the westem frontier in the army, William Crawford had become fairly familiar with the country watered by the Monongahela River, and he had visited many portions of it during his army career. He now became enamored over the prospects of settling in the Trans-Allegheny region, and accordingly he began to lay planned to remove himself and his family westward. In the early spring of 1767 he started westward on horseback, leaving his family behind, in order to further explore the land across the mountains and find a Suitable home site. (10)

(3)  Butterfleld, op cit., pg. 83. Randall & Ryan, "History of Ohio", pg. 485, Vol. 1.

(4)  Butterfield, op cit., pg. 84. Randall & Ryan, "History of Ohio", pg. 485, Vol. 1.

(5)  Butterfield, op cit., pg. 84.

(6)  Butterfield, op cit., pg. 85. Randall & Ryan, op cit., pg. 486, Vol. I.

(7)  idem.

(8)  Butterfield, op cit., pg. 88.

(9)  This marriage probably took place in 1750 when Wilham was 18 years old, although it is hard to establish the date with exact certainty. Under the O.S. calendar the date has been given as 1744, which when compared with the date of Crawford!s under the O. S. would have been 1722, would make him 22 years old.

(10) Butterfield, op cit., pg. 88-89.

Chapter II: The Move to the Youghiogheny, 1767 -- 1775"

It was in the early spring of 1767 when William Crawford set out on horseback for a journey across the mountams into the Trans-Allegheny region with the intention of finding a suitable home site. As was stated previously, he was fairly well acquainted with the region from the days of his service in the army on the frontier. After crossing the mountains he at length reached the valley of the Youghiogheny River in what is now western Pennsylvania. He determined to give the valley a much more thorough and critical inspection than he had done when he had first visited it some years previously. After an inspection of the entire country

he finally decided to settle at a place in the valley of the Youghiogheny river which was called Stewart's Crossings. The site which Crawford selected was located on Braddocks old road, near the spot where the army twelve years before had crossed the river on the expedition westward against Fort Duquesae. (11)

At the time the land lay within the boundaries of Augusta County, Virginia as claimed by that state. After the jurisdiction of the territory was transferred to the state of Pennsylvania from Virginia, it became Fayette County, Pennsylvania. The site where Crawford built his cabin is across the Youghiogheny River from present day town of Connellsville in southwestern Pennsylvania. In 1767, when William Crawford built his cabin there it was nothing more or less than a howling wilderness. But the fertile soil and the immense growth of the forest trees gave the place a charm that the country east of the mountains lacked, and made the location seem especially desirable to Crawford.

After he constructed a cabin, Crawford engaged in trade with the Indians in the surrounding region and began to clear the land. A short while after Crawford's arrival his half-brother Hugh Stephenson came out to live with him in the cabin which Crawford had constructed. Hugh was also a married man, but he left his family behind in the Shenandoah as William had done. Dunng the next two years, the two brothers cleared an extensive tract of land and constructed suitable dwellings to house their respective families which were brought out to the valley in 1769. This remained the permanent home of William Crawford until his death in 1782, and in time became the famous stopping place for pioneers and newcomers into the region. (12)  Many famous frontiersmen stayed at "Crawfords Place" and George Washington himself was a visitor there in 1770. On April 3, 1769, Willim Crawford made an application in the name of his son, John, to the proper office of the Colony of Pennsylvania to have his lands surveyed. The order was issued, the surveys made and returned to the Pennsylvania land office wherein the tract was described as "a certain tract of land called'Stewart's Crossings'." In all William Crawford was the owner of some 376 acres of land. (13)

In consequence of his removal westward, Washington began to correspond with his old friend in regards to the western lands which lay without the bounds of the Proclamation of 1763. In 1769, Washington wrote as follows to Crawford regarding the Proclamation Line: "I can never look upon that (1763 Proclamation) in any other light (but I thus say between ourselves) then as a temporary expediment to quiet the minds of the Indians. Any person, therefore, who neglects the present opportunity of hunting out good lands, and in some measure working and distingtushing them for his own, in order to keep others from settling them, will never regain it., (14)  It was not long after the above sentiments were expressed, that Washington requested Crawford to select any desirable land that might be found in the Youghiogheny valley for Washington and some of his family. This request was in fact made in the same letter which was dated at Mt. Vernon September 21, 1769, and after referring to a previous letter to Crawford, Washington writes as follows:

(11)  Butterfield, "Crawford's Sandusky Expedition", pg. 9 1.

(12)  Butterfleld, op Cit., pg. go.

(13)  Butterfleld, op cit.

(14)  Can not read footaote on page received.

"I then desired the favor of you (as I understood rights might now be had for the lands, which have fallen within the Pennsylvania line), to look me out a tract of about fifteen hundred, two thousand, or more acres somewhere in your neighborhood, meaning only by this, that it may be as contiguous to your own settlement, as such a body of good land can be found. It will be easy for you to conceive, that ordinary or even middling lands would never answer my purpose or expectation, so far from navigation, and under such a load of expense, as these lands are encumbered with. No; a tract to please me must be rich of which no person can be a better judge than yourself, and, if possible, level. Could such a piece of  land be found, you would do me a singular favor in falling upon some method of securing it immediately from the attempts of others, as nothing is more certain, that the lands cannot long remain ungranted, when once it is known, that rights are to be had." (15)

After making the above request to Crawford, Washington continues his letter in the following terms:

". . . If you will be at the trouble of seeking out the lands, I will take upon me the part of securing them, as soon as there is a possibility of doing it, and will moreover be at all cost and charges of Surveying and patenting the same. You shall then have such a reasonable proportion of the whole, as we may fix upon at our first meeting; as I shall find it necessary, for the better furthering of the design, to let some of my friends be concerned in the scheme, who must also partake of the advantages. I will inquire particularly concerning the Ohio Company, that we may know what to apprehend from them. For my own part, I should have no objection to a grant of land upon the Ohio, a good way below Pittsburgh, but would first willingly secure some valuable tract nearer at hand. I recommend that you keep this whole matter a secret, or trust it only to those, in whom you can confide, and who can assist you in bringing it to bear by their discoveries of land. This advice proceeds from several very good reasons, and, in the first place, because I might be censured for the opinion I have given in respect to the King's proclamation, and then, if the scheme I am now proposing to you were known, it might give the alarm to the other, and, by puttmg them upon a plan of the same nature, before we could lay a proper foundation for success ourselves, set the different interests clashing, and, probably, in the end, overturn the whole. All this may be avoided by a silent management, and then the operation carried on by you under the guise of hunting game, which you may, presume, effectually do, at the same time you are in pursuit of land. when this is fully discovered, advise me of it, and if there appears but a possibility of succeeding at any time hence, I will have the lands immeddiately surveyed, to keep others off, and leave the rest to time and my own assiduity." (16)

The above letter was answered by Crawford within a week and in his reply he states that he can secure land in Pennsylvama, on the Monongahela and on the Youghiogheny. He proposed to set about the task of selecting suitable lands immediately, and wrote as follows to Washington:

"I have hands not engaged to work for me; and when I go out, I shall raise a cabin and clear some land on any I like or think will suit you." (17)

This exchange of letters between Washington and Crawford apparently resulted in the establishment of a land agency between the two men, which was to last for many years. Crawford attended to the business of securing lands for his friend in short order. He not only sought out several tracts for Washington, but he also selected and located several tracts for the brothers of the latter- Samual and John Augustine, and a

(15)  The letter is quoted in Randall & Ryan, "history of Ohio", Vol. 1, pp. 486-488; and is taken by the above authors from the work by O. W. Butterfield entltled, "The Washington-Crawford letters".

(16)  As quoted in Randall & Ryan, op cit., pp 486-488. Vol. I.

(17)  1bid, pg. 489.

relative Lund Washington. These tracts were located in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, on the southern side of and near the Youghiogheny River and about sixteen miles below Crawford!s own land. (18)  Crawford surveyed these lands, even before the lndian title to them was extinguished, in order to acquire Virginia rights in them. (19)  In the main, a good portion of the lands owned by Washington in the west were located and surveyed by William Crawford .(20)

During the year 1770, Crawford was appointed one of the justices of the peace for his county, Cumberland. In the fall of that same year of 1770, Washington set out on a trip westward to the Ohio Country with the express object of locating and selecting lands for the Virginia officers and soldiers who had served in the French and Indian War, and who were entitled in all to some two hundred thousand acres of land. Washington set out from Mt. Vernon on October 5, 1770 with Dr. Craik, three servants, and a horse carrying the baggage for the party. In the afternoon of October 13, the party reached Crawford's cabin on the Youghiogheny, where they were cordially welcomed. (21)  On the next day Washington and Crawford visited a nearby coal-mine; and on the day following, Crawford took Washmgton down the Youghiogheny to visit the lands which Crawford had selected for him. (22)  These lands lay near the river, and some twelve miles by land from "Stewart's Crossings" where the Crawford cabin was located.

On the 16th of October, Washington set out for Pittsburgh which was distant some forty-three and a half miles from "Stewart's Crossings." He took William Crawford and the latter's son-in-law Willam Harrison, along with him to Fort Pitt. (23) On the 20th of the month, the party set out from Pittsburgh for a trip down the Ohio River. In the journal of the trip which Washington kept, the following entry was made:

On Saturday the 20th (October) "we embarked in a large canoe with sufficient store of provisions and necessaries, and the following persons (besides Dr. Craik and myself) to-wit- Captn. Crawford, Jos. Nicholson, Robt. Bell, Wiliam Harrison, Chas. Morgan and Dan'l Reardon a boy of Captn. Crawford!s & the indians who were in a canoe by themselves." (24)

On the 31 st of October the terminus of the trip was reached at the juncture of the Great Kanawha. Here the party stayed for several days, and on the 4th of November started the return journey back up the Ohio River. When the party reached the great Bend in the Ohio River which now forms a portion of the southern bomdary of Meigs Comty, Ohio, Washington sent the baggage in the canoe on by water, while he "walked across the neck on foot with Captain Crawford distance according to our walking about 8 miles as we kept a strailt course under the Foot of the Hills which ran about So. Et. & was two hours & an half walking it.,, (25)

On the 17th of November, the party reached Mingo Bottom, where they were detained until the 20th. Then their horses were brought down to them from Crawford's home and they proceeded overland to Fort Pitt. On the 23rd they reached the Youghiogheny opposite the home of Crawford, and finding the river too high to ford were forced to wait until a canoe could be procured to carry them across the horses swmimmg along side them. Washington spent the remainder of the day at Crawford's cabin, and on the

(18)  Butterfield, "Crawford!s Sandusky Expedition", pg. 92.

(19)  Idem.

(20)  Idem, note 8.

(2l)   Butterfield, op dt. pg. 94 ff.

(22)  IIdem.

(23)  Idem.

(24)  As quoted in Randall & Ryan, "History of Ohio", pgs. 490-49 1, Vol. I.

(25)  As quoted in Randall & Ryan, "History of Ohio", pg. 494.

succeeding day Crawford took him to see the tract of land which had been taken up for his relative Lund Washington. After viewing this tract, the two men parted company with each other and Washington pursued his way home to Mt. Vemon, while Crawford returned to his cabin on the Youghiogheny. (26)  The entire trip down the river and back had consumed some six weeks in all. On the return journey they had marked out the locations of several suitable tracts on the Virginia shore which were to be allotted to the (27)

officers and soldiers from the French and Indian War. The journey had served to acquaint Washington more fully with the western country, especially the lands lying in the upper Ohio valley.

Crawford continued to be active in locating and surveying western lands for his friend, Washington, and for many of his friends and neighbors in the Youghiogheny region. On March 11, 1771, Governor Penn appointed Crawford to be a justice of the peace for Bedford County along with Arthur St. Clair, Dorsey Pentecost and Robert Hanna. (28) When the new county of Westmoreland was erected in 1775 his comnassion was renewed for that county, and he was made presiding justice for the courts.(29)

It was during the same year, 1773, that Crawford came near being visited again by Washington who was contemplating another western journey It was planned to have Lord Dunmore, the Governor of Virgima, accompany Washington, but the plans were frustrated by the death of Washington's step-daughter, Miss Custis, on June 19th. In April of 1773, however, Washington had written to Lord Dunmore from Mt. Vemon concerning the planned joumey as follows:

"I beg the favor of your lordship to inform me, as nearly as you can, of the precise time you will do me the honor of calling here, that I may get ready accordingly, and give notice of it to Mr. Crawford (if your lordship purposes to take the route of Pittsburgh), whom I took the liberty of recommending as a good woodsman, and well acquainted with the lands in that quarter, that he may be disengaged when we get to his house, which is directly on the communication. I am persuaded that such a person will be found very necessary in an excursion of this sort, from his superior Knowledge of the country and of the inhabitants who are thinly scattered over it." (30)

On September 25, 1773, Washington again wrote to Crawford asking that the latter select lands for him down the Oluo below the mouth of the Scioto if Crawford were contemplating a location for himself in that vicinity. In addition Washington also wrote that,

"By Mr. Leet I informed you of the unhappy cause which prevented my going out this fall. But I hope nothing will prevent my seeing you in that country in the spring. the precise time, as yet, it is not in my power to fix; but I should be glad if you would let me know how soon it may be attended with safety, ease, and comfort, after which I will fix upon a time to be at your house." (31)

This contemplated journey also never materialized, as the mementous events of the Revolution were soon at hand and the entire energies and talents of both Washington and Crawford were occupied in preserving a new country.

In addition to being Washington's western land agent, William Crawford was also involved with the Ohio Land Company of Virginia, which had received its royal charter in 1748. Although that charter had not been renewed in 1762, the Ohio Land Company was still pressing its claim to the lands lying around the Forks of the Ohio, and extending along the south bank of that river. Both Washington and Crawford

(26)   Butterfield op cit., pg 96.

(27)   Kenneth P. Bailey, "The Ohio Land Company and the Westward Movement"

(28)   Can not read foot note from page.

(29)   Can not read foot note ftom page.

(30)   Butterfield, "Crawford's Sandusky Expedition!', pg. 97-98.

(31)   Butterfield, "Crawford's Sandusky Expedition!', pg. 98.

were interested in the doings of the Ohio Company, and kept a weather eye out for any good lands, which might fall to them, lying within the lands claimed by the Ohio company. There was much interest in the lands which lay down the Ohio; especially since Washington and Crawford had made the journey down the Ohio in 1770. In fact much of the early knowledge of this region was credited to the accounts of such men as Christopher Gist, Col. Thomas Lee, Thomas Cresap, George Washington, William Trent, Barney Curran, Hancock Lee, and William Crawford. (32)

In 1773, the Ohio Land Company wished to complete its surveys of the lands which it claimed lying south of the Ohio river in what is now the State of Kentucky. In order to accomplish this objective, George Mason, who was then directing the affairs of the Ohio Company and pushing its clanns, decided to engage a competent surveyor to finish the surveys. Accordingly, in that same year William Crawford was commissioned by the College of William and Mary as the official surveyor for the Ohio Land Company. (33) In the following year, 1774, one Hancock Lee was appointed as his assistant. Crawford and Lee gathered together a party, and set out down the Youghiogheny River intendmg to journey to Kentucky and ran the surveys for the Ohio Land Company. But at the falls of the Youglnogheny they met with misfortune when their canoes were overturned, drowning two men in the party and causing the loss of all their arms ammunition, and provisions. Tlis misfortune, plus growing Indiana trouble in the Kentucky region, caused the expedition to be put off -until 1775, when the surveys were finally run. Crawford's work in making this survey was not extensive; most of it being done at the instigation of, and in the interest of George Mason.(34)

Unfortunately, for the efforts of George Mason and the Ohio Land Company, the labors were doomed to failure. Much of the lands which were claimed by the company had already been granted to the Virginia officers and soldiers of the French and Indian War. In an effort to cause further embarrassment to the Ohio Land Company, and to reflect discredit upon the surveys which had been made, the legality of William Crawford's surveyors license was attacked. This served to further complicate an already confused situation, but before any decision was reached in the matter the company agreed to use Willie Lee as their official surveyor in place of Crawford. (35) The unsettled claims of the Ohio Land Company were to drag on for years yet, and though many earnest endeavors were made on its behalf, the claims of the company were never recognized. On November 20, 1778, the Ohio Land Company presented a Memorial to the General Assembly of Virginia which contained the following extract, to-wit:

"That in the Year 1773 (their former surveyor Mr. Gist being dead) Your Memorialists obtained, from the President & Professors of William and Mary College, a special Commission, appointing Mr. William Crawford Surveyor of the Lands; who had a year or two before, by Virtue of a like special commission, (for) that purpose, from the said President and Professors surveyed the two hundred thousand acres for General Washington, and the officers and soldiers of his Regiment; upon which Surveys, regular patents had been granted and passed. And the year following they also obtained, from the said President and Professor, a Commission for Mr. Hancock Lee, as Deputy Surveyor to the said William Crawford; and they were proceeding down the River, in order to begin their surveys, but had the misfortine to have their Canoes overset, in attempting to pass the Falls of Youghiogheny, and to lose all their provisions, arms, and ammunition and have two of their men drowned; which, together with the Indian War that Summer, prevented their further progress."(36)

(32)   KennethBailey-"The 0hio Land Company of Virginia & the Westward Movement -1748

-1792";pg 287

(33)   Bailey, op cit., pg. 274

(34)   Cannot read footnote

(35)   Kenneth P. Bailey, op cit., pg 277.

(36)   Kenneth P. Bailey, op cit., pp 324-325

For several years a sharp conflict had been raging between the colonies of Virginia and Pennsylvania over which of them owned the land at the headwaters of the Ohio. In 1773, the legislature of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania embraced the disputed territory in the newly formed county of Westmoreland. This move prompted retaliation on the part of governor Dunmore of Virginia, who immediately dispatched one Dr. John Connolly, a nephew of George Croghan, to Fort Pitt with a captain's commission and orders to take possession of the territory around the Fort and the Monongahela region in the name of the King. When Connolly arrived at Fort Pitt he issued a Proclamation calling on the residents of the region to gather at the Fort in order to be enlisted as Virginia militiamen. It so happened that Arthur St. Clair, the representative of the proprietors of Pennsylvania in that district, was then in Fort Pitt, and before Connelly's militia could assemble, he was arrested by St. Clair. After a while, St. Clair released him, and he hurried to Williamsburg where he was further commissioned with both civil and military authority to execute the laws of Virginia. (37) Once again he set out for Pittsburgh, on the way stoppmg over at William Crawford's cabin on the Youghiogheny Crawford afterwards wrote Washington to appraise him of Connolly's call and stating,

"he tells me that it is now without doubt that the new goveniment is fallen through and that Lord Dunmore is to take charge of so much of the quarter as falls out of Pennsylvania.,, (38)

Not withstanding his status as a native Virginian, Crawford remamed loyal to the Pennsylvania side in this contest. It was not until the warfare with the Indians broke out in the summer of 1774, that he felt called upon to assist his native colony. He therefore applied for and received a captain's commission from Lord Dunmore; raised a company of men without much difficulty, and marched them over to For Pitt- renamed Fort Dumnore by the Virginia insurgents. (39) From late spring until November of 1774, Crawford remained in the service of Virginia. Of his service in this warfare we shall have more to say later on; at present it suffices to state that he participated on the Virginia side in the conflict with the Indians. When he returned to his home on the Youghiogheny river, Arthur St. Clair, being not unmindfull of the fact that his associate, a swom officer of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, had accepted a Virginia commission in direct conflict with a peace policy of Govemor Penn, wrote to Penn concerning Crawford in the following vain,

"Captain Crawford, the president of our court, seems to be the most active Virginia officer in their service. He is now down the river, at the head of a nunber of men, which is his second expedition. How is it possible, for a man to serve two colonies, in direct antagonism to each other, at the same time? William Crawford hath joined with the government of Virginia in opposing the jurisdiction of Pennsylvania." (40)

As a consequence of this action on his part, Crawford had put himself into a poor light with the Pennsylvania authorities. They immediately decided to take action against him and on January 25, 1775 a supersedeas was ordered and William Crawford was removed from an the positions held by him under the commonwealth of Pennsylvania in Westmoreland County. Never again did he hold office under the government of Pennsylvania, although he continued to reside on the Youghiogheny River until the time of his death.  (41) In consequence of this action on the part of the Pennsylvania authorities, Crawford's allegiance was now fully transferred to his native colony, and in the spring of 1775 he took an active part in the boundary dispute on the Virginia side. He opened a land office and as a deputy surveyor made surveys overriding Pennsylvania claims. This made him not a few enemies, but with the dawn of the

(37)   The account of this incident is given in Randall & Ryan; "History of Ohio,,, Vol. II, pgs 48-49.

(38)   As quoted in Randall & Ryan op cit., ??

(39)   Butterfield, "Crawford's Sandusky Expedition. pg. 99.

(40)   As quoted by Butterfield, "Crawford's Sandusky Expedition!'. pg. I 00.

(41)   Butterfield, op cit., pg 101.

Revolution, Crawford made up his Pennsylvania friends in the interest of a greater cause. When Youghiogheny County was erected by Virginia in 1776, Crawford was appointed as deputy surveyor and as one of the justices. These were thereafter the only civil offices which he held, and they were under the Virginia govemment. (42)

(42)  cannot read footnote

Chapter III

"Lord Dunmore's War and the Revolution, 1774 - 1781"

As was seen in the last chapter, William Crawford's love of adventure got the best of his Pennsylvania loyalty in 1774, and he accepted a commission from Lord Dunmore as a captain and went down the river to fight against the Indians. In June of 1774, Lord Dunmore planned an expedition against the capital of Cornstalk on the Scioto. Dunmore commissioned Major Angus McDonald, an energetic and fiery warrior, to raise the necessary men; proceed to Wheeling and erect a fort; and then cross the Ohio river and invade the Shawnee country. McDonald promptly and forcefully executed his orders. The men recruited rendezvoused at Wheehng and built a fort there. The stockade so constructed was named Fort Fomcastle, and placed in command of captain William Crawford. (43)  After Mcdonald's partially successful campaign against the Shawneese, Crawford returned eastward, and joined Dunmnore's division of the Virginia army. Crawford had been offered a command second in rank to colonel. Andrew Lewis, who commanded the left wind of the Virgina army, but he refused it. This refusal cost him the opportunity of being present at the famous battle of Point Pleasant when cornstalk and his warriors were decisively defeated by the Virginians. Instead, Crawford marched westward with Lord Dunmore in August 1774 to Pittsburgh, thence into the campaign up the Hockhocking river. (44)

After the battle of Point Pleasant, Dunmore proposed a treaty conference with the Indians, but chief Logan of the Mongoes stayed away and sulked. When Dunmore sent one Captain Gibson after him, that officer returned with Logan's famous speech. In spite of these words, Dunmore did not trust the Mongoes, and therefore he ordered Captam William Crawford to take a force of some 240 mounted men and make a raid on the Mongo towns on the Sciotto river, located where the city of Columbus, Ohio now stands.  (45) the force commanded by Crawford traveled all night and reached the villages at daybreak only to find that the element of surprise had deserted them when the force was discovered just before daylight by a lurking Indian. the greater part of the Mongoes who had assembled there escaped, although Crawford's men killed six and wounded several others, in addition to destroying the Mongo towns. This expedition resulted in the only damage done to the Indians in the interior during the Dunmore invasion. After his return home to the Youghiogheny in November of 1774, Crawford wrote the following letter, dated November 14, 1774, to George Washington:

"Sir: I yesterday returned from our late expedition against the Shawnese, and I think we may with propriety say we have had a great success; as we have made them sensible of their villainy and weariness, and, I hope, made peace with them on such a footing as will be lasting, if we make them adhere to the terms of the agreement, which are as follows: First, they have to give up all the prisoners taken ever by them in war with white people; also negroes and all the horses stolen or taken by them since the last war. And further, no Indians for the futhure are to hunt on the east side of the Ohio, nor any white man on the west side; as that seems to have been the cause of some of the disturbance between our people and them. As a guarantee that they will perform their part of the agreement, they have given up four chief men, to be kept as hostages, who are relieved yearly, or as they may choose. The Shawanese have complied with these terms, but the Mongoes did not like the conditions, and had a mind to deceive us; but Lord Dunmore discovered their intentions, which were to slip off while we were settling matters with the Shawanese. The Mongoes intended to go to the lakes and take their prisoners with them and their horses which they had stolen.

(43)   Randell & Ryan; "History of Ohio," pg. 70, Vol. H

(44)   Butterfield; "Crawford's Sandusky Campaign," pg 99.

(45)   According to clipping from the Columbus Dispatch (date unknown) entitled "Short Stories of the Buckeye State: written by J.H> Galbraith, the honor of being the first white man to ride a horse over the site where Columbus now stands, is accorded to Captain William Crawford".

Lord Dunmore ordered myself with two hundred and forty men to set out in the night. we were to march to a town about forty miles distant from our camp., up the Scioto, where we understood the whole of the Mongoes were to rendezvous upon the following day, in order to pursue their journey. This intelligence came by John Montour, son of Captain Montour, whom you formerly knew. Because of the number of indians in our camp, we marched out of it under pretense of going to Hockhocking for more provision. Few knew of our setting off anyhow, and none Knew where we were going to until the next day Our march was performed with as much speed as possible. We arrived at a town called the Salt-Lick Town the ensueing night, and at daybreak we got a-round it with one-half our force, and the remainder were sent to a small village half a mile distant. Unfortunately one of our men was discovered by an Indian who lay out from the town some distance by a log which the man was creeping up to. This happened before daybreak, which did us much damage, as the chief part of the Indians made their escape in the dark; but we got fourteen prisoners, and killed six of the enemy, wounding several more. We got all their baggage and horses, ten of their guns, and 2 (two) white prisoners. The plunder sold for four hundred pounds sterling, besides what returned to the Mohawk Indian that was there. The whole of the Mongoes were ready to start, and were to have set out the morning we attacked them."(46)

After the end of the campaign against the indians under Lord Dunmore, William Crawford returned to his home on the Youghiogheny and once more turned his attention to the conflict which existed between the rival colonies of Virginia and Pennsylvania. But the respite from active military service was to be a short one this time. For the Revolutionary War broke out in the spring of 1775, and in this conffict Willam Crawford was again serving in the army. On May 16, 1775 the citizens of Western Pennsylvania met at Pittsburgh to air their views and sentiments concerning the conflict with the mother country. Crawford attended this convention, and was among the foremost in champaining the cause of American Liberty.  (47) A committee of defense was appointed, and Crawford was given a place upon it. As was noted previously, Crawford struck hands with his Pennsylvaina enemies in the interest of the cause of American liberty and submerged his personal feelings in the land dispute between the rival colonies. According to tradition Crawford offered his services to the Council of Safety at Philadelphia, but the offer was refused because of his conduct during the land controversy. (48)

However, in the fall of 1775, Crawford offered his services to his native colony of Virginia. The offer was accepted, and Crawford thereupon raised the fulli complement of a regiment for the defense of the colonies. The continental Congress, however, determined to accept only six regiments from Virginia into the pay of the Continental line. Since the regiment raised by Crawford was over the quota, it was not accepted, and Crawford did not get the Colonel's commission which would have been his had the regiment been accepted. Crawford finally entered the Continental military establishment on January 12, 1776 with a commission as lieutenant-colonel of the Fifth Virginia regiment of the Continental line. (49) On the 11 day of October, 1776 William Crawford was appointed as Colonel of the Seventh Regiment of the Virginia battalions by the Continental Congress, his commission being dated as of the 14th of August, 1776. (50) During the year 1776, Crawford took part in the battles on Long Island, and afterwards participated in the retreat across New Jersey with Washington's army." (51)

(46)   As quoted in Randall & Ryan; "History of Ohio", pp 126-128, Vol. II.

(47)   Butterfield, "Crawford's Sandusky Expedition'. pg. 102.

(48)   Butterfield, "Crawford's Sandusky Expedition', pg 103.

(49)   Butterfield, op cit., pg 103.

(50)   lbid, pg. 104.

(51)   Idem.

On Christmass Day, 1776, Crawford was one of the men who crossed the Delaware river with George Washington and fell upon the surprised Hessians at Trenton the following morning, completely routing the enemy. He was engaged in the Battle of Princeton on January 3, 1777 and several minor engagements thereafter until the following summer when Washington was falling back on Philadelphia. Then Washington One-hundred light armed men from each of three Virginia brigades stationed at Christian Creek near Wilmington, Delaware and gave the command of this group to Colonel Crawford. The main duty of these men was to act as scouts and the advance party for the retreating Continental army. It was Crawford's duty to reconnoiter the enemy positions and report their movements back to Washington. While engaged in this service, Crawford had a brisk skirmish with a small party of Howe's advance guard, being compelled to retreat before the British. Crawford then fought in the battle of Brandywine under Washington, before the Contmental army was obliged to retreat to Valley Forge. In November of 1777 the Continental congress passed a resolution authorizing Washington to send colonel William Crawford to Pittsburgh to take command'under Brigadier General Hand of the Continental troops and militia in the Westem department.  (52) The reason for this move was the constant fear of Indian trouble in the western territory, this was a problem which Crawford had discussed with Washington, and of which the latter was well aware. Before leavmg for York, Pennsylvama to receive his instructions from Congress before proceeding to Pittsburgh, Crawford received an Address from the officers and men of his regiment which ran as follows:

"We beg leave to take this method of expressing our sense of the warmest attachment to you and at the same time our sorrow in the loss of a commander who has always been influenced by motives that deservedly gain the unfeigned esteem and respect of all those who have the honor of serving under him. Both officers and soldiers retain the strongest remembrance of the regard and affection you have ever discovered toward them; but as we are well assured that you have the best interest of you country in view, we should not have chosen another field for the display of you military talents. Permit us, therefore, to express our most cordial wish, that you may find a regiment no less attached to you than the Seventh, and that your services may ever be productive of benefit to your country and honor to yourself." (53)

To this tribute from the men under his command in the Seventh Regiment Willam Crawford replied as follows:

          "Gentlemen:Your very affectionate and polite address demands my warmest                              acknowledgments , which I beg leave to return to you in the strongest terms                              of gratitude and affection. Be assured the officers of the seventh regiment will                            ever share my tender regard, and I have great hopes that they will continue to                          merit the brightest esteem of their insulted and injured country.                                                  My kind wishes Will ever attend the lowest soldier in the regiment.                                            My own abilities are small, but I have this serious satisfaction. That they have                            ever been, and shall continue to be, exerted to do the utmost in defense of                               American liberty, justice, and the rights of humanity.                                                                 I have the honor to be, gentlemen,Your most humble servant,                                                                                                          W. Crawford." (54)

After tacking leave of his regiment, Crawford journeyed to York, Pennsylvania and received his instructions. Shortly thereafter, he departed for Pittsburgh. After his arrival there he became the

(52)   Butterfield, op cit., pg 105.

(53)   lbid, pg. 106.

(54)   Ibid, pg 106.

Commander of Fort Pitt under his superior, Brigadier General Edward Hand." this was in the early part of 1778. In April of 1778, General Hand, who preferred scientific warfare to the slinking type practiced in the western territory, requested to be transferred back east under Washington. the request was granted, and Washington chose Brigadier General Lachlan McIntosh to succeed Hand. General McIntosh did not arrive at Fort Pitt until August of 1778, but in the interim he was the commanding officer of the Western Department. The Indian raids upon the border settlements had been increasing in severity during 1777 and by the spring of 1778 the frontier was thoroughly aroused against the depredations of the savages. One of the first moves to thwart the Indians was the construction of a fort above Pittsburgh on the Allegheny river, which the Indians were known to cross in their raids against the settlements. Thus it came to pass that one of the first duties assigned to Crawford was the construction of this fort. Taking a small party of men with him he advanced up the river about sixteen miles above fort Pitt to where a ford was located that was known to be used by the Indians in crossing the river. At this site, on the south side of the river a short distance above the mouth of Puckety creek it was decided to erect the fort which would serve as a rallying point for scouts as well as for the protection of troops. The fort was constructed -under the Supervision of Crawford, and by the order of Bngadier General McIntosh it was called Fort Crawford. (56) At various intervals during the next two years, Crawford commanded that post and its small garrison. It served as a focal point for counterraids against the Indians.

In the spring of 1778, George Rogers Clark was preparing his expedition against the British posts in the interior. Since both Crawford and Clark had commanded companies in Lord Dunmore's war they knew each other well and a strong friendship existed between them. (57) Clark invited Crasford to join his expedition, but the latter was forced to decline because of the exposed condition of the frontiers which required his constant attention; although, he would have liked nothing better than to have accompanied Clark. due to the increasingly troublesome Indian forays it was decided in the summer of 1778 to mount an expedition aimed at taking Detroit from whence the indians were being incited and supplied. When General McIntosh arrived at Fort Pitt he at once assumed responsibility for carrying out this invasion of the enemies territory. The entire plan was based on the Dumnore invasion of four years previously, but since few if any continental troops could be spared for the expedition it was largely a militia affair . (58) McIntosh marched out from Fort Pitt with some 500 men, William Crawford being among them. they blazed a roadway from Fort Pitt to Beaver Creek, and just below Beaver Creek on the east bank of the Ohio they began the construction of a stockade post.

Wilham Crawford was in charge of the construction of this post, (59) which after its completion was called Fort McIntosh. this fort was designed to serve as the main base for any expedition aimed at Detroit. due to delay in gathermg supplies and in the assembling of the militia, the original plans for the expedition were abandoned, and in stead on November 5, 1778 McIntosh set out on a westward march which brought him to the Tuscarawas river where he expected to encounter the Indians in full force. At this point McIntosh was informed that the expected supplies necessary to the expedition had not reached Fort McIntosh and with winter rapidly approachmg he dared not take an expedition in the wilderness with no base of supplies. He thus abandoned his plan to take Detroit, and instead decided to construct a fort on the Tuscarawas river in order to give some protection to the eastern settlements and to serve as an additional barrier to the Indians. (60) The entire force was employed in the construction of the fort the first to be built within the present boundaries of the state of Ohio. When it was completed it was named Fort Laurens m honor of the president of the Continental Congress. William Crawford aided in the construction of this fort, and afterwards visited it on several occasions until it was abandoned in late 1779. (61)

(55)   Randall & Ryan; "History of Ohio", pg. 350, Vol. II.

(56)   Butterfleld, "Crawford's Sandusky Expedition, pg. 107.

(57)   Butterfield, op cit. pg. 108.

(58)   Randall & Ryan, "History of Ohio", pp 218, 219, 224, Vol. H.

(59)   Randall & Ryan, "History of Ohio", pg. 350. Vol. II.

(60)   Randall & Ryan, op cit. pg 225. Vol. II.

(61)   Butterfield, pg. 109. He also relates the story of a narrow escape, which Crawford and a companion had from capture by the indians during one of these trips to Fort Lauren.

With the failure to take Detroit, the troubles on the frontier increased instead of diminishing. fort Laurens was attacked by the Indians, and the hard pressed garrison was reduced to starvation before relief finally reached them. In August, 1779 Fort Laurens was finally abandoned and the frontier was left more exposed than ever. Throughout 1779, Crawford was engaged in leading small parties into the wilderness in pursuit of Indian raiders. (62)  The state of affairs in the westem territory was rapidly going from bad to worse, and little aid or relief could be spared to alleviate the situation. The only successes which had attended the American cause in the west had been the capture by Clark of the British interior posts. with the dawn of 1780, the situation continued desperate on the frontiers. Crawford was sent to Congress to personally urge a more effectual defense of the westem frontier. (63)

After his trip to Congress to plead for the cause of the frontier, Crawford returned to his post and during the remainder of 1780 was very active in improvising measures designed for the defense of the frontier. Several times he was called upon to lead small parties into the wilderness after Indian marauders. (64) It was during this period that the idea of an expedition against Sandusky first began to be thought of with seriousness. Crawford early declared himself in favor of such a plan, and did all within his power to bring it about. but the situation was such that only militia were available for such a foray, and the militia were more than reluctant to leave their homes and families defenseless while they were off in the wilderness

fighting Indians. So the expedition remained in the talking stage and nothing concrete was done to make any effectual preparation for it. In the year following, and expedition against Detroit was planned by clark, who was to be reinforced by colonel Lechery and militia volunteers from the region around the Youghiogheny and Allegheny rivers. Crawford assisted in rasing volunteers for this proposed expedition, and had intended to accompany it himself, but at the last minute important business requiring his attention prevented him from going. (65) As it tumed out it was just as well, for the Lochry party in traveling down the Ohio fell squarely into Indian ambush, and was completely massacred.(66) After repeated failures and lack of both men and supplies, Clark was forced to abandon the campaign against Detroit, and the indian attacks slacked off but slightly during that year.

During April of 1781, Crawford accompanied the expedition under the command of ** Colonel Brodhead into the Ohio country and to the Indian village of Goschochgang, which was located near present day Coshocton. The most notable feature of this expedition was the brutal killing of numerous Indian prinsoners which were taken captive during the campaign. this was largely the work of the militia accompanying the main force of regulars under the command of Brodhead. After this expedition, Crawford returned to Fort Pitt, where during the summer of 1781 he assisted Colonel Gibson, then commanding at Fort Pitt, in attempting (67) to organize an expedition against Sandusky. By this time the situation at Fort Pitt was almost as desperate as it had been at Fort Laurens during the winter of 1778-79; the state of defenses on the western (68) frontiers had fallen into a very sad condition. And while the fighting in the east was about to be concluded with the suerender of Cornwallis at Yorktown, the Revolution was to continue unabated in the Ohio country durring the dreadful and bloody year of 1782. The Bntish were quick to realize that their sole remaining chance to embarrass the colonies lay in keeping trouble stirred up in the Northwest, where they had the advantage over the Americans by having the majority of the Indians as their allies. (69)

In the fall of 1781, Colonel William Crawford was put on the retired list of the Continental army after almost six years uninterupted duty as a soldier. When he was retired, he nonetheless retained his

(62)   lbid, pg. 1 1 1.

(63)   Idem.

(64)   Butterfleld, op Cit., pg. I I 1.

(65)   Idem., pg 1 12.

(66)   Randall & Ryan, "History of Ohio" pp. 308-31 1.

(67)   Butterfleld, ,Crawford,s Sandusky Expedition" pg. 1 1 2.

(68)   Downes, "Council Fires on the Upper Ohio" pg. 262.

(69)   Downes, "Council Fires on the Upper Ohio", pg 27 1.

**Note Colonel Brodhead He was the Commanding Officer of John Galliher

commission as Colonel in the military establishment. With the defeat and capture of Cornwallis army at Yorktown, Crawford felt that the end of the Revolution was could not be far away, and in consequence it was his sole desire to return to his home and spend the rest of his days in peace and quiet. He felt that he had done his duty to his country, and determined now to retire from public affairs. Accordingly, in the fall of 1781 he retumed to his family and resumed his private life. It is well that he could not see what the future held in store for him.

Chapter IV

"The Expedition to Sandusky; May - June, 1782"

After Crawford's retirement from active service and his return home, the Indian warfare which had raged throughout the Revolutionary War continued . General Irvine was now the commanding officer of the Western Department with headquarters at Fort Pitt, and this officer was trying desperately to form an effective defense for the embattled frontiers. With the dawn of the year 1782, the trouble from the savages increased rather than deminished. As noted previously, the British having lost the war in the east determined to keep as much trouble as possible stirred up in the Northwest in order to weaken the position of their former colonies. To this end they still had the distinct advantage of retaining Detroit and other western posts, and in having their Indian allies to do much of their fighting; although in all fairness it must be noted that the British by and large detested the useless slaughter of innocents which was practiced by the Indians. Early in the year 1782, as a consequence of one of these Indian raids, the Pennsylvania militia under Colonel Williamson in March of 1782, perpetrated one of the worst acts ever attributed to the American frontiersmen, namely the cold-blooded massacre of some ninety Christian Moravian Indians at the mission settlement of Gnadenhutten on the Tuscarawas River. This act was completely uncalled for, but the aroused wrath of the frontiersmen could not be expected to distinguish a good Indian from a bad one at this juncture in frontier affairs.

After this terrible incident, the plans for an expedition against the Wyandot towns on the upper Sandusky River were revived in full force and it was at length determined to carry out the projected expedition. General Irvine approved of the project, but informed the militia officers that he could spare no regular troops to accompany the expeditions, except upon a small scale, and thus it was entirely up to the militia to carry out the projected raid. It was inspired solely by the revenge for the attacks of the Indians and by fear of more to come unless the borderers did something effective to put a stop to them.

William Crawford had heard of the expedition, and in fact was several times consulted by the various militia officers in regards to the plans for it. With a deep and aroused interest in the project, it is not surprising to learn that Crawford decided at length to accompany it. His son, Lieutenant John Crawford; his son-in-law, William on, who marned Crawford's daughter Sarah; and his nephew William Crawford who was the son of Valentine Crawford, all determined to accompany the expedition. Irvine desired that an experienced officer be chosen to command the expedition, and his own choice was Crawford (70) whom he knew had had long experience as an officer in the Continental line, and was well experienced and well versed in Indian fighting from his many years of service on the frontier. What Crawford did was to volunteer for the expedition as any ordinary soldier, and he stated that if the men were to elect him commander he would accept, but he refused to go with the express idea of commanding the expeditions (71)

With this decision to volunteer for the expedition setteled William Crawford began to set his affairs in order, for he as well as many other, were well aware of the dangers that attended a campaign so far into the enemies' country. Crawford, on the 14th of May, 1782, deeded his son-in-law William Harrison some sixty-eight acres of land on the Youghiogheny River adjoining the place where the latter lived. (72) on the 16th of May, William Crawford made his last will and testament, which was witnessed by Thomas Gist, John Euler, Mary Wright and **Nancy McKee. (73) Two days later Crawford gathered his family around him and said his farewells to them. His son, John, his son-in-law, William Harrison, and his nephew William Crawford, had all left prior to the 18th of May with the volunteers from that region. Hannah Crawford

(70)   Downes, "Council Fires on the Upperr Ohio", pg. 273.

(71)   Butterfield, pg. 1 1 5

(72)   Butterfield; "Crawford's Sandusky Expedition: pg. 1 1 6-117.

(73)   See Appendix "X' for the full and complete text of this will which William Crawford executed. It is of record in Westmoreland County, PA.: it was proved on September 10, 1782, and admitted to record m December 29, 1819.

** Note:  Nancy McKee knowing that most of Guian Mckees's children were born in Westmoreland County Penn I wonder if Nancy was related in any way to our McKee line

accompanied her husband to the other side of the Youghiogheny River, where they parted for what was to be the last time. Crawford intended to journey to Pittsburgh to see Irvine before assembling with the other volunteers at the appointed rendezvous, Ningo Bottom on the Ohio. Thus he rode northward and stopped at Fort Pitt on the 19th and 20th. There he discussed the coming expedition with Irvine, and received insriuctions on the order of march and the organization of the expedition  (74)  He also requested that Irvine spare some of his officers to accompany the expedition, and Irvine detached two regular officers, Lieutenants Knight and Rose from the garrison to accompany the expedition  (75)  On the 20th Crawford left Fort Pitt and proceeded down the Ohio to the appointed rendezvous at Mingo Bottom.

The entire project of this expedition had been carefully planned and some of the most influential men on the frontier were responsible for organizing it. According to Butterfield, it was  as carefully planned as any military expedition undertaken in the Northwest durring the Revolutionary War, and it had the full backing of the most influential private citizens in the territory. The force was composed entirely of mounted volunteers, the greater majority from Westmoreland and Washington Counties in Pennsylvania, and a small force from Ohio County in Virginia. The appointed rendezvous had been set for May 20th at Mingo Bottom, on the Ohio River, It was there that the volunteers for the expedition found their way in the middle of May. A good number were late in arriving, and this delayed the starting time a day or so, but in consequence of being mounted it was felt that any delay would be quickly overcome. It had been previously agreed that unless a sufficient number of volunteers assembled the planned expedition would be call off. It was felt that a sufficient force would have to include some 400 men, as there was great risk in venturing into the Indian country with an insufficient number of men. In the end, the number of assembled was upwards of 400, and probably around 480. As this was felt to be a sufficient force, it was resolved to continue. (76)

At noon on May 24th, 1782 the assembled volunteers gathered to elect their officers, and form their companies. Due to the conditions of Indian fighting, it had been previously agreed upon that the companies were to be small in size, as they could be much more easily handled in battle when small in number. The two candidates for the post of commander of the expedition were David Williamson (he of Gnadenhutten fame) and William Crawford. When the results of the balloting were tallied, it was found that Wilhamson had 230 votes, and William Crawford had 235. Thus William Crawford was chosen the commander of the expedition. Williamson was chosen as the second in command. Thomas Gaddis and ***John McClelland were chosen as the third and fourth field majors respectively. Major Briton was selected as fifth in command, and Damel Leet was the Brigade-Major. Dr. John Knight was made chief surgeon; John Slover and Jonathan Zane were appointed as pilots; and John Rose was made aide-de-camp to Colonel Crawford.  (77)  The men then formed eighteen companies, and each company then chose its captain, one lieutenant and one ensign. After all the details of organization had been settled upon, and the necessary powder secured from Fort McIntosh, the expedition was ready to start. Each volunteer had provided his own horse, ammimition, and a supply of food sufficient to last him through the journey. With everything in readiness, it was determined to start out the next day, which was the 25th of May, 1782. The chief object of the expedition was to be the destruction and obliteration of the Wyandot villages upon the Sandusky River. If this could be effected, it was felt that the frontiers could gain a breathing spell from the raids of the Indians.  (78)

(74)   Butterfield, pg. 118-119.

(75)   Lt. Knight was the surgeon for the expedition, and was captured by the Indians in its aftermath and witnessed the death of Col. Crawford. He subsequently escaped and made his way back to Fort Pitt. Lt. Rose (see Butterfield, op cit., pp 129-133) was actually a Russian nobleman in disguise, who had been forced to flee Russia as a consequence of killing a man in a duel and had come to the colonies, where he served throughout the Revolutionary War.

(76)   Randall & Ryan; "kStory of Ohio", pg 349, Vol. II.

(77)   See Butterfield; pp. 77, and Randall & Ryan; pp. 350-35 1, Vol. 11.

(78)   Later historians have dispelled the idea that the expedition was aimed at the remnant of the Christian Indians who were then living near Upper Sandusky

** Note: John McClelland I wonder if this is the same McCelland as the road McCellandsville Road which John Galliher helped to lay out and build?  I also wonder is it possible that John Galliher was a part of the Sandusky expedition?

On the morning of May 25, 1782 the army formed in four columns and under the leadership of Colonel Crawford headed for the Indian villages on the upper Sandusky which lay in a direct course about 150 miles away. The route determined upon was not the most direct one as Crawford wished to minimize the chances of Supprise by the Indians by taking a circuitous route in order to avoid the Known trails. (79)  The rendezvous at Mingo Bottom was located in what is now Steubenville Township, Jefferson County, Ohio about 2 1/2 miles below present day Steubenville, Ohio. From this point the anny traveled along the north side of Cross Creek, through Steubenville, Cross Creek and Wayne Townships in present day Jefferson County, Ohio to the western border of the latter. They then crossed into what is now German township in present day Harrison County, and crossing a summit reached the place where the present town of Cadiz is located.

After reachmg this pomt, the army turned northward towards the deserted Moravian villages on the Tuscarawas River. They proceeded northwards until they reached the Muskingum River, which they followed on its west bank until they reached the ruins of New Schoenbrumn, where they encamped their fourth day out. (80)  It was there that two Indians were discovered lurlking near the encampment, who fled when scouts fired upon them. When this news was received, the men became aware for the first time that the savages were watching their movements. As a matter of fact, the Indians had the expedition under observation from the day it started to assemble at Mingo Bottom, and runners were quicklyy despached to all the Indian villages in the Sandusky country, and to the commandant -at Detroit, De Peyster, with the news of the advance of the American force. (81) The British immediately dispatched two companies of rangers,under the command of Captain William Caldwell from Detroit across the Lake by boat to Lower Sandusky to aid their Indian allies in repelling the American attack. Until the Americans turned north towards the Muskingum, the Indians were not certain where the blow would fall, but once the expedition headed for the deserted Moravian villaages the Indians realized that the objective must be the Sandusky towns. Accordingly they called in all their warriors, and the Delewares and Wyandots combined to delay the advance until reinforcements from the British at Detroit and from the Shawanese arrived to bolster the forces they had available. (82)

On the morning of the 29th, the march was resumed, and the army under Crawford headed north and west until they reached the stream known as the Killback near present day Millersburg in Holmes County. Proceeding up the Killback they came to the place known as Butler's Spring, which was located near the Wayne County line about 10 miles south of Wooster, Ohio. Here they encamped for the night, and on the following, they headed westward to the Indian village of Greentown, in present-day Ashland County, Ohio. Here they struck across to the Rocky fork of the Mohican and followed this stream until reaching a spring which was located near Mansfield in present-day Richland County. The route followed from here lay slightly north of west for five miles to a place called Spring Mills located eight miles east of Crestline, Ohio. Here they camped on June 1, 1782, and then resumed the march the next day. They crossed into present-day Crawford County, Ohio about 1:00 o'clock in the afternoon of June 2nd, and another hour's journey brought the army to the Sandusky river, at a place just east of present-day Leesville, Ohio- (83)

Here they rested briefly, and then took up the march again following the south bank of the river to a place where it turned northward. They then left the river and headed towards the Sandusky Plains. On the 3rd of June they emerged into the Plains region an journeyed westward passing 3 miles north of Bucyrus, Ohio and crossmg into Antrin township in Wyandot County. They encamped for the night near the present-day village of Wyandot, Ohio. On the moniing of June 4th, they marched northwest to the mouth

(79)   Randall & Ryan; pg. 352. Vol. JI.

(80)   Randall & Ryan; "History of Ohio", pg. 352 Vol. H.

(81)   lbid, pg. 353.

(82)   Ibid, pg. 356-357.

(83)   This recreation of the route of march of Crawford's army is based on the details given in Butterfield's "Crawford's Sandusky Expedition and the material included in Randall & Ryan, "History of Ohio", Vol. II, pp. 352-361 inclusive. The details of the battle of Upper Sandusky are also based upon these manuscripts. Butterfield, pg. 150-151.

of the Little Sandusky River, and then crossing the Sandusky River they marched along the east bank, until they reached the deserted town of the Wyandots, in present-day Crane Township in Wyandot County.This brought them to a place three miles south-east of Upper Sandusky, Ohio. They rested in the deserted Wyandot village in the early afternoon, and then marched to the springs located in the present-day town of Upper Sandusky, Ohio.

In the meanwhile, the Indians had rendezvoused at a place about four mile northeast of Upper Sandusky. Here the Delawares under Captam Pipe, their war chief, assiged by Wingsnund and Simon Grity, jomed forces with the Wyandots under their chief, Zhausshotoh. The English force, Butler's Rangers, had landed at Lower Sandusky, and was hurrying up the Sandusky River to reach the Wyandot villages before the Americans arrived there. Accompanying them was one Matthew Elliot, in the uniform of a British Captain, who upon reaching the scene of battle, took command of the Indians. (84)  Some two-hundred Shawnee warriors were also heading eastward from their villages lying to the west of the Wyandot country. The scene was now set for the opening acts of the engagement.

After reaching Upper Sandusky, a council of war was called by Crawford, and the general consensus of opinion was that with only five days provisions in reserve, that the Army should retreat before being caught in an overwhelming ambush by the Indians. After this decision was reached, a cautious advance was continued to a grove of trees which lay at a point three miles north and a half mile east of present-day Upper Sandusky which has ever since been called "Battle Island." The army rested briefly in this grove and then took up their march again. On leaving the grove, they suddenly came into view of the Indians hastening towards them (85) The entire Delaware force was intent on securing the grove before the Americans could take refuge in it. As soon as the Indian force was seen, Crawford's men formed lines to meet the oncoming rush of the enemy. After a brisk and sprinted attack, the Americans flushed the Indians from the grove and took possession of it themselves. It was now late in the afternoon of June 4th, and Crawford decided against a frontal attack on the Indians, preferring to use the cover which the grove afforded to the fullest advantage. Throughout the late afternoon the battle raged, with the advantage changmg hands from one side to the other. As dusk came on, the Indians withdrew farther into the high grass of the Plains area, and the Americans continued to hold onto the grove. With the dawn of the 5th the opposing armies decided on a waiting game, with the Amencans holding on to the grove, and the indians sheltered in the high grass of the surrounding plains. Crawford had decided to wait until nightfall before attempting to attack the Indians but during the afternoon of the 5th the arrival of Butler's Rangers from Lower Sandusky as well as the arrival of some 140 Shawnee waniors to reinforce the Delawares and Wyandots caused the Americans to call a council of war. Since they were now heavily outnumbered by the enemy, it was decided to wait until nightfall and then retreat under cover of darkness by the route they had come. The loss to the Americans had been five dead and nineteen wounded. (86) With the Coming of darkness, the five dead men were buried, and the army quietly formed in four lines, keeping the wounded in the center, with Crawford at the head.

Leaving the fires burning to deceive the Indians, the Americans began the retreat from the scene of battle. The Indians in the front ranks soon perceived what was happening, and opened fire on the retreating Americans. (87)  In a short while Major McClelland's division was hotly engaged with the Delawares and Shawnees. In attempting to extricate themselves from an anticipated trap, the Americans became panic stricken, and after blundering into a swamp a little distance to the southwest of the battlefield, the panic turned into a rout. A terrible slaughter would doubtless have ensued had not the Indians been fooled into thinking that the entire retreat was a muse to fool them. Before they realized the truth, the survivors had made good their escape and fled into the plains. On the following morning, at the site of the deserted Wyandot village, "Upper Sandusky-Old Town, the survivors collected themselves together to ascertain their losses and to take care of their wounded and regroup for the long march back to Mingo Bottom.

(84)   Randall & Ryan; "History of Ohio", pg. 356. 85 Ind., pg. 357.

(86)   cannot read footnote

(87)   Cannot read footnote

Detached parties and stragglers continued to come into the village -until the force numbered upwards of some 300 men. There were many missing besides the dead and wounded. The reorganized army under the command of Colonel Williamson then started on the eastward march across the plains, for among the missing was their commander William Crawford.

The retreating army was pursued by a large force of British and indians on horseback, and in the early afternoon of June 6th the Americans were finally brought to a standstill by their pursuers on a branch of the Scioto River, called the "Whetstone" which was a tributary of Olentangy Creek Here they halted and facing westward towards their pursuers, whose superiority in numbers was painfully evident, the embattled Americans made their stand. The ensuing battle lasted only an hour, during which time the action was furious, but finally the pursuers were driven off into the plains, and the Americans resumed their retreat after losing three killed and eight wounded. This engagement is referred to as the "Battle of Olentangy" and in a sense it was a victory for the hard-pressed Americans. (88) After driving off the British and Indians, the remamder of the army continued its retreat unmolested and arrived back at Mingo Bottom on June 13th. The entire campaign had lasted less than a month, and the loss to the Americans numbered about seventy killied, captured, missing, and those who died of their wounds. Occasional stragglers continued to come in as late as July of 1782, but the majority of the missing were killed by the indians.

(88)   Randall & Ryan, pg. 36 1, Vol. II and Butterfield, pgs, 233-235 give the accounts of the battle of Olentangy

Chapter V

"The Tragic Death of Colonel Wifflam Crawford"

In the terrible confussion which attended the retreat of the Amencan force from Battle Island on the night of June 5th, Colonel Crawford had suddenly missed his son, son-in-law and nephew. He called aloud for them butt received no response. In a short while, Dr. Kmght came up and the two men continued to hunt for the missing men until it became evident that they would be cut off from the main body of the army, which by then was struggling in the small swamp into which they had blundered. After searching in vain, the two men decided that their only course to safety was to head north, and then eastward and rejom the retreating army beyond the Sandusky nver. Accorddingly, they started north and by the following morning had crossed the Sandusky River and were at a point about eight miles distant from the battlefield.

They coninued their trek, keeping to the woods and were about six miles northwest of the army when the Battle of Olentangy was fought on the aftemoon of the 6th of June. After encamping for the night, due to a heavy rain late in the afternoon of the 6th, they resumed their journey in the morning. Coming again to the Sandusky River, they crossed it for the second time, and were cautiously picking their way along its banks just east of present-day Leesville, Ohio when fifteen or twenty Indians suddenly started up in their path. Unknowingly, they had passed within a half mile of the camp of Wingenund and his Delaware braves. Immediately upon their capture, Crawford and Knight were taken to the camp of the Delawares, and shortly afterwards nine other captives were also brought m by the Indum.

The news that the "Big Captain!' of the American force had been captured was quickly spread among the other Indian villages. The fate of Crawford and his companions was already sealed for the Indians had previously agreed among themselves that any and all captives which should be taken were to be put to death either by the tomahawk or the fagot. Crawford and Kmght had been unlucky enough to fall mto the hands of the Delawares, who favored the method of burning. The Wyandots, who were the best fighters of all the indians, were much more merciful to their captives, and if they killed them it was usually by the tomahawk method and not by the prolonged torturing. The idea has been many times advanced that Crawford was burned by the Indians in just retribution for the massacre of the Moravian Indians in the March preceding, and in fact the early writers attributed it to this motive of revenge in the part of the Delawares. (89) But, it is now generally conceded that the Gnadenhutten affairs was not connected in any intimate fashion with the death of Crawford. It is true that there may have been some revenge motive behind the decision to take no prisoners, but Crawford would have died anyways, for the indians had already agreed upon the death penalty for their captives. 'Ihe Indians were as wrought up over the warfare that had been racing for the last six years as the frontiersmen were and they resolved to show their contempt for the American cause by the only way they knew how, namely, to make a good example of those Americans unlucky enough to fall into their hands. (90)

ln as much as the Delawares were only "tenants at will" in the land of the Wyandots  (9l) it would not do for them to carry out their plan without the permission of the Wyandot Chief, Pomoacan, The Half King. To this end Captain Pipe and Wingenund sent a messenger to the Half King and requested his permission to carry out a project which they had in view, without stating what the project was. The Wyandot chief gave his permission, and the subterfuge had worked.

Having once obtained the permissim of the Half-King, the Delawares were now ready to proceed with the execution of their plans. Accordingly, on the afternoon of the 10th Crawford and Knight along with the others under the guard of the seventeen Delawares were "paraded" to march to Sandusky some 30 miles distant. On their arrival there they found Simon Girty, and Crawford's hope of deliverance rose

(89)   Butterfield wrote to some lengths to show that this revenge motive as not the motivating factor behind the burning of Col. William Crawford.

(90)   Downes, "Council Fires on the Upper Ohio"

(91)   cannot read footnote

upon seeing the latter. According to legend Crawford offered Girty a thousand dollars if he would in some way procure their release. This renegade was unwilling to do since he was afraid of the wrath of the Indians. (92)  Girty informed Crawford that his nephew William Crawford and his son-in Law William Harrison had been taken captive by the Shawnees and pardoned at their towns. The first part of this was true but in reality both had been killed by the Indians. After this interview, the prisoners remamed at the Old Town during the night being securely guarded by their Indian captors.

Early on the morning of Tuesday, June 11th, the two Delaware chiefs Wingenund and Captain Pipe arrived in the camp of the Delawares. Now the captives knew that their fate was sealed, for Captain Pipe came up to the prisoners and personally blacked their faces. This, they well knew, was the preparation for the ritual of burning at the stake. Of the nine other prisoners that had accompanied them to the Old Town, four had been tomahawked along the route and only five now remained alive besides Knight and Crawford. After the preliminary preparations had been made, the prisoners were led away guarded by the Delaware captors and with the two chiefs accompanying the party. The procession continued for several miles until they reached the banks of the Little Tymochtee Creek Here the party halted, and before the eyes of Knight and Crawford, the remaining five captives were tomahawked and scalped by a party of squaws and small boys. After this the reeking scalps were dashed in the faces of Crawford and Knight. After satisfying their lust for blood, the party moved on about a mile farther to the spot which had been selected for the execution, which was located on the east bank of the Tymochtee about three quarters of a mile from the Delaware village in Crawford Township, Wyandot Co-unty The exact location is not known today, but it is located a short distance northeast of the town of Crawford. A simple monument in an open lot now marks the site and commemorates the event.

Here at about 4:00 o'clock in the afternoon of June 11, the final act in the drama was to take place. Both of the Delaware chiefs were present, along with Simon Grity and probably Mathew Elliott. Dr. Knight was a witness to the entire scene, and it is upon his description of what afterwards transpired that all writers of the subject have relied. A post about fifteen feet high had been fimily set in the ground, and completely surrounding it was a heaped brush, sticks and fagots for the fire. The wood was placed at a distance of about eighteen feet from the post, and completely surrounding it. Crawford was then stripped naked and ordered to sit down by the fire. After this was accomplished, the Indians proceeded to beat him with fists and clubs. They then made the Colonel stand, and fastening his wrists behind his back, then tied a rope from the bottom of the post to the ligature between his wrists and fastened it securely. This left Crawford free to stand and to walk around the post in a circle or to sit down if he wanted. As Girty was present, Crawford called to him and asked him if the Indians intended to bum him. When Grity answered yes, the Colonel said that he would take it all patiently.

Captain Pipe then mad a speech to the Indians, who included about thirty of forty men and sixty or seventy squaws and boys. At the conclusion of the speech, the Indians all yelled hearty assent, and the men then took up their guns and shot powder into the naked body of Crawford. Accordmg to Knight no less than seventy loads of powder were discharged upon his body. Then the throng converged upon him and cut off his ears to the accompaniment of fearful yelling. After this the fire was started and the savages would seize burning fagots and apply them to the already blackened and burned body of the Colonel. The squaws seized boards and carried quantities of hot ashes and coals which they then threw upon him. In a short while Crawford had nothing but hot coals and ashes to walk upon. In the midst of all this torture, Crawford called to Girty and begged him to shoot him. And the renegade responded that he had no gun, whereupon he turned to an indian near him and laughed at his crude joke. (93)  For three long and dreadful hours, Crawford endured the tortures of the Indians, and at last faint and exhausted he commended his soul to God and fell prone upon his face in the bed of burning coals.

(92)   "Historical Collections of Ohio" cannot read rest of footnote

(93)   Some writers have asserted that Girty took part in these fiendish tortures, but the better considered view is that he was merely a delighted and interested spectator to the entire proceedings.

At this one of the savages who had been dancing about the victim like incarnate fiends, rushed forward and scalped the dying Colonel. He then ran up to Dr. Knight who was sitting horror-stricken on a log watching all this transpire and dashed it in his face crying "he is your Great Captain." Then an old and withered squaw rushed forward and seasing a board poured hot coals and ashes over Crawford's back and head. At this he struggled to his feet, but his strength failed him and he fell down once more into the fire where he shortly sank into the welcome arms of death.

After Crawford died face down on the burning coals, Dr. Knight was taken and led away under guard back to the Half-King's town. According to tradition, the Indians then placed the body of Crawford upon the heaped fagots, and while the fire blazed brightly danced around his charred remains for hours far into the night. Throughout the entire proceedings Crawford had born himself with the greatest fortitude and manly courage, taking all the fiendish tortues devised by the savages with great patience and calm fortitude. His demeanor was such that it even aroused the admiration of the Indians who were witness to the dreadful spectacle. William Crawford died a calm, courageous, and manly death, a hero and patriot martyr, whose sufferings were much more intense than most of his contemporaries who also became martyrs to the cause of American freedom.

The following morning, Dr. Knight under the guard of the giant Indian named Tutelo, had his face blackened and was then taken away to be led to a Shawnee village some forty miles distant. On the way they passed the spot where Crawford had been executed, and Knight saw the bones and charred remains of his commanding officer laying in the ashes of the fire. While on the journey, Knight managed to escape from his guard by hitting him over the head with a heavy stick while the Indian was engaged in tending a fire. The blow knocked the surprised savage face down into the fire, at which he sprang up howling with pain and rushed off into the forest. Thereupon, Dr. Knight made his painful way back to Fort McIntosh subsisting on berries and nettles, a "raw tarrapin!" and two young birds. After three weeks of wandering in the wilderness, he reached the Fort with the full dreadful tiding of Crawford's execution (94)

When the news of the disaster was communicated to Irvine, he at once dispatched the tidings to Washmgton. When the latter was informed of the failure of the expedition he wrote as follows concerning it:

"It is with the greatest sorrow and concern that I have learned the melancholy tidings of Colonel Crawford's death. He was known to me as an officer of much care and prudence: brave, experienced, and active. The manner of his death was shocking to me; and I have this day communicated to the honorable, the Congress, such papers as I have regarding it." (95)

And in a letter to General Irvine at Fort Pitt, dated August 6, 1782, Washington expressed himself as follows:

,,I am lament the failure of the expedition against Sandusky, and am particularly affected with the disastrous death of Colonel Crawford." (96)

To the official report from Irvine to Washington, the letter wrote as follows from Newburgh:

"I cannot but regret the misforttme, and more especially for the loss of

(94)   Knight and John Slover, one of the pilots of the expedition who made a spectacular escape from the Indians as they were going to burn him, wrote and published together, their memoirs and stories of the expedition, including the death of Crawford and their own sufferings and escape from death. It was published at Philadelphia in the year 1783 and is referred to by Butterfield as the "Knight and Slover... cannot read rest of footnote.

(95)   Letter from Washington to Moore, dated 27, July, 1782, as quoted by Butterfield pg. 392.

(96)   Letter from Washington to Irvine dated 6 August, 1782, as quoted by Butterfield, idem.

Colonel Crawford, for whom I had a very great regard.,,(97)

Colonel Crawford's son John apparently survived alive on the expedition with his fatlher. (98) His nephew, William Crawford, and his son-in-law William Harrison, were captured by the Indians and met death at the hands of their captors. The memory of Colonel Crawford is today perpetuated by Crawford County in Pennsylvama, and a county of the same name in Ohio. Upper Sandusky being the county seat of Wyandot County where the site of Crawford's death is situated, and Bucyrus being the county seat of Crawford County, from which Wyandot County was formed on Feb 3, 1845. (99) In addition the village of Crawford, Ohio situated in Wyandot County near the site of Crawford's death is named in memory of Colonel William Crawford.

The last resting place of the remains of Colonel Crawford is given as follows in the "Official Roster of the Soldiers of the American Revolut:ton Buried in the State of Ohio" as compiled by the D.A.R. and the Adjutant of the State of Ohio, to-wit:

                   "Wyandot County, Ohio--Colonel William Crawford; buried on a high                                           bank south of Lymochtee Creek near the East Line of the South West                                         Quarter of Section 26."(100)

A monument has been erected by the Pioneer Association of Wyandot County, Ohio in August, 1877, to commemorate the event. This monument is located a short distance northeast of the village of Crawford in the above named county, and stands on the bank of Tymochtee Creek about 300 feet from the spot where Crawford is purported to have been burned by the Delawares. It bears the following inscription:

                      "In Memory of Col. Crawford who was Burned by Indians in this valley                                        June 11, 1782." (101)

(97)   Letter from Washington to Irvine, date not given, as quoted in Randall & Ryan, "History of Ohio", Vol. U, pg. 361.

(98)   cannot read

(99)   Butterfield, op cit., pg 387.

(100)  Op cit., pg 93.

101 The inscription is given in the "Official Roster" as above cited. A picture of this monument is included in Howe's "Historical Collections of Ohio", Vol. 2 and 3, pg 5 9 1.

Bibliography

1. C.W. Butterfield: "Crawford's Campaign Against Sandusky, 1782", Cincinnati, Robert Clarke & Co., 1873.

2. Emilius Randall and Daniel J. Ryan; "History of Ohio" New York The Century History Company, (1912), Vols. I and II.

3. Henry Howe; "Historical Collections of Ohio", Vols. 2 and 3, pp. 585 to 593 inclusive, Columbus, Henry Howe& Son., (1 891).

4. Theodore Roosevelt; "Me Winning of the West", Vol. 2, "From the Alleghenies to the Mississippi 1777-1783", pp. 15 8-167 inclusive. New York, G.P. Putnam's Sons, (I 909).

5. Kenneth P. Bailey-, "The Ohio Land Company of Virgmia and the Westward Movement 1748-1792.", pp. 274,277,287,324,325.

6. Randolph C. Downes; "Council Fires on the Upper Ohio", pp. 256, 157, 187, 273-275. Pittsburgh, The University of Pittsburgh Press, (I 940).

7. Harry Edmund Danford; "Ohio Valley Pioneers", pp. 158-171 inclusive. New York, Rand McNally & Company., (I 93 1).

8. Ray Winans and Clarence Gray-, "Our Own Ohio", a series of historical narratives of the Buckeye state which appeared in the Columbus Citizen from Jan. 31, 1927 to Feb. 8, 1927, Nos. 69 thru 75 entitled "The American Revolution in Ohio" dealing with the Crawford expedition to Sandusky.

9. Abstract of the orignal will of Colonel William Crawford in the possession of Mrs. R.J. Bammerstrand, Akron, Ohio, a direct descendant from Col. William Crawford.

Additional Material Obtainable In.

1. C.W. Butterfield, "Washington-Crawford Letters", Cincinnati, Robert Clark & Co.

2. C.W. Butterfield, "Washington-Irvine Correspondence".

3. Centinnial History of Crawford County Ohio, (available in the Akron Public Library).

4. Sparks, ed. "Writings of Washington".

5. Official Roster of the Soldiers of the American Revolution Buried in the State of Ohio; compiled by the D.A.R. and the Adjutant of the State of Ohio, (available in the Akron Public Library).

Appendix A

The will of Colonel William Crawford executed May 16, 1782

In the Name of God Amen, I, William Crawford of the County of Westmoreland and state of Pennsylvania being in perfect health and body and sound memory do make ordain and constitute this my last will and testimony in manner and from following that is to say I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Hannah Crawford all the tract of land whereon I now live situated lying and being on the river Youghiogheny in the county and state afore said during natural life. I do also give and bequeath unto my said wife one negro man, named Dick and one mulatto man, Daniel, also all my household furniture, farming utensils and stock of every land and nature whatsoever during her natural life, and after the decease of my wife, the above mentioned negroes, Dick and Daniel to descend to my loving son, John Crawford and after his decease to the heirs of his body lawfully begotten.

I do give and bequeath unto my loving son John Crawford and his heirs lawfully begotten 500 acres of land to be laid out of lands located down the river, Ohio, by me to be laid off by my executors reserving to my son the choice of said land, and also the tract of land whereon I now live at Stewart's Crossings at the decease of my said wife, Hannah, and at the decease of my said son John Crawford to descend to his son William Crawford and his heirs forever, but if he should die without heirs then, in that case, to descent to his older brother. I do give and bequeath unto Moses Crawford's son of above said John Crawford and to his heirs forever 400 acres of land to be laid off out of my land located down the Ohio as before mentioned. I give and bequeath unto Richard Crawford, son of the above said, John Crawford to his heirs forever 400 acres of land out of and to be laid off as above mentioned. I do give and bequeath unto Anne McCormick daughter of Effie McCoimick 400 acres of land to be laid off as above mentioned. I do give and bequeath unto Anne Connell all that tract of land whereon she now lives and being on the north side of the Youghiogheny River, two miles from said River and on Braddock's old road together with stock of every land whatsoever and the household furniture and farming utensils now in her hands or possession for and during her natural live and after said, Anne Connell's decease my will is and I do hereby ordain that the land's goods and chattels of every kind whatsoever be sold by my Executors and the money arrising therefrom amongst the four children, to wit, William James, Nancy and Polly but nevertheless, should the said, Anne Connell think it more proper that the two boys of either of them, the said William or James should keep the land and that the said lands, goods, and chattels of every land be appraised and an equal fourth of the said land appraised be paid unto the other children as they may arise at the age by law appointed or the survivors of them also I do will and bequeath unto William Connell, son the said, Anne Connell and his heirs forever 500 acres of land located by me down the Ohio River there being a warrant for that quantity in his name from the land office of Virginia.

Also I do give and bequeath -unto James Crawford, son of the said Anne Connell and his heirs forever 500 acres of land down the River Ohio there being a warrant for that quantity in his name which was allowed by me as above mentioned as soon as he arrive to full age.

Also I don give and bequeath unto Nancy and Polly, daughters of said Anne Connell 600 acres of land located by me down the Ohio River to be equally divided between by my Executors and my will is that after my accounts are adjusted and settled and all my just debts and legacies and bequeaths paid that all and singular my estate real and personal of every kind whatsoever, except a mulatto girl named Betty, which is to continue with my wife, Hannah, to be equally divided between my three beloved children viz. John Crawford, Effie McCormick, and Sarah Harrison their heirs forever and I do will constitute and appomt my much beloved wife, Hannah Crawford, my lovmg brother, John Stephenson, (half-brother) and William Harrison, (son-in-law) Execators of this will and testament this to be the last will and testimony in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this Sixteenth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-two.

Witnesses: Mary Wright, Nancy McKee, Thomas Gist, John Euler