Crenshaw Family File 3A Chronology of Dinwiddie Papers Dinwiddie was Governor of Virginia. See Virginia Historical Collections, Vol. IV of the New Series. Dinwiddie Papers Vol. II 1751-1758, pub. by Virginia Historical Society (1934). 16 June 1757 D. to Atkins - Reports 30 Indians at Winchester ready to fight. 16 June 1757 D. to G.Washington - Turns over 30 Indians to G.W. 18 June 1757 D. to Secty W.Pitt - Indians number 220 bring in enemy scalps 20 June 1757 D. to G.Washington - French & Indians marched from Fort Duquesne. "I cannot determine on forming the two additional companies to your regiment till I see how many men will be raised, as I've some doubts on the modes prescribed for raising them, that i shall be glad if they are sufficient to complete the 8 companies now in the country; or do I think of the 3 companies of Rangers till that is finished, as I thought it w'd interfere with the Drafts." 20 June 1757 D. to Atkin "...the account of the French, etc, marching in so great a body from Fort Duquesne, with a train of artillery and many wagons, takes up my time in writing to the Lieut's of the contiguous Counties to Winchester to send in some of their militia to reinforce Fort Loudoun...I shall take care that a due compliance shall be made to any contracts you may make in regard to your encouraging the Indians to come to our assistance by your passports..." (Note: Reference to Lieutenants of the contiguous counties refers to County Lieutenants which was a colonial designation for the person who headed the militia in that county. County Lieutenants held the rank of colonel.) 20 June 1757 D. to Secty Wm. Pitt. "The reinforcements to our regiment are not yet raised, but they are very busy on this head by making drafts from the militia in each county of this domain but what we fear is an invasion by sea..." 20 June 1757 D. to The Earl of Halifax. "...I prorogued the Assemblly the 8th of this month, after 2 months setting, and by great assiduity and application I prevailed on them to augment our regiment from 10 to 1,200 men, and to raise 3 companies of Rangers of 100 men each, and they voted L80,000 for their subsistence, etc., and have ordered the militia of each county to be drafted for the raising of the men...I had the disagreeable news that a great number of French and Indians from Fort Duquesne were on their march with a train of artillery to invade these colonies. 20 June 1757 D. to James Abercromby. "...our Assembly...granted everything I ask. They augment our forces to 1,500 men and have voted L80,000 for defraying the charges, and I have prorogued 'em the 8th inst." "I have earnestly argued...the necessity of making an offensive war on the Ohio. With the forces mentioned above and near 500 Indians I had to come to our assistance." 20 June 1757 D. to Gov. Dobbs of N.C. "I prorogued our [Assembly] the 8th [of June]. After...a long session they at last voted the augmentation of our regiment to 1,200 men, and 3 companies of rangers of 100 men each...and they agreed to every thing I ask in my speech on opening the session. The mode they proposed for raising the men is somewhat precarious, but as it is to be done in 25 days after passing the Act, I shall soon see the effect of it...We have had many Indians from the Cherokees, Catawbas, Tuscaroras, etc., but they're not to be governed, or will they tarry any time to do any service." (Take Note that 25 days from 20 June is 15 July 1757. Joseph Crenshaw enlisted on 25 July 1757.) 24 June 1757 D. to G.Washington "I wrote to Mr Atkin about the Indians, and he must know better than I can, how to manage them...Colonel Stephen was highly blamable to take any of the regimental supplies for the Indians; more so, as contrary to your orders, and his not bringing the officers appointed for South Carolina." "There, as yet, has no clergyman offered to be Chaplain." (Take note that Virginia law did not permit conscription of Clerks, as the clergy was called. Nor did it permit conscription of ferrymen.) 24 June 1757 D. to Atkin. Mention of scalps. 24 June 1757 D. to Captain Demerie. "I have ordered the militia of 8 counties to march immediately for Fort Loudoun." 24 June 1757 D. to Old Hop, Cherokee Chief. Will obtain payment later. 27 June 1757 D. to G.Washington. Creeks join Cherokees as allies against the French. 28 June 1757 D. to Gov. Sharpe 1 July 1757 D. to Lt. Gov De Lancy 9 July 1757 D. to Earl of Loudoun '...I shall soon endeavor to raise 300 men more, to be employed as Rangers, but the difficulty of raising men here is very great, and attended with monstrous expense. 22 July 1757 D. to Gov Lytleton 18 July 1757 D. to G.Washington. "When you have formed your companies send me a muster roll of each company separate, with the names of each private man, with sergeants, corporals and drums, signed by the Captain and the Subalterns. The detachment intended for Augusta will be supplied with provisions from Colonel Clement Read, Lieut. of Lunenburg, who will order them to the places the forces may be destined too." 28 July 1757 D. to Atkin 10 Sep 1757 D. to G.Washington "Colonel Read from Lunenburg, says he had sent up 29 soldiers..." "We must suspend recruiting for some time till a method is found out to reclaim the deserters." "I accuse you of looseness in writing, viz: though you are not concerned in Indian affairs." 12 Sept 1757 D. to Bishop of London 24 Sept 1757 D. to G.Washington "I wrote Colonel Read about the Lunenburg Draughts...deserters...I shall consult with Council in regard to Captain Gist and the payment of demands for the Indians." <<<>>> Lunenburg Events in 1758 Peter Randolph whose name is among those found in the petition of William and Cornelius Crenshaw from Amelia County (Crenshaw File 4, page 4) was a member of the Council of Colonial Virginia when they met with the Governor on 15 June 1758. At that time (Executive Journals, Council of Colonial Virginia) the Governor communicated a letter from Colonel Read of Lunenburg dated 8th of June which signified his intention to send men drafted from the county and enclosed process which had been had between the Militia and several parties of Indians. Colonel Read was Clement Read who recorded the will of Joseph Crenahaw (Crenshaw File 3, p. 12). The Governor and Council had a letter from General Forbes who was at Fort Duquesne when Joseph died. It was dated Philadelphis 31st of May concerning tents, camp kettles and canteens and mentioning a lage assortment of goods provided Indian allies. ********************** Taxpayers in 1752 Sunlight on the Southside by Bell, p. 198 lists many names, some of which are: Field Jefferson.............. 13 tithes Joseph Crenshaw Joseph, his son James Downing.............5 tithes Edward Lewis...................4 tithes Gideon Crenshaw................1 tithe Benjamin Cook..................1 tithe Thomas Lanier..................4 tithes John Akin Daniel Akin...............2 tithes Lewis Tanner...................1 tithe <<<<>>>> David Crenshaw Of Louisa County, VA. and Sumner County, TN. The following is research of Forrest F. Anderson, Jr. of Decatur, Alabama, 35601, and located at 2111 Stratford Road, SE in Decatur. (205) 353-2259. His work is abridged here in order to conserve space and some parts are in digest form. It is also annotated in order to connect with other Crenshaw Files in this series. Wilkins volume places David Crenshaw (husband of Frances Thompson) as a son of Nicholas Crenshaw and Mary Carr, while Anderson's research places David as a son of William Crenshaw and Susannah Carr, without question. Anderson who is descended from a Sumner County family is compiling the genealogy of descendents of David. The children of David were: William Nathaniel John Garland Carr Crenshaw Elizabeth Crenshaw Brown [Mrs Robert Thompson Brown] Susan Crenshaw Sanders [Mrs Thomas G. Sanders] Also a possible daughter Mary Crenshaw Bradley [Mrs John Sanders Bradley] unrecognized by some researchers. A letter dated 21 Oct 1934 from a daughter of Joel Rice Crenshaw to Bessie G. Brown of Gallatin, TN bears upon the matter of the parents of David Crenshaw. Only a portion of the letter reproduced here. Dear Mrs Brown, ...I am no genealogist so I cannot elaborate but am compelled to write just what I find recorded in the old family Bible. My father is buried in the public graveyard on a hill leading to the Cumberland River...almost anybody in Hartsville can point out the place, though no monument marks his resting place owing to the devastation of this War between the States. His name was Joel (not Joseph) Rice Crenshaw. I do not know of any other Joel Rice Crenshaw. On the reverse page I have written all I know. /s/Mrs J.L.DeBow. On the reverse was written: Joel R. Crenshaw was b. 23 Aug 1824. Adrianna I. Davidson b. 16 Mar 1827 William Crenshaw and Susan Carr, the father and mother of David Crenshaw, the husband of Frances Thompson (daughter of Betsey Davis), the father and mother of Nathaniel Crenshaw, the husband of Harriet S. Rice, the father and mother of Joel R. Crenshaw. Harriet S. Rice (above named) was the daughter of Elisha Rice and Nancy Collier. Joel R. Crenshaw and Adrianna I. Davidson were married on 16 Aug 1849. Original of this letter possessed by Mrs Bettie (Brown) Fleming living (1995) in Birmingham, AL The Bible record was published by Fort Assumption Chapter of DAR in Mid South Bible Records, Volume I, (1967). The published transcript also includes the names of the children of Joel Rice Crenshaw with birth and marriage dates. This Bible record was begun by a son of Nathaniel Crenshaw while Nathaniel lived. Nathaniel would have known the identity of his grandfather. Wilkin's book is being revised to show that David Crenshaw who married Frances Thompson is a son of William Crenshaw and Susannah Carr, rather than Nicholas Crenshaw and Mary Carr. The David who was a son of Nicholas and was b. 6 June 1771, (National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 32, No. 4 Crenshaw Bible Abstract on p. 111). Morman IGI estimates the birth of David, son of William and Susannah to be about a 15 years earlier (c1756). Valentine Papers, Vol. I, pp. 368-369 gives court documents describing a short marriage of David Crenshaw of Louisa County, VA. to a Jane Cobbs, widow of John Waddy. In Louisa County deeds, 8 Dec 1777, Jane Cobb Waddy Crenshaw is dead. (Deed Book E, p. 20). This marriage produced no children that can be determined, but Jane may have been the mother of Samuel Waddy, infant of John Waddy. The Louisa County Order Book, 11 Apr 1780 and the Will Book 4, p. 102 contain documentation of land which changed hands as a result of death. A witness to one transaction was Nicholas Meriwether, a name from Pamunkey Neck. Louisa County Will Book 4, mentions an appraisement of the estate of William Crenshaw, Deceased, is returned 13 Jan 1800. This Inventory ordered by the court of Louisa in November 1799. One of the appraisers was William Cook (spelled Cooke). The date of David's marriage thought to be around 1778 in Albermarle County. She was Frances, the daughter of William and Elizabeth Davis Thompson, and she was a granddaughter of Joseph and Sarah Thompson. [History and Genealogies of the Families of Miller, Woods, Harris, Wallace, Maupin, Oldham, Kavanaugh and Brown by W.H. Miller (1907) p. 683. A deposition of Elizabeth Crenshaw Brown, wife of Robert Thompson Brown, in Sumner County in 1825, she stated that she was the daughter of David Crenshaw and that she was 46 years of age. Mrs Elizabeth Talbot stated in the same record that David came to Tennessee in 1801. [Sumner County, TN, microfilmed loose record {lawsuit 10366}]. Using an estimated birth year c1779 for Elizabeth, her father would have been b. as little as 18 to 22 years earlier, making the assumption that our David was a son of Nicholas and b. 1771 would force him to have sired Elizabeth as his child at approximately age 7! David executed a deed of emancipation in Louisa County, VA in 1794, "...from a clear conviction of the impropriety of slavery," Louisa Deed Book G, p. 437. Assuming that our David was the son of William and Susannah Carr Crenshaw, then David came to Tennessee shortly after the death of his parents. William d. in 1799 and Susannah in 1800 in Louisa County, VA. The father of France Thompson also d. in 1799 in Albermarle County. ABSTRACTED FROM SUMNER COUNTY, TN DEEDS 21 Jan 1802 to David Crenshaw 410a on N side of Cumberland River. Reece Porter, Jr., John Norton and William Sanders, a witness. 21 Jan 1802 to David Crenshaw 424a on N. side of Cumberland River. Rees Porter, John Norton and William Sanders, witness Sumner County Deed Book V, p. 251. On 23 Feb 1811, Thomas Stubblefield to David Crenshaw 347a on Rocky Creek & Second Creek adjoining James Saunders' east boundary, part of grant #564 to Stubblefield as assignee of Solomon Berry. Witness: Nicholas Thompson, Thomas G. Sanders, William Crenshaw. (Take Note: Page 4 of this Crenshaw File, Thomas G. Sanders was husband of Susan Crenshaw. She was a daughter of David Crenshaw, and William Crenshaw probably was her brother.) Deed Book #7, p. 139, 25 Feb 1815, David Crenshaw deeds to Nathaniel Crenshaw, 168a on the waters of Second Creek, adjoins James Saunders, James Scott. Witnessed by Jesse Beaver, William Crenshaw, and Robert T, Brown. Deed Book #17, p. 170 25 Feb 1815, David Crenshaw to Thomas G. Sanders 168a on Second Creek, beginning SE corner of James Scott & running to SW corner of Nathaniel Crenshaw. Witnessed Jesse Beaver, Robert T. Brown. Deed Book #7, p. 208, 17 Aug 1815, David Crenshaw to William Crenshaw 100a on N side Cumberland River. Witnessed by Jesse Beaver, and Garland C. Crenshaw. Deed Book #7, p. 210 17 Aug 1815 David Crenshaw to Robert T. Brown, 100a on N side Cumberland River & on the Bank of Sport? Creek. Witnessed by Jesse Beaver, Garland C. Crenshaw Deed Book #11, p. 99 4 Apr 1825, David Crenshaw to Garland C. Crenshaw, 224a on N side Cumberland River, beginning in R.T. Brown's W boundary, adjoining John R. Dickerson. Witnessed by William Stubblefield, and J.H.Dickerson DEED WITNESSES There are no deed records in Sumner County for Rees Porter during the period 1793 and 1817. His only presence in Sumner deeds is his signatures as a witness to the two deeds of 1802 as abstracted above. An abstract of the 1788 minute docket for a Superior Court for the State of NC held for Davidson County and Sumner at the Nashville Court House on the first Monday in Nov 1788, there was an entry for Rus Porter as a Juror in the case of Harmon vs Gowers. (NTC, Vol. I, No. I, p. 6). Rees Porter was on the Williamson County, TN tax list for 1810. Rees Porter m. Polly Thomas in Maury County 22 May 1816. No will, estate or lawsuit loose records for this man in Sumner Co. according to Wilson's Index of these records. A will record for Rees Porter is included in the loose records of Giles County, TN and dated 1817. Rees Porter is shown in Lincoln County, TN in the 1820 census. Lincoln was divided out of Giles Co. in 1817. This family included 2 boys 10 years old or younger and one male 26 to 45. The only female was also 26 to 45. No marriage record for Reese Porter is found in a 3 vol. set of early TN marriages. The 1840 Giles County census includes R.W.Porter and the 1850 census of Giles shows a Rees W. Porter age 40 of KY. This man would have been b. 8 yrs after the deed was witnessed. If this is the son of Rees Porter for whom we search, Rees Sr. may have moved to Ky around 1810 when Rees, Jr. was born. According to one source, Reese Porter and sons, Reese, John David, James B. and Thomas C. settled in the Mount Moriah Church neighborhood of Giles County about 1807 [History of Tennessee, Goodspeed Publishing Co. p. 750. A TN Supreme Court suit, filed in 1860 was styled Reece Porter & others vs J.W.Greer & others concerning the will of Benjamin Talliaferro. According to this suit, Reece Porter was then a resident of Texas and it is supposed could have been Reece, Jr. No connection with the Crenshaws other than as a witness on the deeds has been discovered. No examination made of KY records, if any. John Norton was included in the Wilson County Tax List for 1804 and the 1820 census for Lincoln County. The oldest male in this household was only 20 to 30 years old. No will, estate or lawsuit loose record found for this man in Sumner Co. according to Wilson's Index. No will record for John Norton was contained within Sistler's TN Wills & Administrations. No TN marriage identified for this man. William Sanders is included in Sumner Co. Tax List for 1811. The 1820 TN census lists several Wm. Sanders, but only one of Sumner County. The oldest male in the household was 26-45 years of age. A will in Sumner Co. dated 1828 [record 152] and estate record date 1831. This man may have been the brother or father of Thomas G. Sanders, son-in-law of our David Crenshaw. His will record, however, does not include Thomas' name. it is not yet known who this man was. Jesse Beaver was included on Sumner Co. Tax List for 1816. There were no Sumner Co. loose records indexed for Jesse Beaver nor were there any Sumner deed records for him from 1793 to 1817. Jesse Beaver m. Sarah B. Wems 18 June 1821 in Sumner by James Carr, JP. Jesse Beaver m. Betsey Carr 1 Nov 1838 in Franklin Co. by W.H.Smith, MC. Jesse Beaver is mentioned as the first marriage in Giles Co. at the Mt. Moriah Church where Reese Porter was an elder. There was 1 listing for a Jesse Beavers in 1820 in the Robertson Co. census showing the oldest male in the household to be 26-45 years old and the oldest female the same. No sons were included in that household. In the 1830 census of Smith Co. with the oldest male of age 20-30. No will for Jesse is included in Sistler's TN Wills & Administrations, but wills for Wm Beavers, Sr. dated 1816 and Elizabeth Beavers dated 1816, both in Lincoln Co. TN are included. No specific relationship with the Crenshaw family has yet been discovered. Nicholas Thompson was Frances' nephew. This Nicholas Thompson would have been the son of Roger Thompson and a Miss Crenshaw (or Mary White) the grandson of William and Betsey (Davis) Thompson. According to Midsouth Bible Records Nicholas was b. 9 Mar 1784. Could this be the same one who appears in the 1850 census of Sumner Co. at age 55 and b. in VA? A Nicholas Thompson was included in the Sumner Co., TN tax list for 1811 and for 1823. According to Wm Harris Miller, Frances' brother William went W from VA. Perhaps this Nicholas was a son of William. The 1820 census of Robertson Co. includes a Nicholas Thompson with an eldest male over 45 years old. The 1830 census of TN contains 2 Nicholas Thompsons in Robertson Co. land one in Sumner. The family in Sumner contained an eldest male age 40-50. Could have been the father of Mrs Evaline A. (Graham) Anthony who Garland Carr Crenshaw married in 1846. Was this John Johnson the same as witnessed the 1800 Louisa Co. VA will of Susannah Crenshaw? A John Johnson was included in the Sumner Co. TN tax list for 1792, so perhaps not. Nicholas Thompson sold 52 acres to Nathaniel adjacent to George Stubblefield. Jesse Beaver witnessed this deed as well as G.C. Crenshaw. Discovered marriages for any Nicholas Thompson include the following: to Elizabeth Marshall 24 Dec 1810 in Sumner (John Granger, BM), to Naomah Jacobs 9 Apr 1822 in Sumner (Tyree Yancy, BM); to Mary Tancy 4 Jan 1831 in Sumner (Austin Yancy, BM); and to Susan Martin 3 Jan 1865 in Sumner. No others have been discovered under variations in the spelling of the surname. Tn Wills & Adm. by Sistler contains a will listing for a Nathaniel Thompson in Maury County dated 1848. MTG Vol 7 No. 4, p. 192 says this Nathaniel b. York Co. SC. The only Nathaniel Thompson contained in Sistler's Early TN Tax Lists, is 1811 and 1816, both in Maury Co. TN. Nicholas' brother Nathaniel b. 5 Dec 1789 and married Temperance Crenshaw, daughter of Wm & Sarah (Baker) Crenshaw. His brother David m. Polly (or Dolly) Crenshaw, also daughter of Wm & Sarah (Baker) Crenshaw. His sister Mary m. Richard Franklin. Sumner Co. TN Will Abstracts by Wilson, 1987, p. 105 includes the 1838 will of Joseph Thompson who makes his brother-in-law Richard Franklin, Sr. his Executor. Nicholas Thompson signed a a witness. David appears on Sumner County tax list by 1816, as well as son John and brother Joel. Nathaniel, son of David, had been included on a Sumner County tax list for 1811 & 1823. Our David does not seem to appear in any U.S. Population Census record as Head of Household, after his arrival in TN. In the 1820 census, he seems to be living either with son Garland or brother Joel. In 1830 he seems to be living with Garland. The only other Crenshaw household including a male of age to have been our David is that of William Crenshaw of Wilson County. As David's son William died in 1821, who is this William & is he the same one, of VA, who appears in the Hopkins County, KY census of 1850 with wife Rebecca and a daughter age 23 b. in VA & with children in age from 22 to 12 b. in TN? This should be pursued further. According to Sumner Co. marriage records, David did not act as bondsman for the TN marriages of any of his children. Marriages of Sumner County 1787-1838 by E.R.Whitley (1981. This seem rather irregular. Could it have had to do with his religion? Was he Quaker, as some Virginia Crenshaws were? WILL RECORD David's will is in Sumner County Loose Will Record #24. A transcription is as follows: State of Tennessee Sumner County Court August Term 1831 A paper writing purporting to be the last will and testament of David Crenshaw, Deceased was exhibited in court for probate and was duly proved agreeable to law by the oath of Tom G. Sanders & Wm Crenshaw two of the subscribing witnesses thereto & ordered to be recorded & Frances Crenshaw, the executrix therein named, having departed this life since the making of said testament, it is ordered by the court that John Crenshaw and Garland C. Crenshaw be appointed Administrators with Wm. Parker and Thomas G. Sanders their securities entered into & acknowledged their bond to the Governor in the sum of three thousand dollars conditionally as the law directs & took the oath of administrators by law & at the same time turned in to the court an inventory of the estate of said decedent which is ordered to be recorded. /s/A.H. Douglas, clerk IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN. I David Crenshaw of Sumner County, being weak in body, but blessed of God, of strong and perfect memory do make, constitute and appoint this to be my last will and testament in a manner and form following. I give to my beloved wife Frances Crenshaw the whole of my estate both real and personal during her widowhood but if she should marry then to her one third of my estate during her lie and at the death to be equally divided among my children. Lastly, I appoint my wife Frances Crenshaw to execute this my last will and testament.../s/ David Crenshaw. Witnesses: Rob't T. Brown, Tom G. Sanders, Wm Crenshaw. Written on reverse side of the above document: Recorded in Book B, p. 149. Will witnesses: Robert Thompson Brown was husband of David's daughter Elizabeth. Thomas G. Sanders was husband to David's daughter Susan. William Crenshaw is assumed to have been David's son, but how could he have proved the will in court by oath when he d. in 1821? Following, including any irregularities of spelling, is a list [Sumner Co. Microfilmed Loose Record Estate #1007 of the property of David Crenshaw, Deceased, taken by Carr and John Crenshaw, administrators, under the will and this --- August 1831, to wit: 3 negro boys named Sam 60 or 70 years old, Richmond 33 yrs old, Nelson 32 yrs old, one note of hand on Robert T. Brown due 1 Jan 1834 for $200, fifty cents cask, one desk walnut, one folding table walnut, twelve chairs, one shot gun, one flax wheel, 3 large flax wheels, fire tongs, 2 candlesticks and snuffers, parcel of books, one looking glass, 2 chests, one large pot, one small pot, one large kettle, one small brass kettle, one stone jug and crock, one razor and spectacles, one small trunk, one tea pot and canny, one spice mortar brass, one pair of large shears, one flat iron, one ship and cross cut saw, one hand saw, one --- and slay, one barrel auger, one block reel, one pr of stilyares, one man's saddle, one copper --, two hackles, one large dish pewter. /s/ John Crenshaw, G.C.Crenshaw. David and Frances are believed to have had the following children: i. Elizabeth "Betsy," b. c1779, m. Robert Thompson Brown in Louisa County, VA Bond dated 17 Mar 1798, David Crenshaw security. Also Elizabeth Brown states in a deposition that she is the daughter of David Crenshaw. This deposition contained in suit hconcerning slave of her brother William, deceased. [Sumner Co. Microfilm lawsuit record 9914.] ii David, Jr. only appearance was in 1830 census of Sumner where he is age 40-50, wife was 30-40. The household contains 1 son under 5, 2 daughters under 5, one daughter 5-10, 1 daughter 10-15. [1820 US population census Sumner, p. 186]. This would yield a birth year of 1780-1790. iii Nathaniel b. c1783, m. Harriet Seawell Rice in Sumner 10 Sep 1810, d. 1858 iv Susan, b. c1785, m. Thomas G. Sanders xxx In later correspondence was added Joel: b. c1775, first wife unknown, m. (2) Mrs Elizabeth Moldan 27 Nov 1836 in Shelby Co. TN [Early W. TN Marriages] B. Sistler, 1988], d. Dec 1849, age 75 [Tn Mortality Schedules, 1850, 1850, 1880] v William, b. c1787, m. Mary Edwards 31 Dec 1809 in Sumner Co., d. 17 Apr 1821 vi John b. 9 Jul 1791, m. (1) Elizabeth Parker 18 May 1812 in Sumner Co. (2) Oriah L. Carr (3) Mary Carr Stewart, widow of Alexander Stewart 14 May 1834 in Sumner, d. 1 Apr 18459. Children by each marriage vii Garland Carr, b. 19 Feb 1793, m. (1) Susannah Shelton 10 Jul 1816 in Sumner (2) Elizabeth (Brown) Dickerson 1841 widow of John R. Dickerson, (3) Evaline A (Graham) Anthony 1846 widow of Jacob Anthony and (4) Mrs Elizabeth (Franklin) Brown 1863 widow of Bernard Brown II, d. 21 Sep 1864. Tombstone per Bill Overton of Hartsville, TN. No children by any but the first marriage. Birth years of Elizabeth, Nathaniel & Susan calculated from 1850 census. Early family group sheets included a son Joel. Joel d. in Shelby Co. TN Dec 1849 & is listed in 1850 TN mortality schedule as having been age 75 & b. in VA. Louisa Co. VA court records give a listing of the children of William and Susannah Crenshaw which includes a son Joel therefore it is believed that Joel was a brother of David, rather than a son. However, Mrs Judy (Mayo) Murphy of Selmer, TN, a descendant of Joel Crenshaw of Shelby Co. mentions the possibility that he may have been a son of Nancy Ann Crenshaw, sister of David & wife of a cousin Thomas Crenshaw. Nancy and Thomas m. in 1774 which would make the b. of the younger Joel approximately 1774.5. An abstraction of the 1800 Louisa County VA sale of the estate of William Crenshaw include as purchasers both Joel Crenshaw, Sr. and Joel Crenshaw, Jr. There is a possible daughter Mary, b. 1 Aug 1788, d. 22 Aug 1835 who m. John S. Bradley of Smith County, TN. TN Supreme Court Lawsuit of Garland Carr Crenshaw includes testimony of James S. Bradley who states he is a nephew of Garland Carr Crenshaw. <<<<>>>>Letter From Grantham to Forrest F. Anderson, Jr. 27 March 1995 Your excellent paper on David and his parents points out (page 3) that the inventory of the estate of William Crenshaw may be found in Will Book IV, page 102. A few pages later in Will Book IV, on page 123, is a record of the sales made from that estate. Among those who purchased property from William's estate were two brothers, named George Strong and John Strong. Their purchases were made 9 June 1800. A recent development in Strong Genealogy was to determine that the Strong family lived 4 miles west of the Hanover County line in Louisa County. It is very likely they lived on old Crenshaw property, or near the place of William Crenshaw. One of the great tragedies of the War of Northern Aggression was the destruction of records in Hanover, so it is difficult to piece together many old land transactions. Fortunately the Virginia Historical Society came into possession of a deed made 17 December 1830. This deed was in the possession of a descendant of one of the parties to the conveyance. Loss of the Deed Books did not mean an entire loss of land records because the original deeds were in the hands of the landowners, and we are fortunate that this one survived. This deed of 17 Dec 1830 sets forth a chain of title to some land and it describes that a man named Martin Strong, together with his sisters, had previously purchased three tracts of land in St. Martin's parish, Hanover County, Virginia. Martin Strong is the father of the two men who visited William Crenshaw's place in June 1800. One of those tracts purchased by Martin Strong was a parcel of 180 and one-half acres which was obtained from Edmund Crenshaw, devised from his father John Crenshaw, deceased. This John Crenshaw was said, in the deed, to have obtained the same property, by purchase, from Cheadle Harris and others. (More on Cheadle in 14-1). Exactly when John purchased the land is not stated, but it could have been many years prior to 1830. I have never tried to determine who these sellers were, or when they made the trade, or why they sold off some land to John Crenshaw. The term, "...and others" could mean that Harris and "the others" were heirs of an estate and that it was easier to sell off the land than try to divide it up among the legatees. If we knew something about Harris and his family, we may be able to determine when the sale to John Crenshaw took place. But the presence of John Crenshaw can be established in early Hanover, and this man was the father of Edmund Crenshaw and possibly others. Furthermore it is likely that the relationship of the Strongs to the early Crenshaw's gives up some early Crenshaw history at a time and a place where Crenshaw history is hard to uncover. If Edmund Crenshaw was "devised" the land of his father, did that indicate that it was highly probable that Edmund was the oldest son of John Crenshaw and was Edmund the executor of the estate of John? The name John Crenshaw is the name of a man, or men, active in land purchases in Hanover, and I can not help but think that this John died in Hanover and left land to Edmund. Despite the wording of the old deed at the Historical Society, Valentine's efforts never reveal a man named Edmund Crenshaw, son of John Crenshaw. Edmund, whomever he was, and William (perhaps his brother) were both involved with the Strong family and dwelt near them. In the absence of information to the contrary, there is a good possibility that the Crenshaw's and Strongs were related by marriage. Purchasers at estate sales were usually kinsmen, or were persons who were very close to the deceased. The deceased I am speaking about was the father of your David. Valentine's list of purchasers at the estate sale lists only those purchasers named Crenshaw and the Strong genealogies list only the Strongs who were at the same sale. Putting the two together develops the fact that David Crenshaw, Sr., and David Crenshaw, Jr. were with the two Strong brothers at the estate sale. The father of these two Strongs was the purchaser of Crenshaw land from an heir of John Crenshaw. This may be important in Crenshaw history during the Hanover period. Definitely your William is tied in some way, perhaps as a son of John and brother to Edmund. On 13 August 1851, Nathaniel C. Crenshaw and Elizabeth H. Crenshaw witnessed the will of Judith Strong in Hanover. Edmund's father, John Crenshaw, purchased the 180 and one-half acres from Cheadle Harris, whose background needs to be explored. In an age where there were no real estate agents and no mortgage companies, land sales were either cash, or on a credit arrangement with kinsmen or close friends. Therefore Cheadle Harris may have felt reasonably comfortable in dealing with John Crenshaw. Valentine copied a portion of a Louisa County deed concerning Benjamin Harris of St. Martin's Parish who deeded to William Crenshaw 225 acres in St. Martin's, Louisa County. That deed carries a date 26 March 1745. I noticed that a man named David Harris was a witness. You mentioned that David's marriage to Frances Thompson was believed to have taken place in Albermarle County. One resident of Albermarle was a man named George Brock, Sr. who once lived in St. Paul's Parish, New Kent County, and thus, was in Crenshaw country from the earliest of times. Brock was born in 1680 as near as can be determined and when (1711) his land was processioned, he was in New Kent County. On 2 April 1720 Brock's property was shifted from one precinct to another, and the lands of two neighbors were also shifted. These old neighbors were John Sims and John Crenshaw. Almost certainly this John Crenshaw was the eldest son of Thomas whose ferry landing lay alongside that of Cornelius Dabney. John Crenshaw married a granddaughter of Dabney. It is possible that this John and the father of Edmund is one and the same, but I think more investigation is needed. In 1805 (31 October) Samuel Garland, described as being "of Hanover" acted as surety on a bond given by Ritter Burnett to Charles Townsend. This is recorded in Amherst County and may have escaped the notice of those who track the Garland name only in Hanover records.