Walter and Ann Crow moved their family from Delaware to Augusta County, Virginia around 1763-64.  The first reference we find of Walter is in April 1764 when he is witness to a land sale.  In June of the same year Walter bought 343 acres on Linville Creek.  Samuel Newman, brother of Walter's mother, Martha Newman Crow, had previously settled in 1744 in the Smiths Creek area, about 15 miles from where Walter settled.  Walter and Ann had two children after moving to the county, Nancy on March 25, 1764 and Rachel on Feb. 19, 1767.

William is the first Crow found in Augusta County in 1759.  William was born circa 1726 in Ireland.  He married Margaret Lewis, daughter of John Lewis and aunt of Col. Andrew Lewis of the Battle of Pt. Pleasant fame.  Not sure how William is related to our Crows but he is listed in Walter's 1789 will as having a certain obligation with John Crow at William's Crows Ferry on the James River (we think the will incorrectly stated Lewis Ferry when it should have been Looney's Ferry).

About 1775 John and William, Walter's sons, settled in the Peter's Creek area of Yohogania County, just off the Monongahela River.  That part of Virginia was claimed by both Virginia and Pennsylvania and is now Washington County, Pennsylvania.   They were part of that county's militia before moving permanently to Kentucky.

Ann Miller

Ann Miller, wife of Walter Crow, has been a source of much debate.   It's generally accepted by some Crow researchers that Walter Crow and Anne Miller were married in 1740 in Middlesex County, although no records exist of this marriage (that we know of).   Ann is listed as Walter's wife in his 1789 will.  There's even a theory that Ann came from England with a family bible. John Finley Crow's memoirs name Mary Stuart as his grandmother, not Ann Miller.  After considering all available research, we submit that there were two Ann Millers born to John Miller of Middlesex County, of two different wives.  

1.  Ann Miller Barbee is listed in John's will of 1742: "I leave to my daughter, Ann Barbee and John, her husband, one shilling and the same sum to wit."   Ann was married to John Barbee on Christmas Day, 1708, in Christ Church Parish.  Ann was born in 1693 and her will was recorded as Ann Miller Barbee on Aug. 17, 1761 in Essex County.  There is no birth listing for this Ann in the parish register that we know of, but the register has five children listed for John and Michal beginning in 1695.  Ann was probably the eldest child of John and Michal.  

2.  Anne Miller Crow,  daughter of John and Sarah Hadley Miller, was born March 31st and baptized April 24th 1720.  Since the Christ Church Parish register lists Ann being born to John and Sarah in 1720 there's no doubt of this birth.

By the time of John's death in 1742, his children Patrick, Priscilla and John had died and none of them are listed in the will.  Only one Ann is mentioned though, Ann Barbee.  Ann Crow is not named.  She would have married Walter two years earlier and gone to Delaware.  All this still does not prove she's Walter's wife Ann!    

Marriages in Rockingham County
1778-1816

1782 William Crow married Hester Pettyjohn daughter of William Pettyjohn (not sure which William this is).

1784 Mary Crow daughter of John Crow married John Flack (note: this is Mary Hinds, who as an orphan was bound to John and Elizabeth in 1764.)

1787 Rachel Crow daughter of Walter Crow married Samuel Harned son of David Harned.

Revolutionary War Records

Both Benjamin and Jacob Crow enlisted in the 8th Virginia Regiment, which became the 4th VA Regiment and also the 12th Regiment.   

Benjamin enlisted in December 1776 in the 8th Virginia Regiment as part of Capt. David Stephenson's company, Col. Abraham Bowman commanding.

The following is the affidavit of David Rolstone.

Be it known that on the 23rd day of March 1837 David Rolstone of said County, a revolutionary pensioner of the United States aged between 76 and 77 personally appeared before a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, and made oath that he is a native of Rockingham County and acquainted with the late Peter Van Pelt, of said County from his early boyhood: that he lived a nigh neighbor to said Van Pelt up to the time of his death, that he always understood and believed that said Van Pelt served a tour of 18 months in the revolutionary war. He also states that said Van Pelt was married a few days before he marched on the tour aforesaid to the same woman who is now living as his widow.

This affiant was well acquainted with James Blain & Benjamin Crow, two men who served under the same 18 months draft with Van Pelt and returned from the army about the same time, having also served out their term of service, and continued to live in the same neighborhood for many years afterwards. This affiant served in the army with said Crow in North & South Carolina, he and said Crow being mess-mates the whole tour. David Rolstone Sworn to & subscribed this 25th day of September 1837 Abraham Smith

Jacob enlisted in November 1777, just in time for winter quarters at Valley Forge.

In June 1778 the 8th Regiment was reorganized and placed in the 4th Regiment.  Jacob was placed in Capt. William Croghan's Company, which was alternately commanded by Col. James Wood and Col. John Neville.  William Croghan was a British officer who sided with the colonists against the king.  Croghan would later marry a sister of Gen. George Rogers Clark and William Clark of Lewis and Clark fame.

Both Jacob and Benjamin were listed as sick at Valley Forge.   In June 1778 the 4th marched out of Valley Forge as part of Gen. Lafayette's 3rd Division.  On June 28, 1778, Jacob may have participated in the Battle of Monmouth, where Gen. Lafayette's troops formed the center of the American line and repulsed repeated British assaults.  Benjamin's pay vouchers stopped at June 1778 and picked up again in 1779; possibly he was still with the army but nothing is documented.

Jacob's enlistment documents end in July 1779. Click on the images below to see some of his pay and muster roll records, obtained from the National Archives.

James was in a Washington County, Virginia militia company at the Battle of Kings Mountain, South Carolina.   Kings Mountain is said to have been the pivotal battle of the Revolutionary War as American Patriot forces won the battle over American Loyalist troops.   Usually when you think of the Revolutionary War you would think that it was American forces fighting British forces, but in this instance Kings Mountain was fought entirely by Americans, with the exception being Major Patrick Ferguson, a British army regular who was in charge of the American Loyalists, and a few other British officers.   After Ferguson was killed in battle the Loyalists surrendered.   

There is a Capt. John Crow listed as also having been at King's Mountain, but we're not sure which John this is.

See King's Mountain and Its Heroes: History of the Battle of King's Mountain, October 7th, 1780 by Lyman C. Draper.

Walter, although he did not fight in the militia or continental line as his sons did, contributed in other ways to the American Revolution.  In March 1775 he brought 2000 pounds of iron for merchant Felix Gilbert from Zanes Iron Works on Cedar Creek in Frederick County, a distance of approximately 40 miles from the Harrisonburg/Linville Creek area.  

In April 1779 Walter delivered 280 pounds of bacon to Albermarle Barracks near Charlottesville, approximately 65 miles from Linville Creek.   Albemarle Barracks was a prison camp where American forces held captured British soldiers.   

In May, 1782 the Rockingham Co. court ordered payment to Walter for service and supplies to the army for supplying beef, corn, oats and hay, in one instance for 22 days service and another for seven days service.

List of Battles: 

Regimental histories for the 4th, 8th and 12th Virginia Regiments can be found at: http://www.rootsource.com/virginia.htm.

Land Records

June 21, 1764.  George and William Skillern to Walter Crow, 343 acres patented to William Skillern, deceased, 30 Aug 1743, and devised by William that his sons, George and ____, should dispose of same on head of a draft of Linville's Creek on Harrison's road.  Teste: James Hughes, James Huston. Delivered: Walter Crow, Oct. 1766, acknowledged by George. 

March 3, 1766:  To Walter Crow, £25, 200 acres on South Fork Linville's Creek; corner Samuel Harrison's land.   Delivered: Walter Crow, October, 1766.  Click on the image above to see a map of the possible area of the Crow land grants.

December 7, 1774, 35 acres to John Crow, on the waters of Linville Creek next to Irish Road joining the land of John Wright and Thomas Gregg.  Click the thumbnail at left to view part of the original document from the Virginia Digital Library.  This document, along with other Crow land records, both in Virginia and Kentucky, can be viewed at: http://198.17.62.51/cgi-bin/drawer/disk19/CC150/0377/C0395?15.

March 1, 1781, 216 acres, Walter Crow, on the head of a draft on Linville Creek on the east side of the land he lives on.

Washington Co. Survey Records:  Page 281 - Joshua Roman...300 ac...on both sides of Hunger Mother, branch of the Middle of Holstein River.   Commissioners Certificate.  Beginning on Hays line on a spur of the Brushey Mountain on the west side of the creek - March 26, 1785 - Andrew Evans, assignee of John Crow.  300 ac. on both sides of Hungers Mother, includes improvements, 210 ac. surveyed on February 25, 1775...actual settlement made in 1775...August 25, 1781.

Click on the map at left, which is from the records of the James River Canal Co., that shows Crow's Ferry on the James River (at the top of the image).  This ferry was originally called Looney's Ferry and was bought from Robert Looney by William Crow in 1766.  For more maps and information go to an excellent site about the Looney Family at: http://www.looneybook.com/id31.htm.

Family Groups in Augusta
and Rockingham Counties

Trying to unravel the relationships of the Crow family in the Shenandoah Valley in the late 18th century is practically impossible, but just for kicks we tried... here goes.

Walter Crow's Will

From original court records of Augusta County 1745-1800, Order book # XXIV.  Fee 70 cents, paid in the office by W. Roalston, J.H. Gambrill

I, Walter Crow, of Rockingham County.  To wife, Ann.   To eight children, viz: Mary Harnsberry, James, John, William, Benjamin, Jacob Crow, Nancy Gregg, Rachel Harnett.  Executors, wife Ann, and William Crow, third son of testator.  "A certain obligation which John Crow obtained from William Crow at Lewis Ferry, on James River, which John assigned to his father, Walter Crow, amounting to 20 pounds principle, interest from August, 1784, if John shall pay some to Anne, etc.," otherwise the amount is to be deducted from John's share.  Signed, sealed, etc., 6th August, 1789.  Test:  William Dunlap, Hannah (mark) Roadecap and lie for, etc.  (Signed) William Ewen, C. R. C.  proved in Clerk, 28th September, 1789, Rockingham County.  Proved by Hannah Roadecap and lie for, etc. Signed William Ewen, C.R.C. Proved in Rockingham, 26th October, 1789, by Elizabeth Roadecap.  Administration granted widow, Anne; other executor failed to appear.   By the Court.  (Signed) William Ewen, C.R.C.  A copy.  Test:   H.J. Gambill, D.C. R. C.

Chronicles of the Scots-Irish Listings
Selected listings of Augusta County Crows gleaned from various sources like Ancestry.Com and Rootsweb's www.rootsweb.com/~chalkley/

3/22/1765
8/9/1766

6/29/1769
May, 1773