William Crowson b. 1750 Johnson Co., North Carolina d. 5 Sep 1814 Giles Co., Tennessee: Ancestry of Paul Wattenberger

1750 - 1814 (64 years)

Personal Information | Notes | Sources | All | PDF

Name	William Crowson [1]
Born	1750	Johnson Co., North Carolina
Gender	Male
Died	5 Sep 1814	Giles Co., Tennessee
Person ID	I1015	Paul's Tree
Last Modified	2 Jul 2018

Father	John Crowson, b. 1717, Accomack, Co., VA , d. 1780, Richmond, NC (Age 63 years)
Relationship	natural
Mother	Sarah
Relationship	natural
Married	Between 1729 and 1744
Family ID	F295	Group Sheet \| Family Chart

Family Mary Thomas, b. 1752, Jones Co., North Carolina , d. Bef 1820, Giles Co., Tennessee (Age < 67 years)

Married Abt 1769 Jones Co., North Carolina

Children

	1. Mary Elizabeth Crowson, b. Abt 1770, North Carolina , d. 5 Mar 1839, Wears Valley, Sevier County, TN (Age 69 years) [natural]
	2. Richard M. Crowson, b. 17 Apr 1770, Jones Co., N.C. , d. 12 Sep 1826, Montevallo, Shelby Co., Alabama (Age 56 years) [natural]
	3. Aaron Crowson, b. 18 Mar 1777, Jones Co., N.C. , d. 18 Feb 1849, Sevier Co., Tenn (Age 71 years) [natural]
	4. Moses Crowson, b. 6 Oct 1778, Jones Co., N.C. , d. Aft 1862, Carrill, MS (Age > 85 years) [natural]
	5. Mary Crowson, b. 1780, Giles, Tenn. [natural]
	6. William Crowson, b. 1782, Giles, Tenn. , d. 1810, Giles, Tenn. (Age 28 years) [natural]
	7. Jacob Crowson, b. Abt 1784, Jones Co., N.C. , d. 1835, Launderdala Co., Al (Age 51 years) [natural]
	8. John Crowson, b. 1786, Giles, Tenn. , d. 1861, Lamar, Tx (Age 75 years) [natural]
	9. Abraham Crowson, b. 1790, Giles, Tenn. , d. 1830, Fayette , Tenn. (Age 40 years) [natural]
	10. Isaac Crowson, b. 1792, Sevier Co., Tenn , d. 10 Apr 1885, Ferndale, Pulaski, AR (Age 93 years) [natural]
	11. Thomas B. Crowson, b. 17 Apr 1794, Callaway, Mo. , d. 2 May 1857, Giles, Tenn. (Age 63 years) [natural]
	12. Jonathan Crowson, b. 1796, Giles, Tenn. [natural]
	13. Jane Crowson, b. 11 Apr 1798, Giles, Tenn. [natural]

Last Modified 2 Jul 2018

Family ID F279 Group Sheet | Family Chart

Notes

From http://www.familytreemaker.com/users/s/t/o/Victoria-J-Stone/GENE0001-0016. html

William Crowson, born 1750 in Johnston, NC; died April 1814 in Giles, TN. He was the son of 800. John Crowson. He married 401. Mary Thomas 1769 in Jones, NC.
Mary Thomas, born 1752 in Jones, NC; died Abt 1830 in Giles, TN. She was the daughter of 802. Jordan Thomas.

Notes
!BIRTH-MARRIAGE: IGI and Bill Crowson via email at Xplorer3@aol.com 11/26/96

!per Aunt Wanda Rev. War: Recieved pay from July 16 to March 18, 1783, from Wilmington
dist. He was a Private from N. Carolina. Pay voucher #1198 dated 10 Aug. 1783 from Jones Co., Newbern Dist. Paid 10 shillings. Pay voucher #4400 27 Aug, 1783. Voucher from Wilimington Dist. paid for services payroll #2335.

!Per Tenn. Society of DAR Vol 3-Private, Wilmington County District, North Carolina (DAR Patriot Index, Vol 1, p. 167; DAR Nos. 326614, 532564) !Listed on the First Tax List for Greene County, North Carolina 1783:per Ken Crowson Dec 1996

!William and Mary listed in 1830 census Beford Co., Tenn. !birth, marriage,soldier and 12 children: Elton Crowson see file notes.
!Death - Died by drowning in Tennessee River 1814:Elton Crowson !Death-Sept. 5, 1814 :Ken Crowson Dec 1996.(see file notes)
!per copy in file notes from Janice Weihs of a letter from a Dr. Eugene L. Crowson- "The Old Crowson homestead which my grandfather
William entered from the Government in Calloway Co, after moving from Boone Co., is located 8 miles northwest of Fulton, Mo. and the cemetery to which the graves were moved from the family burying ground is about 1-1/2 miles east of the old homestead--My grandmother Jane (Vinson) hearing her tell of the death of her father-in-law in Tennesse by drowning in the Tennessee River - Two boys landed with a skiff. Each wanted the other to tie the boat. While arguing over the matter the boat drifted out of reach. William Crowson, being a good swimmer, undertook to swim out and capture the skiff. He took cramps and drowned. I suppose the shock from the cold water was too much for his heart and heart failure instead of cramps caused his death.

!per Elton Crowson - The Tennessee River in the vicinity of the Crowson settlement in Giles co., TN flows in the State of Alabama. It is some 50 or 60 miles west of there that it flows back up into Tennessee. So it was probably acutually in Alabama that William C. drowned. Mr. Crowson was a very benevolent man, and sold corn on credit to all who were not able to pay cash for it. When persons came with the
money, he told them to go and buy of those who would not sell on credit to poor, suffering humanity.
!From Janice Weihs 9/22/96 --- History of Giles Co. states,"Among these were William Crowson and his four sons and his son-in-law, Vincent, with their families, who came about February, 1807, and settled the WEst side of Richland Creek, and near the mouth of it, and raised corn in 1807." (Vincent is a popular alternative spelling for Vinson)
!From Ken Crowson 12/1996--
William Crowson may have been a son of the John Crowson of the 1729 deed, who came from Desford, England. In the early 1800's,
William and his wife and three married sons and their families, William's son-in-law Vincent and his family and the other married sons moved to Giles Co., TN. William died before 1815 and his will is in Pulaski, TN. It was in Pulaski, Giles Co.,TN that the famous KU KLUX KLAN had its birth after the war.
!From Bill Crowson 1/1997--- Giles County was established 1810 by an act of the Legislature passed 14 November 1809, named for William Branch Giles, Governor of Virginia (1762-1830). The first permanent settlement was on Elk River near the mouth of Richland Creek. Among the Elkton settlers were the Crowsons, William and his four sons and a son-in-law Vincent. William Crowson was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. He drowned in a(some sources say "the") Tennessee river while trying to retrieve a boat which had gotten loose. His widow Mary is last heard of as being in the 1820 census of Giles Co., TN. From land grants and allusions to Cades Cove in wills and other records it is evident that many speculators were attracted to the area during the first decade of the nineteenth century. In 1809 John Smith and William Crowson petitioned the state legislature for entry rights in the cove based on earlier NC land grants. This is a bit mystifying, as William was by this time in Giles Co.(middle TN). These grants were confirmed in 1820 when Aaron Crowson, son of William , petitioned the TN legislature claiming that his father and a Mr. James Ross had both possessed "The Right of Occupancy and preemption to a Tract of land in Cades Cove on the waters of the Tennessee on the 6th day of Februray 1796." The first Tennessee grant, based on these older claims of the Crowsons, was issued to William ("Fighting Billy") Tipton on March 23, 1821, for 640 acres in Cades Cove. (Petitions, Box 24; Register of East Tennessee, Book "O".)
The first record of William Crowson in North Carolina is in Richmond Co., 1777 - William Crowson (along with John Crowson Sr. and John Crowson Jr.) witnessed a deed of John Mathews to Jehucal Crowson (Bk. C,p.378). A Revolutionary pay voucher number 1198, dated 10 August 1783, from Jones County, Newbern District, indicates that William Crowson was paid ten shillings plus, for clothing. The next record is pay voucher number 4400, dated 27 August 1783. The Voucher is from Wilmington District, and William was being paid for his service in the militia as returned in payroll number 2335. Data on the back of this voucher indicates that interest was collected through December 1787, and the voucher bears the signature "W. Crowson". Duplin County, which joins Jones County, was in Wilmington District. The DAR Patriot Index states that William Crowson was a private from No. Carolina and he was born C. 1740, died about September 1814, and
that he married Mary Thomas. 1740 is slightly to early for William's birth, as his first son was born in 1770. About 1750 would appear to
be more likely.
William Crowson entered four hundred acres of land in Greene Co., NC, on the northeast side of Big Pigon River, dated 21 October 1783, surveyed 27 August 1784 , and granted 11 JUly 1788. This land becme Tennessee when the state came into the Union in 1796. The exacat route that Willaim nad his family took is unknow, but Greene Co., TN, is located in East Tennessee, and it was originally referred j to as "Greene Co., NC." Tennessee was formed in 1783 from Washington County, and other counties were later formed from Greene Co., including Knox, 1792, from Greene and Hawkins.
In 1790, William Crowson was granted (Grant #915) two hundred acres of land on the North Fork of Sinking Creek in Washington County Tennessee. William Crowson and his wife Mary, of Greene Co., TN were selling land to John Lea in Jefferson Co., TN, on 28 March 1792. This transaction was witnessed by John McNabb and William Job. Records indicate that about this time William and his family moved to Sevier Co., TN.
In the early 1800's, the Crowson's moved to Giles Co., TN, and the following account is given by Goodspeed:
"The first permanent settlement in the county was made about 1805 on the Elk River, near the mouth of
Richland Creek, and in the neighborhood of the present towns of Elkton and Prospect, one of which lies above,and the other below, the mouth of the said creek, by William Crowson, his four sons, and son-in-law, Vinson. When these pioneers came, they found the county a vast canebreak and forest, the cane being from twenty to twenty five feet high. The settlers united their forces and cleared away the cane and built log houses for each other, and the same kindness and courtsey was extended to each newcomer for years ther after." James McCallum states that "the first permanent settlement in the county was made by emigrants from East TN who came down the Tennesse River in boats to the mouth of the Elk, and thence up the Elk." Mr. McCallum gives the date as "about February, 1807," and states that they settled the west side of Richard Creek and raised corn in 1807. William S. Bryant has stated that William Crowson and Mary Thomas, his wife, lived in East Tennessee, and that "their children were Moses, John, Jacob, Abraham, Isaac, Jonathan, Richard, Aaron, and Jane."
Worth S. Ray, states that:
Giles Co. was established in 1810 by an act of Legislature, passed 14 November 1809, and that it was named for William Branch Giles, Governor of VA (1762-1830). "The first white man to advance into the almost impenetrable canebrakers and wilds of what is now Giles
County were the commissioners and surveyors sent there to lay off lands for the soldiers of the Continental line of North Carolina during the
Revolution. The first permanent settlement was on Elk River near the mouth of Richland Creek. Among the Elkton settlers wer the Crowsons,
William and his four sons and a son-in-law Vincent" (Eliab Vinson, born 1790, married Jane Crowson, born 1798, a daughter of William Crowson and Mary Thomas).
Evidently, William returned to Sevier Co. to visit his two married children, Aaron Crowson and Polly Crowson Hatacher, who had remained
in Sevier Co. when the rest of the family moved to Giles Co. He signed a deed of gift on 18 June 1810, in which he stated, "I, William Crowson of Giles Co., TN, for the natural love I have for my beloved daughter, Polly Hatcher of Sevier County, do grant my negro girl Amey, now living in Giles County" Book A, page 340 Sevier County, Courthouse. There are notes among the Hatcher Papers that suggest that William Crowson was in Sevier County in 1811. Tax lists for the year 1812 indicate that William Crowson owned land in Giles and Greene Counties. A daughter-in-law if William Crowson, Jane Vinson, wife of Thomas Crowson, related the account of William's death to hergrandson Dr. Eugene L. Crowson of Pickering, Missouri. Elton Crowson of Southaven, MIssissippi, corresponded with Dr. Crowson some years ago and reported the following account. "William and two boys, who have not been identified, had a boat tied up on the Tennessee River. The boat got loose and started drifting out into the stream. The boys started arguing about which should swim out and retrive it, whereupon, William went into the water and started for it himself. When out in the current, William took the cramps and went under and disappeared. The cold water was too much for William's heart, he then being past middle age." The date of William's death was not given
but in September of 1814, letters of administration of the estate of William Crowson, deceased, were ordered issued to Mary Crowson, Richard Crowson and Moses Crowson, they having entered bond (Giles County TN Minute Book , 1813- 1815, Book B, page 210). Richard Crowson, William's son, had already moved to Madison Co., Mississippi Territory(later Alabama)and was listed in the 1809 Census of that area.
The following letter was addressed to Mr. Aaron Crowson and William Hatcher, Sevier County, TN., dated 19 July 1814.:
"Dear Brethern, The death or our aged father makes it necessary that a division of the estate, according to law, should be made. The time fixed on for that purpose - or near it - We can ascertain at this time - will be between the first and 15th of October, next and as we do not know whether you or either of you are contented with the property you have received as your part of the estate, I take this opportunity to let you know you may attend if you think proper in your person or appoint an agent to act for you. By this trust you will understand it is not worthy of the legatees here to act on the case without your knowledge and consent. Through the tender mercies of God, Mother and all the connections here are blessed with common health and I hope these lines will find your families enjoying blessings. I conclude by subscribing myself your affectionate friend and brother. Moses Crowson." The purpose of this letter was to notify Aaron and Polly
of the division of the estate of their father, not his death. Obviously, Aaron and Polly were already aware of William's death.
Since this letter was written in July, William's death must have occurred in the Spring of 1814. The following excerpts were taken from Giles County, TN Minute Book B, 1813 - 1815: December Session; Ordered that Mary Crowson be appointed guardian to Jonathan Crowson, Mary having given bond and security according to law, page 285. December Session 1814. On Petition of Mary Crowson, widow of the late William Crowson, deceased, and it appearing to the satisfaction of the Court that the administrators of the estate of said William Crowson, deceased, had notice of this motion, it is ordered by the Court that await issue to the Sheriff of this County, commanding ] him to summon twelve free holders, connected with the parties neither by affinity nor consinguinity, and entirely disinterested, who upon oath shall allot and set off to said Mary Crowson, one-third part of tract of land described in said petition, unless the widow agrees to take less, including the mansion house in which the said William Crowson most usually dwelt before his death, together with the outhouses and thereunto belonging or in anywise appertaining, and that the said Sheriff and jury put the said petition in possession of the same, and that they make return of their proceedings to the next court. page 299. December Session, 1814: Ordered that James and Samuel Smith, Thomas Westmoreland, Aaron Brown, and William Price be appointed Commissioners to divide the estate between Richard Crowson, MosesCrowson, John Crowson, Abraham Crowson, Isaac Crowson, Thomas Crowson, Jonathan Crowson and Jane Crowson, children and legatees of William Crowson, dec'd., who died seized and possessed of as mentioned in petition of 325 acres and another tract of 106 acres. page 299. Agreably, to an order of the last Court, the Sheriff summoned a jury to lay off and allot to Mary Crowson, widow of the late William Crowson deceased, her dower, who made as follows, to wit December 23, 1814. March Session, 1815. This may certify that we, the undermentioned jurors, have met agreeable to orders layed off and put in possession Mary Crowson widow of William Crowson, deceased, of about forty acres of land with the mentioned houses thereto belonging. Given under our hands and the said Mary is perfectly satisfied.
The administrators returned an account of the sale of said estate which is received and ordered to be recorded page 346.
The following narratives are taken from Giles County TN minute Book C, 1816-1817: June Session, 1816. Andrew Erwin, plaintiff, vs. Mary Crowson and Moses Crowson, administer of William Crowson's estate. Mary and Moses did not come to court, and the plaintiff was ordered to recover $150, plus charges of $30, from the lands and goods of Mary and Moses. Page 105. June 1816, Mary Crowson, Richard Crowson, Moses Crowson, administrators in debt, vs. James G. Ward and James Colowell, defendents. The Crowsons
were not there so the Court ordered the defendents to recover $268.31, and charges of $7.42. page 109. September 4, 1816 -The administrators of the estate of William Crowson deseased, returned an additional inventory of said estate which is by the Court and ordered to be recorded. page 140.
September Session, 1816---
Ordered that Robert Buchanan and James Bumps, Esquires, be appointed to settle the account current with the administrators of William Crowson, deceasaed, and that they make return to the next Court. page 140. In the settlement of William's estate there is no mention of his sons Aaron and Jacob Crowson, or his daughter, Polly Hathcer. This is easily understood as Aaron and Polly remained in Sevier County TN, when the rest of the family moved to Giles Co. William had obviouly already made settlements with Aaron and Polly as is indicated in the letter written by Mosese Crowson.
The same might have been true concerning Jacob. Giles Co. Deed Book D, page 512 reveals that Mary Crowson sold forty acres of land to Ullissilis McKenzie in 1819. She is listed in the 1820 Census of Giles Co. as living alone and as being forty five years old. Jacob Crowson was living nearby.

Notes
!birth: bef 1820 per Ken Crowson Dec 1996 (see file notes)

!From Bill Crowson 1/1997----Mary Crowson's sister, Saraha Salter, left a will, dated 1797, in Jones County ("Bladen County, NC Wills,1734-1900" by Wanda S. Campbell, pages 75-76). That will mentions brothers, George, John, William and Jonathan Thomas, and sisters, Elizabeth Purnell, Mary Crowson, Susannah Russ, and Nancy McCullock. William Crowson had, therefore, married Mary Thomas,who was probably from Jones County also. Since their first child was born in 1770, this would lead to about 1769 for the date of the marriage.
Some sources have previously given Mary's parents as Jonathan Thomas and Mary Hilliard. Elton Crowson has shownthis to be apparently incorrect. A John Dew Family Record showed John Dew married a Sarah Thomas, daughter of Rev. Jonathan Thomas and Mary Hilliard. Since the Sarah Salter will, cited above, showed a sister Mary Crowson, it was therefore assumed that Mary's parents were also Jonathan Thomas & Mary HIlliard. However Elton Crowson has shown that these are two different Sarah Thomases(John Dew did not die until 1811, so his wife could not have been a Salter in 1797 unless divorced, which was most unlikely at that time). Mary's parents being Jordan and Ann Thomas seems established by a will of Jordan Thomas dated 6/3/1762 ("Genealogical Abstract of Wills, 1758 through 1824, Halifax County, NC."by Margaret Hofman, page 15; Will #66, p. 92).

Mary was appointed guardian of Jonathan and Jane Crowson in Dec 1814,Giles Co.

Mary is last heard of as being in the 1820 census of Giles Co., TN. The 1820 Census for Giles Co., p. 4, shows: Mary Crowson , 1 f over 44. No others are listed in her household, though Jacob Crowson and family are listed next to her, presumably in a separate household.

Sources
[S42] "The Crowson Family of America" Dr. William Crowson 1979 LDS #1035856.