Ady/Ray Balch [abalch@hal-pc.org]
    LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF EDWARD CROW

I, EDWARD CROW, of the County of Wythe, State of
Virginia, calling to mind the uncertainty of life and
being desirous to arrange my worldly business, do
hereby make my Last Will and Testament in manner and
form following, that is to say:

--First.  I desire that my land which amounts to 160
acres, together with all my perishable property be
valued and sold after my decease and out of the monies
arising therefrom all my just debts and funeral expenses
to be paid.

--Second.  After the payment of my debts and funeral
expenses I give the following donations out of the
above monies:
---To my son, JAMES CROW, the sum of $250.00
---To my son, EDWARD CROW, the sum of $200.00
---To my daughter, NANCY ACRE, the sum of$200.00
---To the Presbytery of Abingdon the sum of $15.00,
        to be appropriated by them to the
        missionary cause.
---To the Royal Oak Sunday School and Union, the sum
        of $10.00 to be laid out in books for the
        libraries.
---To my children, the books containing their
        respective names and the balance to be sold
        and the money equally divided among them.

--Third. My black woman Cela is to have her freedom
and to be permitted to take her bed and her clothing
and such other articles as properly belong to her.

--Fourth.  My son, EDWARD CROW should, after my
decease hereby make such improvements in any of the
necessary buildings attached to the farm as to make
the land more valuable, he should be allowed such
compensation as three men shall think proper to make
him.

--[note: Very difficult to read here, and a line seems
to be missing from the top of the page; however, it
seems to read something like the following*]

--*...been paid out is to be divided equally to ROBERT
CROW, JAMES CROW, EDWARD CROW, NANCY ACRE and JOHN
MACKEY CROW'S children whey they become of age.  That
is their father's part of this last division, to be
theirs, their heirs and assigns forever.

--AND LASTLY, I do hereby constitute and appoint my
friend and my children, Jonathan ACRE and EDWARD CROW,
Executors of this my Last Will and Testament, hereby
revoking all the former wills and testaments by me
heretofore made.

--IN WITNESS HEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and
affixed my seal this 13th day of July in the year of
our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Twenty-nine.

                  /s/ EDWARD CROW   [seal]

Signed, sealed, published and declared as for and the
Last Will and Testament of the above named EDWARD CROW
in the presence of us:  Dugate McIntyre, Joseph Atkins,
Sr., William Goodpasture, John Killinger, Adam
Groseclose.

--At a Court for Wythe County, State of Virginia, at
the Court House of Wythe County, on the 8th day of
February 1830 this, the Last Will and Testament of
EDWARD CROW, deceased, was presented and being
represented by the oaths of William Goodpasture and
John Killinger, two of the subscribing witnesses to
the same, is directed to be recorded and on the motion
of Jonathan Aker and EDWARD CROW, the executors herein
named in the will, entered into bond with Thomas J.
David, Joseph Dulton and John Killinger, their
securities, penalty of $3,000.00 conditioned as the
law directed and to the oath required by law, proceed
of said will is granted them in due form.
                J. P. Matthews, Clerk
                Peter Snider
EDWARD CROW 6 [Robert 5, Thomas 4, John 3, Thomas 2,
John 1] was born c1757, Botetourt or Augusta Co VA
and d. 1836 Wythe Co Va [see his will]. Married c1800
Jane of Augusta Co Va, d/o John Mackey.  EDWARD left
evidence of a great and good christian gentleman. He
organized, with others, a Sunday School class and
the Presbyterian Church in Southwest Virginia, to
which he left a small legacy in his will. This church
was located in the present vicinity of Marion, then
known as Royal Oak.

Children of Edward and Jane [Mackey] Crow:
--i.  John Mackey Crow
--ii  Robert Crow
--iii Edward Crow m Rebecca Crow, d/o James Crow
--iv  James Crow
--v   Nancy Crow

In Montgomery Co., 18 Aug 1779, ROBERT CROW was
overseer of the poor.  In 1785, ROBERT CROW and
others were being appointed to review best way from
Magazine to the Springs in Montgomery Co.,

29 Apr[?], 1778. William Willmore complained against
his master, ROBERT CROW, for misusage and detaining
him longerthan the time he was oblidged by law to
serve.  It was the opinion of the Court that the sd
William Willmore had not served his time agreeable to
law and he was ordered by the Court to return to his
former service.  There are many more records
regarding the CROWE FAMILY which are not in this
research.
                      &&&&
    LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF THOMAS CROW, SR.
In the name of God Amen, I, THOMAS CROW of Wythe
County, and State of Virginia, being weak in body
but of perfect mind and memory, thanks be to God, do
make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament.

--First.  I give and devise to my three sons,SAMUEL
CROW, THOMAS CROW, and GEORGE CROW, 181 acres of
land which includes the improvements, to be equally
divided among them in quantity and quality, the said
SAMUEL CROW, THOMAS CROW and GEORGE CROW and their
heirs are to retain and hold the same 181 acres of
land as in fee simple provided they apply a sufficient
part of my estate to supply my wife, DEBORAH CROW and
my brother, EDWARD CROW, for lifetime or during their
residence with my aforesaid sons.

--Second.  I give and devise to my son, ROBERT CROW,
and his heirs 45 acres of land adjoining the lands of
Robert Calhoun and THOMAS CROW and for default of said
ROBERT CROW having lawful issue I give and devise the
aforesaid 45 acres of land to my three sons, SAMUEL
CROW, THOMAS CROW and GEORGE CROW, after the decease
of said ROBERT CROW, to be equally divided among them
as aforesaid 45 acres of land to my three sons, SAMUEL,
THOMAS and GEORGE CROW.  Provided the said ROBERT
CROW intends to sell his part of the land he must let
my three sons, SAMUEL, THOMAS and GEORGE, or either
of them hve it at its value.

--Third.  I give and bequeath to my son, JOHN CROW,
one dollar.   I give and bequeath to my daughter,
MARGARET HAYTON, fifteen dollars.   I give and bequeath
to my daughter, HANNAH FOWLER, fifth dollars.   I
give and bequeath to my daughter, NANCY PHILLIPS, ten dollars.  I give and
bequeath to my daughter MARY
BRITTAIN one dollar.   I give and bequeath to my
daughter JANE HEBBIN one dollar.  I give and bequeath
to my daughter ELIZABETH FERGUSON one dollar.  I give
and bequeath to my wife DEBORAH CROW the use of said
dwelling house and furniture for her lifetime.  Part
of my personal estate must be applied to the use of
discharging whatsoever I am justly indebted to people
for legacies bequeathed by me in residue of my
personal estate and the increase I give and bequeath
to my wife, DEBORAH CROW, and my three sons, SAMUEL
CROW, THOMAS CROW and GEORGE CROW, to be equally
divided among them.

--I make, institute and ordain my wife, DEBORAH
CROW, executrix and my son, SAMUEL CROWN, executor,
of my Last Will and Testament.  I revoke and disannul
all former wills and testaments by me made.

--IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and
seal this FIRST DAY OF JANUARY, 1800.

                       /s/ THOMAS CROW, SEN.

Signed, sealed, discharged and delivered by the said
THOMAS CROW, SR., in presence of us: Henry Jones,
Tofann Jacob.

On Tursday, 14th day of May, 1811, this Last Will and
testament of THOMAS CROW, SEN., deceased, was read
and proved by Henry Jones and John Snavelly, by their
oath.
                /s/ John P. Matthews,  D.C.

REFERENCE: Will Book 2, pp.462-463, Wythe Co. Court
           House, Wytheville, Virginia.
 5th GENERATION

Landowners in 1704 Virginia were required to pay the
King of England a "Quit Rent" of one shilling for
each fifty acres owned in all counties then created,
except Lancaster, Northumberland, Westmoreland,
Richmond and Stafford.  The VSL at Richmond  has
records containing the names of all who paid tithes.

ROBERT CROW and JOHN CROW paid tithes in Augusta
[Botetourt] County.  In 1771 the delinquent tithes
record reveals that "ROBERT CROW and sons, THOMAS,
JOHN and EDWARD, delinquent."  Later we find in 1771
ROBERT CROW, gone to Holston;  THOMAS CROW, gone to
Holston;  JOHN CROW, gone to Holston;  EDWARD CROW,
gone to Holston.  The Holston referred to was the land
now knoan as Montgomery, Wythe and Smyth counties in
southwest Virginia.  the levy for 1779 delinquents
reveal that JAMES, WILLIAM and BENJAMIN CROW of
Augusta Co. "had gone to the Holston", and were, of
course, delinquent.  The 1755 delinquent fee book,
Augusta Co., reveals that JOHN CROW had been
delinquent twice and had returned twice.  This was
JOHN, the brother of ROBERT and son of THOMAS CROW.

ROBERT CROWE 5 [Thomas 4, John 3, Thomas 2, John 1],
was born c1730; died after 1787 but before 1789 in
Montgomery County, Va.  He married MARY [] in Augusta,
Co. VA.  Children of this union:

--i.  Thomas [more later]
--ii. John
--iii.Edward
--iv. James

JOHN CROWE, brother of ROBERT, left descendants in
Montgomery, Wythe and other counties.  These are all
on record, most of them, in marriage, land and other
records, including wills and administration papers.
This research will follow the lines of Thomas and
Edward.

                6th Generation

This generation saw an era of growing dissatisfaction
with the high tariffs England imposed on her colonies.
Virginia colonists objected to the arbitrary actions
and the ruthless behavior of the officials from England.
This generation was alert to the fact that war was
approaching.....many fought, died and were wounded at
the battle of King's Mountain, which was the battle
that turned in favor of the colonies.

Early surveys and deeds in Fincastle Co., VA on
record in the land office of the Court House,
Christianburg, Montgomery Co. VA. These deeds cover
land now lying in the present Wythe and Smyth counties.
--1774, 13 Jan  Thomas Crow  226 acs Middle Fork
--1774, 21 Jan  Robert Crow  241 acs Hungers Mot** of
                                     Middle Fork, H**
--1774, 21 Jan  Edward Crow  299 acs Middle Fork
--1775, 25 Feb  John Crow    210 acs North Branch
                                  Fork, Holston River
           **= unable to read

THOMAS CROW served as private in Captain Calloh[an?]
Mennes' Company, 1st VA Regiment, Montgomery, VA. He
was the only THOMAS CROW living in that vicinity at
that time.  Robert Shannon was appointed constable in
the home of THOMAS CROW, Montgomery Co., 4 August, 1779.
4 April, 1787, Montgomery Co., ROBERT CROW and son,
THOMAS, were exempted from work on the [road?].

THOMAS CROW 6 [Robert 5, Thomas 4, John 3, Thomas 2,
John 1] was born c1749/50, Augusta Co., VA., and died
Wythe Co., VA., between 1 Jan 1800 [date of his will]
and 14 May, 1811 [date his will was probated]. THOMAS
m. in Augusta Co c 1745/6 Deborah [surname unknown].
They moved to Holston about 1771.  There are many recs
inre Thomas.  Both Thomas and his father, Robert,
served 18 Aug 1779 on a Jury to settle a boundary [???].
Children of THOMAS and DEBORAH [   ] CROW:
--i.  John m. 6 Feb 1796 Elizabeth
--ii. Margaret m. William Ha???
--iii Robert
--iv. Hannah
--v.  Samuel m 5 July 1801 Mary Douglas
--vi. Mary m. 4 Jan 1787 Samuel Brittain; to Oregon
--vii Nancy m. 5 Mar 1796 Samuel Phillips
-viii Elizabeth m 25 Oct 1798 John Furguson/Ferguson
--ix. Jean m 17 Jan 1793 John Hibbens
--x.  George m 13 Nov 1787 Rebecca Holland
--xi. Thomas, Jr.

JOHN CROW 6 [Robert 5, Thomas 4, John 3, Thomas 3,
John 1] remained in Montgomery County. Left several
children, among them a WILLIAM, who had a son, JOHN,
and several daughters. No further info on this John.