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Crosthwaite Family
The name Crosthwaite, also commonly spelled Crosthwaite, Crosswait or even Crosswhite, is an English word meaning a clearing in the shape of a cross.
The earliest record of the "possible immigrant
ancestor" for the Kentucky Crosthwaites, is William, who came to Pennsylvania
in 1706 and reportedly set up the Philadelphia Library with Benjamin Franklin
(Source: Pennsylvania Magazine, Vol. 23. p.107). This may or maynot
be the William who went to Virginia about 1733, and died there 9 October
1743. An early (8 August 1733) land transaction in Spotsylvania County,
Virginia mentions "William Crosthwait, late of province of Pennsylvania,
but now of the parish, county, "aforesaid, i.e., St. Mark's
Parish. By 1738 he is listed in Orange County, Virginia.
Timothy Crosthwait's will was dated 15 June
1756, and appears on page 229 of Orange County, Virginia, Will Book 2. The
abstract reads:
To my brother, William Crosthwait, all and
hail my lands lying in Culpeper County as also on tract in Spotsylvania County
containing 150 acres.
To Abraham Crosthwait, my brother one tract
in Orange County containing 100 acres, joining Messrs. Alexr Waugh, Erasmus
Tayloe, et.
To my brothers, Isaac and Jacob Crosthwait
equally one half of my moveable estate after paying my debts.
To my sister, Sarah, spouse of John Thomson,
three eights parts of my moveable estate.
The remainder one eight part to my sister
Elizabeth, spouse of Jacob Medley.
My negro wench Phillis to be sold and reconed
as part of my moveable estate.
My brother William and Abram be my executors
as also Peter Rucker and Mr. Erasmus Taylor to be likewise my executors
Timothy had inherited all his father's land, but since he was not married, he willed it to his sister and brothers, when he died in 1756. He willed to his brother, William, "all the land in Culpeper County and one tract of 150 acres in Spotsylvania County." The William Crosthwaite who appears on the 1782 tax list of Albemarle County, Virginia with on white male above 21 years old, 3 slaves, 8 cattle and one horse is the progenitor of the Harrison County, Kentucky line. For his land he paid two pounds four shillings. He was in Albemarle County at least by April 21, 1779, when he, along with his father-in-law, Henry Shelton, signed " A Declaration of Independence" in that county. This signing contained his full name James William Corssthwait.
The William Crosthwaite died in 1786, leaving several young children. His wife, Ann, then married Jacob Power and the two went to Harrison County, Kentucky with her sons, Shelton, Thomas, William and Perry and her daughter, Ann. The settlement of Wm. Crosthwaite's estate did not go smoothly as a suit against George Divers, administrator attest. The suit recorded in Albermarle County, Virginia Order Book for March 1798 reads:
Jacob Power and Ann, his wife, relict of William
Crosthwait, deceased; Shelton Crosthwait, heir at law of the said
William, deceased; Thomas Crosthwait, William
Crosthwait, Perry Crosthwait and Ann Bourn Crosthwait - children
of the said William Crosthwait, deceased by Shelton Crosthwait their guardian
- Plaintiffs against George Divers,
administrator of William Crosthwait, dec'd, Defendant.
When Ann Shelton Crosthwait married Jacob Powers
her father Henry, wrote a consent which is recorded as September 13th,
1787:
Sir you'll please to grant Jabcob Powers and
My daughter Ann Crosthwait a Licence to be Married assured of my free
Consent
Henry Shelton
Test:
Wm. Jarman
Robt. Davis
Ann Shelton Crosthwait Powes had at least one child by Jacob Powers, Susanna, who married Thomas Croswaite in Fleming County, Kentucky in 1821.
William Crosthwaite, son of James William and Ann Shelton Crosthwait, either died early or became incapacitated. He reportedly served in the War of 1812, and didn't die until 1833, but in December 1823, William Stuart was appointed guardian to Crosthwaite's four children from his marriage to Mary Lewi Hutcherson (15 April 1802 in Harrison County, Kentucky). Barely a year later, January 1825, the Harrison County Court Records show that "Jane and Louisa Crosthwait, infants of William Crosthwait, chose James Sudduth as their guardian. The other two children, Shelton and Mary, must have been past 18 or married by this time. It was 3 years later that Louisa married Pollard McKenny and her brother Shelton signed for her (24 March 1828 in Harrison County, Kentucky, by D.D. Dyche, Minister).
Source:
Information previously posted by: Jo
Thiessen
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