William Crabtree was the immigrant ancestor of the Crabtrees who settled in Baltimore County, Maryland in the early 1700s.

He was likely born in England, c1680 or possibly a bit earlier if he was transported as an indentured servant. It is said that he sent for Jane (MNU) after he settled in Maryland. However, records are silent as to whether he came to Maryland as a young married man or if he married Jane after she arrived in the colonies.

Charlotte Crabtree Fisher was a 20th century researcher of this Crabtree family. Her Crabtree Family Papers are housed at the Utah State University Library. I have not seen this collection, which is quite extensive based on the library finding aid.

However, I am a suspicious type when it comes to genealogical information and my hair immediately stood up on end when the collection description begins:

I have found no documented evidence that William Crabtree hailed form Yorkshire, England. It’s certainly possible, but there is no record out there that I’ve come across supporting that statement.

I’ve also seen information online stating that Jane’s maiden name was Halstead, but again, I’ve seen no proof.

What is a fact is that Thomas Crabtree, son of William, was born in Baltimore County, Maryland on 12 October 1707, so William and Jane were settled in their new home by that date.

William Crabtree died on or before 9 October 1756 in Baltimore County, Maryland, as his will was proved that day in court.

I don’t have the actual images of his will, but here is a transcription:

I, William Crabtree of Baltimore County in the Providence of Maryland, being weak and sick in body, but in perfect sound mind and memory thanks be give to Almighty God, therefore but calling to mind the uncertain state of this transitory life do for the better settlement of my temporal affairs and disposal of such Estate as God has blessed me withal, make and ordain this may last will and testament revoking and therby disannulling all former will or wills, testament or testaments by me heretofore made and herby constituting and appointing this present writing to contain my last Will and Testament, which I make as follows,

Viz: I give and bequeath to my loving wife Jane Crabtree my dwelling plantation with one hundred and fifty acres of land of the Southern most and during her natural life or widowhood that shall first happen then to go to my son, William Crabtree, his heirs and assigns forever.

I likewise give and bequeath unto my loving wife Jane Crabtree one Irish serving lad called Alexander Anderson, during her widowhood then to go to my son William Crabtree,

2nd, I give and bequeath to my son, Thomas Crabtree, one servant man that Samuel Webb owes me, to him and his heirs and assigns.

3rd. I give and bequeath to my son John Crabtree one hundred and fifty acres of land adjoining to where he now lives, being the northeast part to him, his heirs and assigns forever. I also give and bequeath to my son, John Crabtree, one Negro boy called Duke to him, his heirs and assigns forever, but my will is that my son John Crabtree shall pay unto his brother, James Crabtree, Five Pounds current money in goods and chattels. And also unto his brother Samuel Crabtree Five pounds current money in goods and Chattels.

And as for the remaining part of my Estate, personable Estate, my will and mind is that my wife, Jane Crabtree, shall have her equal thirds out of it and the remainder to be equally shared betwixt my five sons, and three daughters, share and share alike without any administration.

I further appoint that my wife, Jane Crabtree, and 5 sons and 3 daughters shall have an equal share in paying all my just debts and burying in a decent manner.

In witness whereof I shall to this present writing containing one side and piece of paper, set my hand and affix my seal the day and year above written.

William (his X mark)  Crabtree
Signed, Sealed and Delivered in the Presence of Thomas Bond, Jacob Bond and Rebecca Pattee

Jane Crabtree reportedly died before 14 Jul 1759, Baltimore County, Maryland.

Children:

1. William, born c1705; died c1767, Orange County, North Carolina; married Mary Pike, 17 February 1724/25, Baltimore County, Maryland.
2. Thomas, born 12 October 1707, Baltimore County, Maryland; died c1774, Orange County, North Carolina; married Mary Poteet.
3. Mary, born 29 May 1711, Baltimore County, Maryland; died after her father’s will was written, as he mentions his five sons and three daughters; married John Hayes, 31 October 1727, Baltimore County, Maryland.
4. Ann, born 15 January 1713/14, Baltimore County, Maryland; married William Wilborn, 21 January 1730/31, Baltimore County, Maryland. The Wilborns settled in Rowan County, North Carolina.
5. James, born 20 February 1715/16, Baltimore County, Maryland; d. c1784, Washington County, Maryland; married Catherine Dumas.
6. John, born 5 September 1718, Baltimore County, Maryland; d. 1799; married Margaret (MNU). This family settled in Randolph County, North Carolina.
7. Elizabeth, born 13 December 1720, Baltimore County, Maryland; married James Billingsley, c1744.
8. Samuel, born 25 July 1725, Baltimore County, Maryland; died c1776; married Esther (MNU); settled in Talbot County, Maryland.

If you are able to add any documented information to this early Crabtree family, please contact me.

 

There are two remaining generations of Crabtrees to cover and both lived in Baltimore County, Maryland in the section that today is Harford County, for parts of their lives.

William Crabtree was born c1704, likely in Baltimore County, Maryland. He was the son of immigrant William Crabtree and his wife, Jane (MNU), who arrived in Maryland after her husband.

William Crabtree married Mary Pike, 17 February 1724/25, Baltimore County, Maryland. As far as I can tell, the parentage of Mary Pike is unproven.

William and Mary Crabtree were the first of the family to leave Maryland, eventually settling in Washington County, Virginia before the start of the American Revolution.

William died c1774 in Washington County, Virginia. The date of Mary (Pike) Crabtree’s death is unknown, but no later marriages have been found for William, so she may well have also died in Virginia.

Children:

1. William, born 22 December 1726, Baltimore County, Virginia; died March 1777, Washington County, Virginia; married Hannah Whitaker, 27 May 1746, Baltimore County, Virginia.
2. Elizabeth, born 5 November 1728, Baltimore County, Virginia; married James Poteet, 10 September 1748, Baltimore County, Maryland. The Poteets settled in Bedford County, Virginia.
3. Mary?, born c1730, probably Baltimore County, Maryland; married William Pike, 9 June 1752, Baltimore County, Maryland.
4. John?, born c1732, probably Baltimore County, Maryland; died c1802, Washington County, Virginia; married (1) Hannah Butcher, 22 April 1755, Baltimore County, Maryland (2) Jemima Cook, c1773.
5. Thomas, born 7 November 1733, probably Baltimore County, Maryland; married Elizabeth Barton, 23 October 1760, Baltimore County, Maryland.

As you can see by the ?, Mary and John are presumed children of William Crabtree because of the time span in which they were born and John’s migration to Washington County, Virginia.

I have seen no evidence that would negate that belief, but as far as I know, no one has found definitive proof that they were children of William, either.

Stay tuned for the post on the immigrant Crabtree ancestor, William who married (1)Jane, in England and sent for her to come to Maryland after he was settled.

 

William Crabtree was born 22 December 1726 in Baltimore County, Maryland, the son of William Crabtree and Mary Pike. Hannah Whitaker was also a native of Baltimore county, having been born there on 26 March 1729. She was the daughter of Abraham Whitaker and Ann Poteet.

William and Hannah married on 27 May 1746 in Baltimore and lived there long enough to see the births of their first three children, sons William, Abraham and Isaac.

About 1760, the young family headed south and settled in Bedford County, Virginia. William was likely encouraged by the availability of large tracts of cheaper land in an area that was pretty much on the Virginia frontier.

The Crabtrees remained in Bedford County until 1772; the rest of their children – Jacob, James, Job, Priscilla, Hannah, Margaret and a child who died young – were probably all born in Bedford County.

By 1772, William was drawn even further out onto the frontier and the family made a final move to Fincastle County, Virginia, but which became Washington County in 1776.

The original Washington County covered a larger area than today’s Washington County, but even on a modern map, you can see how far west the area was from more heavily settled eastern Virginia counties.

As the American Revolution began, militia units in Washington County were kept busy maintaining peace on the frontier (containing Indian troubles) and fighting Tories living among them.

Although many families had divided loyalties over which side – King or Independence – to support, the Crabtrees were patriots to the core.

William Crabtree died about March 1777 in Washington County. It isn’t know whether he saw actual service, but his widow, Hannah Whitaker Crabtree, is a recognized patriot as she paid the 1783 supply tax to Washington County. Hannah’s death date is unknown, but she was still alive in 1786 so saw the birth of the new United States.

What is more amazing is that of William and Hannah’s nine children, at least six of them (William, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, James and brother-in-law Richard Price married to their sister, Priscilla) have documented service in the war.

Job, born in 1765, would have only been 11 years old at the start of the war. He might also have had militia service in the last years, but no one has applied for membership in DAR under Job. Sisters Hannah, born 1768, and Margaret, born c1770, likely had husbands too young to serve.

Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and James were also pensioned for their Revolutionary War service.

Children:

1. William, born c1748, Baltimore County, Maryland; died c1818, possibly in Washington County, Virginia; married Catherine (MNU), c1773.
2. Abraham, born c1750, Baltimore County, Maryland; died 2 May 1838, Russell County, Virginia; married Mary (MNU), c1776. Pension: R2418V
3. Isaac, born c1757, Baltimore County, Maryland; died 7 September 1849, Clinton County, Kentucky; married Sally Pike. Pension: S30972
4. Jacob, born c1760, probably Bedford County, Virginia; died 19 March 1848, Lee County, Virginia; married Mary Price, 4 August 1786, Washington County, Virginia. Pension: SR2420
5. James, born 20 February 1762, Bedford County, Virginia; died after 4 March 1834, Washington County, Illinois; married (?). Pension: S32195
6. Job, born 29 April 1765, Bedford County, Virginia; died 12 January 1828, Lee County, Virginia; married Rebecca Smyth, 12 December 1790, Washington County, Virginia.
7. Priscilla, born c1766, Bedford County, Virginia; died after 1820; married Richard Price, 7 December 1790, Washington County, Virginia.
8. Hannah, born c1768, Bedford County, Virginia; married Edward Smyth, 7 September 1787, Washington County, Virginia.
9. Margaret, born c1770, probably Bedford County, Virginia; reportedly married John Simmons.

My husband’s line of descent:

1. William Crabtree & Hannah Whitaker
2. Abraham Crabtree & Mary (MNU)
3. Benjamin Spear & Naomi Crabtree
4. James Dulworth & Elizabeth Gwin Spear
5. Abraham Dulworth & Mary Jane Adams
6. Clayton Columbus Nation & Matilda Dulworth
7. Oscar Eldon Sturgell & Ethel Anne Nation
8. Edward Earl Stufflebean & Ruby Jewel Sturgell
9. David Lee Stufflebean!