William Crosthwait (Immigrant)

M, #396, b. circa 1695, d. September 1743
Father*Timothy?? (__________)
ChartsPedigree - Alma Pearl Rippeto
Reference6G Grf+, 396+
Birth*circa 1695 William Crosthwait (Immigrant) was born circa 1695 at Keswick, Cumberland, England, "a legend in several branches of his descendants says that 'he is the one who came to the colonies from England' Background info on Keswick England starts on pg 137.1 
Note* One branch of William's descendants says that his wife's name was Sarah. Some claim that she was a Chew and a sister to Thomas Chew who lived near William and Sarah. Thomas' father, Larkin Chew left a will and he did not name a daughter Sarah. If Sarah was a Chew, she would have been the great granddaughter of the 1622 Calvert Co MD immigrant, John Chew, and only a granddaughter of one of his three sons of whom nothing is known of their descendants. The descendants of the other two sons are known and Sarah is not one of them.
     Need to follow up on the IGI entry for Wm C & Sarah Chew to find out the source for that erroneous info.
     Frank and Carol Crosswhite [crosswhite@theriver.com] stated in a March 1999 message to the CROSTHWAITE list on Rootsweb: " Old genealogies guessed that William married "Sarah Chew" and guessed that he was born 1690, 1692 or 1695 and supposed that it must have been in the vicinity of Keswick because of Crosthwaite Church being there. Early Crosthwaite genealogists in America didn't realized that Crosthwaites had moved to other parts of England aside from Keswick. The fictitious "Sarah Chew" came about because descendants of Abraham Crosthwait/Croswhit, among them the sisters who originally published the Crosthwaite Chronicle, claimed that Thomas Chew of Orange County, Virginia was an uncle of Abraham. Legal records in Orange County, Virginia showed William's wife to be named Sarah. Thus, a mythical "Sarah Chew" came about who was supposed to be sister of Thomas. Actually it was Thomas's father who was first cousin to Hannah's father, but Hannah had died after Abraham and Isaac were born and William had remarried to Sarah Metcalf by whom he had daughter Sarah and son Jacob. The LDS genealogy record system became flooded with mythical records of William Crosthwait being born in Keswick, England and marrying Sarah Chew. It was only human nature to want to fill in the place of birth of Wiliam and the name of his wife on peidgree charts.2
 
Note Georgia Crosswait says: Through the efforts of a number of different individuals over a period of years many records have been found, but undoubtedly there are many more in the county courthouses of Virginia still awaiting discovery. The records of Orange County have been worked most thoroughly. Those of Spotsylvania County have been covered only as they are published in Crozier's Spotsylvania County Records. Culpeper and Albemarle surely still contain many records yet uncovered. Augusta has hardly been touched, and the records of Washington County are completely unexplored.3 
Note Names of children are accurate but they may have been all one mother. There may be a mixing of another Wm in Philadelphia. Names of the children living in 1756 are found in son Timothy's will in the following order: Timothy, oldest son (but not necessarily oldest child); William, next eldest son, as will be proven by records; Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sarah "spouse of John Thomson", and Elizabeth "spouse of Jacob Medley". The order isn't known by court records, but facts are deductible.4 
Note* Proof he's not Peruke-maker William - A record in the Pennsylvania Magazine, Volume 32, page 88, reveals that one William Crosthwait, a peruke-maker in Philadelphia, had a boy indentured to him as an apprentice on 25 Jun 1746. Our William had died 3 years earlier.
     It is interesting to wonder who William the peruke-maker was. Did their having not only the same uncommon surname, but also the same first name indicate that they were related to each other? First cousins named for a common grandfather? Imagining a possible blood relationship between these two William Crosthwaits is pur speculation.5 
Note Proof he's not Library William. "The Library Company of Philadelphia", first of its kind in the colonies, was started in 1731 by Benjamin Franklin and friends. A William Crosthwait became a member on 8 Oct 1739. The librarian of the Ridgeway Branch of the Philadelphia Public Library, the branch that is the "descendant" of Franklin's library company, stated in a letter to this writer [Georgia Crosswait] that in the Minutes of 8 Oct 1739, the directors who met that evening agreed to an application by Wm. Crosthwait to "subscribe to the Company's deed of Copartnership and Constitution" by buying the share of a man leaving the company. It is extremely unlikely that someone living in VA would have bought into a library so far away in PA.
     The peruke-maker and the library subscriber were the same person.5
 
Note Suggestion made by M E Woods: Wm the peruke maker signed his will, and the Wm of Philadelphia witnessed the deed of Jacob Medcalf of Gloucester Co NJ. Compare signatures and if they were by two different men, then the witness for Jacob Medcalf could have been the one who went to VA a year later. 
Note A Thomas Bull's will (Gloucester C NJ) is witnessed by Edward Crossthwaite 13 Oct 1722). There was also a Charles in the area. M E Wood says that Edward appears to have lived for a time in Philadelphia, but his name and that of Charles disappeared from both Pennsylvania and NJ records, and it is possible that Edward, Charles, and our William were related and all went south together.5 
Note A William Croswhit was named in the will of Abraham Bickley of Burlington West Jersey as and heir of son Abraham's grandfather Richardson. Signed 13 Oct 1723, proved 28 Mar 1726, Will book D page 446 - per Philadelphia will abstracts book 1 pg 484+. Check out this NJ - Richardson - Bickley relationship.5 
Note Linda Soros corresp has source that need to be checked to find out where she got marriages to 1) Elsa Richardson (ca 1720 prior to coming to America in 1721) with Elsa dying 1725 Philadelphia. 2) Hannah Ward who is already proven to be wife of different William, 3) Sarah Metcalf in 1729 NJ.
     She also has that in 1721 he bought land in Philadelphia with money from sale of his ship. Which Wim is this?
     The sources that need to be checked and that do not specify what "fact" goes with what source, are:
Daughters of the American Colonists Lineage book page 76
Early American Series - Early VA by Ron Jackson 975.5 J13c volume 1 pages 125-126
They Went Thataway by Charles Hamlin 975.5 H223 page 59 - Spotsylvania Deed Book B pg 126 & Deed Book C
Virginia Frontier - The Beginning of the Southwest, The Roanoke Colonial Days by F B Kegley pg 64 & 72
Correspondence with Pauline seward, Crosswinds farm, Hydro OK.6
 
Marriage* He married (__________) (__________). 
Residence*  An unknown date From PA to VA 1731-32. 
Land1732 "This William Crosthwait's name appears as a witness to a deed (Spts. Co. Deed Book B), and as witness to a will in March 1733 (Spts. Co. Will Book A). He had come to the Colony of Virginia from the Colony of Pennsylvania. This fact is stated in a line of the deed by which he purchased his first land [100 acres]: '...William Crosthwait, late of the province of Pensilvania...' (Spts. Co. Deed Book B, pp. 430-432, Aug. 8, 1733). This deed tells that the land was that 'wheron said Crosthwait now lives,' and that he paid 50 pounds current money for it. The family lived on this tract of land many years, until it was sold in 1755 by William's son, Timothy."7 
NoteMay 1734 May 1734 Orange Co VA formed from Spotsylvania Co. William served on the first jury impaneled in the new Orange County, according to W.W. Scott's History of Orange County, page 31.
     Joyner says: The first jury impaneled in the new county met at the August term, 1734. Included on the jury were: ... William Crosthwait... The jury tried an assault case...7,8 
Land*May 1734 William Crosthwait (Immigrant) was involved in a land transaction in May 1734 at Orange Co., Virginia, William received a patent grant of land from the Crown, number of acres not known as yet. This land was north of the Rapidan River, then in Orange but after 1748 in Culpeper.7 
Note1736 He ...the court also dealt with many problems which seem to be religious in nature. It was concerned that the six year old child of William Crosthwait had not been properly baptized... [That child would be Jacob, based on his birth date] in 1736 at Orange Co., Virginia.9 
Land24 April 1738 He was involved in a land transaction on 24 April 1738 at Spotsylvania Co., Virginia, William gained more land by purchase also. He bought 115 acres back in Spotsylvania Co. from Anthony Gholston (Spts. Co. Deed Book C, pp 269-272). This land belonged to the family until Timothy bequeathed it to his brother William in 1756.7 
Occupation*1741 He was William Crosthwait operated a tavern or "ordinary" ... first granted a license by the Orange County Court (Orange Order Book 3 page 62) in 1741 at Orange Co., Virginia.10 
Land He was involved in a land transaction Before he sold the 400 acres in 1742, William received another patent grant. The new grant was further west, somewhere in the vicinity of the Blue Ridge - still in Orange Co then, but in Augusta after 1745. The extent of this grant may be estimated from the following three records.
     In Chalkley's Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia, a deed recorded in Augusta Co Deed Book 1, p. 39, was extracted: On 27 May 27 1746, Timothy Crosthwaite (spelled that way) of Orange Co. to James Patton, 400 acres in the Fork of the James River, granted by patent to Wm. Crosthwaite, deceased on 12 Feb 1742, and now in possession of Timothy, oldest son and heir of William...
     Either this second grant was quite large or William received still other grants not yet discovered. Evidence for this assertion is found in two later sales (also found in Chalkley's book) made by Timothy of his father's land: 1) On 15 Nov 1752, Timothy sold 400 acres on Cub Run to George Zinnerman; and 20 On 29 Jul 1754, Timothy sold 400 acres on "Elk Run of Shanando" to Jeremiah Early.
     From these records it can be seen that William owned the land just above mentioned, the undertermined amount north of the Rapidan River, plus the two purchased tracts of 100 and 115 acres each, at the time of his death in 1743. Although the total amount cannot be stated exactly, it had to be more than 1500 acres.7 
Land24 March 1742  On 24 March 1742 at Orange Co., Virginia, The patent grant of land north of the Rapidan River may not have been desirable as a homestead. At any rate, William apparently never lived on it, and sold 400 acres [in St Thomas Parish] to Edward Franklin for 50 £ current money (Orange Co Deed book 7, pp 150-155), "the same being a patent granted to said Crosthwait bearing date the 25th of May, 1734". Judging by the fact that Timothy, who inherited all his father's lands, bequeathed his "lands in Culpeper County" (number of acres not stated) to his brother William in 1756, the patent grant contained more than the 400 acres sold in 1742.7,11 
Note1743 1743 Frederick Co VA formed from Orange Co. 
Death*September 1743 He died in September 1743 at Orange Co., Virginia, The exact date is not found in records, but possibly in September. The recording of his son Timothy's bond, made to administer the father's estate, was dated 22 Sep 1743. Hence the assumption that William died in that month. However, he could have died earlier, with September being the month the next court was held for Orange County.
     Evidence for suspecting sudden death is found in the fact that Timothy paid a fee for a coroner's inquest into the circumstances of his father's death. [KRB - Another source, can't remember what, said killed in Cumberland Mtns. Find that source and ck further. One of Timothy's expenses was "to expenses arising from the time of my father's death in travelling burying... Where did Timothy travel to bury his father? Or did William die away from home?]12 
Note1745 1745 Augusta Co VA formed. 
Note1748 1748 Culpeper Co Va was formed. This county had a direct effect on the affairs of the Crosthwait family. 
Probate*1754 His estate was probated in 1754 at Orange Co., Virginia; Chronicle article says: In 1754, son Timothy's account of his administration of Wm's movable estate was recorded in court (Will book 2, pge 195+). What does this year signify? No answer can be given - only speculation based on other known facts. Perhaps the youngest of the brothers or sisters had come of legal age in 1754 and since all the land belonged to Timothy by law of primogeniture, wanted his or her share of the movable estate their father left. Or perhaps Timothy's administration after the death of their father was challenged by someone. More likely, 1754 could have been the year William II married. It was also the year the last holding in Augusta was sold, and there might be some connection. at any rate, the Orange County Court ordered an examination of the account kept by Timothy.
     There is a lot of information regarding the estate in the article, so it should be consulted for detail about this estate. It does mention that the first credit side of the account begins in October 1743, which is shortly after William died.
     Part of his estate can be found on SLC 0033000 Orange Co Will Book 1 pages 311+ & 413+ (Evd 31.)13 

Family

(__________) (__________)
Marriage* He married (__________) (__________). 
Children
Last Edited1 Apr 2011

Citations

  1. [S182] Crosthwaite Chronicle #'s 1-5 Oct 1957+, reprinted June 1961+ and bound, available at Los Angeles Public Library., Copy provide by Elizabeth Crosthwaite of Weatherford TX (1974) in memory of her sister Georgia Evd #182, pg 15.
  2. [S16] The Missouri Crosthwaits - Crosswhites - Croswhites And Their Descendants: A Study of the Ancestry and Posterity of William Crosthwait, A Virginia Colonist of the Eighteen Century from about 1695 to 1981, via Surber Vance Evd #16, page 8.
  3. [S182] Crosthwaite Chronicle #'s 1-5 Oct 1957+, reprinted June 1961+ and bound, available at Los Angeles Public Library., Copy provide by Elizabeth Crosthwaite of Weatherford TX (1974) in memory of her sister Georgia Evd #182, page 11.
  4. [S182] Crosthwaite Chronicle #'s 1-5 Oct 1957+, reprinted June 1961+ and bound, available at Los Angeles Public Library., Copy provide by Elizabeth Crosthwaite of Weatherford TX (1974) in memory of her sister Georgia Evd #182, page 14.
  5. [S268] PA Genealogical Society family names folder "Crosstwait, Phila, PA". Correspondance primarily between Mame Ellison Wood (Philadelphia) and Miriam P (Mrs Frank) Jennings (Jacksonvile FL) of the Florida Society Colonial Dames Evd #268.
  6. [S290] Correspondence with Linda Soros (801)-544-7462 Evd #290.
  7. [S182] Crosthwaite Chronicle #'s 1-5 Oct 1957+, reprinted June 1961+ and bound, available at Los Angeles Public Library., Copy provide by Elizabeth Crosthwaite of Weatherford TX (1974) in memory of her sister Georgia Evd #182, page 12.
  8. [S40] The First Settlers of Orange County Virginia, Ulysses P Joyner Jr Evd #40, page 133.
  9. [S40] The First Settlers of Orange County Virginia, Ulysses P Joyner Jr Evd #40, page 153.
  10. [S40] The First Settlers of Orange County Virginia, Ulysses P Joyner Jr Evd #40, page 114.
  11. [S41] Orange County Virginia Deed Books 5, 6, 7, and 8, 1841-1743, Abstracted & compiled by John Frederick Dorman Evd #41.
  12. [S182] Crosthwaite Chronicle #'s 1-5 Oct 1957+, reprinted June 1961+ and bound, available at Los Angeles Public Library., Copy provide by Elizabeth Crosthwaite of Weatherford TX (1974) in memory of her sister Georgia Evd #182, page 13.
  13. [S182] Crosthwaite Chronicle #'s 1-5 Oct 1957+, reprinted June 1961+ and bound, available at Los Angeles Public Library., Copy provide by Elizabeth Crosthwaite of Weatherford TX (1974) in memory of her sister Georgia Evd #182, page 69.