Monday, January 27, 2020

Andrew Crockett - Pt 1

Andrew Crockett was born about 1725. The name of his father is not certain, suggestions have been Robert, Alexander, James, William and more.  Records suggest his mother was Martha and that he had two brothers and three sisters, all of whom resided in the area around Cumberland County, Pennsylvania as adults.

By 1743 the Penns would no longer sell land to Scotch Irish in Lancaster, Lebanon, Dauphin, York and Adams counties.  However, they made generous offers of land in the Cumberland Valley. In 1731 there were only 400 families in this area but the numbers increased sharply up to the Revolution when the area was 90% Scotch Irish.

Andrew was taxed in Allen Township, Cumberland County.  In 1752 there is an Andrew taxed on 100 acres, 2 horses, three cows and a sheep.  Andrew would have been 27 that year and was not married so it is possible that he was not a head of household and that listing is for another Andrew in the area.
Records suggest that there was an older generation with similar names to his family.


But it does seem likely that the 1769 listing is for our Andrew, and the listing is similar showing 100 acres, 87 with value, 2 horses and two cows


In 1770 Andrews land was surveyed and recorded.  It consisted of 102 acres and adjoined the land of his brother George.  It seems likely that this is the same land that he was taxed on in 1769 and perhaps even the same as 1752.  As his mother is listed in that tax list, it is possible that his father was deceased and his lands split among his family.

On 9 Sep 1785 Andrew recorded another 81 acres received by warrant, most likely an award for his war service.  This land was adjacent to his original 102 acres.

A description of Andrew's lands, known as Dalebrook and Springfield, was found in a sale advertisement after his death.

 " A tract of patented limestone, containing 190 acres, and allowance, situate on Yellow Breeches Creek, within 5 miles of the borough of Carlisle, adjoining Mr. Michael Ege's Iron Works.  On said premises are a log house and barn, a bearing orchard, a never failing spring of water, within a few perches of the door, about 80 or 90 acres of upland and about 7 acres of Meadow ground clear and under good fence, and the remainder of the land is well timbered."

The land was sold to David Magowen, the husband of Andrew's daughter Elizabeth, for eleven hundred pounds lawful money of Pennsylvania on the 2nd of Sep 1799.