Crawford Research Project Part 1: Background Information

Last year, I stumbled upon a great method to improve my genealogical research. It is the "Research Like a Pro" system, constructed by mother-daughter team Diana Elder and Nicole Dyer. You can read all about it on their website at Family Locket. They have also put together the information in a book, available in hard copy or e-book, titled Research Like A Pro: A Genealogist's Guide. This method helps me focus my efforts on a single question instead of wasting time mindlessly clicking from website to website.

I recently had a new question pop up that needs some serious attention. Using Ancestry DNA's new ThruLines feature, I identified potential parents for a brick-wall ancestor. This ancestor's name is Elizabeth Crawford Torr, my fifth great-grandmother.  She, along with her husband William Torr, came into my cross-hairs recently when I "rediscovered" my cousin Ken, a lively octogenarian who would like to learn more about this couple before, as he puts it, "it's too late."

Before I launch into my research project, I want to provide a bit of background. There is much controversy about the Torrs. Quite a bit has been written, most of it without sources. This hearsay has become gospel over the years, and I have decided to throw my hat into the ring. With sources, of course.

Ken and I met with another Torr cousin, Jane, over 20 years ago. Not too long after we worked over these lines with limited success, I wrote up my summary of my findings and conclusions. The rest of this post contains my nearly 20-year-old Progress Report, with a few updates.

Progress Report on William Torr

Purpose of report:  To clarify what is now known about William Torr and to correct some previously published errors regarding him and his family.

Questions:

1. What are the known facts about William Torr?
2. How many times was he married? What is the name of his wife (or wives)?

Introduction

The earliest record we have for William Torr is a tax record (1) from Frederick County, Virginia from 1782 under the name William Toor.  He appears on subsequent lists in 1783, 1784, 1785, 1786, and finally on a list dated 30 May 1789. I have images of the originals for each of these, but only include one here for brevity. 

1782 Tax List Frederick County, Virginia
Click to enlarge

Next is a Revolutionary War Public Service Claim.  General information about this can be found in the Library of Virginia’s online catalog.  Quoting from the website, “...in May 1780 the General Assembly passed an act authorizing the governor to impress supplies needed by the American army.  The governor appointed commissioners of the provision law in each locality to carry out the terms of the act.  The commissioner, when he impressed property, gave the owner a certificate describing what was taken.  Between 1781 and 1783 county county courts held special sessions at which certificates were presented and authenticated, and booklets listing authenticated certificates were compiled and sent to Richmond for settlement. Two commissioners appointed to settle the claims recorded those for which they authorized payment, and warrants were issued by the auditor of public accounts.”  The card catalog lists Torr, William, place of residence Frederick County.  

From the August 1783 court:
 “William Torr for Ferriage of 117 Men & 3 horses over Shanandoah River for same use.”(2)

This piece of information is useful for several reasons.  First, many (undocumented) Torr genealogies state that William Torr operated a ferry.  This public service claim bears that out.  However, some genealogies state he was on the Potomac River; I haven’t found any reference to William Torr on the Potomac.

In 2016, I discovered one further reference to William Torr. In a transcription of Frederick County, Virginia Deed Books is this entry (3): 

"MARTIN, THOMAS BRYAN (of Greenway Court in Frederick Co. VA)--14 Mar 1785, 1 Nov 1785--Lease of Property--for the annual payment for the sum of 20 pounds due each 14th Mar paid by Wm. HAND to lease a farm with all its houses, buildings, orchards, gardens, meadows, ways, paths, water course, profits, commodities, hereditaments & appurtenances, including Ferry Boat Landing, lying on the Shenandoah River in Frederick Co. VA, formerly the lease of Wm. TORR, the lease to run for 10 years, signed by T.B. Martin & Wm. "W" Hand, Wit: Edward Rogers, Samuel Sharp & John Simson, received by James Keith CC; Book 21, 108."

The transcribed deed gives some fertile ground for further research.  But sadly, the tax lists and public claims records are the only primary source materials I have found for William Torr.   Much has been stated as fact about him, his parentage, wives, and family, but these are the only primary sources to support any claims made about him.  We can say definitively that William Torr lived in Frederick County, Virginia from 1782 to 1789, and that he operated a ferry on the Shenandoah River.  The rest is inference and speculation!  However, I will try to support any further claims with as much secondary information as possible.

One Wife or Two?

Many Torr genealogies state that there were two generations of Williams: the first William was married to Mary Troxal and the second generation William was married to Elizabeth Crawford.  Another theory is that there was one William, with two wives.

It is my belief that Mary Troxal never enters into our Torr family, and that there is one William Torr, who was married to an Elizabeth whose maiden name is believed to be Crawford.

Some Troxal genealogies say Mary was married to a “Barr or Derr or Tarr”.  I believe a Torr researcher latched onto that statement, assuming it was William Torr, and linked the two families.  Hence, it is stated in some Torr genealogies that the William Torr who operated a ferry married “Mary Troxal, a Virginia girl of English parentage”.  Others cite a Mary Troxal dying in Scott County, Kentucky in 1795.  Why would she have still been referred to as “Troxal” if she had been married to a Torr?  Lastly, research into the Troxal name shows that it is actually Swiss, and spelled Trachsel and many other variants; not, as the genealogies claim, “of English parentage”.  I firmly believe that the Troxal-Torr link is not valid.

A family genealogy referred to as “The Ashby Pearce Book” (or a photocopy of it) is located at the Filson Club in Louisville, Kentucky.  Ashby Pearce was the son of Philip and Else Tarr Pearce, and this book has places to fill in information about one’s family.  It gives Aley (Else) Torr Pearce’s father as William Torr and her mother as Elizabeth Crawford. 

Aley Torr Pearce page from Ashby Pearce Book

This is the one piece of information that gives Elizabeth’s maiden name.  There has been no other record located thus far.  This record also states under “No. Br’s & Sisters:  Three sisters 4 brothers”.  It is not known if this tally includes Aley/Else or not.  My research shows only seven total children of William and Elizabeth.

The first primary evidence I found regarding Elizabeth Crawford Torr was the 2 Nov 1807 marriage bond of his daughter Else Tarr and Philip Pearce in Shelby County, Kentucky.  This is evidence that William Torr was not alive in 1807, and that he had a wife named Elizabeth.

“Sir:  you have my consent to Issue Licance of marrage between my Daughter Else and Philip pierce. my Daughter is of full ages and her father is dead.  I am Sir yours, Elisabeth (her X mark) Tarr” (4)

Else Tarr was born in 1787.  That means that William and Elizabeth were married by 1787, providing further evidence against the idea of a first wife named Mary Troxal who died in 1795.  

Summary:  It is my belief that there was only one generation of William Torr, and he only had one wife, named Elizabeth Crawford.  There is no Troxal connection to the Torr line.

Elizabeth Crawford Torr

Elizabeth Crawford Torr was probably born by 1752 This is based on the fact of her oldest son John Tarr’s estimated birth in 1773, and her being at least 21 at this event. 

A search of Kentucky’s tax lists revealed further information about this Torr family.  Kentucky became a state in 1792.  The first tax list from Fayette County dated 29 Oct 1792 lists Elizabeth Tar.  This is significant.  For Elizabeth to be enumerated on the tax lists, her husband was not alive.  Now, we can move the date of William Torr’s death from 1807 back 15 years to before 29 Oct 1792.

Fayette County, Kentucky 1792 Tax List for Elizabeth Tar

Next, in 1793 (no day or month), Elizabeth Tore is on the Fayette County tax list with two white males over 16.  These are her two oldest sons, John and William.

In 1794, Elizabeth is not on the tax rolls.  However, her oldest son John appears for the first time on 17 Jun 1794 in Fayette County with one white male over 21.  This is most likely the year he turned 21, putting his birth around 1773.

Elizabeth continues to appear in the Fayette County tax rolls in 1795, 1796, and 1797.  There is no roll extant for 1798.  After this, her son John appears in the Shelby County lists from 1799 to 1809.  The only further record for Elizabeth is the previously mentioned bond for her daughter Else’s marriage in 1807. 

One further note: some erroneous genealogies give Elizabeth Crawford’s parents as George Crawford and Nancy Winters.  The marriage record for this couple can be found in Augusta County, Virginia; they were married on 22 Jun 1789!  They are obviously not the parents of Elizabeth.  This needs to be corrected.

Summary:  William Torr was born by est. 1752 based on his wife and children's ages (though possibly much earlier), and died sometime between 30 May 1789 and 29 Oct 1792, from tax records. Elizabeth Crawford was born est. 1752.  She married William Torr probably around 1772 (prior to the birth of their son John in 1773).  She was widowed by 29 Oct 1792, and lived in Fayette County, Kentucky from that time until 1797.  She mostly likely moved with her family at that time to Shelby County, Kentucky, where the last record she left was her permission for her daughter to marry Philip Pearce in November 1807.  No record of her death has been found.

 _______________

  

Sources

1. Frederick County, Virginia Tax Rolls, Frederick County, Virginia, unnumbered, Personal Property Tax Lists, 1782-1802, film #7842567, 1782, Virginia State Library, Richmond Virginia. microfilm available at FamilySearch.
2. Microfilm; Public Service Claims.  Court Booklets and Lists (reels 1-4) arranged by county, p. 5 and 36.  Also Commissioner’s Books, II, p. 214. 
3. Buck D. A., Abstractor and Compiler, Frederick County, Virginia Deed Books 21-26.
4. Shelby County, Kentucky marriage bonds, located at the county courthouse.

52.10: Strong Woman; Haney Mozingo McKinney

This post is part of a project called "52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks" created by Amy Johnson Crow.

I have a confession: I don't keep a research log.

I can tell you in general where I went, probably the decade I went there. If I photocopied something (pre-digital days), I tried to write the name of the book on the copy. 

So, the actual day I first met Haney McKinney is lost to history. I was with my cousin Jane; we traveled to Frankfort, Kentucky, to the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. Probably in the early 2000s. I think we went with the intention of researching our shared line, the Tarrs/Torrs.  We happened upon an index reference to some court cases involving that name, and requested to see them. Little did we know the treasure trove heading our way.

Jane and I share as common ancestors John Tarr and Hannah McKinney. The Tarrs, also found as Torr and Toor, are shrouded in genealogical mystery. As for Hannah, we didn't really know anything about her before her marriage to John which took place in Shelby County, Kentucky on October 19, 1804. We weren't particularly focused on her line.

The court case files brought to us were in archival boxes, the cases separated into folders. The folders we opened that day were of our ancestor, John Tarr, suing someone named Haney McKinney, and of Haney McKinney's countersuit. It turned out Haney McKinney was his mother-in-law, and they were scrapping over the estate of her son John McKinney.

As part of the case, Haney was awarded a dedimus by the court. I had never seen that word before. According to Merriam-Webster, it means a writ to commission a private person to perform some act in place of a judge (as to examine a witness).

Leaving her home in Shelby County, Kentucky, Haney McKinney traveled to Culpeper County, Virginia, a distance of over 500 miles. On March 25, 1806, she gathered testimony from several people at the tavern of Burtis Ringo. It is through these testimonies I learned about Haney's early life. I know of no other source for these stories. I'll let them speak for themselves, interjecting occasionally to clarify. The spellings are left intact.

"The following depositions was taken at the house of Burtice Ringo in the Town of Woodville in the County of Culpeper this 25th day of March 1806. To be read into evidence in a sute now depending in the Shelby Circute Court wherein Haney McKenney is plantiff and John Tarr Defendant in pursuance of the Anexed Commission and Notice."

The first testimony came from Haney's brother, John Mozingo.

"John Mosingo aged forty two years being duly sworn before us Daniel Brown & James Green Jnr. Two of the Justices of the peace for the county of Culpeper in the State of Virginia, deposeth and sayeth that about twenty two years ago John McKenny and Hany McKenny (who were then man and wife) did about that time part and as I understood by mutual consent and did also divide what property they then had by concent also and that after about Twelve months from the time of this parting the said Jno. McKenny left this part of the country and as I understood went to Greenbrier County. I have since understood that he and a woman which went off with him died. I further know that the property which the said Hany McKenny had out of the Estate of the said Jno McKinny was very little and that she had debts to pay which the said John McKenny had created and that she had very little left after paying them, and further this deponent sayeth not.

1st question by the plaintiff:
Do you not know that Hanie McKenny’s Father became security for her in the year that she parted with her husband for the purchase of corn.

Answer: I know he did

And further this deponent sayeth not.
John Mosingo    his  X   mark"

The next witness was Nancy Mozingo, married to Haney's brother Charles.

"Nancy Mosingo alias Williamson aged forty two years being duly sworn before us Daniel Brown and James Green Jr. Two of the Justices of the peace for the county of Culpeper in the State of Virginia. This deponent deposeth and sayeth I lived with John McKenny and Hany his wife at the time they parted and that they did by mutual concent part and divide their property and that the property which was left for the said Hany McKinny was three cows three yearlings and one calf. Two Hogs and one pig and  few articles in the house which in all were not in my opinion worth more than twenty shillings out of which property she was to pay the debts due by the said John McKinny, which were as follows Five pounds to Elijah Chich, Twenty six shillings to William Brodley which she had the cost of a petion to pay ____ Boon Between three and four pounds beside several other small debts for which she was warranted and had to pay, and further this deponent sayeth not.

Nancy Mosingo   her X Mark Alias Williamson"

Haney's brother George Mozingo testified:

"George Mosingo aged forty six years being duly sworn before us Daniel Brown and James Green Jr. two of the Justices of the peace for the county of Culpeper in the State of Virginia. This deponent sayeth that Haney McKenny had very little property left her at the time of her parting with her husband I know she had no horse kind nor do I believe she had a bed. She had some stock of cattle and hogs and to very little amount. I further know that she had several debts to pay which John McKenney her husband had contracted and that some of the property left with her was taken to satisfy one of them. I further know he left her little or no corn and that she was assisted by myself and others with that article on account of her distressed situation. I further know that by her Industry and care she acquired property to considerable amount before she left this country and further this deponent sayeth not.

George Mosingo  his  X   mark"

There are some other depositions, but they all agree with those given here. Haney Mozingo was married to John McKinney, I estimate around 1777. They had five children that I know of when they agreed to separate in 1784, most likely all under the age of six or seven. Although the testimonies say they split their possessions, it sounds as though Haney was left with the debts. She didn't have enough money left to buy corn to plant the next year's crop. Through a loan from her father, and help from her brothers and others, she was able to get through that year.

Haney Mozingo McKinney never remarried. She raised her children, moving from Culpeper County, Virginia to Shelby County, Kentucky around 1800. 

In the lawsuit that started all this discovery, Haney's son John McKinney had died, and her son-in-law John Tarr was settling his estate. Haney said one of the horses listed as inventory was hers, John Tarr disagreed. She was willing to put up quite a ruckus to get this horse back, and through that I learned a lot about her.

I have collected several other documents and sources for Haney McKinney over the years. I'll close with her final one, an indenture that reads like a will:

"This indenture made this 4th day of October 1819 between Haney McKinney of the County of Shelby State of Kentucky of the one part & John Skelton of the same County of the other part witnesseth that the said Haney for & in consideration of the sum of one Dollar to her in hand paid for & in consideration of  the natural love & affection which she hath doth bond to her grandson John Skelton hath granted bargained & sold & by these presents doth convey unto the said John & his heirs forever the following property to wit: Bena & Rose two negro girls together with all my house hold furniture & stock of every Discription & all & every species of Property belonging to me. & it is to be understood that said John Skelton is to give at my death to Charles Weathers the above named negro girl Rose or $300 in cash which ever the said John Skelton may choose. To have & to hold the said negroes & Other property to him the said John Skelton & His heirs & the said Haney McKinney for herself & her heirs hereby agrees to warrant & Defend said property against herself & her heirs & against the claim of all other persons whatever. If said John should die without lawfull Issue the said property is to Decend to Wilmoth Weathers heirs In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal the date above. Test Geo W. Johnston
                                                                                Haney McKinney {seal}"

This came from the Shelby County, Kentucky Deed Book Q, p. 168. 

Haney Mozingo McKinney led a hardscrabble life. Based on the number of lawsuits she filed, I'm not sure she was the most pleasant of people, but she was one strong woman I am certainly glad to claim as my ancestor.