Crawford was a barony in the Upper Ward of Clydesdale (Lanarkshire), "where the Clyde River winds down through the high moors of a marshy valley toward the Irish Sea." Clydesdale horses were bred on the farms famous for their orchards and most of the land was valuable only for its minerals of coal and lead. "There, were the sandy gravel of the Clyde formed a shallow firm bottom for the river... where the crows wheeled in the empty air over the open heather that stretched away toward the mountains, there the Crawford family began." Johannes Crawford was the lord of the fief of Crawford and the earliest ancestor of the Crawford name. In the year 1140 he took as his own name that of the lands he held as a feudal baron. John de Crauford witnessed Abbott Arnold's charter to Theobald Flamaticus of the lands on the Douglas Water about 1147. It is believed that his stepson, Baldwin de Bigir, also witnessed the charter. The name of Galfridus of Crawford is recorded around 1179, and he seems to have been a man of success. The Crawford name appears many times through this century on various charters. Reginald de Crauford, son of Sir Reginald, was parson at Strathaven in 1228.(7mi S of Hamilton.) Sir John Crawford of that Ilk(Crawford) died in 1248. His eldest daughter married Archibald of Douglas and the other daughter married David Lindsay of Wauchopedale, the ancestor of the Earls of Crawford. Sir Hugh de Crauford was a founder of Henry III of England in 1255. He held lands in Lesmahagow in 1271.(6mi SW of Lanark)
Sir James of Crawford (eldest son of David Lindsay) became eminent in the wars with England during the time of Hotspur and Bolingbroke (Henry IV). He and his brothers founded Edzell Castle. History of Edzell Castle
In 1248 Sir Archibald was made Sheriff of Ayrshire. He had a sister Margaret. She married Sir Malcolm Wallace she had a son, William who would become ScotlandŐs greatest nationalist. In 1297, Sir Archibald was murdered at a banquet by the English, in a cowardly fashion. This caused William Wallace (1274-1305) to lead the resistance for Scotland. His greatest victory was at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297 against the English.
In the time of William the Lion, 1294, Sir Reginald of Crawford was made Sheriff of Ayr. The Sheriff of Ayr, a demanding and powerful post, was one of the Offices of the Crown with administrative and financial duties. It also had responsibility for hearing appeals from Courts of Barony. Accompanied by three sons he was witness to a grant in favour of Kelso Abbey. During these times, the family developed three principle branches.
John Crawford rendered homage to the Lindsay Chief (Earl of Crawford) in 1296. He gifted land in Glengoner to the Cisterians of Newbotle (Glengonnar stream in Crawford parish).
The first branch started when a brother of Sir Archibald and Margaret obtained a grant and estate of Auchinames from Robert the Bruce in 1320. The 21st of Auchinames, Hugh Crawfurd, sold his inherited property and died in Alberta, Canada in the 1980s.
Crawfurdland is another branch and this one sprang from the SheriffŐs younger son. His lands were given to him by Robert III in 1391.
In the early 1400s Sir David, then Earl of Crawford , being trained in Angus, permanently fixed a main dwelling-place of his family the castle of Finhaven. (Gaelic or Pictish for "the white river"). David participated in the Raid on Angus. The urban dwelling of the Crawford house was situated in Dundee.(Could link to my great-grandfather)
About 1445 Alexander Lindsay became the fourth Earl of Crawford, on the death of his father. He had a thick black beard and was known as "Lord Beardie". He had a fierce temper and liked to gamble. To this day, his ghost still haunts Glamis Castle as punishment for gambling on Sunday.
The third branch comes from Sir John of Crawford whose descendants gained the estates of Kilbirnie in 1499. From this house came Thomas Crawford of Jordanhill. Being the sixth son of Lawrence of Kilburnie in 1530, the family inheritance was spreading thin and so Thomas had to make his own money. He was taken prisoner at the Battle of Pinkie (1547) but ransomed by his family and later went to France where he became a soldier in French service and courtier attendant to Mary Queen of Scots. He returned to Scotland with the queen in 1561 and after her marriage to Lord Darnley became a member of the latter's household. In 1569 he denounced certain lords as murderers of Darnley, although by that time there was little point in such a highly dangerous accusation, whether true or not, he was ignored. In 1571 Crawford captured Dumbarton Castle from Mary's supporters on behalf of the government with a force of only 150 men, who scaled the natural defenses with ropes and ladders. He also participated in the capture of Edinburgh Castle from the Queen's Lords two years later. He died in 1603.
Lawrence Crawford (1611-1645) was a fierce Presbyterian with military experience under Gustavus and Adolphus in the Thirty Years War who fought in the English Parliamentary forces against Charles I. He came into sharp conflict with Cromwell, no lover of Presbyterians, whom he accused of cowardice during the battle of Marston Moor, but the dispute was resolved by Crawford's death in a skirmish some months later.
In 1743 the Earl of Crawford was made the first colonel of the Black Watch.
A baronetcy was conffered upon Alexander Craufurd of Kilburnie in 1781. He had 3 distinguished sons. The first was Sir James Craufurd who was the British Ambassador in Germany from 1798-1803. The second Lieut-General Sir Charles Gregan-Craufurd(1761-1821) served with great courage and daring in the Netherlands in 1794. The third was Major-General Robert Craufurd(1764-1812) who commanded the Light Brigade in the Peninsula War.
Adair Crawford discovered the chemical element Strontium in 1808. Strontium is a solid that is named after the town Strontian in Scotland.
George Crawford (1810-1880) emigrated to New Zealand from Scotland. After clerking, he became a merchant. Member of the Provincial Council for Wellington City between 1861 and 1875. President of Caledonian Society and supporter of charities.
James Coutts Crawford (1817-1889) Joined the Royal Navy and received the medal of Royal Humane Society for saving life. In 1860 he was in the New Zealand Legislative Council. Made geographical survey of Wellington in 1862. He excavated the first tunnel in New Zealand. He was Magistrate and Sheriff in Wellington for 15 years.
James P.W. Crawford (1882-1939) was an American university professor and hispanist. An inspiring teacher and editor of many Spanish textbooks. Founder and Editor of Hispanic Review from 1933. From 1924-1929 acting director of modern language study conducted by America and Canada on modern languages whose reports profoundly affected language teaching.
Actual Ancestors:
Andrew Crawford(my great-grandfather) was born in Dundee in 1873. He married Sarah Riley who was born in Scotland to Irish parents. They both worked in the Jute Mills in Dundee. They had 6 girls and 4 boys. He and two of his sons, Andrew Jr. and Robert, fought with the British Imperial Regiment in WWI. Five members of the family saw active duty in WWII.
One of their sons, Lawrence Crawford (my grandfather) was born in Dundee in 1904. He moved to Canada in 1922 on the ship "Empress of Ireland II". He married Elizabeth Williamson. She was born in Armadale, Scotland in 1904. Her father, Peter, brought her to Canada as a child. They had 4 sons.
P.S. Click on the mail box to contact me. Any information would be greatly appreciated.
