Family History
My father left me family charts and emails that gave me a place to start. Here I’m following the people behind those names, the places they lived, and the records they left behind. If you’re tracing a Crow or Crowe branch, I hope these stories give you a lead to follow.
Sgt. Benjamin Crow
Darlene Chaffin Law wrote an account of her ancestor Sgt. Benjamin Crow that follows his family from Delaware and Virginia through Tennessee, Missouri, and Arkansas. Along the way, she draws on land records, tax lists, and correspondence about his application for a Revolutionary War pension. Her account is a place to start if you want to follow the family’s moves or look up the records yourself.
Crow and Crowe families on the Isle of Man
My friend Nigel G. Crowe helped me with my early research. His preserved Manx Roots site is a starting point for following families on the island. I’m also tracing the Crows who served as vicars, rectors, and other clergy, and looking for records that connect them across generations.
Stories behind the names
A familiar surname can give me a lead. I look for a record that ties that name to a particular person, place, or family. DNA gives me another way to test a connection when the names and dates on paper leave a question open.