Some of this you have, but much you do not; you have done so much work in Tennessee and the line-since...this will fill you in more completely Tennessee-back.
We are Danes. The ancient family name in Old Scandinavian appears to have been Krök, meaning "barbed spear" and/or fishing trident. Eventually in the Germanic/Teutonic countries the double-dots became a double-"o", and today there many listed in the Copenhagen telephone book as Krook; in Malmo, Sweden, across-the-way there are presently 10 listings of Krook; in Germany, there is Krook, Kroock, and Krok (no dots); in the Netherlands you have Krook and Van der Krook.
In Viking days, the Swedes operated to the east and down the Russian rivers to the Black Sea and beyond as their raiding area; the Norse had the Shetland Islands, the Faroes, the north and west coast of Scotland, and the Irish Sea as their routes to plunder and settle Ireland and the Isle of Man…they also spewed west to Iceland, Ireland, and America; the Danes used the North Sea and English Channel route to harry and conquer the continental coast and east England...earliest settlements in SE England late 500's A.D.
Our Danes went up the mouths of rivers all along the coasts they raided; here is where they settled within 50-100 miles of the coast. Our Rollo (or Rolf") and his crew took Normandy in 896 A.D.; since the King of the Franks couldn't run him off, he made him Duke of Normandy…and mixing with the Franks and absorbing their Roman-derived culture, our people became "Normans".
As they moved into the Latin-influenced cultural arena, there were problems in spelling a name with two "k's" in an alphabet that had no such. As we move down from Germanic Netherlands, it is interesting to find the names and crests quite familiar, but often interestingly adapted: in Belgian Flanders, it is Crook just as we; below, along the present French coast it is Croocq, Croq, le Croque, etc.; it is obvious what they are attempting to write!
As "Normans" we came to England in 1066 A.D. My friend, George Finlay Crook of present-day Edinburgh, explained to me with no hesitation: "We are Normans. The ones who fell-out with William the Conqueror came north to Scotland in 1086 and settled along the east coast from Edinburgh north through Ayrshire." But they didn't all fall-out with William...in the Domesday Book one is listed as a landholder in "Hanks" (Hamptonshire...today "Southampton") in SW England; some went to Cornwall and Wales in SW England; a number settled...or later re-concentrated as modern England developed... around London and west towards and around Oxford; there was early a concentration in N England in Westmoreland, Northumberland, and York Cos.--town of Crook today in Durham Co., just below Northumberland; and present town of Crookstown In County Cork of SW Ireland...which in Cromwell's day was known as "Crook", with nearby "Hook"... whence came the famous expression that "by Hook or by Crook" he would take a certain fortress.
England had already experienced the mixing of Teutonic & Latin cultures when the Normans arrived. Many Danes and Saxons had settled since the 500's and 600's A.D. Plus St. Augustine, etc., and medivia1 writers such as "The Venerable Bead" were Saxon monks, so the language-alphabet problem had already been blended...and amended...England had a "k" available, although reduced in usage. (Interestingly, it is nothing but the Scandinavians' Runic symbol adapted directly.) History doesn't dwell on the actual fact that at the Battle of Hastings, Harold..."King of the Saxons"...was a Dane of the earlier period of settlement; while Willlam..."Duke of Normandy"...was another Dane of the later period of settlement!
Anyhow, in the early English records of the 1200's, 1300's, and 1400's the name is spelled variously Croc, Crok, Croke, Crokes, de Cruk, Crukes, etc. All carrying-over the continental background, and foreshadowing the eventual evolution into Crook, Crooks, Crooke, Crookes of the l600's-on.
No Kings/Dukes/Earls...but lots of Knights, Baronets, Squires, landed-gentry with manor-houses...all the way. Warriors and land-holders, no grubbing peasant-line! For example, the Sir John Croke/Crooke (recorded both ways in English records) of 1553-1619 of the line of Studley Priory in Oxfordshire & Chilton House in Buckinghamshire, was an MP from Windsor from 1585-on; appointed Recorder of London from 1595 to 1603; was Speaker of Parliament 1601-1603; knighted 1603 by ELIZABETH for same; served as Judge of King's Bench until death in 1619.
From 1630-1670 there were many reasons for Englishmen to give-up and come-away to the New World. Despite the earlier persecution of the Puritans by the Anglican Church...which drove the Pilgrims first to Holland and thence to Plymouth Colony in 1620... the real pressures built-up on the favored Royalists & Anglicans in the 1630-1645 period. After Cromwell achieved power, persecution and confiscation of estates reached a peak 1640-1660. In turn, the "Restoration" in 1665 caused a counter-persecution & confiscation. It is my opinion that this is the "period" we came to America...for well-founded reasons and various timings.
The James river was the most important geographical feature of early-day Virginia from the founding of Jamestown on. Later the Potomac became important, but things everafter reckoned as "northside" and "southside" were N. or S. of the James. It is my impression that most of the people in America named Crook of early derivation arrived in Virginia and spread elsewhere. A definite exception are the New England families, which apparently include a 1600's ancestor and also a second immigrant ancestor arriving 1720. It also seems probable that there was a separate ancestor for the early Crook people of coastal and tidewater South Carolina; but the central and Piedmont S.C. Crooks are definitely Virginia-derived. Even the New York concentration is largely due to the Virginia John Crook and his brother who left after Bacon's Rebellion and are prominent in New York records from 1680-on as merchants-importer and connected with building Trinity Church and ownership present-day Wall Street as a farm.
New Jersey and Connecticut people easily spread from New York. Likewise the Crooks of Maryland and southern Pennsylvania come from the "northside" Va. families.
At a later date one cannot be nearly so positive, of course but in general: the New Englanders moved through the Midwest, with concentration in Wisconsin, thence to Washington-Oregon-California...the "northside" Virginans/Marylands/Pennsylvanias went to Kentucky & Ohio, thence to Missouri-Arkansas-Illinois...the "southside" Virginians/North & South Carolinians went to Tennessee, thence many to Texas (although as you are especially aware, your line also took care of Nebraska & Colorado!)...and the South Carolinians almost alone took care of Georgia & Alabama, thence with a strong mix from the Tennessee folks on into Mississippi, and thus combined many also on into Texas. Remember that until the Civil War, West Virginia was part of "northside" Virginia all-along.
North Carolina was almost solely populated from "southside" Virginia, as was central and Piedmont South Carolina.
Point is, your particular line of Crook...and all the ones I am concerned with...stems from "southside" all the way, hence a local knowledge of same and the tracing of such events on the map shows the progression of the frontier and the way our people followed it.
Elizabeth City Co., Va., no longer exists; but it was where the present independent metropolitan cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth now lie...on the south side of the mouth of James River, if you please! The estuary known as the Elizabeth River and its forks ...still carrying the early 1600 names...constitute the present port and harbor facilities of Norfolk. Jamestown was poor site, too far upriver and in a swamp; by 1620-22 four more settlements were opened more accessible to the river mouth, three of which...including Elizabeth City...were on the south aide.
The progression of "southside" county formation is necessary to know to prevent misinterpretation of records. Charles City Co. was one of the origina1 seven in organizing the Virginia Colony. Its present-day remnant was the first-settled portion, north of James River and immediately upstream from Jamestown; but until 1703 it also included ALL of south-central Virginia to the North Carolina line...and all the "action" and places named in our key records from 1660-on as being "Charles City Co." are actually south of the river in what is today's Prince George Co.
Then in 1703, everything south of the river was split-off as Prince George Co., and these are our records when preserved. Yet from 1712-on the action and frontier was shifting south and southwest and the "Prince George Co." records of things and places are in today's Dinwiddie/Brunswick/Amelia/Lunenburg/Halifax, etc., Cos.
Brunswick Co. was split-off from Prince George in 1720, but was so sparsely settled that it did not keep records or really function until 1732, Lunenburg Co. was created from Brunswick in 1746; Halifax Co. from Lunenburg in 1752; and Mecklenburg Co. from Lunenburg in 1765. Dinwiddie Co. came from Prince George in 1763; and Amelia Co. about then or before.
Until such dates, events transpiring in these places will be in the records of the "parent" county...or parish.
Same is true, of course, in the sequences for North Carolina and Tennessee of your particular interest. While all the items I will furnish of your John Crook Sr. family are "Rowan Co., N.C.,"…the actual location is the southern end of present Davidson Co., after its split-off. Likewise the John Crook Sr. family 's graves in Tennessee...of multiple "White Co." records...lie in present-day Putnam Co., and some of John Crook Jr.'s land for cattle-raising was on Cumberland Mt. in present Cumberland Co.
Finally, the records are spottily-preserved, especially in some of our key-interest areas. In many cases, so early, I suppose we are lucky to have what we do. Anywhere in Virginia, prior to 1690, is "finder's luck"; there are scanty records of arrivals, and as you will see a "freak" preservation of about five years of Charles City Co. records ca. 1660-1665. After that, we do better, but even so we are handicapped by Prince George Co. parish records being available only from ca. 1719-1735...odds-and-ends thereafter. So vital to us, ALL Dinwiddie Co. records were destroyed in the Civil War; there is a "freak" preservation of the 1783 Tax List (no Crook. listed anymore!), and then records from 1867-on. And none of the counties seemed to keep any records during the Revolutionary War 1775-1782...when our people seem to have been quite volatile in their movements and doings, for obvious reasons...too busy and disrupted by the War and the break-down of the old system, and a temporary shortage of imported paper.
And the fires in Washington, 1812-British & otherwise, have played hob with the Georgia & Tennessee census records pre-1820...to say nothing of the Civil afar courthouse/church burnings that wiped out all records in many areas besides Virginia.
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From the Port of London records as of 6 June 1635: (sic) "Theis under written names are to be transported to Virginea, imbarqued in the Thomas and John, RICHARD LAMBARD, Mr., being examined by the Minister de Gravesend concerning their conformitie to the orders and discipline of the Church of England, and tooke the oath of allegeance."...82 names, non-alphabetical and with interesting contractions of first names and spellings of last names...including, "Wm. Crooke, 23 Year"....no persecuted escapee!
Then in the records for Elizabeth Co., Va., there is recorded: "WILLIAM JULIAN, 600 acs. Eliz. Citty Co., 4 July 1636, p, 388. Parte of same being 3 necks of land upon the entrance into Eliz. Riv. on the Eastern br. conteyning 400 acs., W. upon a Cr. joyning to Francis Mason, N. into the woods, S. upon the river & E. upon a small Cr. further up the br. Another neck conteyning 200 acs. upon the S. turning of sd. river, E. upon a Cr., S upon a Cr. & N. into the woods, Due for trans. of 12 pers:....William Crooke...."
There is an unproven (and undoubtedly unprovable!) vague "family story" handed-down of him being-or-becoming a "surgeon". (such as they were then, comparable to today...maybe...1ike a military medical corpsman or a country veterinary's helper!)…and marrying an ''Elizabeth Matthews". No other records, and we are lucky to have what we have; for my money, this is the first one over, and logical progenitor for the rest of us.
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Records also exist of similar arrivals for another William Crooke in Northampton Co., 14 Oct. 1649; an Alice Crook in Northumberland Co., 10 Jan. 1649; a Richard Crooke in Accomack Co., 2 Oct. 1663; and an Abraham Crooke in Nancimond Co., 28 Feb. 1664. Everyone is too late and too young to father Thomas Crooke, next of important record...presumable son of 1635-36 William, and landowner south of the James River. All the others seem destined as "northside" Va. ancestors, even Maryland, except Abraham who might have gone south to tidewater counties of the Carolinas.
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There is a further Family-story of another son of No. 1 William "being an importer, and moving to New York City after Bacon's rebellion.; this is certainly backed-up by the New York records of John Crook & his brother as "merchants" in 1685, and subsequent records.
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But old Thomas Crooke was indeed an active man in 1662-1665 Charles City Co. (luckily-preserved as-of-record, but south of the James river in the area of present-day Prince George Co.). Since there are no "arrival" records on him, and bearing his timing and age in mind, he seems most logically to be a son of No. 1 William. Who else?
He is listed in a land-transaction of 1665 as a neighboring land-owner in the vicinity of "Old Towne" (originally an Indian Village), adjacent to the plot called "Merchants Hope", about eight miles south of James River below & SE of Petersburg, today.
At the court of Westover, abstract deed of 17 Nov. 1662, Thomas Crooke sells William Tomlinson a parcel of land.
Abstract at a court at Westover 20th April 1663, Judgt to Mr Antho: Wyatt agst Tho: Crooke for 518 lb tobo "due for levies and fees".
Abstract of a court at Westover 25 Feb 1663/4. Dif betw Richd Baker plt and Thos Crooke and his wife defts referred to a Jury. (12-man Jury listed, including a "Mr Willm Hill"!) Verdict: Wee finde for the plt that the sd plts wife hath beene very much abused in her reputacon. Unon w'ch Verdict it is the Judgem't of the Co'rt that according to Act for her scandalous abuses the deft Ann Crooke be three times ducked and her husband pay costs als exec.
Abstract of a court at Westover 18 Oct 1664. Rice Hoe ordered to appear and make defense against claim of Tho: Cooke.
Abstract of an Orphans Court at Westover 15 Sept 1665. Upon petition of Tho: Crooke who is security for Tho: Chappell for cattle belonging by bequest to Chappell's child, Chappell to furnish new security and Crooke to be released.
Wow!
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From 1690-on records get better, although not good...at least there are more. Solomon Crook appears briefly in the same general area, at about the right time to be son of Thomas & Ann above; the location of his land-records are near the center of present Prince George Co. (a bit east of center), perhaps 5-7 miles SE of Thomas' land. (But "Charles City Co." then for records.)
Land Patent: Henry Randolph, James Cocke, John Golightly, and Solomon Crook - 19 April 1690 - 647 acres at a place known by the name of "ye Second Swamp" (Creek).
Land Patent: Solomon Crook, 29 April 1692...89 acres in the Parish of Bristol adjoining Robert Burges(s).
As you will see shortly, he is of one further land reference in 1698; and he is apparently the direct ancestor of George Crook who obviously inherited land from him. All the territory south of the James River was cut-off to form Prince George Co. in 1703; the new county made a Tax List of land-owners in 1704, and since Solomon is not listed, he probably died between 1698 and 1704.
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George Crook begins of record with the 1704 Prince George Co. Tax List, whether or not yet of legal age 21 (in some early-day colonies and states age 16 sufficed), and appears to be the direct descendant and inheritor of Solomon's property.
Quit Rent Roll, Prince George Co., 1704: George Crook...489 acres.
Land Patent: Survey - George Crook, 29 April 1712, 150 acres on both sides of Gravelly Run. (Ca. 20 miles SW of Solomon's area, then Prince George Co. "frontier" /present east-central Dinwiddie Co,
George Crook of the Parish of Bristol in the County of Prince George...to David Crawley of the said Parish and County...consideration 11 pounds current money...and in consideration of him thereunto moving...grants all that tract of land consisting of 289 acres...one tract consisting of 100 acres granted to Hugh Lee, Senr, by patent and several conveyances...to Solomon Crook by deed 2 April 1698…said indenture containing 200 acres from which George Crook has sold 100 acres...another tract containing 89 acres granted to Solomon Crook 29 April 1692. (Witnesses & signature, dated 14 Aug. 1716) Elizabeth, wife of the said George Crook, beings privately examined, released her dower right in the aforesaid land.
Land Patent: George Crook, 18 Feb. 1722, 150 acres on the north side of Gravelly Run.
Bristol Parish Register, "Baptized 11 September 1731": (obviously back-up in settled Prince George Co. from the frontier down in present Dinwiddie Co.)
Martha, daughter of George and Elizabeth Crook, born 9 April 1715.
Mary, daughter of George and Elizabeth Crook, born 28 March 1717.
Tabitha, daughter of George and Elizabeth Crook, born 8 Feb. 1719.
Joseph, son of George and Elizabeth Crook, born 28 Aug. 1722
James, son of George and Elizabeth Crook, born 27 Jan. 1725
Since no Parish records prior to 1719 have survived, we have no record of George & Elizabeth's marriage/her family name, and nothing on the births of their apparent first sons Solomon II/ George Jr. pre-1814. (Or other early daughters.) Since the land records of Prince George Co. are missing after 1728, we have no further sales or acquisitions that may have occurred.
IMPORTANT, HOWEVER, IS THE FACT THAT THERE ARE NO OTHER RECORDS OF PEOPLE NAMED "CROOK" IN SOUTHSIDE VIRGINIA AT THIS PERIOD!
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Three of the four sons of George & Elizabeth are "of Record' in later Prince George Co. proceedings, and in such conjunction and location as to leave no doubt as to their relationship.
Bristol Parish Register:: Martha, daughter of Solomon and Martha Crook, born 1 Feb. 1740/41. (Again, back-up from the present Dinwiddie area to settled Prince George.) (There is also a vague "family-story" that a Solomon Crook married a Martha Wyley/Wiley, most likely under-the-circumstances this recorded union.)
Vestry Book, Bristol Parish: Vestry Meeting held at the Brick Church 11 October 1745. Solomon Crook & Joseph Crook attended.
Land Patent: To Joseph Crooke and James Crook...consideration twenty shillings...179 acres...lying and being in Prince George County upon the branches of Gravelly Run, and bounded by as beginning in Solomon Crook's line at the Horse's Branch, thence along his line...to Flatt Branch...and back...28 August 1746.
Since, above, James was now barely age 21, one suspects that father George is dead by now...at least Solomon has inherited, whether or not by primageniture...and the youngest brothers are now acquiring "next-door". The two different spellings of the name in the same Joint land-grant show the non-validity of such distinctions.
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So the brothers/sons...and their children...move out, south, of since-Civil-War-recordless Dinwiddie. It seems that, again, at least three of the brothers go to Brunswick Co.
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Charles Goulster of the Parish of St. Andrew, County of Brunswick, to George Crook of the same Parish and County...cons. 20 shillings of current money...90 acres on the north side of Waqua Creek...adjoining James Love. (witnesses & signature, plus date of 6 Oct. 1748)
Charles Golster...to...George Crook...cons. 20 pounds...70 acres...adjoining Charles Golster. (witnesses & signature, plus date of 7 Feb. 1758...and recorded 23 May 1758.)
24 April 1769, James and John Love, and Elizabeth and Ruth Love, their wives, sold to George Crook for 120 pounds...acreage not stated...a tract of land on the north side of Waqua Creek.
BRUNSWICK COUNTY - Public Service Claims for Revolutionary War - 1782: George Crook - James Crook - Joseph Crook. (All three must be the "brothers", too old for service as soldiers, but "contributors" in supplies, etc.; and based upon subsequent marriage records, the sons of George would have been too young.)
1782 Brunswick County Tax List: George Crook Senr.; George Crook Junr.; James Crook; Joseph Crook; William Crook. (If old George I is dead back in Dinwiddie, then son George is now removed to Brunswick Co. and "Sr.", while possible oldest son (George III) is of age and currently "Jr.". James & Joseph can be the older brothers..."William" is a problem.)
Marriage Bond, 29 Nov. 1781 - Robert Hailey and Polly Crook, daughter of George Crook.
Finally, somebody has obviously died...presumably George Crook, "Sr."...particularly with the above record of Polly Crook daughter and Robert Hailey...when the Brunswick Co. DEED OF GIFT was recorded as follows on 5 Dec. 1790:
Joseph Crook, George Crook ("Jr."?) James Crook, John Crook, Irby Crook, Robert Haley, Elizabeth Crook, Martha Crook, and Polly Crook ("Haley"?)...for the natural love and affection we have and bear to our two youngest brothers...convey to Giles Crook and Solomon Crook (III)...180 Acres on the north side of Waqua Creek, etc. (Witnesses, signatures, date 5 Dec. 1790 & recorded 28 April 1794.)
True, the 1781 Marriage Bond shows Robert Hailey and Polly Crook, daughter or George Crook (II)...but a new-found Brunswick Co. Marriage Bond shows 10 Dec. 1796 - William Scoggins and Polly Crook; married 14 Dec. 1796 by Rev. Henry Merritt, Surety: Giles Crook. The ensuing Chancery Court lawsuits since found pertaining to the "Deed of Gift" of these brothers & sisters due to Solomon III's death variously name everybody again in detail, this time showing Robert Hailey married to Molly (Mary), "formerly Crook"; and indeed Scoggins married to Polly, "formerly Crook". A mix-up in recording spellings, everything essentially correct, plus another marriage for the group in 1796. (By hand-script on the origina1 had already added the oversight of Martha's marriage in 1795.)
'I'his appears to account for George Crook (II) and his tribe. The problem zone is that sons Joseph & George (III) are not accounted for in marriages, unless the Joseph marrying Elizabeth Berry in 1783 is him; other information suggests that this was I722-born Joseph remarrying. Nonetheless, it is possible that George II's oldest sons could have been the George "Jr." and Joseph of the 1782 Brunswick Tax List, although not likely. Certainly, Polly married of record as early as 1781. On the other hand, John married the Nash girl as late as 1790, and other know marriages of these brothers and sisters are James in 1793, Irby in 1798, and Giles in 1800. If Polly were the oldest, and married early as girls then often did, the situation would argue strongly for the Tax List to have George (I) as "Senr"; George (II) as "Junr"; 1722-born Joseph; 1725 James as himself for sure (George II's son James didn't even marry until 1793!); and William, who is a problem later to be discussed. I do feel that a second marriage for George I is indicated, resulting in the two youngest brothers who apparently had not been included in an earlier will...which the other brother-sister inheritors remedied.
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John Browder of Bath Parish, Prince George County, to Joseph Crook of the Parish of St. Andrew in the county Brunswick...cons. 20 shillings...100 acres on the south side of Waqua Creek ...being land conveyed to John Browder by John Scoggan 2 June 1737. (Witnesses & signatures) Dated 3 3ept. 1750; recorded 26 March 1752.
This can only be 1722-born Joseph joining older brother George on the same creek in Brunswick. (He previously of record in the 1731 baptisms back-up in Prince George Co., Of the 1745 Vestry Meeting with other older brother Solomon back-up in Prince George Co., and of the 1746 land-grant with younger brother James on Gravelly Run in the future Dinwiddie Co. part of Prince George...next to older brother Solomon's property line.)
Vestry Book of St. Andrew's Parish, Vestry Order 28 Sept. 1759: Ordered that Robert Briggs, Giles Kelly, and Joseph Crook do procession all of the land between Waqua Creek, Flat Rock Road from Burches Road to the County Line.)
Joseph Crook one of the witnesses to Brunswick Co. land deed of 28 March 1769 (recorded 26 April 1769) for 225 acres on south side of Hickory Run from Samuel Burch & wife Elizabeth to younger brother James Crook...who apparently now joins the others in same general area.
1769 - Joseph Crook witnesses younger brother James' purchase of land from Frizzell McTier in same general area of Brunswick Co.
LAND PATENT - Joseph Crook, Brunswick County, 29 Aug. 1770, 100 acres adjoining the land of Taliaferro, Crook, and Dunkley.
Brunswick County Marriage Bond: 16 Dec. 1772 - George Trotter to Caty Crook, dau. of Joseph. James Trotter sec.
(There is also a "family-story" that a Joseph Crook married a "Catherine"...if so, no problem to have a daughter named Caty!)
Joseph Crook is also listed with a Public Service Claim for the Revolutionary War in Brunswick Co. as of 1782, described earlier.
Joseph Crook is also most probably the man so listed In the Brunswick Co. Tax List of 1782, as discussed in detail under the George Crooks earlier.
Brunswick County Marriage Bond: 21 Jan. 1783 - Joseph Crook and Elizabeth Berry, daughter of George Berry.
(This is most likely a second marriage for 1722-born Joseph, despite his age of 61, depending upon verification of the reported lawsuit brought by the Trotter family against the Estate of the Joseph Crook/Elizabeth Berry heirs after 1804! There is no other possible interest in the will made 1804 by a Brunswick Co. Joseph Crook...unless it be the omission or exclusion of an earlier wife's child and her heirs...who, as we know from records, married a Trotter)(And the early-day Crooks were indeed long-lived and seem often to have married two and three times)
Brunswick County year Book, Will of Joseph Crook: Names -wife Elizabeth Crook - children Berry Crook, David Crook, Joseph Crook, and Mary Ann Crook - executors wife Elizabeth and John Hardaay - witnesses Thomas Ingram, John Ingram, and George Berry. Dated 28 Sept. 1800 and recorded (thus in effect as of that date) 28 Jan. 1804.
("Trotter family lawsuit" vs. estate after 1804, as reported. Currently being researched this late 23 March 1968)
Whether or not Joseph had any other children by first wife is not known or indicated by any other present knowledge; whether or not the postulated second-family and records are correct is not yet positively proven, although indications are strong; but in any event there is no presently-known evidence to suggest that Joseph and his tribe ever left Brunswick Co. in this general period.
Since we know that George Trotter married Caty Crook, Joseph I's daughter, we can infer many things from the now-known will of George Trotter (confirming wife Caty) and naming all children...dated 1806 and executed 1814; and the three records from Brunswick Co. Chancery Court from 1803 to 1814 of the continuing lawsuit between some of Joseph I's children vs. the rest over the estate.
1722-born Joseph I has died by 28 March 1803.
The apparent Joseph I children are Keziah (son w/mother's family name?) (have encountered this family name in early Va. & N.C. already as "Kizziah" & Kizziar), Florilla, & Jenny...suing Betty Crook (widowed mother, named first...formerly an Elizabeth Keziah? ...or an adult, unmarried, older sister?), George Trotter and wife Katy, Benjamin Bennett an1 wife Nancy (Crook), and Thomas Stewart (deceased wife named ____ Crook?).
The suit was first initiated 28 March 1803, and continued; it is recorded again 26 March 1806 with notation that again continued due to fact Benjamin Bennet not an inhabitant of county, notice to be given; finally, again recorded 1814 with note that suit was abated by death of George Trotter. In all three records, the names are exactly the same.
Thus George Trotter, perhaps initiator or force behind the suit, apparently dies ca. 1814.
The coincidence of dates for deaths, wills, lawsuits, etc., all in Brunswick Co. has caused the previous confusion between items connected with Joseph I & family, and the same for Joseph II...son of George II...and family connected with the wife Elizabeth Berry relationships, beginning with the recorded marriage in 1783. It would now appear that the conflict is resolved.
It would seem that the Joseph I tribe never left Brunswick Co. in this general period!
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1725-born James Crook has already been described in the 1731 baptisms back-up in Prince George Co.; and the 1745 land-grant with older brother Joseph on Gravelly Run in future Dinwiddie Co. part of Prince George, adjoining older brother Solomon's property line.
Samuel Burch and Elizabeth his wife of the County of Brunswick and the Parish of St. Andrew...to James Crook...consideration 60 pounds...225 acres on the south side of Hickory Run...adjoining Averis, Morgan, McKinney, Richard Taliaferro, Peter Jones, and Davis. (Witnesses...including John Edwards, Joseph Browder, and Joseph Crook!...& signatures) Dated 28 March 1769, recorded 26 April 1769.
1769 - James Crook buys land from Frizzell McTier in Brunswick Co. (same general area) (witnessed by older brother Joseph Crook.)
(Connecting comments: Browder originally sold land to Joseph; Edwards daughter married James' son William later; brother Joseph witnesses; Hickory Run is a neighboring creek to Waqua Creek where George & Joseph settled, both running into the Nottoway River which is the northeastern boundary between Brunswick Co. & ancestral Crook family Dinwiddie Co. part of then-Prince George; and in 1759 the Vestry Order named Joseph & others to procession the land property lines, etc., "from Burches Road to the County Line"!)
James McKinney and Angie his wife of Brunswick County to James Crook of the same County...cons. 40 pounds...200 acres (gives only metes and bounds, and no definite description of location). (Witnesses & signatures) Dated 6 May 1771, recorded 26 August 1771.
Likewise this James Crook is listed as a 1782 Public Service Claim for the Revolutionary War in Brunswick County. CROSSED OFF STUFF
Also, as earlier discussed in detail under the George Crooks, he is most likely the James Crook of the Brunswick County Tax List of`1782.
(And it is his oldest child, son William, who very probably is the William Crook of the 1782 Brunswick Tax List...and the nonresident of neighboring Mecklenburg Co. who entered there in 1782 a Revolutionary War Public Service Claim for "smooth gun taken into service and not returned" which was ultimately adjudged worth 150 pounds, and also a horse taken for a dispatch rider...who may have married first and moved in time to Stokes Co., N.C., to be listed in the 1790 U.S. Census as next to his brother-in-law Richard Bennet...Richard Bennett's "Marriage Bond" with Mary Crook, daughter of James Crook, is recorded as 1 Jan. 1782...William is shown for 1790 in the Census as only himself and wife, while sister & Richard Bennet have children...then he apparently returns and marries - second wife? - father's old neighbor John Edwards' daughter, back in Mecklenburg Co., Va., after John Edwards is of future record as having moved there...Mecklenburg Co. Marriage Bond: 11 April 1791, William Crook and Martha Edwards. Surety: John Edwards, Junr. by whom he has a further family of considerable record.)
Then James Crook sells-out and is of no further record in Brunswick Co.: James Crook and Elizabeth Crook, his wife, of Brunswick County to Robert Cryer of Dinwiddie County...cons. 400 pounds. . .717˝ acres of land where James Crook now lives. (Witnesses & signatures.) Dated 6 Feb. 1789, recorded 22 June 1789.
Such being the case, it appears that James joins his oldest son and daughter's families, acquiring land on Stewart's Creek in Stokes Co., N.C, - although in the future Surrey Co. part, and either in process of moving, or staying with one of them, missing inclusion in the 1790 U.S. Census of either Va. or N.C. - but dies in late 1791, and his will is of record there in Stokes Co. with very positive namings:
Stokes Co., N.C., Will of "Jeams" Crook: Oct. 22, 1793 -Wife: Elizabeth (5 slaves plus land); sons: Bignal "Jeamy, Jeremiah (all land on Stewart's Branch, Stokes County), William; daughter: Mary, wife of Richard Bennet. Executors: wife and son Bignal; witnesses: Christian Lash and John Shemel. (James Jr. and Jeremiah do not yet seem to be of "age".) Probated: December Term, 1793.
March term, 1794, Stokes County, N.C.: Inventory of Estate of James Crook in detail.
So much for the James Crook "tribe", although their descendants are of considerable further "record".
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Thus, the only unaccounted-for people named "Crook" are those of Mecklenburg Co., Va., from which most of us must therefore descend! No further records of Solomon II...who is known to have been married and bearing children by 1740/41...and who must have stayed...and died...in recordless Dinwiddie Co. (burned-out in the Civil War...but remarkably preserved as the Tax Lists 1783-1785.
In this vein, Dinwiddie Co. has only a "freak" preservation of its Tax Lists for 1783-1785, none of which includes anyone named Crook at this late a date; mostly, everybody seems already to have moved out, and if Solomon stayed, he seems to have died and be unlisted by now.
The only land-records are those of a James Crooks:
12 Feb. 1781, from Joseph Knight of the County of Lunenburg to James Crook of the County of Mecklenburg...cons. 2,000 pounds (Continental paper money?)...110 acres adjoining and bounded by Reuben Vaughan, Roger Adkerson, David Darden, and William Hightower. (Witnesses & signatures) Dated 12 February 1781.
6 Nov. 1782, from James Crook of the County of Mecklenburg to Abraham Andrews of the County of Lunenburg...cons. 200 pounds Current money of Virginia ("hard" specie after the war?)...the same 110 acres as above as adjoining Reuben Vaughan, formerly Roger Adkersons but at present John Ogburns, David Darden, and William Hightower. (Witnesses & signatures) Dated 6 Nov. 1782, and proved 11 Nov. 1782.
("This land of James Crook seems to have been east of Piney Creek, and probably about midway between the Meherrin River and present Highway 47; and probably about halfway between the present Saffolds Bridge and Whittles Mill." The Meherrin River forms the north border of Mecklenburg Co., and this area is some 6-8 miles west of the northeast corner of the county. Since John Crook as though being adjacent is listed by James, this is probably also his location although we lack any land record.)
| MECKLENBURG COUNTY - CENSUS 1782 | |||
| List taken by Cluverius Coleman: | |||
| James Crook | 8 white |
5 black |
|
| John Crook | 6 white |
1 black |
|
| List taken by Lewis Parham: | |||
| Frederick Crook | 7 white |
5 black |
|
(By the adjacency, one can safely assume a relationship between James & John...logically, brothers, since we have other indications that they were not father-son. We cannot infer as easily for Frederick, who obviously is settled in a different part of the county; yet who else can be his father but also logically Solomon II?)
Mecklenburg County Public Service Claims filed June 10, 1782:
James Crook - Services for 72 days collecting beef for the Army. Received 150 pounds in paper money in part for the same in October 1781.
William Crook - Smooth gun taken into service and not returned.
(For whatever reason, it is interesting that this William entered...or had entered for him by heirs/family/friends...a claim for a matter presumably done in the county, and filed June 1782, yet he does not appear in the 1782 Census of the county as being resident or property owner.)
Notable is the fact that none of these people named Crook are present in the 1783 Personal Property Tax List for Mecklenburg Co.! All are gone elsewhere, or dead, just this year later.
One other matter regarding Mecklenburg Co.: The first U.S. Census of 1790 was lost or destroyed for a number of Virginia counties, specifically including Mecklenburg...as a result, the 1782 County Census above has been substituted as the best-available replacement and widely published as "1790 U.S. Census". The general lack of explanation of this fact can easily confuse an uninformed genealogical researcher rather badly!
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Where did they all go…the folks of the Dinwiddie Co. area of Prince George, those of Brunswick, and those of Mecklenburg?
1. It would appear that 1710-1714 Solomon II stayed and died in the area of present Dinwlddie Co. Certainly before the 1783 Personal Property Tax List, which has no Crooks; probably before 1769 when younger brother James finally leaves and rejoins the other three in Brunswick.
His probable/possible sons...along with any, as yet unknown, sons of 1722 Joseph of the presumable first-marriage, brothers off Caty...include Frederick/James/John of 1782 Mecklenburg Co., Va., record...an Allen Crook, who seems to appear from "nowhere" (like recordless Dinwiddie Co.?) to settle next to obvious brother John above in 1794, and by census record to be born pre-1755...and perhaps somehow involved with one or the other "William" of vague explanation in both Mecklenburg & Brunswick Cos. And/or somehow with the unaccounted-for William & Hillary listed as "killed" in the Revolutionary War in North Carolina.
Of these, Frederick seems to totally disappear; one night surmise his death before a 1790 Census anywhere, or any presently known records anywhere from 1782-1790. But his family of 7 whites in 1782 is large enough to include several sons otherwise seemingly unaccounted-for such as the Andrew of Rutherford Co., N.C,, etc.
James almost has to be...by sheer default, the only such seemingly available from Virginia, and while not born in "Mechlin Co." as the family-story goes, certainly from there...who went to "Old District 96" (present Spartanburg, S.C., area but confused then with Mecklenburg Co., N.C., and with early records in Charlotte) and was first of land-record there in 1785, in the 1790 Census there, patriarch of the famous S.C. "tribe" of great record, born 1746 in Virginia & died/buried at Bethel Church Cemetery 1823. Also we have no other record of where he went after 1782 in Mecklenburg Co., Va. - and three years is a reasonable time for moving, selecting, and buying-in at the new location. Based on the 1782 Va. Census, he seems to have had 6 children by then, allowing for the 6 more of his tradition born up-to 1792 Jeremiah in Spartanburg of record as one of the youngest of the 12.
John, in turn, must be he of the first record in Rowan Co., N.C., 1787. Again it is a reasonable "gap" for relocation, we have no other indication of where Mecklenburg John went, and he is the only John of that vintage and family-size of record to account for Mecklenburg John’s removal. He and his family are of considerable further record in Rowan Co., N.C.; and White & Putnam Cos., Tenn.
Allen is definitely connected with the above John and of considerable further record in Rowan Co., N.C., wherever he was before 1794. By cross-connection, he is therefore also related to James above.
The 1782 William-of-claim in Mecklenburg Co., Va., and the 1782 William of the Brunswick Co. Tax List in Va., represent a problem perhaps partly in common with the N.C. Militia records of a William and a Hillary Crook "died during the Revolutionary War", both of record with pensions to their "heirs". One or more of the Williams may be the same person, under the circumstances; but at least one is very definitely the son of 1725 Dinwiddie-Brunswick James...married at least secondly to Martha Edwards...and of-various record until after 1800, as we shall see. (Most likely he is the one of the 1782 Brunswick Tax List) Thus other Williams...plus Hillary.. ..may be other sons - either/or - of Solomon II, 1722 Joseph, or even of Frederick!
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2. It would also appear that 1710-1714 George II moved to Brunswick Co. 1748 and apparently died there about 1790 per his seeming children's deed-of-gift of record there that year. Other than the marriage-records already quoted, there aren't many other mentions of his children in Brunswick, making one feel they died or moved-away by 1810 or 1820. Son John is an exception, marrying Rebecca Nash in 1790 as the daughter of John Nash; they had three children...Nancy Crook, John Crook, & Griffin Crook. Moved to Mecklenburg Co. and died there intestate by 1800; thence, the following records: (remarriage of widow) Marriage Bond, 8 Oct. 1801 - John Singleton and Rebecca Crook. Surety: James Nash. Also John Singleton qualified as administrator on the estate of John Crook, deceased, 18 Feb. 1802, with James Drumright as his security. Finally, in the Mecklenburg records, "14 April 1806 - Jabez Northington is appointed guardian for Nancy, John, and Griffin Crook, orphans of John Crook, deceased."
It is suspect that both the younger brothers, Giles & Solomon III, removed to S.C., where such Crooks are so listed from 1810-on. James-son is also indicated as dying early in Brunswick. A much later "Irby" shows up in Tennessee. The young Joseph (II-plus) seems to disappear.
3. If indeed the postulated history of 1722 Joseph is correct thin his second family enumerated in the 1804-proven will...although of considerable further record in Brunswick Co....is not of material interest. The possibility of unknown early "first-family" brothers to the recorded Caty has already been discussed.
4. So to James, born 1725. He & wife Elizabeth "sell-out" and "disappear" from Brunswick records ca. 1789. Based on the marvelous cross-connecting records of Richard Bennet & daughter Mary in both Brunswick Co., Va., and also Stokes Co., N.C.; son William in Stokes, back to marry Martha Edwards in Mecklenburg, further land records in Stokes, gifts from her father John Edwards recorded both in Stokes and again later in Mecklenburg, and widow Martha Crook's later records back eventually in Mecklenburg; and the wonderfully-detailed will of James 1792 in Stokes naming everybody...it seems conclusive as to disposition of his family.
Son William dies right at 1880-1801 in Stokes; widow Martha sells out and goes back to Mecklenburg, Va., ca. 1806 where her doting father gives her more land...the children Elizabeth E., Osborne, James, William J., and Martha are repeatedly listed in records...widow Martha named as guardian 1810...and she listed in their marriage bonds almost like a father until 1819.
Son Bignal went to Tennessee, being on an 1812 Muster Roll for Davidson Co., there, and of record as performing legal work in Lincoln Co. there in 1825. Son James sells out to brother Jeremiah ca. 1808 and apparently also goes to Tennessee, being most probably he of Wilson Co. there in 1820. Son Jeremiah and the Bennets apparently stayed in Stokes Co.
But your key interest is John Crook & family...born 1741 (most likely to Solomon II) (and along Gravelly Run in then-Prince George Co./present-Dinwiddie)(perhaps as second child after Martha of record)...he of 1782 records in Mecklenburg Co., Va., and thence of great history in Rowan Co., N.C., and later in White-Putnam Cos., Tenn.
Therefore, from the Rowan Co., N.C., records I have:
Monday, August 6, 1787 - John Crook appointed overseer (of the Cross Creek Road from the County Line to the forks of the Virginia Road) in Room of Augustine Davenport.
Marriage Bond - Jane Crook and Wade Goolsby, 9th October 1787. Witness John Macay. (As we know, John's first child, by first wife; note Goolsby's name here.)
November 9, 1787 - John Crook is appointed overseer of the New Cape Fear Road from Flat Swamp to County Line.
May 6, 1789 - John Crook is appointed Petit Juryman
(The 1782 Mecklenburg Co. Va., Census must have represented ...Just barely with the 1782 birth of John Jr.!...the full wife #2 family with one extra "white"; who knows, a widowed mother, an unmarried sister, or a ward of some relation? Here in 1790 we lost daughter Jane by marriage, thus there again is an extra white female...perhaps the same as in 1782.)
9th November 1790 - John Crook enters 80 acres on waters of Tom's Creek next to Hardy Davis, Byerly, Edward Davis, and his own line. (Obviously already a land-owner, although we have no record; Probably from 1787 or earlier, due to all his property-holder activities/appointments/etc. above.)
10th November 1790 (? - date apparently difficult to read, might therefore been any date until 1799 when all deeds of the decade were formally recorded) - Michael Retter, deceased, as promised before his death, to John Crook, 640 acres on waters of Lick Creek next Hardy Davis John Roes. Consideration, 300 pounds. (Signed by heirs Michael Ritter, John Ritter, Elizabeth Ritter - witnessed by Phillip Garner and John Crook, Jr.)
(All this land-activity in extreme southern present Davidson Co., later split-off from old Rowan Co. of record; note the connections involving Hardy Davis.)
John Crook - 123 acres in Rowan on Lick Creek, Grant #2235 - 26th November 1791.
27th November 1793 - State Grant #2235 - State of North Carolina to John Crook - at 10 pounds per 100 acres - 123 acres on Lick Creek next to Michael Ritter, Hardy Davis, Leonard Eller.
John Crook - Grant #2681 - Entry #153, 3rd May 1794 - 150 acres on Tom ' s Creek.
25th May 1800 - State Grant #2681 - State of North Carolina to John Crook for 30 shillings per 100 acres - 150 acres on waters of Tom's Fork next to Clement Lanier.
(Comment: No. 2 child, daughter Elizabeth now married and gone; the previous extra female is now either dead or married-off; and there is an unexplained extra young male.)
2nd January 1801 - John Crook to Robert Noblett of Chatham for 60-200 acres on Lick & Tom's Creeks - beginning at a corner of said Crook's tract of 640 acres - this 200 acres being part of a grant from the State to John Crook. (Witnessed by John Crook, Jr., and Thomas Stewart.)
18th December 1803 - James Riley to Allen Crook, etc. (Witnessed by Clement Lanier and John Crook.)
Minutes of the Jersey Meeting House (Baptist) - Dec. 1, 1804 The Church met and after prayer proceeded in the Common Manner. Clement Leonard and his wife, William Peacock, John Crook and his wife rec'd by letters.
(There is also an undated Membership Roll, presumably later than above, showing John Crook as having been dismissed.)
26th September 1806 - John Crook of Rowan to John Marshall of Surry for 50 pounds - 150 acres on waters of Tom's Creek next to Clement Lanier. (Witnessed by Henry Stuart and John Crook, Jr.)
23rd September 1808 - John Crook, Sr., of Rowan to Richard Cox of Iredell for 60 pounds - 103 acres on the waters of Lick Creek next to the Michael Ritter lot & Hardy Davis & Leonard Eller.
29th October 1808 - John Crook, Sr., to Richard Cox for 200 rounds - 440 acres on Lick Creek next Hardy Davis & Noblett.
(And thus they sell-out in Rowan Co., apparently preparatory to moving to Tennessee ca. 1809! )
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Before we leave Rowan Co., there are these interesting items also in the 1790 U.S. Census: Wade Golsbey - 1 male 16 and up; 2 m. under 16; 1 female. (Jane Crook & husband seem to have had two little boys since marriage in 1787.) John Yount - 2 m. 16 and up; 2 m. under 16; 9 females. (Elizabeth Crook's husband, Jacob Yount married between 1790 & 1800. must be the oldest son as the second male over-16.) (Both "Golsbey" & "Yont" listings are for the future Davidson Co. area of Rowan, near the John & Allen Crook holdings.)
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My records show that John III was born in Tennessee 1809... hence John Jr. was certainly married by then, no later than 1808... and at least he was already there by 1809; he is last of positive record in Rowan 1806, although his father is there still by late 1808.
The 1810 U.S. Censuses for Tennessee are lost, except for a fragment of Rutherford Co., hence no help.
Jan. 15, 1812 - William R. Cole & Solomon Cox to John Crook, Senr. for $200 paid. 50 acres on Falling Water Creek beginning at a stake in John Crook's field & running with line of Bounds & Lovelady (witnesses: Thos. Crutcher, John Crely Goolsby, Richard Hill.)
(Comment: He already owned land, as we shall see, from an earlier...??…grant as assignee of John McNary & Bennet Searcy on Falling Water! Goolsby could of course be a brother to Jane's husband...but he could easily be one of her sons born 1787-1790, also. Hill is John Sr.'s friend and neighbor, whose widow eventually becomes John's 3rd wife.)
Aug. 1, 1812 - Thomas Bounds and Thomas Lovelady of County of White, State Tenn., to John Crook, Senr. of aforesaid State and Co. - consideration fifty cents pd. 20 acres on Falling Water of the Caney Fork - on bank of Hutching's corner being part of tract granted by State of Tenn. to Thomas Bounds and Thomas Lovelady. (Plus witnesses.)
______, 1812 - Thos. Bounds & Thos. Lovelady to John Crook, Senr. for 42 cts. 84 acres off same Grant of Land. Wit: as before.
10th April 1817 - John Crook to Jane Goolsby - consideration $500 - 40 acres in 1st District on branch of Falling Water originally granted by State of Tennessee to John Crook, Assignee of John McNary & Bennet Searcy. (Wit: John Crook, Jr. and Peter Goolsbey!)
(Proves the earlier grant; John Jr.; and perhaps evidence of Jane's other son!)
Apr. 18, 1817 - John Crook, Senr. to John Crook, Jr. for $500 pd. 84 acres (same tract as the undated 1812 deed above.) (Plus witnesses.)
Sometime late before 1820, John Sr.'s #2 wife has died...as has friend Richard Hill...and Frances Robinson Hill remarries as John Sr.'s #3 wife. (No actual record.)
Will of John Crook (Sr.) - signed 29 Dec. 1834 and proven/recorded White Co., Tenn., April Term 1838. Names nearly everybody, including No. 2 daughter "Elizabeth Yount" Very delightfully detailed and which you have. (But "Wyatt" Goolsby may be Wade!)
May 25, 1838 - Anthony Dibrell, Admr. with the will annexed of John Crook, Decd., 2 negro girls for $1600.
June 5, 1838 - Jacob Yount begs leave to contest validity of the will of John Crook, Sr. - making bond, etc. (Why...unless the husband of Elizabeth, known to be still alive at this time?)
Oct. 2, 1838 - it is stated that the above will had been properly proven, as to the ability of the Testator etc., and the contest of the same is dismissed.
1839 - John Crook's Administrator to John Anderson -Anthony Dibrell, Admr. with the will annexed of John Crook, decd, for $600 pd. a negro woman named Vice - abt 38 yrs of age (no Wit.).
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1840 U.S. CENSUS - WHITE CO., TENN.:
John Crook - 1 m. under 5; 1 m. of 10 and under 15; 1 m. of 60 and under 70; 1 f. of 5 and under 10; 1 f. of 10 and under 15; 2 f. of 15 and under 20; 1 f. of 50 and under 60. (Jr.)
Rebecca Crook - 1 f. of 70 and under 80. (Wife #3/widow)
John Crook -- 1 m. under 5; 1 m. of 5 and under 10, 1 m. of 30 and under 40; 2 f. under 5; 1 f. of 5 and under 10; 1 f. of 10 and under 15, 1 f. of 30 and under 40. (III)
1841 - White County, Tenn. - record of Settlement of Rebecca Crook (apparently deceased) with Snodgrass, her Admr.; plus a settlement of her estates with the Richard Hill heirs. (Stated that Richard Hill died in 1818, and that she & John Crook "Sr." had no children.)
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And...you have much-more complete records on these people!
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Finally, one last "tracking" of your family connections... the Allen Crook family of Rowan Co., N.C. - obvious brother to your John, and definitely born pre-1755 (or earlier...certainly "45 and up by 1800").
March 23, 1795 - Allen Crook registers 57 acres on Lick Creek, Rowan Co., N.C.
June 21, 1795 - Allen Crook registers 53 acres on Lick Creek, Rowan Co., N.C.
December 18, 1803 - Allen Crook acquires 73 acres on Lick Creek plus 50 acres on east side, Rowan Co., N.C.
(All in the south end of present Davidson Co., N.C. - split from earlier Rowan Co. - adjacent to John Crook's holdings!)
(1810 ROWAN CO. U.S. CENSUS - nobody named Crook! Allen must be there, due to later events, but somehow missed or deleted when copied for alphabetizing.)
(Allen must be dead, and the older female be his widow living with married oldest son.)
Davidson County Deed Book (now split-off from Rowan):
1 Dec. 1821 - Allen Crook, William Crook, and Elizabeth Crook, all heirs of Allen Crook, Sr., to John Williams - 31 acres on Lick Creek on Henry Garner's line.
Allen's descendants continue in residence and of record in Davidson Co. - marriages, deeds, wills, censuses - until 1860 and later. This is of interest to you only because he is apparently brother to your John Sr., was born pre-1755 which fits, and for whom some later Allens in your John Crook Sr.'s descendants must have been named.
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Final information to reinforce your own: Mrs. B.K. Mitchell of Sparta, Tenn., reported several years ago, "The land whereon John Crook Sr. lived and died is situated in what is now Putnam Co. (later split from White Co., where all the records are) and I have visited the old cemetery where he and his family are supposed to be buried but was unable to find the grave of John. There are a good many graves there but most of the stones are down or broken. There used to be an old church at that place called Lovelady - I suppose for the original owner of the land. (recall "Lovelady" in John Crook Sr.'s deed!) The church has been gone for many years and the large old cemetery is deserted and in a large woodland. I found the grave of ELIZ (broken) YOUNT/DECD. 8th May 1846/AGE 73 (thus, No. 2 child & daughter born 1773)...and not far from it a piece of a sandstone slab with only the name CROOK on it."
She also had a note of Frances Robinson Hill Crook's death in 1840, with appointment of an administrator. (John Sr.'s 3rd wife)
Mrs. Mitchell's son-in-law is a direct descendant of Isabella Crook, daughter of John Crook III.
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Hope any and all of this adds to your pleasure or information. Pardon personal typing-job at home in off-hours, but the data are correct and of primary importance. You may use any way you like!
Very truly yours,
Wilson W. Crook, Jr.
March 27, 1968
Dallas, Texsas
(RLC's notes: WWC's corrections of April 1, 1968 are inserted in italics and deletions are strikethrough.)
Last updated August 07, 1999
Bob
Crook
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