The Muse: February 2003

Christmas Open House a Wonderful Success

Thank you to all those who attended the Christmas Open House at the Olinger's on December 12. In our effort to show appreciation to the local Museum members for their strong support over the last year, a beautiful display of holiday trees and decorations was prepared. Over fifty people attended and enjoyed the experience of viewing the tree-laden home. At the same time they had the opportunity to join in socializing around a table spread with beverages and homemade goodies.

Of course none of this would have been possible without the great generosity of Mary Frances and Bill Olinger and their group of 'elves' who worked mightily to get every room decorated. (It actually takes an entire week just to bring all the decorations down from the attic and up from the basement). Their kindness in opening their home made this event possible. Our deepest thanks go out to the Olingers for this opportunity.

We hope that this time to gather with other Museum members has kept you excited about our other upcoming activities including the house tour and winter lectures. Hope to see you there.

Winter Lectures

Following is information on two lecture events hosted by the Museum in February.

Saturday February 8, 10:00 AM
Dr. Horace Rice will be speaking on the Buffalo Ridge Cherokee February 8 at the Amherst Co. Public Library. Dr. Rice is himself of Cherokee descent, though not from the Buffalo Ridge area. He received his Masters and Doctorate of Education from the University of Virginia and worked at area schools including Bedford County and Monelison Jr. High in Amherst. He is the author of Buffalo Ridge Cherokee, a work that explores the history of the Cherokee living in the Stapleton area of Amherst County. Dr. Rice argues that they were occupying that land before the Revolutionary War and through the years experienced a type of "paper genocide" that kept this remnant of the Cherokee nation rather an obscure and forgotten part of Native American culture. Dr. Rice also serves as an historical advisor for the United Cherokee Indian Tribe of Virginia since 1992.

Thursday, February 27, 10:00 AM
Also at the Amherst Library, we will hold a Railroad Roundtable on February 27. The success of this event will depend upon our members and friends who have experience or an interest in the Amherst railroads. A presentation recounting the Wreck of the Old '97 in celebration of its 100 year anniversary will start us off . Then we will open the floor to attendees to share their experiences and memories of the railroads of yesteryear. Come to contribute or just to listen and learn.

Genealogy Group Notes

After weather delayed the meeting scheduled for January 4th, the Historical Society's Genealogy Research group met on January 12th with a lively discussion of the Bowles and related families. A number of new individuals attended and filled the Museum's meeting room.

The next meeting of the Genealogy Research group will be March 2 at 2:30 at the Museum. The topic for that day will be the Tucker and allied families. All who wish to share or gather more information on the Tucker families are invited to attend and encouraged to become members of the Museum.

Director's Notes:
Volunteers Needed for the Summer

It is with great anticipation and excitement that I approach this spring and summer. Partly because of the wonderful plans and activities upcoming at the Museum but more for my own personal reasons. At the end of April, I will be taking a 12 week maternity leave for the birth of our first child.

The Board of Directors has decided to keep the Museum open and not to change the hours of operation during my absence. This can only be achieved through the assistance of our volunteers and members. We are looking for several individuals to dedicate to the Museum two afternoons or mornings a month between April and July. Responsibilities of the volunteers will range from opening and closing the Museum to greeting and working with visitors and researchers, answering the telephone and taking on simple administrative tasks.

This is a wonderful opportunity for those who have wanted a reason to become more involved with the Museum and its operations. You can jump right in and become a vital part of the Museum's activities.

A volunteer training meeting will be held sometime in early March. Call me at the Museum if you would like to help out.

Museum Wins Two Grants in Fall Season

This fall, the Museum won two grants that will help us continue in our efforts to preserve the history and heritage of Amherst County.

The first grant of $440 came from the William Cage Library Trust. They have supported us in years past and this year provided funds to purchase new books for the genealogy research room. We plan to use this money to increase our collection of resources on surrounding counties including Albemarle, Bedford and Rockbridge Counties.

The second grant came from the Greater Lynchburg Community Trust. $1,500 was awarded to assist with the construction of new display cases that will have locking fronts. This will help preserve our artifacts and keep them safer while on exhibit.

An Outline History of Bethel – Part III
The Crawfords in Bethel

By Doug MacLeod

Nelson Crawford's name is listed among gentleman trustees of the town of Bethel established by an Act of Assembly in 1801 [See August newsletter]. This Nelson Crawford [1762-18??], says Dr. James Boyle in his extensive genealogy The Davies Family of Virginia, was the grandson of David Crawford III who occupied Tusculum in Amherst Co. Among Nelson's nine other siblings was a sister named Sarah (Sally) who married Thomas W. Cocke, another trustees of Bethel. Their father was David Crawford IV who died in Jefferson Co., KY.

However, there was also another Nelson Crawford Jr., who married Nancy Liggon 3/6/1806. It appears that this man later became sheriff of Amherst Co. and is found in the 1840 census. He is too young a man to be the son of Nelson Crawford who married Lucy Crawford, the daughter of Nathan, April 15, 1799 [p. 84 Marriage Reg]. It is believed that the elder Crawford served as sheriff in the early 1800s and the younger served in the 1840s.

Nelson Crawford's name appears with Nicholas Clayton Davies [grandson of Nicholas Davies] as proprietors of Bethel in 1820, who both petitioned to have rates of the ferry raised to 6 1/4¢ for a man and the same for a horse [Bedford Court order Book 15, p. 252]. This same Nicholas C. Davies [1769-1814] the oldest son of Henry Landon Davies inherited a part of his father's land in Bedford County and another part twice as large in Amherst County. He made his home at Vault Hill, a name that still remains attached to the old cemetery overlooking Bethel from the bluff above it and just down river. Another connection between the Davies and Crawford families was the marriage of Nicholas C. Davies to Elizabeth Crawford, a daughter of David Crawford IV, the father of Nelson and Sarah.

By November 2, 1821, Bennet A. Crawford advertised in a Lynchburg Newspaper that the Bethel Ferry was for rent. [The ferry keeper at that time was probably Thomas Laine, who, as ferry keeper, applied for a license to keep a house of private entertainment in July 1882, Court Order Book p. 95]. Bennett, an Amherst attorney, and of some relation to Nelson, appears to have handled, if not taken over his business matters regarding Bethel properties. Bennett is found to be the grandson of Ann (Anderson) Crawford, wife of David Crawford III [W.B. 4, p. 130], son of Joel Crawford ded'd State of GA.

An instance, in July 1827, Bennet Crawford entered into an agreement with Christopher and William E. Isbell to lease a tract of land, adjoining the town of Bethel and known as the Bethel tract, for a ten year term at an annual rent of $350 [Deed Book R, p. 461]. The Bethel tract contained between 370 and 403 acres and was "lately owned by N.C. Davies, deceased and Nelson Crawford." The Davies share transferred to Beverly Davies, daughter of Nicholas Clayton Davies. The agreement allowed the Isbells to clear the land as they chose and dispose of wood any way they thought proper except between the fence . . . and through lands of Richard S. Ellis and the road leading from Pedlar Mills to Bethel . . .

A deed of sale for the Bethel tract was recorded November of 1827, Nelson Crawford and wife Beverly Davies sold the land to Bennett Crawford. Nelson receives $1.00 in consideration of the transaction and Miss Davies $3,000 . . . which raises questions as to why Nelson and Miss Davies decided to be free of the Bethel tract property.

Bennet A. Crawford, [not found in marriage register] may have been Nelson's son. He continued on with another article of Agreement [Deed Book S, p. 427] dated 12/8/1828, with Henry P. and Isaac Rucker for the entire village of Bethel! This was a nine year lease to begin the first day in 1829 for "the tavern establishment at Bethel, the warehouse, storehouse, a small house near the storehouse, a small clover lot below the warehouse, the ferry boat together with all lots in the town of Bethel that lie below the street of road that leads up to Salt Creek." The Ruckers bound themselves to do all necessary repairs and keep a good sufficient ferry boat . . . at the cost of themselves.

The existence of these two agreements may suggest that Bennett Crawford served as a trustee of Nelson Crawford. It is possible that Nelson relocated to Kentucky as his father had and had a number of other local residents. Or perhaps, he had become incapacitated with poor health. The fact is, Bennett Crawford pursued managing the development of Bethel by leasing the town and land near it and also petitioning the Bedford court to view a way from the Bethel road to the county line between Bedford and Campbell Co.

Another Crawford crops up in the history of Bethel when the first post office was established there in February 1826. Edmund Crawford served as the first postmaster of the small town until Francis A. K. Davies relieved him of duties in May 1828. The post office was discontinued in September 1830 and later re-established as Salt Creek.

Look in the next issue of The Muse for more information on the development of Bethel during this time.

Amherst County Historic House Tour

Saturday, April 26 10:00-3:30

Follow this link for more information on the Historic House Tour.

Welcome New Members

• Ann Maddox—Amherst, VA
• Phyllis Pengilly — Stockton, VA
• Celia Richeson—Madison Heights, VA

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