Crawford-Yancy-Scrogins Family Papers

Jesse H. Crawford was born April 27, 1784, in North Carolina. He was the son of James and Elizabeth Crawford. He married Hannah on April 24, 1806. Hannah was born on August 31, 1788, in Georgia. Jesse and Hannah lived in Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi before moving to the Republic of Texas in 1839. The Crawford family settled in Nacogdoches where Jesse lived and worked as a farmer until his death. Jesse owned land in Nacogdoches, San Augustine and Rusk Counties. Jesse and Hannah were legally separated in the 1860's. In the petition for separation Hannah stated that there were twelve children born to her and Jesse. After the separation, Hannah went to live in Henderson, Texas, where she died in 1866. Jesse lived with Mariah Theresa, Jesse and Hannah's seventh child, until his death on August 12, 1862.

Mariah Theresa Crawford was born on December 19, 1820, in Green County, Alabama. Mariah met Archelaus T. Yancy, who was born in Virginia ca. 1806, and they were married on July 19, 1847, in Nacogdoches County. Archelaus was eligible to receive 1/3 league of land in San Augustine County that was given to him by the Republic of Texas. Mariah and Archelaus took care of Jesse Crawford for several years until his death. Mariah then inherited the bulk of Jesse's properties, and Archelaus was the executor of his will. Legal problems over the will and disputes from other members of the family caused most of the property to be tied up in court battles until 1868. Archelaus died on September 15, 1866, leaving Mariah to handle the court cases and to tend to the property. Mariah died September 15, 1879, and both she and Archelaus are buried in the Walnut Grove Cemetery in Nacogdoches. Born to Mariah and Archelaus was one child, a daughter named Sarah Hannah.

Sarah Hannah Yancy was born in Nacogdoches County on June 8, 1848. She married James Grissom Scroggins, a friend and business associate of her father, on June 13, 1865. James was born March 25, 1836 in Alabama. James served in the Confederate States Army during the War between the States serving in Co. A, 3rd Battalion of the Texas Mounted Volunteers as a Sergeant. Sarah Hannah and James had thirteen children born to them. James preceded his wife in death on January 11, 1912. Sarah Hannah lived with her daughter, Sarah Helen Coats, until her death on March 13, 1926. Both Sarah Hannah and James are buried at Walnut Grove Cemetery in Nacogdoches County.

(Key, Wanda C. "Crawford, Jesse." Nacogdoches County Families. Dallas, Texas; Curtis Media Corporation, 1985. p. 231; Key, Wanda C. "Yancy, Mariah Theresa and Archelaus" Nacogdoches County Families. Dallas, Texas; Curtis Media Corporation, 1985. p. 734.)