The Dukes, Crawfords and Lides in the Cheraws

The Crawfords and Lides

In the Cheraws, we find the interwoven histories of Dukes, Crawfords, and Lides. It will be shown that the maternal founders of the Crawford and Lide families were daughters of Thomas Duke and Elizabeth Marston Duke of Virginia. Early male Dukes associated with these families in South Carolina were presumably from the same line. It is also possible that the Williamsburg County, SC, Duke family is associated with this group.

The Crawford and Lide families emigrated from Virginia to South Carolina together in the 1740Ős. John Crawford and Mary Duke Crawford had followed or accompanied JohnŐs brother, Michael, and MichaelŐs wife, Elizabeth Terrell Crawford, to South Carolina some time before 1750. They settled at Sandy Bluff, where Michael Crawford was a merchant.[1] They had three sons: James, John, and Hardy Crawford.[2] The Crawfords were from St. PaulŐs Parish, Hanover County, VA.[3]

Mary Duke Crawford was a daughter of Thomas Duke and Elizabeth Marston of James City County, Virginia. This Thomas Duke was a son of Col. Henry Duke. Another daughter of Thomas Duke, Sarah, married John Lide.[4] John and Sarah LideŐs sons, John, Thomas, and Robert, were also among the prominent early settlers of the Cheraws in South Carolina.[5] In his History of the Old Cheraws, Gregg notes that Robert, the youngest brother, was brought from Virginia in 1734 by his maternal uncle Crawford, thus confirming the identity of the Duke women as sisters.

The St. PaulŐs Parish, Hanover County, VA, register has been lost. However, St. PaulŐs Parish, Hanover County, was formed from St. PeterŐs Parish of New Kent County. The St. PeterŐs Parish Register includes listings for Crawford (Crafford), Marston and Terrell.[6] One Hanover County records reference includes Clevers Duke (son of Thomas Duke and Elizabeth Marston) along with David Crawford (son-in-law of that couple):[7]

St. MartinŐs. June 6, 1735.-Jno Chiswell, St Martins, Wm. Cliff, Peter Gregory, Stephen Ellorsay [Ellerbe?], Nightingale Dalby, Jas. Rallings, Alex Traguair, David Neal, Jno Carryson, Hugh Cuzzon, Thos. Parker; Robt. Parker, Thos. Walker, Andrew Edwards, David Cosby, Wm Chapman, Wm Watts, Clevers Duke, James Rallings & David Crawford.

Numerous real estate transactions document the Lide-Crawford relationship in South Carolina. In 1767/68, Thomas Lide is twice listed as lessee to Thomas Crawford and his wife (Charleston Deeds, Book G-3, 579 and 584).[8] In 1772-73, Michael Crawford is listed as lessor and Thomas Lide as lessee (Charleston Deeds, Book B-4, 489), while in 1778 John Crawford is listed as lessor and John Lide as lessee (Charleston Deeds, Book Y-4, 143).[9]

Thomas Lide and Thomas Crawford were commissioners of St. DavidŐs Parish, SC, in 1768.[10] The minutes of the parish vestry record letters to William Watkins and Robert Lide,[11] and in the parish election of 27 February 1769 those voting included John Crawford, Thomas Lide, Robert Lide, and John Bruce (the Bruce surname appears in other contexts related to the Duke(s) family).[12]

In 1775, Capt. Robert Lide led a company of volunteer militia from the northeast side of the PeeDee River, from BrownŐs Creek to Three Creeks, in St. DavidŐs Parish; William Watkins was his second lieutenant.[13] Also in 1767/68, Thomas Sims is listed as lessee and Thomas Lide as lessor (G-3, 595) in a real estate transaction.[14] A Jacob Blackwell also served in LideŐs militia unit.[15]

John LideŐs first grant in South Carolina was in 1745 on Fork Creek, Lynches Creek, in Craven County, adjacent John Wade of Virginia.[16] The Wades had long been associated with the family of Col. Henry Duke. Fork Creek is in western Chesterfield County near the Lancaster County boundary.

However, they later moved east into Darlington County, where the Lides appear on the 1825 Mills Atlas near the Brockingtons and Wilds between Black Creek and the Pee Dee.

Mary Duke Crawford and James Laurens

In 1761 Mary Duke Crawford (born 1704), widow of John Crawford,[17] married James Laurens.[18] This is probably the James Laurence whose estate inventory subsequently was dated 12 February 1768 in Williamsburg, SC.[19]

The Laurens couple was engaged in a legal dispute:

S136002 

Box: 056A 

Item: 0158A 

Date: 1762

Description: LAURENS, JAMES AND MARY, HIS WIFE AND ANDREW ROBERTSON AND HELEN, HIS WIFE, EXORS. AND EXIXES. OF DANIEL CRAWFORD VS CHARLES WRIGHT, JUDGMENT ROLL.

Names  Indexed: LAURENS, JAMES//LAURENS, MARY/ROBERTSON, ANDREW//ROBERTSON, HELEN/CRAWFORD, DANIEL/WRIGHT, CHARLES/

Locations: //

Type: JUDGMENT-ROLL//

Mary and James Laurens were involved with Daniel Crawford in a real estate transaction in 1770:

Series: S372001 

Volume: 03P0 

Page: 00124 

Item:00 

Date: 1770

Description: LAURENS, JAMES AND MARY LAURENS, EXORS. TO GEORGE SMITH, JR., LEASE AND RELEASE.

Names  Indexed: LAURENS, JAMES/LAURENS, MARY/SMITH, GEORGE JR./CRAWFORD, DANIEL/

Locations: /

Type: LEASE AND RELEASE/

William Duke in Chesterfield

In 1785 a William Duke owned land in southern Chesterfield County adjacent William Lide:

Series Number: S213190 

Volume: 0012 

Page:  00161     

Item: 003 

Date: 1785/08/22

Description: LIDE, WILLIAM, PLAT FOR 640 ACRES ON HARRIS CREEK, CHERAW DISTRICT, SURVEYED BY ALEXANDER CRAIG.

Names Indexed: LIDE, WILLIAM/CRAIG, ALEXANDER/DUKE, WILLIAM/POWE, THOMAS/DEWITT, WILLIAM/

Locations: CHERAWS DISTRICT/PEE DEE RIVER/HARRIS CREEK

Type: PLAT/

Harris Creek appears on the 1825 Mills Atlas on the boundary of Chesterfield County and Darlington County as a tributary of Big Cedar Creek, a tributary of the Pee Dee River. The William Lide above was a son of John Lide, one of the three sons of Robert Lide and his wife Sarah Duke Lide of Darlington County/

In 1800 William Dukes was listed in the federal census of Chesterfield County. He is listed on page 359 near Nicholas Nicholson. Others in his household included 3 boys 0-10, 1 boy 10-16, and an adult male more than 45 years old. There were also a female 25-45 years old, two girls 1-10, and a girl 10-16. This William Dukes would have been born in 1755 or earlier.

Lide and Duke in Darlington District

The militia records of Darlington County, South Carolina, include a William Duke on the Black Creek Company Muster Roll for 1816.[20]

An undated reference [certainly 19th century] from the SCDAH records again associates the Duke and Lide families, in the Darlington District:

Series: S165015 

Year: ND00 

Item: 04826 

ignore:00 

Date: N.D.

Description: INHABITANTS OF DARLINGTON DISTRICT, PETITION ASKING TO DISCONTINUE THE ROAD ON THE PEE DEE RIVER FROM POUNCEYS FERRY TO BEUTONS MILL CREEK. (2 PAGES)

Names  Indexed: EDWARDS, JOHN J./BROWN, P. C./COGGESHALL, P. C./WILDS, P. A./LIDE, HUGH/LIDE, W. H./ERVIN, ROBERT/MANDEVILLE, C./COLEMAN, JAMES/DUKE, T. J. J./THOMAS, W. B./ADDAMS, BENJAMIN/FOUNTAIN, H./BROWN, K./BACOT, SAMUEL/ROGERS, ELIJHA/DUBOSE, ISAIAH/BISHOP, J./HUNTER, THOMAS/HART, THOMAS E.

Locations: DARLINGTON DISTRICT/PEE DEE RIVER/CHARLESTON/GEORGETOWN

Type: PETITION/

               Topics: ROADS, COMMISSIONERS OF/STREETS, ROADS, AND HIGHWAYS

Sarah Duke in Marlboro County

In 1800, Sarah Duke is listed on the Winyaw, Georgetown District, census, p. 363. In 1810 a Sarah Duke is listed in Marlboro County, page 92. These may be the same individual who appears in a message from Mirian Bailey (Miriam@phonl.com) sent 26 Sep 1997: ŇMeanwhile, my interest in the Dukes is William Duke who married Sarah, daughter of Joseph McDaniel, Sr., before 1803 in Marlboro Co., SC. Does anyone have info about a William Dukes who married a McDaniel?Ó

The Duke Family of the Cheraws in Charleston County

William Duke in 1787

William Duke witnessed this Charleston real estate transaction. The William Duke in question was probably from the Cheraws.

Charleston Deed Book Y-5, pp. 56-60: ŇLease and mortgage, 2 & 3 Apr 1787, John Gatch of Charleston, SC, carpenter, and Catherine his wife, to Lightfoot Harrison Davis and James Nicholson, both of said city, by bond in the penal sum of 60 pounds sterling, as tenants in common and not as joint tenants, lot in the village of Rumney on Meeting Street on a creek which divides it from the distillery. John Gatch (LS) Catherine Gatch (LS) (S) (LS), Wit: Wm. Duke, John DeWitt. Proved in Charlestown District by the oath of John DeWitt 23 Apr 1787 before Peter Horry, J. P. Recorded 23 Apr 1787." Ref: South Carolina Deed Abstracts 1783-1788.

In 1757 John Dewitt owned land on Jeffrys Creek, Craven County.[21] This is the Florence, SC, area and was the location of Benjamin DukeŐs in-laws, Burtonhead Boutwell and Elizabeth Commander Boutwell.[22] DeWitt was a clerk of court there. William Duke of Chesterfield Count was listed in the 1800 census as a very near neighbor of Nicholas Nicholson.

William Duke of St. Stephens and Goose Creek

The Duke-Wright association documented in the affairs of Mary Duke Crawford Laurens is echoed in the affairs of William Dukes of St. Stephens, Charleston County, SC. This William Duke also seems to have originated in the Duke families in the Cheraws.

In 1821 a plat shows William Dukes with 509 acres in St. Stephens Parish:

Series Number: S213190 

Volume: 0039 

Page: 00232 

Item:00 

Date: 1821/02/05

Description: DUKES, WILLIAM, PLAT FOR 509 ACRES IN ST. STEPHENS PARISH, CHARLESTON DISTRICT, SURVEYED BY MICHAEL BYRNE.

Names  Indexed: DUKES, WILLIAM/BYRNE, MICHAEL/PETERSON/PONTOUX/

Locations: SAINT STEPHENS PARISH/CHARLESTON DISTRICT

Type: PLAT/

The census data suggest that this St. Stephens Parish land was the home place of this Dukes family. The federal census of 1830 lists William Dukes in St. Stephens, Charleston Co, p. 188. It shows that William was born in 1770-1780. The St. Stephens location indicates that he was between the Santee and the Cooper rivers, above St. Thomas and St. Denis and above St. James Santee. St. Stephens extended inland to GaillardŐs Island on the Santee, and took in the area east of St. Julien Plantation to the Santee.

Use of the same surveyor suggests that this William Dukes is the same individual as that in St. Stephens Parish, in this case owning land in St. Thomas and St. Denis Parish:

Series Number: S213190 

Volume: 0039 

Page: 00211 

Item: 01 

Date: 1820/06/06

Description: DUKES, WILLIAM, PLAT FOR 1,000 ACRES ON WAMBAW SWAMP, ST. THOMAS PARISH, CHARLESTON DISTRICT, SURVEYED BY MICHAEL BYRNE.

Names Indexed: DUKES, WILLIAM/BYRNE, MICHAEL/PORTHREL, THOMAS/HILLARD, JAMES/BONO, ARNOL/

Locations: BIG WAMBAW SWAMP/SAINT THOMAS AND SAINT DENIS PARISH/CHARLESTON DISTRICT

Type: PLAT/

An 1829 reference in the records of the Charleston County Ordinary shows that William Dukes and Elizabeth Wright Dukes were involved in a legal action against a couple named Brazil regarding settlement of the estate of Jeremiah Wright.[23] The only Jeremiah Wright of an appropriate age found in the South Carolina census was in Williamsburg in 1800, Marion District, listed on page 91. He was listed near the Matthews family, and also John Frierson, Joseph Scott, and John Brockington. This places him near Clapp Swamp, where George Dukes held land in 1790.[24]

In 1790 Jeremiah Wright was listed in St. Thomas, the Cheraws District, on page 47. In 1800 he was listed in Williamsburg, Marion District, near David McClary, John Frierson, John Matthews (estate), Witherspoons, and others.

The same William Duke may have owned land at Goose Creek. St. James Goose Creek lay on the west of the Cooper River, across from St. Thomas and St. Denis. It extended inland as far as NelsonŐs Ferry on the Santee, and included DeanŐs Swamp on the Four Holes, and the Four Holes as far inland as the modern Orangeburg County boundary.

A William Dukes plat for 1,830 acres in St. James Goose Creek Parish adjacent Thomas Hyott and Sineath is undated.[25] William J. Sineath began acquiring Goose Creek property in 1833, and lived at 12-Mile House until 1865.[26] His land was in part on the old Manigault Steepbrook Estate, and was adjacent the Parker/Barker estate at Martindale. Thomas Elmes was also a nearby landowner.

In 1835 a plat was filed by William Dukes for 149 acres in St. James Goose Creek Parish, adjacent Lewis Cannon, Martindale, William Manigault, Thomas Hyott and Glen Hyott.[27]

In 1850 88 acres of William DukesŐ land in St. James Goose Creek was platted:

Series Number: L10005 

Reel:  0003 

Plat:  01558 

ignore: 00 

Date: 1850/03

Description: DUKES, WILLIAM, PLAN OF A TRACT OF LAND CONTAINING 88 ACRES SITUATED IN THE PARISH OF ST. JAMES GOOSE CREEK, S.C., SURVEYED AT THE REQUEST AND FOR MR. GLEN HYOTH BY RICHARD H. JONES. (B.6, P.15)

Names Indexed: DUKES, WILLIAM/DUKES, FLORENCE/JONES, RICHARD H./HYOTH, THOMAS/HYOTH, GLEN/MONPOLY/

Locations: SAINT JAMES GOOSE CREEK PARISH/

Type: PLAN/

Thomas Hyott owned a bridge on the Four Holes (Series: S165015 Year - 1834 Item - 00043 Date: 1834/11/14).

This last reference relates to settlement of WilliamŐs estate:

Series Number: L10005 

Reel: 0008 

Plat: 04212 

Date: 1850/03-1870/06

Description: DUKES, WILLIAM, PLAT REPRESENTING 88 ACRES OF LAND ABOUT TO BE CONVEYED TO GLEN HYOTT BY HEIRS OF DUKES IN THE PARISH OF SAINT JAMES GOOSE CREEK, SURVEYED BY RICHARD H. JONES. (C.137)

Names Indexed: DUKES, WILLIAM/JONES, RICHARD H./HYOTT, GLEN/ONEIL/SINEATH/MONPY/DUKES, FLORENCE/HYOTT, THOMAS/

Locations: SAINT JAMES GOOSE CREEK PARISH/

Type: PLAT/

 

 

 



[1] Gregg, Right Rev. Alexander. 1925. History of the Old Cheraws. Columbia: The State Company. Page 70.

[2] Gregg, Right Rev. Alexander. 1925. History of the Old Cheraws. Columbia: The State Company. Page 71.

[3] Matthews, Edna Crawford. Heritage of William Murphy Crawford and Almina (Boggs) Crawford Family. Excerpt sent by Christine Jensen April 22, 1997.

[4] Brandenberger, Evelyn Duke. 1979. The Duke Family. Houston: Evelyn Duke Brandenberger. Pages 9-11.

[5] Gregg, Right Rev. Alexander. 1925. History of the Old Cheraws. Columbia: The State Company. Pages 77-78.

[6] St. PeterŐs Parish, New Kent County, VA, Parish Register.

[7] Hanover County, VA, Records. William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine Vol. 61.

[8] Lucas, Silas Emmett. 1977. An Index to Deeds of the Province and State of South Carolina 1719-1785 and Charleston District 1785-1800. Easley: Southern Historical Press. Page 627.

[9] Lucas, Silas Emmett. 1977. An Index to Deeds of the Province and State of South Carolina 1719-1785 and Charleston District 1785-1800. Easley: Southern Historical Press. Page 172.

[10] Holcomb, Brent. 1979. Saint DavidŐs Parish South Carolina: Minutes of the Vestry 1768-1832, Parish Register 1819-1924. Pickens: Southern Historical Press. Page 1.

[11] Holcomb, Brent. 1979. Saint DavidŐs Parish South Carolina: Minutes of the Vestry 1768-1832, Parish Register 1819-1924. Pickens: Southern Historical Press. Pages 2-3.

[12] Holcomb, Brent. 1979. Saint DavidŐs Parish South Carolina: Minutes of the Vestry 1768-1832, Parish Register 1819-1924. Pickens: Southern Historical Press. Page 5.

[13] 1901. Papers of the First Council of Safety of the Revolutionary Party in South Carolina., June-November 1775. South Carolina Historical and Genealogical Magazine. Vol. II(4): 264-265.

[14] Lucas, Silas Emmett. 1977. An Index to Deeds of the Province and State of South Carolina 1719-1785 and Charleston District 1785-1800. Easley: Southern Historical Press. Page 311.

[15] Moss, Bobby Gilmer. 1983. Roster of South Carolina Patriots in the American Revolution. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. Page 74.

[16] Colonial Plats. Series S213184. Vol. 0007. Page 00010. Item 03. Date 1745/09/05. South Carolina Department of Archives and History.

[17] A John Crawford voted in the election of St. DavidŐs Parish, in 1769. This is obviously not the same John Crawford MaryŐs husband, but could be a son. (Gregg, Right Rev. Alexander. 1925. History of the Old Cheraws. Columbia: The State Company.)

[18] National Society of Colonial Dames of America. 1916. The Register Book for the Parish of Prince Frederick Winyaw. Baltimore: National Society of Colonial Dames of America. Page 51.

[19] Lucas, Silas Emmett. 1977. Probate Records of South Carolina, Volume I: Index to Inventories 1746-1785. Easley: Southern Historical Press. Page 38.

[20] Bell, Mary Campbell. 1985. War of 1812 Militia Records of Darlington County, South Carolina. South Carolina Magazine of Ancestral Research, Vol. XIII: 23.

[21] Colonial Plats. Series No. S213184. Volume 0006. Page 00295. Item 02. Date: 1757/03/22. South Carolina Department of Archives and History.

[22] South Carolina inventories Vol. Y p.139-145 3 Oct. 1769, Burtonhead Boutwell, Roll #ST497. South Carolina Department of Archives and History.

[23] Holcomb, Brent H. 2002. Charleston County S C Journal of the Ordinary. Columbia: SCMAR. Page 178.

[24] Colonial Plats. Series Number S213190. Vol. 0026. Page 00105. Item 02. Date 1790/02/11. South Carolina Department of Archives and History.

[25] Plats. Series L10005. Reel 0008. Plat 04181. N.D. South Carolina Department of Archives and History.

[26] Heitzler, Michael J. 2005. Goose Creek: A Definitive History. Charleston: History Press. Pages 170-171.

[27] Series L10005. Reel 0003. Plat: 01630. Date 1835/12/29. South Carolina Department of Archives and History.