Captain Robert Craig

Robert Craig was born circa 1740 in Lancaster County, Province of Pennsylvania. In 1750, Cumberland County was created from portions of Lancaster County. Robert Craig spent his early years among the Scots-Irish settlement there and married Jennet Unknown circa 1760 in Carlisle, the County seat of the recently created Cumberland County. Their first son, William Craig, was born on December 8, 1763. Robert Craig moved to Fincastle County, Colony of Virginia in 1773. Fincastle County was created in 1772 from Botetourt County and was abolished in 1776 when it was divided and Washington County, Virginia was created. In 1773, Robert Craig and other residents requested that Rev. Charles Cummings establish a new Presbyterian Church. In 1774, Robert Craig fought with the Fincastle Militia during Dunmore's War and later led troops during the Cherokee Expedition in 1776. In April 1777, Robert Craig was appointed as one of the six trustees in the establishment of the town of Abingdon, Virginia. Robert Craig served as town trustee for Abingdon in 1778; Tax Commissioner in 1779; and Coroner of Washington County in 1780. On May 15, 1777 Robert Craig was commissioned as Captain of the Militia of Washington County by Patrick Henry, Governor of Virginia. On September 23, 1780, approximately 400 militiamen, including Captain Robert Craig, under the command of Colonel William Campbell, gathered at the Muster Grounds in Abingdon, Virginia and departed for Sycamore Shoals, in present-day Tennessee. There they joined forces from modern Tennessee, Kentucky, and North Carolina. They became known as the "overmountain men." They marched south, and with others from the colonies of South Carolina and Georgia, defeated British forces under the command of Major Patrick Ferguson at the Battle of Kings Mountain on October 7, 1780. Captain Robert Craig led the Militia from Washington County, Virginia during the battle. This battle is considered a major turning point of the Revolutionary War. Captain Robert Craig and his family moved to Knox County, Kentucky circa 1800. Robert Craig was listed on the tax rolls for Knox County, Kentucky from 1802-1817. Robert Craig was listed in 1810 census records of Knox County, Kentucky but not in the 1820 census records. Captain Robert Craig died after 1817 in Knox County, Kentucky. Submitted by James F. Haynes.

DNA Results on Captain Robert Craig.

Robert Craig was identified as the brother of James Craig and the father of William Craig as a result of a YDNA match between descendants of both men. At the time of the match neither of the men who submitted the YDNA sample knew their relationship to Robert Craig or the relationship to each other. A descendant of James Craig identified him as his oldest male Craig ancestor and had information about him. The other man in the match had information about William Craig as his oldest known ancestor. Because of the known birth dates of James Craig and William Craig, it was apparent that the father of William Craig was in the same generation as James Craig. Therefore a search of early records that would connect James to a possible father of William was begun, since the YDNA proved a blood relationship between William and James Craig. A search of records identified James and Robert as brothers. The YDNA therefore linked William to Robert as either a father or uncle. Subsequent records placed William in the household of Robert and not in James', therefore identifying him as Robert's son. Posted on Ancestry 02 April 2012 by KYborn71.

Notes:

Robert Craig and James Craig were residents of Washington County and Abingdon, Virginia at the same time. They were the only two Craig men on the the 1782 Washington County, Virginia personal tax list. William Craig, son of Robert Craig, mentioned James Craig, who was his uncle, in his application for a pension for Revolutionary War service. Robert and James Craig along with with third brother, David Craig, were listed together in a "call" to Reverend Cummings to start a new Presbyterian Church in Washington, County, Virginia.

Gordon Aronhime, a respected researcher of Washington County, Virginia, history, stated in his records that James Craig was a brother of Captain Robert Craig.

"Old Washington" was the title of an article written by Governor David Campbell of Virginia sometime before his death in 1859. In his recollections of the settlement of early Washington County, Virginia, he listed the names of the earliest settlers, including "Craig-three brothers, James, Robert and David.". This information is found in Margaret Campbell Fisher's book, Historical Sketches of the Campbell, Pilcher and Related Families (1911), pages 97-98. She states that the Campbells and Craig families were well acquainted over many years so it is assumed his recollections would be correct.

Robert Craig listed in the 1810 Census records for Knox County, Kentucky.

Robert Craig listed as Captain in the Virginia Militia at Kings Mountain October 1780 in Historical Register of Virginians in the Revolution, page 187, (1973) by John H. Gwathmey.

Robert Craig was appointed as one of the original trustees of the town of Abingdon, Virginia, by the Virginia Assembly in October 1788 and is recorded on page 269 of the book, "History of Southwest 1746-1786, Washington County, 1777-1870" (1903) by Lewis Preston Summers.

Robert Craig signed a call to Rev. Charles Cummings to establish a new presbyterian church in Fincastle County, Colony of Virginia in 1773 recorded on page 97 in the book "Historical Sketches of the Campbell, Pilcher and Kindred Families (1911) by Margaret Campbell Pitcher.

http://archive.org/stream/hisoricalsketch00pilc#page/n9/mode/2up.

Robert Craig purchased 400 acres in the Hanging Rock Watercourse on June 1,1780, recorded in Book A, page 120 and 172 acres in Clarks Run Watercourse on June 12, 1781, and recorded in Book 1, page 235; listed on pages 193 and 25 in the book "Old Kentucky Entries and Deeds (1987) by Willard Rouse Jillson.