Jane Taliaferro

• General Notes
  • Notes for: Taliaferro Craig (1705-1795)
    
    Occupation:
    
    Military Service: Virginia Militia
    
    Other Notes:
    
    Taliaferro Craig, called "Toliver" Craig by his peers, was our first Craig ancestor on this continent that we can relate to. His parentage has been discussed and bandied about through the past generations. For such a distinguished man who reared eleven children, of which three became famous Baptist preachers, many stories abound as to the origin of his birth.
    
    Regardless which of the following tales you choose to believe Toliver lived a good forthright life and was an example to his children. Ann Virginia Parker, in her book, "THE SANDERS FAMILY OF GRASS HILLS," acknowledges the confusion surrounding the birth of Toliver Craig by the following accounts:
    
    "There are many stories among the different branches of Craigs as to the origin of the family. Among my file of papers I have four of these stories. Take you choice."
    
    "Mrs. Virginia Webb Howard in "Heroes and Heroines" writes, about 1703, a John Craig of Scotland married Jane Taliaferro, he died shortly afterwards, and his widow started to America with two of his brothers. On board the ship in 1704 or 1705 a child was born to Jane Taliaferro Craig and she named him Taliaferro Craig. She died soon after the birth of this child, so Taliaferro Craig, an orphan, grew up in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, with his mother’s brothers.
    
    The name Taliaferro came to be called "Toliver", and as Toliver he was known throughout his long and active life."
    
    Another version copied from a letter written by Mrs. John C. Sherley to my aunt Mrs. Anna Sanders Brown in 1898, explains it this way; "Taliaferro Craig was the "Posthumous" son of Joseph Craig and Jane Taliaferro, who was a relative of Robert Taliaferro with whom she came to Virginia, having buried her husband in Scotland. A younger brother of her first husband, Rev. John Craig, emigrated later to Virginia and settled in Augusta County, Virginia."
    
    Another account goes this way; "John Craig from Scotland went to Italy on account of ill health, fell in love with an Italian girl named Jane Taliaferro, and they were married. He died in a short time and Toliver was their son."
    
    Among Lewis Sanders' papers is another story which Francis Craig of Boone County acknowledges to be the true origin. This story is; "Two brothers named Taliaferro, supposed to be Italians, came to Virginia in the beginning of the eighteenth century. One of the brothers was a seafaring man engaged in trade from Virginia to Scotland. This man brought over on one of his trips from Scotland a woman and two brothers named Craig. This young woman had a son by Captain Taliaferro, which she named "Taliaferro Craig." He is generally referred to as "Toliver". Lewis Sanders wrote to a cousin in Boone County and in answer Francis Craig writes; "Your inquiry in relation to the origin of the Craig family is a somewhat delicate matter, but your statements are facts with this addition, that my grandfather's mother through life sustained an unblemished character." Signed, Francis Craig.
    
    Francis Craig was the ninth son of John and Sally Page Craig. He was born in 1776. He was a minister in the Baptist Church.
    
    Now which story should we believe? Regardless of his parentage Toliver was a remarkable man. He survived the siege by the Indians and Canadians under Capt. William Caldwell and Simon Girty at Bryan Station in August 1782 and lived to be over 90 years of age. Toliver was born about 1705 in Virginia and died in Woodford Co., Kentucky in 1796. His will is recorded in Will Book B, Page 79 and probated 5 August 1799.
    
    Sometime, somewhere, Toliver met a young maid by the name of Mary "Polly" Hawkins and they fell in love. From all indications she was from a well-to-do family which shows that Toliver must have had a proper upbringing or the Hawkin family would not have approved of their courtship. They said their vows and were married. We have no Proof of this marriage as courthouses were burned and records with them.
    
    Polly was with Toliver at Bryan Station when it was attacked, and proved her character by being one of the women who left the fort to go fetch water knowing the fort was surrounded by the enemy.
    
    This courageous couple had eleven children three of whom became famous Baptist preachers.
    
    WILLS: Woodford Co., KY., Will Book B, Page 79.
    
    MILITARY: TOLIVER CRAIG was a soldier in the Virginia militia and a defender of Bryant's Station, when attacked by British under Caldwell, and Indians led by the infamous Simon Girty. See DAR Lineage Book, Lineage #5093.
    
    SOURCE: Fork of Elkhorn Church, Darnell, pg 111-113. Reminiscences, J. P. Haw
    
    MARRIAGE: Records of this marriage have not been verified. May have been married in King William Co., Va.
    
    BIRTH: May have been born in Essex Co., Va.
    
    INDENTURE: This Indenture made this forth day of February in the Tenth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Third by the grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith and in the year of our Lord Christ one Thousand Seven hundred and Seventy one. Between Taliaferro Craig of the County of Spotsylvania and Mary his wife of the one part and Lewis Craig of the said County of the other part. Witnesseth that the said Taliaferro Craig and Mary his wife for and in consideration of the sum of Fifty four pound current money of Virginia by the said Lewis Craig to the said Taliaferro Craig in hand paid at and before the Ensealing and Delivery of these presents the Receipt whereof he the said Taliaferro Craig Doth hereby acknowledge and the said Lewis Craig his heirs and assigns thereof and therefrom doth hereby forever acquit exonerate and discharge hath granted Bargained and sold and by these presents doth grant bargain sell alien enfioss and confirm unto the said Lewis Craig his heirs and assigns all that Tract or parcel of land lying in the County of Orange and bounded as followeth. Beginning at a Walnut & hickory corner & to courn in Spotswoods back line thence with that line north forty three degrees east one hundred and thirty poles to a White Oak, From thence leaving the said line north four degrees west seventy two poles to a white oak corner to Davis's lot, thence north forty nine degrees west eighty poles to a white oak and red oak stump in Branhams Cleared ground corner to Branaugh thence south thirty nine degrees west one hundred and eighty nine poles to a Spanish and White oak, corner to bourn thence south fifty two degrees east one hundred and twenty pole to the beginning. Together with all singular houses, buildings fences orchard woods underwood ways waters meadows feedings and all other benefits and advantages whatsoever. To the said land belonging or in anywise appurtaining and all the Estate Right title interest use property re------- remainder claim and demand of them the said Taliaferro Craig and Mary his wife, of in or to the said land and premises or of any part or parcel thereof to have and to hold the said one hundred and thirty five acres of land and premises with their and ever of their appurtenances unto the said Lewis Craig his heirs and assigns forever to the only proper use and behoof of him the said Lewis Craig his heirs and assigns forever and to us other use intent or purpose whatsoever and the said Taliaferro Craig and Mary his wife for themselves and their heirs do covenant and agree to and with the said Lewis Craig his heirs and assigns that they the said Taliaferro Craig and Mary his wife and their heirs shall and will warrant and forever defend the said land and premises hereby granted unto the said Lewi Craig his heirs and assigns, against the claim and claims of all and every person and persons whatsoever and that the said Lewis Craig his heirs and assign shall and May from time to time and at all times forever hereafter freely peaceable and quietly enter into and upon have a hold use occupy posses and enjoy all and singular the said land and premises with the appurtenances without the daufull sell suit trouble denial hindrance molestation or disturbance of them the said Taliaferro Craig and Mary his wife their or either of their heirs or assigns or any other person or persons whatsoever and also that the said Taliaferro Craig and Mary his wife shall and will at any time hereafter at the request and proper costs and charges in the saw of him the said Lewis Craig his heirs or assigns make do and execute or cause to be made done and executed such further or other lawful and reasonable act and acts con-------- and ajourances whatsoever as shall be adjudged necessary for the quiet enjoyment of the above mentioned granted land and premises to the said Elijah Craig his heirs and assigns forever in witness whereof the said Taliaferro Craig and Mary his wife have hereunto set their hands and seals the day and year first above written.
    
    Sealed and Delivered in the presence of Toliver T. C. Craig, John Craig,
    
    Elizabeth Davis, Anne Craig
    
    Received of the within named Lewis Craig Fifty four pounds current money of Virginia being the consideration for the within mentioned granted land and premises. Witness my hand this day Anno Domm one thousand seven hundred and seventy
    
    DEEDS: Spotsylvania Co., VA., Deed Book J-1774-1782.
    
    June 30, 1781, Taliaferro x Craig of Orange Co., and Mary his wife to Wm. Wiatt of Spts. Co., L20,000 curr. 500 acres in Berkeley Par., Spts. Co., Jos. Brock, Willm. Smith, Danl. Branham, Benony Williams. July 19, 1781