General Notes

Alias:<ALIA> Crighton\Crichton or /Critten/
From a letter written by Wilmer L. Kerns to Sue Kendrick on July 23,
1993: "...Thanks for your letter regarding the Critton family.  I have
been researching this surname for several decades, and have yet to
finalize a proven description of the first Critton family unit that lived
in Old Frederick County, VA.  I will share some of my thinking with you,
although it does not represent a complete ...picutre.  I am writing a
book, Settlement and Early Settlers of the Cacapon Valley, which will be
published several years hence.  The Critton family history will be
included as one chapter in the book...Tradition says that the Critton
family  originated in England, came to Pennsylvania during the mid 18th
century; then settled in Hampshire County, VA. (now W.VA) about
1759-1760...There is a Critton Hollow in Hampshire County, also known as
Critton's Valley on 1850-1860 court documents.  To the best of my
knowledge, Critton Hollow was named after John Critton II (1792-1849),
son of John and Barbara Critton Jr.  It is a backwoods mountain community
that is serviced by a dusty road. Wild animals still roam in the
mountainsides (bear, deer, raccoon, oppossum, bobcat, as well as
pheasants, wild turkeys, owl, and grouse).  There are sheep on the
mountainsides...Mountain music is still played in Critton Hollow.  In
fact, the Critton Hollow String Band is known across the country as a
mountain folk music group...A small stream flows from the upper part of
the hollow and continues to gain momentum as other mountain springs feed
the main stream before it flows in to the Great Cacapon River.  The upper
part of the hollow ( or valley) is called Critton Owl Hollow, and the
lower part (east of the road to Paw Paw, WV) is simply called Critton
Hollow...I have done extensive on-site research in Critton Hollow and
have considered that area as my retirement home (if my wife
cooperates)... Easiest to track is "old" John Critton (ca 1735-1803) and
his wife Mary.  They lived on the west side of Spring Gap Mountain near
the Little Cacapon River in Hampshire County, owning numerous parcels of
land.  Probably John Sr. and his sons were involved in a commercial
milling operation along one of the tributaries of the Little Cacapon
River.  The Crittons were slave-owners, which was rare in the mountain
country.  For example, in 1782, John Sr. owned 6 horses and 7 slaves.  In
1785, he owned 16 slaves.  All of John's male children became slave
owners when they came of age."
Excerpts from The West Virginia Advocate, article by Wilmer L. Kerns: "
Balzar Stoker's grave was discovered in an 18th century Stoker graveyard
(now Ginevan Cemetery) located on a high hill on the west side of the
Little Cacapon River...These probably indicate burial places of other
18th century sttlers who lived in the same region as the Stokers.  Some
of the earliest settlers in that area of Hampshire County were named Cox,
House, Enoch, Anderson, Johnson, Critton, Fryback, Stoker, and Neill. In
November, 1774, Lord Fairfax appointed a new surveyor for Hampshire
County...The purpose of that survey was to designate a Little Cacapon
Mountain 90-acre plot of land which was to be granted to John Critton. 
The plot was adjacent to land then owned by Critton and also adjacent to
land then owned by Isaac Cox."
Critton/Chritton/Critten possibly derived from Crittenden/Crittendon. 
Critten family is said to have come from Southwold, Suffolk, England
where they were boat builders or from Crighton which was a Scottish clan
from Perthshire.  There's also a family tradition among some Critten
families that they descend from a Merwin Critten who married an Indian
maiden after arriving in America...
There were two John Crittons in the Hampshire County area according to
Wilmer Kerns. I've found NOTHING on the John Critton who was not our
ancestor and probab