The Kessler Family History

 

Galfridus de Craufurd divided the Barony of Crawford between his two sons, Hugh and Reginald, Hugh receiving the Barony and the portion given to Reginald became known as Crawfordjohn after Reginald’s son John. Crawfordjohn is a small village and civil parish located in South Lanarkshire, Scotland.  It is 3 miles west of Abington and 7 miles north east of Leadhills, near junction 13 of the M74. It lies to the north of the Duneaton Water, a tributary of the River Clyde. It is known for the manufacture of curling stones.

 

John de Craufurd witnessed a charter of Abbott Arnold to Theobald Flamaticus for Douglas Water. Johannes de Crawford, great-great-grandson of Galfridus de Craufurd, through his eldest son Hugh (d. 1248), had two daughters - the youngest who married William Lindsay, ancestor of the Earls of Crawford. The eldest daughter Margaret married Archibald Douglas, progenitor of the Earls of Douglas. A later Reginald de Crawford, of the Crawfordjohn line, married James de Loudon’s daughter and heir, Margaret. In 1196, during the reigin of William I of Scotland, Sir Reginald Crawford was appointed Sheriff of Ayr. He was succeeded by his son, Hugh Crawford of Loudon, Sheriff of Ayr.

 

From Sir Reginald of Loudoun descends the main branch of the Crawfords. This branch of the clan received lands from Robert I of Scotland in 1320. From a younger son of the Sheriff descend the Crawfords of Craufurdland. This man’s claim to the property was confirmed by Robert III of Scotland in 1391. The third branch of Crawfords are the Crawfords of Kilbirnie, who claim descent from Sir John of Crawfordjohn. The Crawfords of Kilbirnie acquired the Kilbirnie estates in 1499. Another important marriage of the Crawfords was that of Sir Reginald Crawford’s sister Margaret and Sir Alan Wallace of Ellerslie. In 1781 a baronetcy was conferred to this branch of the clan.

 

Clan Crawford is does not have a chief recognised by the Lord Lyon King of Arms. Because of this the clan is considered an armigerous clan, and is not recognised under Scots Law. The clan is not currently represented at the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs. Peter Houison Craufurd of Craufurdland petitioned the Lyon Court in October, 2007 for Chiefship of this name. The petition is currently docketed for review by the newly appointed Lord Lyon. The modern crest badge of a member of Clan Crawford contains the crest: a stag’s head erased Gules, between the attires a cross crosslet fitchée Sable. Encircling the crest on the crest badge is a strap and buckle engraved with the motto: TUTUM TE ROBORE REDDAM (from Latin: “I will give you safety by strength”).

 

 

Now I realize that for those of us who are not Scottish or Irish most of the above makes little since and is hard to read. However, it is our lineage and worth noting who knows maybe it will spur you to Google something and you just might learn something. As far as ancient history connecting to our more current history I can find the names and dates but not much as far a truly knowing who they were. What I can tell you is that from Scotland and Ireland we can trace down to a Joseph Crawford who was born about 1826 in Ohio and was the first Crawford from our lineage born in the USA. His father Samuel Crawford was born in Ballyshannon, Ireland around 1795. Sometime between his birth and before Joseph’s birth they came to America but I’m not sure how or when.

 

From Joseph I can trace our lineage down to Leona Mae Crawford, my grandmother. What I can tell you about Leona is that she met Howard Kessler in Indiana when he was working on a road project organized by President Roosevelt. Remember the Work Projects Administration and the New Deal. Leona’s mother died when she was young and she never completed her schooling. Her father moved around a lot for work and she mainly took care of her brothers and sisters. When she was married she was a waitress for a short time but mostly became a homemaker and was very active in their church. She was known for her sewing and baking.