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History of John Craig family of Ireland & Descendants of Robert Fleming, SR 1240, Scotland (view PDF including Both Craig & Fleming).

The Craigs came from Ballyroney, County Down Northern Ireland about 1773. John Craig, having come from Ireland in 1773 served as an apprentice cabinet-maker with his brother, Henry, who had come over from Ireland a short time previously, and had settled in Philadelphia Pa.

When the Revolutionary war began Henry enlisted in the Penn's Line, but owing to the fact that he had a family, John took his place and served seven years under Mad Anthony Wayne as Pvt. 4th Pa. Btn. and was wounded at Three Rivers Canada. After John had gone to war Henry Craig re-enlisted and after going to the front was never heard from again. There was also another brother who served in the Rev. War, Alexander who later settled at Starnina near Charleston, South Carolina where his descendants still live.

After the war John Craig came to Westmoreland County and married Betsy Atkinson and had five children: Nancy, Peggy, Alexander, James and Samuel. John settled in Fairveiw Township, Butler Co in 1796. About one mile south of what is now Karns City on the left of the road. John and Betsy had two more children: Elizabeth (Betsy),and George. James Craig b.1786,the eldest son of John and Elizabeth (Betsy) Atkinson Craig had six children: Elizabeth b.1810,George N. b.1822,James b.1817 d.1877, Mary b.1825,Susan b.1830 and John Craig b.1823 d.1888.

Samuel Craig, 1796-1870, son of John and Elizabeth Craig had five children: William H. 1830-1897, James Henry, 1832-1899, Sara J. 1834-1876,George 1840-1858 and Rebecca A. Craig 1842-1916.

John was a large man physically and his sons were all men of great size. One of them, George , was very tall and though not fleshy weighed 250 lb. The Bear Creek Neighborhood was settled quite rapidly. Among the pioneers were John Craig, William Wilson, William Ray, Paul McDormott, John Cambell and Alexander Storey. Most of them located within the territory now comprised in FairviewTownship Butler Co. Pa.

About 1800 Samuel Kincaid , Joseph Smith , and John Craig constructed the first church building, which was a small un-plastered log structure that could be used only in summer. It was located about a mile east of the town of Fairview in the present lower Bear Creek Cemetery , known as the Beer Creek Presbyterian Church.

Of John Craig , the following anecdote is related: He remained away from church one Sabbath , and the preacher , Mr. Johnson met him afterwards and inquired the reason he missed. John explained that he had to watch the cattle to keep them from his grain, But asked the preacher "Could you not trust that matter to providence?" "What" exclaimed Craig in astonishment" Would you have me make a cow-herd of providence?" In plowing John used a cow and a horse hitched side by side.




 The Craig & Fleming Genealogy Home Page
Updated May 25, 2006
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Robert B Craig
164 Cherokee Drive
Newport News, VA 23602
United States
rbcraig@cox.net


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