Descendants of JOSIAH CROFTS

Generation No. 1

1. JOSIAH² CROFTS (CALEB ?¹) was born 1802 in SOUTH CAROLINA Sumpter Co. S.C.(1830 CEN., and died Abt. 1882 in POLK,CO.TN. Will dated Apr. 1882. He married MARGARETT MITCHELL Abt. 1829 in SOUTH CAROLINA probabley Sumpter,Co.. She was born 1814 in NORTH CAROLINA, and died Aft. 1882 in POLK, CO. TN..

Notes for JOSIAH CROFTS:

Josiah is found in the 1830 Sumpter Co. S. C. Cen. records, then in Monroe and Polk co.'s there after.

On 4-10-1834, Josiah purchased 4 acres from Wm. R. Utter for $7.00.

On 12-3-1844, Josiah Crofts purchased 40 acres in dist. 7 for $100.00

fron Spillman & Co. Josiah was in the 1840 Monroe Co. cen. Records.

Josiah left a will in Polk Co., Tn. dated Apr. 1882 leaving everything to his dau. Mary who married Mitchell Franklin and her son Napolian Franklin, Mary and Nepolian are buried in the Croft Cem. in Polk Co. at the Croft Med. Church.

William Croft, his son donated the land for the church and cem. located in Polk Co., Tn. Williams first wife is buried at the cem. William and his second wife are buried at Ceder Grove Cem. in Athens, McMinn Co., Tn. His second wife was Lillie Coleman.

Caleb, George Washington, Thomas Asbury, and William all four served in the Civel War for the Conf. side, their brother in law Mitchell Franklin served on the Union Side and died from cancer in 1889. George W., & Thomas A. were denied pensions. William recieved a pension, and Caleb died before he could apply. Williams widow Lillie recieved a widow's pension.

Most of the Croft's carried the "S" at the end of their names although most of their lines droped the "S" through time. But a few do still use the "S" today. In searching one must look for the "S" first. Also some records were found under "CRAFTS" as most of the time it is hard to determine if the letter is an A. of an O. All old records were all hand written and at times very hard to read.

Cabel Jocob Croft, the first born of Josiah and Margarett Croft(S), married the second time Liz Phillips acording to records in Thomas Asbury's Bible. Cabel and his first wife seperated, they were living in the Cumberland County area near Crosville. Some of their children moved to Kansas, she went to live with the children, she is buried in Coldwell Kansas. Some of this line later left the Meth. faith and became members of the Catholic faith. The reason being, One of Cabel's grand dau.'s was more or less drafted in W W 1 because she was a nurse, she had no one to keep Her children, she left the in a convent. After the war she went back to her Meth. Church where she was told her children were condemed to hell because of being taught the Cath. faith, so she said they would all just be condemed, they then joined the Cath. Church in Ill. Cabeb's descendants live in the Cumberland County Tn., area as well as Kansas and Ill. Caleb has a great-granddaughter who is a Cath. Nun in Alabama.

There is a Croft Kansas and a State park in S. C. called Croft State Park. and a Community near by called Croft Community. The State Park was used in W W 1 as a training camp.

Some marriage records cannot be found due to missing books from Monroe Co., Tn. court house and the Polk Co. court house having been destroyed by fire. So one can only estimate those dates and use census records for app. dates. Sumpter Co. S. C. was made up of three other counties and their Court House was also destroyed by fire. Records from that area are also very hard to find. Some dates are in Old family Bibles but very few have survived in time. Thomas Asbury's bible survived a house fire and water damage, it was located in Madisonvill, owned by a great grand dau.

George Washington's Photo was found in an Old Trunk owned by Andrew the Son of G. W. the trunk is owned by a great grand son in Cleveland, Tn.

George's son George D. was born during the C. W. and George was away when he was born.

There is a George Crofts and a Mrs. George Crofts buried at Notchy Creek Cemetery born before 1800 and died about 1844. They are among the first to be buried there.

There is a Caleb Crofts and his wife Mary, buried in McMinn County between Englewood and Athens on the old Englewood Rd. Caleb died about 1840 age about 60 years, Mary died about 1850 age about 60 years. There are 4 unmarked graves. It is known as the Crofts burial grounds.

Children of JOSIAH CROFTS and MARGARETT MITCHELL are:

i. CALEB JACOB³ CROFTS, b. April 4, 1830, South Carolina (prob: Sumpter Co.); d. December 30, 1891, McMINN CO. TN. (Family Bible information); m. (1) MARTHA JANE BORING, (TWIN), September 2, 1847, Monroe, Tn. Book 3 Page 20; b. April 16, 1831, JALLAFIFIA, TN.; d. August 17, 1915, ANTHONY KANSAS Bur: Burchfield Cem.; m. (2) LIZ PHILLIPS, 1891, INFO. FOUND IN BIBLE OF THOMAS ASBUARY CROFTS.

Notes for CALEB JACOB CROFTS:

Caleb and Martha Jane divorced in Cumberland County, Martha Jane was given all property. Martha Jane then moved to Coldwell Kansas with a son to help take care of her grandchildren. A great-grand son in Kansas has Caleb's and Martha's bible with the family information in it. The death dateand location for Caleb was found in the bible belonging to son Doctor S. Croft.

Notes for MARTHA JANE BORING, (TWIN):

Death Certificate # 39491

Restister # 39L

She died in Harper County, Spring Township

Fem. white, widowed died Aug. 17, 1915

born Mar. 12, 1831. Attended 1912 to Aug. 17, 1915. Last seen alive Aug. 14, 1915. Death occurred at 1 pm from old age.

She was 84 yrs. old and was a house keeper she was born in Tn.

Name of father: Borrin. DS Croft was the informant.

JRB Burnett was the attending physician Aug. 17, 1915 at Bluff City, Ks.

Filed Oct. 4, 1915 Place of Burial: Burchfield Cemetery.

Undertaker: E.C. Smith - address: Anthony ks.

The Anthony Republican, Anthony, Harper County, Kansas, Thursday, August 19, 1915 - Obituary of Mrs. C. J. Croft

Mrs. C. J. Croft passed away Tuesday at the home of her daughter Mrs. T. C. Burnett, of Anthony at the age of 84 years. The Funeral was held at the burchfield Church Wednesday morning, conducted by Reverend Runion.

The deceased was born in Athens, Tenn., in 1831. She married C.J. Croft in 1848 and came to Kansas in 1908. Since she came to Kansas she has been making her home with her children. She leaves fiftey-six grandchildren and seven children, Mrs. R.B. Lee of Anthony, Mrs. T.C. Burnett of Spring Township, Mrs. John Lewis of Estell Springs, Tenn., A.C. Croft of Newton, Tenn., C.J. Croft of Manchester, Tenn., D.S. Croft of Anthony and J.W. Croft of Muskogee, OK.

ii. GEORGE WASHINGTON CROFTS, b. March 20, 1832, TN.[1880 Mo.Co.cen.records]; d. October 1915, MONROE,CO.TN. Bur. in Croft Ftm. Cem.; m. MARTHA ELIZABETH BAZZELL, 1853, [SOURCE: 1900 MO.CO.TN. CENSUS RECORDS]; b. September 11, 1835, S.C.[1880 Mo.Co. cen.records]; d. April 26, 1911, MONROE,CO.TN. Bur. in Croft Ftm. Cem..

iii. THOMAS ASBERRY CROFTS, b. March 14, 1834, MONROE,CO.TN.; d. June 4, 1925, MO.CO.TN. burial in Eleazor Cem.; m. CAROLINE BORING, (TWIN), August 10, 1854, MONROE, CO.TN. Family Bible Record of T.A. & Caroline Crofts; b. January 26, 1834, JALLAFIFIA, TN.; d. December 6, 1912, MO.CO.TN. Burial in Eleazor Cem..

Notes for THOMAS ASBERRY CROFTS:

Madisonville Democrat, (Monroe Co. TN) Wednesday, June 10, 1925:

“Interesting News From Route Six---I learned this morning that Hon. Asberry Crofts of near Mt. Vernon has died and was buried at 10:30 A.M., today. He was a very aged man; was one of our best citizens; honest and upright, a gentleman, a Christian. Hon. Asberry Crofts was buried at Eleazar Camp Ground Cemetery.” ---Georgia A. Stakely

iv. MARTHA CROFTS, b. 1836, MONROE COUNTY, TN..

v. MARY CROFTS, b. December 19, 1839, MONROE, CO. TN.; d. April 21, 1900, POLK CO.TN. burial: Crofts Chapel Cem.Polk; m. MITCHELL FRANKLIN, Abt. 1871; b. 1820, BUNCUM CO., N.C.; d. July 11, 1889, POLK CO., TN. Bur: Rock Creek Cem. Polk Co.

vi. SUSANNAH EMELINE CROFTS, b. May 17, 1842, MONROE,CO.TN.; d. September 30, 1893, POLK CO.TN. Bur: Crofts Chapel Cem. Polk; m. YANCEY BLEDSOE, Abt. 1865; b. April 28, 1819, N.C.; d. February 26, 1926, POLK CO.TN. Bur: Crofts Chapel Cem. Polk.

vii. WILLIAM "BILL" CROFTS, b. March 1844, MONROE (or) POLK CO., TN.; d. January 11, 1934, McMINN,CO.TN. Bur:Ceder Grove, Athens,Tn.; m. (1) LOUISA STEWART, Abt. 1865; d. Aft. 1872, POLK CO.TN. bur. Croft Chapel cem. Polk; m. (2) LILLIE COLEMAN, 1891, POLK CO.,TN.; b. 1863; d. 1941, McMinn Co.,Tn. Bur: Ceder Grove Athens,Tn,.

Notes for WILLIAM "BILL" CROFTS:

CROFTS CHAPEL

LOCATED IN COPPER HILL,POLK CO.TN. THE LAND AND LUMBER WAS DONATED BY WILLIAM "BILL" CROFTS TO BUILD THE FIRST CHURCH,WHICH WAS LATTER TORN DOWN AND THE PRESENT DAY CHURCH WAS BUILT.

WILLIAMS WIFE LOUISA STEWART,IS BURRIED IN THE CHURCH CEMETERY,HE IS BURRIED IN ATHENS,TN.MCMINN CO.

WILLIAM IS THE GREAT GRAND FARTHER OF CAROLTON SCRUGGS OF MADISONVILLE,TN.

THERE IS AN ALL DAY REUNION AND DINNER ON THE GROUNDS AT THE CHURCH EVERY SECOND SUNDAY IN JUNE EACH YEAR.CROFTS FROM ALL OVER COME TO IT.

WILLIAM WAS THE BROTHER TO GEORGE WASHINGTON CROFTS.

viii. MALINDA CROFTS, b. 1848, POLK (or) MONROE CO., TN.; m. JOHN ANDERSON POTEET.