John Henry Crow

My great-great grandfather, John Henry Crow, was born about 1825, in Chatham County, North Carolina, the son of James Crow and Diana McClanahan.

John Henry appears on the 1830 Chatham County census as a male under the age of 5 years. The census shows two males in that age group. Apparently John Henry had a brother, who was probably born about 1830, and died before the 1840 census.

The 1840 Guilford County census shows John as a male age 10-14 years.

John married my great-great grandmother, Sarah Jane Rollins, about 1845, in North Carolina, probably in Guilford County. We know little about Sarah Jane Rollins. Census records indicate she was born about 1830, in Randolph County, North Carolina. The Rollins family moved into North Carolina from Virginia prior to 1790.

John and Sarah settled in Guilford County, probably on land given to them when they married, by John's father. Four of their twelve children were born in Guilford County.

The 1850 Guilford County census shows John Crow, 25, farmer, b. Chatham Co, NC; Sarah, 20, b. Randolph Co, NC; James W., 4, b. Guilford Co, NC; Mary E., 2, b. Guilford Co, NC and S. Elizabeth, 1 month old, b. Guilford Co, NC.

John Henry's sister, Sarah Crow Gray, and her husband, John Worth Gray, along with their children, left North Carolina on March 2, 1850, headed for Missouri. They settled instead in Independence County, Arkansas. In July, 1853, the Gray family returned to North Carolina for a visit. They spent some time with Sarah's father, James Crow, and when they left North Carolina, in November 1853, John and Sarah Crow and their four children returned to Arkansas with them. They arrived in Independence County, Arkansas, on Christmas day, 1853.

John and Sarah Crow settled near John and Sarah Gray, in Barren Township, near Cave City, in Independence County. John and Sarah Crow bought land, which they farmed for many years.

John Henry is named in his father's will in 1859, to receive a share of the money derived from the sale of any items not disposed of in the will. The will states that no land was left to Sarah, John Henry, and Eliza because they already had been give their share of the land, probably when they married.

Eight more children were born to John and Sarah Crow in Independence County.

The 1860 Independence County census shows John H. Crow, 34, farmer, $400 real property, $2000 personal property; Sarah, 26; James W., 12; Mary E., 10; Elizabeth, 9; Oliver, 8; William R., 6; Malissa, 4 and Martha J., 2 years old.  They were listed beside the family of John W. Gray. 

The 1870 Independence County census shows John H. Crow, 45, farmer, $500 real property, $150 personal property; Sarah, 39; Mary E., 21; Elizabeth, 18; Oliver L., 17, farm worker; William R., 16; Christine, 13; Martha, 12; Thomas J., 9; Christopher, 4; Sarah A., 3 and Rachel L., 1 year old.  Listed beside them was the family of John's oldest son, James Crow.  Listed nearby was the family of John W. Gray. 

 John Henry Crow died in August 1874, in Independence County. He is buried in what at the time was called Flat Rock Church Cemetery, but is now referred to as the Cave City Cemetery.

The 1880 Independence County census shows Sarah Crow, 48, widow, farmer; Oliver L., 25, son; Sinah E., 27, dau; William R., 23, son; Martha J., 21, dau; Christopher C., 14, son; Sarah A., 12, dau; Margaret L., 10, dau. and Nancy P., 7, daughter. 

Sarah Jane Rollins Crow died in November 1886. She is buried beside John Henry in the Cave City Cemetery.

Children of John Crow and Sarah Rollins