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 settled in PLOK Co., TN. where he raised a family and died there.

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 taugh
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. and Ohio. Caleb had a great-granddaughter who was a Cath.
Nun in Alabama.

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.

Will of Josiah Crofts
Probated April 1882 Polk County, Tn.

In the name of God aman. I Josiah Crofts do make and declare this my last will and testament
in manner and form following:
First I give my soal into the hands of Almighty God hoping and believing in a remission of
my sins be the merit and mediation of Jesus Crist, and my body I commit to the earth to be
burried at the decretion of my execetors, being of sound and disposing mind and memory
calling to mind and falicty incertanity of human life and being descious of setting my
wordly affairs and directing how the small estate with which it has pleased God to bless me
shall be disposed of after my death while I have thought and capacity so to do and so to my
worldly estate and all the property real and personal of which or mixed of which I shall
(die?) seized and possessed and to which I shall be intitled to at the time of my decase.
I devise bequesth to and dispose there of in the manner following to wit;
I devise and bequesth to my beloved wife Margaret Crofts my farm lying in 7 civil district
Polk County Tennessee, it being worth about two hundred dollars. It being north half of the
south most quarter of section seventeen Ocoie Purchase in range 5 East of the basin line
fractional township three 7 civil district Polk County, Tennessee bounded on the North by
Wm. Crofts, on the West by George Shappard, on the East by J. R. Kimsey, on the South by
Frank Mitchell. I also devise and bequeth to my beloved wife Margaret Crofts all my
household furniture, farming tools also all my livestock and incress to have and to hold
the same to her for and during her natural life.Hier; from and after the decease of my
beloved wife Margaret Crofts.
I second devise bequath to my beloved daughter Mary Franklin all of the estate real,
personal and mixed as described to my wife for said Mary Franklin to have and to hold
during her natural life to wit: 80 acres of land worth about two hundred dollars it being
in 7 Civil district Polk County, Tennessee being North half section 17. Bounded on
the North by Wm. Crofts, on the West by George Sheppard, on the East by J. R. Kimsey
and on the South by Frank Mitchell.
I Third devise and will after death of my beloved wife Margaret Crofts that my beloved
daughter Mary Franklin have and hold during her natural life my household furniture and
all my livestock and increses and at the decease of my beloved daughter her son and my
grandson the beloved child which I have raised who has been as kind and obedient and tender
to.....(?) and with me so after the death of wife and his mother my beloved daughter my
will is that my grandson Napolian Franlkin have all of my estate named in this above written
will. At his grandmother's and his mother's death that said Napolian to have and to
hold forewver and ......(?) My express will and meaning is and do hearby order and
appoint that if any differences, despute or question or controvcrsy shall be moved or
raised or happen concerning any gift bequest manner or thing in this will ......(?)
bequested expressed or ......(?) that then no suits in law or equity or otherwise
shall be brought connected or prscauted for and concerning the same but the same
shall be referred wholy to the award order and determereation of my friend this my
will and testament. In ......(?) ........(?) of I here will let my hand and seal
this first day of May 1880.

Josiah Crofts
Seal

This above interestment is of one sheet of paper 21 3/4 inch in leanth 7 1/2 inch
in width, was at the date there of delivered to us by the testator Josiah Crofts
to be his last will and testament and be there a known adged to each of us that
he had described the same and was at his acquest signed our names herewith as
atseting witnesses this May the first 1880.
Y. L. Bledsoe, resident in Polk County, Tennessee
C. L. Hensley, resident of Polk County, Tennessee


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 was a Meth. Minister and married several couples in Monroe and McMinn Co., TN.
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 date and 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 LATER TORN DOWN AND THE PRESENT DAY CHURCH WAS BUILT.
WILLIAMS WIFE LOUISA STEWART, IS BURIED IN THE CHURCH CEMETERY, HE IS BURRIED IN ATHENS,TN.
MCMINN CO. ALONG WITH HIS SECOND WIFE, LILLIE COLEMAN CROFTS.
THERE IS AN ALL DAY REUNION AND DINNER ON THE GROUNDS AT THE CHURCH EVERY SECOND SUNDAY IN
JUNE EACH YEAR. A WONDERFUL TIME CAN BE HAD BY ALL.

viii. HESTER MALINDA CROFTS, b. March 24, 1848, POLK (or) MONROE CO., TN.;
d. December 12, 1926, POLK CO., TN.; m. JOHN ANDERSON POTEET, Abt. 1865;
b. July 1841, FANNIN CO., GA.; d. Bet. 1900 - 1920, POLK CO.,TN..

Notes for HESTER MALINDA CROFTS:
1900 Polk County, TN. census states she had 9 children with 8 living.