Crawford, Robert, 1815-1888

Born in South Carolina in 1815, Robert Crawford moved to Tennessee in 1829. He went to Texas in 1836, and enlisted in the Volunteer Auxiliary Corps, serving as a private under Capt. Robert James Calder's Company K of Colonel Edward Burleson's First Regiment, Texas Volunteers at the Battle of San Jacinto. Crawford was licensed to preach by the Methodist Church in 1839, and rode circuit throughout Texas for twenty years. He was appointed to the Harrison County African Mission in 1848, which he continued until the Civil War. In 1859 Crawford moved to Owensville, Robertson County where he and his wife taught school. He retired from preaching in 1874, became a physician, and resided in Robertson and Williamson Counties until his death on December 5, 1888.

From the description of Robert Crawford papers, 1837-1886, (bulk 1867-1883). (San Jacinto Museum of History). WorldCat record id: 45966759

Born in the Abbeville District of South Carolina in 1815, Robert Crawford moved to Tennessee in 1829 with his father and two brothers, John B. and Andrew. The following year, his father died, orphaning the three boys. The small family remained in Tennessee until December of 1835 when aroused by the fires of patriotism, and a sense of familial duty to his brother, John B., Crawford joined a company of volunteers eager to enter the fight in Texas. Crossing the Sabine River on January 1, 1836, Crawford soon enlisted in the Volunteer Auxiliary Corps. He served as a private under Capt. Robert James Calder's Company K of Colonel Edward Burleson's First Regiment, Texas Volunteers at the Battle of San Jacinto.

When in Tennessee, Crawford became a Methodist on September 22, 1834, a decision that would dictate his life's work. Although interrupted by his departure for Texas, Crawford's desire to study for the ministry and become a Methodist preacher was realized soon after Independence. Crawford was licensed to exhort in the Methodist Church on March 18, 1838 and to preach on September 14, 1839. For the next twenty years, he traveled throughout Texas as a Methodist preacher riding many of the circuits of the time. Married on October 27, 1846, Crawford and his wife had four children. In December 1848, the East Texas Conference appointed Crawford to Harrison County African Mission, a move which required the approval and trust of the slave owners in the area for him to be granted access to the slaves. Crawford continued in this significant mission until the Civil War. In 1859 Crawford moved his family to Owensville, Robertson County, where he and his wife taught school for several years. Retiring from preaching in 1874, he became a physician late in life. Robert Crawford continued to reside in Robertson and Williamson Counties until his death on December 5, 1888.

From the guide to the Robert Crawford papers MC005. 45966759., 1837-1886, (Bulk: 1867-1883), (Albert and Ethel Herzstein Library, )