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Archiver > CROLEY > 2002-01 > 1011227992


From: "June Bork" <>
Subject: [CROLEY] Where is LITTLEBERRY & MARY buried?
Date: Wed, 16 Jan 2002 16:39:52 -0800


Some of you have asked where Littleberry and Mary were buried.

The Campbell Co, Tennessee Court records show:
On 30 May 1814, Littleberry Crowley of Campbell County, Tennessee sold his
land lying in Campbell County in Powell's Valley to his kin, Thomas McClain
of Claiborne County, Tennessee for $600. The amount of acreage was not
shown. The deed was recorded a year after Littleberry's death (Deed Bk
C:27-28; Proved 3 Mar 1817; Registered: 2 Aug 1817). Brother John Crowley
also sold his land to Thomas McClain before he left for Missouri Territory.

In March of 1814, Thomas Shoemake filed a suit against Littleberry Crowley
in Campbell County. The case, probably involving a land boundary dispute,
was continued in March 1815 at which time, Shoemake also sued brother
William. By the 4th of June 1816, Littleberry's attorney reported to the
court that Littleberry Crowley had died since the last continuance of this
case. The suit was dismissed. Littleberry was age 44 when he died.

The only other record we have concerning Littleberry Croley's death came
from Alice Hamot in her Trail Blazers, published in 1935 in Portland,
Oregon: "... brothers John, Berry [Littleberry] and William started out from
Powell's Valley in 1819 and Berry got sick and remained at Lot, Kentucky
with his son William...Before Littleberry died, he requested that his body
be buried in a grave hewn out of a large tree so that it would be safe from
being robbed by the Indians. His desire was carried out and to this day
[1930s] the log lies at the left of the highway going from Jellico to
Williamsburg, Kentucky" (p.224). Hamot also said he died of yellow fever.

Whitley County was formed 1818 from Knox County. The story may be true
that Littleberry contacted yellow fever and had to stay behind when his
brothers left for Missouri Territory and that he was buried in what later
became Lot, Whitley County, Kentucky. There is always a little bit of truth
in the old folk-lore stories. The story was probably muddled as the court
records show Littleberry died in 1816 instead of 1819. Hamot toured the
country talking to the elders about their Crowley ancestors and some of our
myths today have resulted. Nevertheless, we are thankful as she did provide
many clues for us to follow. She was talking with people, perhaps 50 to 70
years old, born 1865-85 and some could have been grandchildren or near-kin
of Littleberry and Mary. The brothers of Littleberry, John and William did
go to Missouri Territory about the time of Littleberry's death. Brother
James followed later. Hamot was a descendant of Littleberry's older brother
John who married Elizabeth McClain.

Mary Gibson Croley died sometime between 1830 and 1840 in Whitley County
and was possibly buried in the old Croley Cemetery at Lot or the old Lawson
Cemetery. Mary was named as head of household in 1820 and 1830. Her
youngest son Cas, born 1806, would have been age 24 in 1830, old enough to
be head of house. This may possibly mean she owned some land and a little
cabin. Cas was married the following year to Emily Bennett.

Littleberry and Mary's eldest son William was born about 1793 in
Wilkes/Oglethorpe Co, GA, even though all the census records say he was born
in Kentucky. The following census records are of son William and his wife
Elizabeth Powell whom he married 1814 in Estill Co, KY and of Mary/Polly
Gibson Croley, widow of Littleberry:

1820 Whitley Co, Ky
p.128
William Croley26-44 (1776-1794)
female16-26 (1794-1804)
male 0-10 (1810-1820)
female 0-10 (1810-1820)

1820 Whitley Co, Ky
p.113
Polly Croley 45+ (bef. 1775)
female 10-15 (1805-10) {Elizabeth)
female 10-15 (1805-10) {Mary Ann)
male 10-15 (1805-10) {Richard Cas)


1830 Whitley Co, Ky
p.280
Mary Crowley 50-60 (1770-80)
female 20-30 (1800-10) {<?>]
male 15-20 (1810-15) {Richard C.]





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