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| Photo by Ron Rader for Find A Grave |
This is the fourth and final installment of a series devoted to William Crockett, a veteran of the Revolutionary War last sighted alive in Lucas County during December of 1850 but commemorated by a monument in Oak View Cemetery, Albia, Monroe County. Part 1 is here; Part 2 is here; and Part 3 is here.
To review a little, William Crockett, the revolutionary, reportedly arrived in Monroe County during the fall of 1849 with his son, William J. Crockett, and two "elderly" daughters. These probably were Susanna, age 50 in 1850, and Nancy, age 27, who may or may not have been a daughter. They apparently came on to Lucas County in the spring of 1850, joining William's nephew, Beresford Robinson, and other members of his family in Cedar Township. Another Crockett daughter, Mary, married to John Robinson, remained in Monroe County in 1850 as did a variety of Robinson brothers-in-law, nieces and nephews (William Crockett Sr.'s wife, nee Mary Robinson, apparently had died before the move west).
The story of the senior Mr. Crockett evolved a little as the years passed, but he would have died after December 1850 and reportedly was buried in a pioneer cemetery, later abandoned, south of Albia. What was thought to be his grave was excavated in 1926 and alleged remains reburied in the Albia Cemetery where his monument now is located.
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By 1856, when a detailed Iowa census was taken, William, Susanna and Nancy Crockett had left Lucas County behind and resettled in Morgan Township in extreme southeast Decatur County, west of Wayne County's Lineville. John and Mary (Crockett) Robinson and their family had moved from Monroe County and were living in Woodland Township, just to the north.
That's William Crockett Jr.'s tombstone, above, in Elm Cemetery, Morgan Township. Thanks to Ron Rader for uploading a larger copy of this photo to Find A Grave when I told him I was interested in using the original version here. Susanna had a similar stone, but it has fallen, broken into pieces and is in bad shape. Nancy and her husband, Josiah McMurtrey, also are buried here. The Robinsons rest in Dale Cemetery, some distance to the northwest.
William Crockett Jr. prospered modestly in Decatur County, but became critically ill during the fall and winter of 1875-1876, when he was 66. He died on June 23, 1876, while being cared for, along with Susanna, in the McMurtrey home. Susanna followed him to the grave, age ca. 76, that fall --- on Oct. 28.
Their sister, Mary, also died during that year, on Feb. 15 at the age of 64.
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William prepared a will during late May, 1876, most likely when it became obvious that he would not recover --- a short but interesting document that provides some clues about other members of the Crockett family.
He did not specify a relationship to any of those who received bequests, which is a little unusual. Stated relationships certainly would have helped descendants of William Crockett Sr. disentangle family complexities imposed by time.
His land and other assets, other than a cow, a colt and household goods (left to Susanna), went to Nancy McMurtrey with the provision that she care for and pay the expenses of Susanna. This, she dutifully did.
Then followed a series of $1 bequests --- to Mary J. Robinson; John R. Crockett, deceased; Sarah McKinney; Margaret Weathers; and Elizabeth Smith.
This was a fairly common way, at the time, to head off potential claims of near relatives who might at some point decide to make a claim against an estate. Mary, John, Sarah, Margaret and Elizabeth probably all were William's siblings, children of William Sr. and Mary (Robinson) Crockett.
Nancy (Crockett) McMurtrey survived for 20 more years, then died on 12 Feb. 1895, age 81, and was buried not far from William and Susanna in Elm Cemetery.
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