Settler of township lot: Lot 21, Conc. A, Stanhope

Location: Map point is the approximate location within this 99 acre lot, one lot west of Lot 1, Conc. 9 (shore of Kushog Lake at Rose Lane) running east to the Old Bobcaygeon Road.

Land acquisition: 

• Lot 21, Conc. A - Purchase of this not recorded in the property index - In 1936, John Crawford's heirs-at-law and next of kin Elizabeth Coulter & Letitia Kernohan deed the lot to their brother Samuel Crawford  (Image 48).

Other land:

• Lot 1, Conc. 8, Stanhope:
  - Register Book says "Closed - No Patent". Ontario Land Parcel Register - Stanhope (Image 2)
• Lot 1, Conc. 9, Stanhope: 1905 from Township of Stanhope for $1.25 Quit Claim Deed; 1925 to Gull River Lumber Co; Ontario Land Parcel Register - Stanhope (Image 2)
• Lot 20, Conc. A, Hindon - 1885 by Agreement. Ontario Land Parcel Register - Hindon (Image 92).

Dates of residency:

• 1883 Stanhope Voters List: John Crawford, tenant, Lots 21, 1, 1, Conc. A, 8, 9
• 1890 Stanhope Voters List: John Crawford, owner, Lots 21, 1, 1, 2, Conc. A, 8, 10, 10
• 1903 Stanhope Voters List: John Crawford, farmer, Lot 21, Conc. A
• 1911 Census: written as Lot 2, Conc. A, but this may be Lot 21

Interesting stories:

The earliest Crawfords, John and his wife Matilda Keers, came from Belfast Ireland and homesteaded on Bobcaygeon Road on the shore of Kushog Lake, north of Brady Lake. They lived in a log structure with two rooms on the main floor and a loft, so well built it is still in use today. Later they moved further south to Hindon Hill. The creek running into Kushog Lake at Rose Lane has traditionally been known as Crawford Creek.

Moonshiner Captured: An Illicit Still Discovered in Haliburton County (Canadian Post, Lindsay, 21 Oct 1898)

Preventive Officer Floody and County Constable Short Drove all Night and Found What They Went After

For the past 10 years John Crawford's still has been a fixture in the minds of the shantymen and hunters in the Haliburton District, and the product of the same has been pronounced first-class by those competent to judge native whiskey. However, last week Preventive Officer Floody, of Toronto, brought the industry to a sudden stop, when he swooped down on Crawford, and in company of County Constable Short, of this town, seized the whole outfit, consisting of a large copper still and worm capable of producing 20 gallons per day. A barrel of whiskey, empty barrels, molasses, barrels, stoves, etc., were also found.

The building was situated in the woods near Buskong Lake, in the wilds of Stanhope township, and being in a thicket would not be observed by the ordinary hunter. Messrs. Floody and Short brought the apparatus to town this morning, after having driven 60 miles last night in darkness over the worst roads to be found in the north country.

Crawford has a family of four or five small children and appeared to be in very poor circumstances despite the presumable profits of his illicit business. His wife being dead, and there being no settlers in the vicinity to care for the children, Mr. Floody decided not to arrest the father, and his case will be considered by the department.

It is believed that there are other stills in operation in the north country, and an effort will be made to secure hints as to their location.

Watchman Warder (1899 ), 20 Jul 1899 John Crawford killed a bear

Preceding landowner: Dec 1868 - Crown Patent to Samuel Keers, Parish of Finvoy, County Antrim, Ireland. He is possibly the brother of David Keers.

Dates of residency:

•     1877 Marriage: Stanhope
•     1881 Census of Canada, Stanhope
•     1891 Census of Canada, Stanhope
•     1893 Stanhope Directory: Petersons Cs
•     1899 Stanhope Directory: Petersons Cs
•     1901 Census of Canada, Stanhope
•     1901 Stanhope Voters List
•     1903 Business Directory, Stanhope: John Crawford, Petersons Cors, Lot 21, Conc. A, Stanhope
•     1903 Business Directory, Anson & Hindon: John Crawford, Petersons Cors, Lot 19, Conc. A which at that time was owned by Charles Wright. Ontario Land Parcel Register - Hindon      (Image 90).
•     1911 Stanhope Voters List; Lot 21, Conc. A & Lot 1, Conc. 9: also son Samuel Crawford at Lot 21, Conc. A.
•     1911 Stanhope Post Office List: Lot 9 (s.b A?), Conc. 21, Hindon Hill
•     1911 Census of Canada, Stanhope: Lot 2, Conc. A
•     1912 Death of Sons David Crawford (1883–1912) and John Crawford(1881–1912) 11 days apart at Lot 21, Conc. A, Stanhope
•     1918 Stanhope Post Office List: Jno. Crawford, Lindsay Lot 21, Conc. A
•     1934 Death: Hindon Hill, Stanhope

Succeeding landowner:

• 1936 - Daughters Elizabeth (Crawford) Coulter and Letitia (Crawford) Kernohan, surviving heirs-at-law and next of kin of John Crawford, deceased, transferring all of Lot 21, Conc. A to Samuel Crawford for $1.00.

Link to Settlers of Algonquin Highlands family tree

• John Crawford, b. 25 Dec 1850, Northern Ireland d. 14 May 1934, Hindon Hill, Stanhope, (Age 83 years) Buried: Minden Village Cemetery
• Matilda Keers, b. 1861, Ontario, d. 1895, Ontario, (Age 34 years)
• Children:
  1. Elizabeth Crawford, b. 27 Nov 1878, Ontario, d. 10 Oct 1961, Minden, (Age 82 years)
  2. John Crawford, b. 4 Feb 1881, Stanhope, d. 22 Oct 1912, Stanhope, (Age 31 years)
  3. David Crawford, b. 11 Oct 1884, Stanhope, d. 11 Oct 1912, Stanhope, (Age 28 years)
  4. Letitia Crawford, b. 30 Jan 1885, Stanhope
  5. Samuel Crawford, b. 27 Jun 1888, Ontario, d. 14 Jun 1959  (Age 70 years)
  6. Matilda Jane Crawford, b. 29 Sep 1895, Ontario, d. 1916  (Age 20 years)