William Anderson Crowder

Other Events:

• Cemetery: Crowder Cemetery, Near Polkville, NC

Andrew married Sarah E Green. Sarah (daughter of James Lee Green, Sr and Sarah (Sally) Moss) was born on 17 Sep 1816 in Rutherford County, North Carolina; died on 15 May 1901 in Cleveland County, North Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Cemetery: Crowder Cemetery, Near Polkville, NC

Notes:

The Crowder family came from Mecklenburg County, VA and settled on the west side of First Broad River above Lawndale, NC along with the Hastings family Cir 1800. The Elam and Grigg families settled on the east side of the river across from them about the same time.

Allen married Phoebe Grigg on 10 Oct 1811. Phoebe (daughter of Burrell Grigg and Sabra Elam) was born about 1790; died about 1874. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

James married Sarah (Sally) Moss on 1 Aug 1808. Sarah was born in 1779 in Cowpens, SC; died in 1863. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Robert married Lively Hastings. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Burrell married Sabra Elam. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Cemetery: Bostic Brickyard Cemetery, Bostic, Rutherford County, NC
• Military Service: Revolutionary War (both sides!)

Notes:

William first became well known in the Rutherford County area during the Revolutionary War. Like many men in the area, he fought on both sides during the war. Though his mother and stepfather were strong Tories, Billy first fought for the Patriot (Whig) forces. By 1780 he was a Captain in the Whig militia when he was captured by the Tories. They held him prisoner until he was freed during the Tory defeat at the Battle of Ramsaur's Mill. His only British service was at the Battle of King's Mountain. Here he was captured by the patriots and sentenced to death. The story of his escape became a favorite of many historians.

About this time (26 Oct 1780) Capt. William Green and Lieutenant William Langum, among the Tory prisoners, were tried before Colonel Cleveland. The charge against Green seems to have been, that he had violated the oath he had taken as an officer to support the governments of the State of North Carolina and of the United States, by accepting a British commission, and fighting at King's Mountain. Some of the British officers were present, and remonstrated at the course taken, when Cleveland cut them short, saying: 'Gentlemen, you are British officers, and shall be treated accordingly -- therefore give your paroles and march off immediately; the other person is a subject of the State.' Green and Langum were condemned to be executed the next morning. 'May be so,' coolly remarked Green. "That night, as he and his comrade, Langum, were lying before the campfire, under a blanket, Green rolled over so that his hands, fastened with buckskin straps, came in contact with Langum's face, who seeming to comprehend his companion's intention, worked away with his teeth till he succeeded in unfastening the know. Green was now able to reach his pocket, containing a knife, with which he severed the remaining cords, and those of Langum. He then whispered to Langum to be ready to jump up and run when he should set the example. Green was above the ordinary size, strong and athletic. The guard who had special watch of them, was in a sitting posture, with his head resting upon his knees, and had fallen asleep. Making a sudden leap, Green knocked the sentinel over, and tried to snatch his gun from him; but the latter caught the skirt of the fleeing man's coat, and Green had to make a second effort before he could release himself from the soldier's grasp, and gladly got off with the loss of a part of his garment. In another moment both Green and Langum were dashing down a declivity, and though several shots were fired at them, they escaped unhurt, and were soon beyond the reach of their pursuers. Aided by the friendly wilderness, and sympathizing Loyalists, they in time reached their old region of Buffalo Creek, in now Cleveland County. Green at least renouncing his brief, sad experience in the Tory service, joined the Whigs, and battle manfully thereafter for his country. Both Green and Langum long survived the war, and were very worthy people.

--from History of the Battle of King's Mountain by Lyman C. Draper, 1881, reprinted 1967, pp 353-354.

According to notes by A. B. C. DePriest, Griffins' History of the Revolutionary War recounts the escape by William Green after the Battle of Kings Mountain, but his companion was a man named Mills from Rutherford Co.

After his escape, he enlisted in Captain Levi Johnston's company under Sumter for ten months in 1781 and 1782. During this service he fought for the patriots in the Battle of Eutaw Springs.

After the war Billy returned to Rutherford county. His British service did not go unpunished. Like many men in the area, he had to face a Grand Jury in July 1782 as one of the men who " 'aided and joined' the army of Major Ferguson and were convicted as Tories 'a true bill'." All his land was confiscated by the new government. After the Confiscation Act was repealed a short time later, Billy and many of the other men had their property restored to them.

When the aftermath of the war was over, Billy prospered and increased his land holdings in the Brushy Creek area of Rutherford County. By 1790 he also owned 5 slaves, which put him among the more prosperous men in the area. He and his family were active members of the Sandy Run Baptist Church in Mooresboro until 1804. At that time, they left the Sandy Run congregation to become charter members of the new Concord Baptist Church.

William Green became very active in building the new nation. In 1798 he served in the North Carolina House of Commons. He then was elected to serve fourteen terms in the North Carolina State Senate between 1800 and 1824.

William married Drucilla (Drusy) Hamrick about 1774 in York County, SC. Drucilla was born in 1755; died on 28 Mar 1828 in Rutherford County, North Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Cemetery: Bostic Brickyard Cemetery, Bostic, Rutherford County, NC