Eleazer Crawford (1759 - 1796)

Born 4 Nov 1759 in Cape May County, New Jersey, British Colonial America

Died 18 Apr 1796 at age 36 in Cape May County, New Jersey, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Albert Taylor [send private message]

Eleazer Crawford is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A027584.

Biography

Seaman Eleazer Crawford was aboard was the "FAME" an American privateer during the American Revolutionary War.

• Fame (1781):
• Two hundred and forty years ago, the American privateer Fame, under command of a man named William Treen, capsized in a heavy gale off the Jersey coast. Fame was a two-masted, privately owned brig, originally commissioned by the U.S. Government to attack and seize British ships during the Revolutionary War.
• On February 22, 1781, heavily laden with plunder, she sank to the bottom of the sea, taking 20 mariners with her. (1) According to Walter and Richard Krottee's book Shipwrecks Off the New Jersey Coast: "She had captured a number of heavily laden prizes just before she Foundered" on February 22, 1781. The Fame went down north of Peck's Beach. The location of this wreck is unknown but she is believed to be a treasure site."
• The story of the Fame may not have ended with her demise in 1781. She was originally reported to have sunk off Peck’s Beach (now Ocean City), but evidence has since surfaced that places the event farther south.
• On July 8, 2012, it was reported that after a dredging operation dumped sand from Corson’s Inlet onto Strathmere Beach, Spanish reales and doubloons began to pop up on the beach – with none dated later than 1781.
• The author concluded that the source of this treasure was the Fame, and that she indeed had gone down in Corson’s Inlet. (2). If so, this was probably the first documented shipwreck in the history of Ludlam’s Island.
• https://seaislenews.com/spotlight-history-sea-isles-early-shipwrecks/

Another account of the loss of the armed brig "Fame" and crew members:

• "A heavy gale was blowing from the northwest and some snow squalls. The brig tipped and upset by which said mishap some twenty lives were lost. Following are the names of a few of the crew, and some of the spectators on shore. Captain Treen, William Lake and 3 others, one of whom was Captain Joseph Edwards, Thomas Adams, Eleazer Crawford, Jacob Corson, and Jonathan Steelman succeeded in reaching the shore on the point of the beach at Egg Harbor Inlet, but Steelman exhausted and frozen by the intense cold gave up to death when near land. He had been the most active in cheering his companions and freeing the boat from the brig, he more early succumbed to the intensity of the cold and wet, the account of this sad misfortune carries with it an everlasting national remembrance as he was a brave and true Patriot and died in defense of the New Jersey Coast." (Source from Gloucester County Historical Society, "Steelman Family from 1650 to 1907").
• https://www.planetmurphy.org/pagebuild.php?pagebody1=SteelmanJonathan.htm

Daughters of the American Revolution information:

• CRAWFORD, ELEAZER
• Ancestor #: A027584
• Service: NEW JERSEY
• Rank(s): SEAMAN
• Birth: 11-4-1759 CAPE MAY CO NEW JERSEY
• Death: 4-18-1796 CAPE MAY CO NEW JERSEY
• Service Description: 1) BRIG FAME
• SPOUSE: RUTH YATES; Created: 2002-03-27 23:17:13.16, Updated: 2002-03-27 23:17:13.16, By: Conversion 1)
• Child son: ELEAZER CRAWFORD, [Spouse #] Spouse: [1] ELIZA GREEN
• Child son: JONATHAN CRAWFORD, [Spouse #] Spouse: [1] HANNAH CROWELL

Sources

• Fame References:
• (1) “Shipwreck Data Base.” New Jersey Maritime Museum, Beach Haven, N.J. 28 June 2021 (Note: This is easily the best starting point for any research into New Jersey shipwrecks.)
• (2) “Spanish gold and silver on N.J. beach – from 1781 shipwreck,” treasurenet.com, 8 July 2012
• https://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A027584