The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-01-15
Death of ..uncle Sid. .


M0orman's, in this county, and STATED
that he was believed to be over 10 years
old. On Friday last the old man passed
away, the weary wheels of life stopped
their motion and Uncle Sid' closed his
eyes upon the scenes he had looked upon
for SO many years. He was formerly the
slave Of Col. John Crawford, grandfather
of Col. John III. Crawford and DR.. VIM,
Crawford, of this county, and for num-
Der Of years had lived at Mrs. Norman IS.
who is daughter of the former owner
of "Sid," COL John Crawford, decd
There can be no question of '.Sid'' having
reached over ITO probably was III
years of age. Mrs. Col. Crawford. now SO
years of age. and Mrs. John Wayt, of this
place, now 81 years ld-sisters-remem-
Der that when they were girls '.Sid''
was regarded as RETIRED servant-had
done his work, y and was at liberty to do
pretty much as he pleased. He was not
required certainly to do regular work, be-
cause Of his age and the faithful services
he had rendered.
"Sid's" teeth were remarkably well pre-
served-in fact there was not a blemish
on them-every tooth being sound and ex-
ceedingly white. Some time ago. DIR.
Wayman, of this place, who had heard of
sid s" fine teeth, determined to visit him
and examine the molars for himself. He
did so, and found one of them loose. He
proposed to "Sid" to give him half dol
lar to allow him to extract it. ssSid'' con-
sented,as he said he wanted little change
to get tobacco. The Doctor has the tooth
now and keeps it as relict of the old
man. Some time before his death. Col. J,
W. Davis Bell went to see Sid. and uues-
tioning him about his habits, he said that
he used tobacco and whiskey whenever he
could get either, and had been doing so all
his matured life, and never felt any in
convenience OF injury from their use.
Sid belonged to the old style of SER
wants. He was exceedingly polite, amia-
BILE and accommodating, and maintained
throughout his long life the character of a
truthful and honest man. The family of
his old master, to the third generation,
held him i'll high esteem, provided for his
wants. and made his old age as comforta-
bic as 1t was possible for it to be. He was
buried at the Augusta Church on Sunday
last, Rev. MI. Sprunt officiating at the
grave, with large number of persons to
pay the last tribute of respect to the
faithful old servant.
The following sketch has been furnished
by Rev. Alex. Sprunt, pastor of the Old
Stone Church:
Sidney Crawford, commonly known as
old Uncle Sid, aged about Ill years, died
at the residence of Mrs. Mary Norman
near the Old Augusta church, August
county. Va, on the 9th of January. 1885,
at O'Clock in the afternoon. His history
is wonderful one in many respects and
highly interesting. He was born on the
eastern shore of Maryland, and was owned
by Benz. Hall. whom Uncle Sid frequently
spoke OF as shipbullder and as Lying
near the old Hunger'S church. During
the Revolutionary war, when Sidney was
about or 5yearS old, he was sent to Rich
mond and sold and soon after this he was
again sold in Staunton. He was bought
by Patrick Crawford who then owned the
large and fine estate on Middle river. now
owned by Col. John H. Crawford, great
grandson OF Patrick Crawford. Here he
began life of activity and of exceptional
faithfulness. When Sidney was approach
ing manhood, John, son of Patrick Craw-
ford, and afterwards known as Major John
Crawford, removed from his fathers home
and was established upon the farm recently
owned by the late DR.. E. G. Norman.
The faithful young servant accompanied
the son to his new home and was owned
by him till the death of Major Crawford
in 1916. Before Major CraWford's death,
because Of advancing years and une eHaaeae
faithfulness, Sidney became a privileged
person." He was not required to work
with consistency, but was permitted to go
and come, when and where he desired. In
the division Of the estate which soon fol-
lowed. he was left out Of the CALCULATION
entirely, because it was teh wish of his
ola master that he should be liberated, and
while he desired him to live in the family,
he permitted the old servant to choose his
home with any one of the children he de-
sired. His wife, to whom he was much
devoted, and was as remarkable as her
husband for her fidelity, was then owned
by and lived with Major VIM. Bell on the
estate lately owned by the late W. j. Davis
Bell. and son OF Major William Bell
Because OF its nearneSS to the home of his
wife, Sidney cast in his lot with the family
OF Col. Franklin McCue, whose wife was
a daughter of Major John Crawford. With
Mrs. McCue he renamed for many years,
long after he became very infirm and was
cared for as tenderly and constantly as
though he had been member OF the fam
lly,, rather than On old servant, About
eight years ago he was removed to the
home of Mrs. Mary Norman, a younger
sister of Mrs. McCue's. Here IA small
/ house was built for his use exclusively, in
the yard, and boy hired to wait upon
| him, and every attention given him. To
the DAY of his death he was visited and
cared for daily by one Of the family, and
in times of sickness was nursed as child.
| During his last days, for nearly two weeks,
a man was hired to wait upon HIM day and
night, and was constantly by him till the
last.
/ During his days of servitude he was
never remiss in his duties. He was never
corrected or reprimanded for Incidence,
disobedience or any other shortcoming
Because Of this, he was virtually free from
| 1880 or 1910.
Sidney possessed a remarkable memory,
which continued wonderfully clear to his
death. He had distinct recollections of
the building and builders of almost every
house for miles around the old homestead.
For some years he has been consulted as
an oracle by descendants of many of those
who formerly lived in the community of
and worshipped at the "Old Stone
Church, z lin every instance he seemed
to have avery clear RENE mbrance OF them
and their families. Heiwas always much
pleased by such visitors and their Inquiries.
His sightrwas very good notwithstand-
| ing his age, and at his death there was not
a decayed tooth in his head, and in more
than hundred years he lost but three
| teeth. e g.zssE tss s.ss2sTz7zs e1zEE aEz941
1t is unfortunate that his exact age can
not be determined. By those who have
| knOWn-him longest and most intimately.
| his age was thought to be at least 40
years. He always maintained that he was
born in March so that it is thought that
next March would almost certainly have
completed his ] Nth years = When Major
John Crawford died. 80. years ago, Sidney
was thought to be ABOUT Is years old. He
always maintained that he was a grown
man when the present brick residence was
built on the estate of the late Major John
| Crawford, which was undoubtedly in the
! year 1795-for he carried brick and mortar
| for its construction. Mrs. Nancy McCue,
the widow of the late Col. Franklin Nc
Cue, now in her Saith year, and with whom