In an undated petition from Croxton &c vs Crows heirs &c, orators and oratrices James Croxton and Sally his wife who was Sally Crow, John P. Armstrong and Malissa his wife who was Malissa Crow, complained that Thomas Crow the father of Sally and Malissa died in ____ 1825 having left a last will and testament, leaving a widow Sally Crow who died in _____ 1830 and seven children viz Nathaniel John George Sally who married your complainant Croxton, Malissa now married your complainant Armstrong, Cathrine [sic] who intermarried with John C. Brizendine and Elizabeth who intermarried with Benjamin Brooks. George died in ____ of full age intestate and without heir and John died in ____ of full age intestate and without heir. The estate was divided in the case of Crow vs. Crows Exrs. Nathaniel died sometime in the year 1833 or thereabouts leaving 5 children: Lucinda, John, Elizabeth, Thomas and Nathaniel, all under age. Cathrine the wife of John C. Brizendine died in 1833 without issue. That Elizabeth the wife of Benjamin Brooks died in ____ without issue. [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 47, item 47-K-5.]

In 1843, oratrix Mary M. Crow complained to the Chancery Court. That her late husband was Nathaniel Crow who died with land that in part descended from his father Thomas Crow. Nathaniel left children Lucinda Catharine, John Nathaniel, Mary Elizabeth, Moses Thomas and Nathaniel. All are under age. From 1843. [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 40, item 40-E-6.]

On 4 August 1856 a transaction took place between Moses T. Crow, who is about to marry Martha Ellen Beazley, and Richard P. Banks. Martha Ellen Beazley is possessed of considerable property. The deed mentions that her father was William Beazley. [Essex County, Virginia, Deed Book 50, page 852.]

Moses T. Crow married Martha Ellen Beazley on 5 August 1856 in Essex County, Virginia. He was 30; she was 17. Both were single (not widowed); born were born in Essex County and lived in Essex County. The parents were Nathaniel Crow and Mary M. Crow, and William Beazley and Elizabeth Burke. Moses was a tailor. Robert G. Henley performed the ceremony. [Essex County, Virginia, Marriage Register 1, page 4, line 6.]

In 1858, orator and oratrix Moses T. Crow and Martha Ellen his wife complained to the Circuit Court of Essex County that William Beazley, the father your oratrix, died testate in 1850. He devised to his wife Elizabeth Beazley during her life or widowhood all his estate, and after her death he bequeathed to your oratrix the choice of the three youngest children of his negro woman Judith, and further that the balance of the personal estate was to be divided between all his children or their heirs. The testator nominated his two sons Henry Beazley and John Beazley his executors, and administration was granted to Henry Beazley. Henry Beazley sold personal property to settle debts, and the estate remained with Elizabeth Beazley until she died intestate on 5 July 1854. On 25 January 1855, Henry Beazley sold the estate’s personal property other than the negroes for the sum of $105.17-1/2. In January 1855, the said negroes were divided between the legatees under a decree of the County Court of Essex in the Chancery suit of Taylor v Beazley, but Henry Beazley has never accounted with your complainants for their distribution share of the estimated hires of said negroes nor for the $105.17-1/2. Just before the said division took place, your oratrix having under said William Beazley’s will, the selection of one of the three youngest children of the testator’s negro woman named Martha, made choice of a negro boy named Charles, and in the said division she drew the negro woman Martha, but Henry as adminsitrator took possession of Charles and Martha, and hired out Charles for 1855 to Aubrey H. Jones and Martha to George H. Van Ness. William Beazley left children your oratrix the said Martha Ellen, who intermarried with your orator on the 5th July 1856, the said Henry Beazley and John Beazley, Nancy, who intermarried with [blank] Taylor, now deceased, Elizabeth, who intermarried with James H. Verlander, now deceased, and Lucinda R. who intermarried with William C. Johnson. The said [blank] Taylor and James H. Verlander departed this life before the said Elizabeth Beazley.
The answer of Henry Beazley in his own right and as administrator with the will annexed of William Beazley, deceased. He denies that he has not settled an account of his administration on the estate of William Beazley, deceased. That Charles and Martha were hired out for 1855 prior to the decree dividing the estate in January 1855. That on 4 August 1856, Martha Ellen Beazley entered into a marriage contract with Moses T. Crow in which she conveyed all her estate in trust to Richard P. Banks, who should have been a plaintiff.
[Essex County, Virginia, Chancery Cause, Moses Crow et ux v Henry Beazley, 1858-029, Box 66.]

William M. T. Crow was a member of the 55th Virginia Infantry during the Civil War: Crow, William M. T.: Enl. 5/21/61 in Co. A. Detailed as Orderly to Col. Mallory, 6/20/62-spring ’63. On leave, 9/24/62-11–12/62. Promoted fifer, 5/7/63. AWOL, 8/25/63-9/9/63. Court martialed for desertion, 10/7/63. Under arrest as at 10/31/63. Returned to duty, 11-12/63. Present then on all rolls through 12/31/64. Sent back to duty from hospital, 2/19/65. Paroled at the Capitol Building, Richmond, 4/26/65. An additional entry: Crow, Tom: On 9/26/61, Henry Latane noted that “Tom Crow” of the artillery, i.e. of Co. A., 55th Va., had “defied [his officers], having armed himself with a large bowie knife and pistol,” and had not even been arrested. Tom Crow was probably either Thornton or W. M. T. Crow. [Richard O’Sullivan, 55th Virginia Infantry (Lynchburg, Virginia: H. E. Howard, Inc., 1989), 115–116.]

His name is listed as William Moses Thomas Crow in the birth record of his son William. The record says that he was a tailor.

1900 U.S. Census, Essex County, Virginia:
Central Township, household 67
They live next door to Jno. W. Verlander
Wm. M. T. Crow, born March 1828, farmer, married 43 years
He owned his farm, farm schedule 63.
Martha E. Crow, born Oct 1838
She had had 6 children, 4 of whom were alive.