Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

the derivation of surnames, it was derived
thus:
The name was first assumed by the proprietor
of the lands and barony of Crawford, in Lanark-
shire, Scotland. The extreme ancestor of the
ancient family of Crawford, in Scotland, was
Reginald, youngest son of Alan, the fourth Earl
of Richmond. He seems to have accompanied
David the First to the North and to have re-
ceived extensive grants of land in Strath Cluyd,
or Clydesdale, whence his immediate descendants
adopted the name of Crawford, then forming one
of the largest baronies in Scotland, and signify-
ing in Gaelic "The pass of blood," from cru,
bloody, and ford, a pass or way, as commemora-
tive, probably, of some sanguinary conflict be-
tween the Aborigines and the Roman invaders.
The ancestors of Mr. Crawford were
early settled in Ireland, in County Antrim.
There his father, William Henry
Crawford, was born. He learned the
trade of butcher, and after the birth of
his second child came to America, where
he located in Stamford, Connecticut.
There he followed his trade of butcher
for a time, and later went to Greenwich.
His wife did not accompany him on the
first trip, and after his removal to Greenwich
he sent for her. Mr. Crawford married,
in Ireland, Sarah McBride, daughter
of John McBride. They were the parents
of the following children : Mary, wife of
James Stewart, of Greenwich ; Hugh F.,
resides in Dover, New Jersey ; William
J., in charge of the Fairfield County Temporary
Home for Children at Westport;
Robert, of Greenwich ; Henry P., of further
mention ; Freeman J., now deceased
and Joseph L., of Greenwich.
Henry P. Crawford was educated in
the public schools of Greenwich, and early
learned the trade of barber, which he followed
for twenty-seven years. During the
last twenty years of this time, he was in
business for himself. His appointment
to the office of county commissioner re-
quired his full attention, and in view of
;
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
258
this fact, Mr. Crawford disposed of his
barbering business in order that he might
give the office his entire time. In politics
Mr. Crawford is a Republican, and has
ever been active in public matters. He
was a member of the Greenwich Board of
Burgesses for three years, and also selectman
of that town for two years. He was
elected first selectman, which office he
held until October, 1914, in which year
he was appointed county commissioner.
In the performance of the duties incumbent
on these different offices, Mr. Craw-
ford has always given satisfaction to his
constituents, and he is highly respected
among his fellow-citizens. He is a member
of the Bridgeport Club, the Algonquin
Club, and fraternally is a member
of Acacia Lodge, No. 86, Ancient Free
and Accepted Masons ; Benevolent and
Protective Order of Elks; Improved Order
of Red Men, and is past grand sachem
of the Grand Tribe of Connecticut.
Mr. Crawford married Sarah E. Ku-
roski, daughter of John Kuroski, of
Greenwich, and their children are : Marion
E., Henry P., Jr., Kenneth John.
WRIGHT, Luther M.,
Business Man.
Many centuries ago when men, in order
to distinguish themselves more readily,
took surnames, many assumed the name
of the art or craft at which they worked.
"Wright" originally denoted a workman,
an artificer, a maker, and was a designation
usually applied to those who wrought
in wood, as smith was applied to those
who worked in metal. It is highly prob-
able that almost every person bearing the
name Wright as his original surname is
descended from an English ancestor who
was an artificer. The name appears in
the Colonial records at an early date, and