David Crawford (c1759 - 1825)

XXI. David Crawford of Ballyshannon was the second son of James Crawford of Donegal (XX). He was born in Donegal in 1759 [another authority gives the year 1760], and brought up to the medical profession. Before he had completed his twenty-first year he entered the Royal Navy as surgeon's mate (assistant surgeon).

The ship to which he was appointed was the "Quebec" (frigate), Captain George Farmer, carrying 32 guns, and 214 men. He had not long joined his ship when she fell in with a French man-of-war, off Ushant, on October 6th, 1779, and a prolonged and desperate engagement ensued.

The Frenchman was the "Surveillante"(frigate), commanded by Captain Couedec, mounting 40 guns, with a complement of 320 men. The "Quebec" had the "Rambler" (cutter), Lieutenant George, with 20 four-pounders and 35 men, in attendance upon her, while the "Surveillante" had a similar cutter for her consort. This was "l'Expédition", carrying 16 six-pounders and 6o men.
The engagement began at nine o'clock, AM, by the "Surveillante" firing upon the "Quebec"; but the latter did not return the fire for an hour, until she had got herself into a favourable position at closer quarters. At ten o'clock, the ships being then within point-blank range of each other, Captain Farmer ran up his colours, and poured a broadside into the enemy. In half an hour more he was alongside of her, and the work of carnage began in real earnest. Both ships being soon completely dismasted, manoeuvring them was impossible, so that they lay close together, firing broadside after broadside into each other for three hours and a half.

About two o'clock the shattered rigging of the "Quebec", which lay over the side, took fire from the discharge of her own guns, and before long the ship herself was enveloped in flames, which spread rapidly, notwithstanding the utmost exertions to extinguish them. In this distressing condition she continued to burn for four hours, till about six o clock, when, the fire having reached the magazine, the "Quebec" blew up, with colours still flying. The gallant Captain Farmer, who had been severely wounded during the action, perished on that occasion, as did also most of his brave officers and crew.

The "Rambler" cutter, that had herself been hotly engaged with her adversary, "l'Expédition", picked up one of the master's-mates, two midshipmen, and fourteen sailors; while a Russian ship that came up just then rescued thirteen more of the crew, including the captain's clerk. In addition to these, thirty-six sailors, together with the first lieutenant of the "Quebec", the second lieutenant of marines, and the surgeon's-mate (David Crawford) were saved by reaching the "Surveillante", which was being towed away by her boats from her burning enemy. David Crawford got to the "Surveillante", after having been swimming for a very long time, and succeeded in climbing on board by the aid of the rigging lying over the side.

After the first confusion he and his companions were kindly treated. They were transferred to another vessel which came to the assistance of the "Surveillante", and sent on shore, a fortunate change for them, as the French frigate had received such serious injury during the engagement, that she sank before reaching the harbour.

After a detention of three weeks as prisoners at Brest they were released, and sent back to England, upon October 28th, 1779. In announcing this fact, the Gentleman's Magazine for 1779 describes the three officers who were saved by the "Surveillante" as the first lieutenant of the "Quebec," the second lieutenant of marines, and the surgeon of the ship. This is a mistake as regards the last-mentioned. The surgeon of the ship, whose name, I believe, was Grier, was lost on that occasion, and it was the surgeon's-mate (David Crawford) who was saved.

On the return to England of these missing ones there was great rejoicing among their friends, as they had been counted among the lost, and their families had put on mourning for them. David Crawford was very kindly treated, and made free of all the London hospitals. He received promotion, and was appointed, February 28th, 1780, to the "Orpheus", a ship then about to be constructed. He soon afterwards relinquished the navy at the instance of his mother, upon whom his first experience of the life had made a great impression.

In 1783-4 David Crawford made a cruise of about a year's duration in the yacht "Lively", belonging to a Mr. Shuttleworth. They crossed the Atlantic, and visited many of the ports upon the North American Coast. Among the matters of interest mentioned by David Crawford in the diary he kept upon that occasion was the meeting with Washington, with whom he was much taken.

David Crawford settled down in 1790, at Ballyshannon, where he owned thirty-four houses, among them some of the best in the town; but his landed property lay principally near Donegal, where the townlands of Meenadreen, Leghouny, Finadoes, Tully, Drumadoney, part of Moonamena, and Gregstown, belonged to him.

He was elected a Burgess of Ballyshannon, which was then a Borough returning two Members to the Irish Parliament. The following is an extract from the Corporation Book, referring to his election:

BOROUGH OF BALLYSHANNON.
We the Provost and Burgesses of said Borough being this day assembled to elect a Burgess in the room of Henry Major, Esq., deceased, Do with mutual consent elect David Crawford, Esquire, a Burgess of the said Borough in the room of the said Henry Major.
Witness our hands this eighteenth day of May, 1800.
(Signed) JOHN MAJOR, Provost.
(Signed) WM. TREDENNICK.

David Crawford, Esquire, being elected a Burgess the eighteenth day of May, 1800, took the oath of a Burgess of the Corporation of Ballyshannon before me.
(Signed) JOHN MAJOR, Provost.

David Crawford subsequently became Provost and Chief Magistrate of the town, which post he held for fourteen or fifteen years. He was also Barrack-Master of the Military district of which Ballyshannon was the headquarters, with a garrison of 1500 men. During the rebellion of 1798 he served as one of the officers of the Ballyshannon Yeomanry Cavalry, and was for about twenty years a Justice of the Peace for the county of Donegal.

David Crawford married (18th August, 1791) Sarah, only child and heiress of the Rev. Robert Caldwell, of Rathneeny, in said county, and a descendant, in the sixth generation, of Allan Dunlop of Irvine, Ayrshire, by his wife, A----- Montgomery. David Crawford died at Ballyshannon 8th November, 1825, and was buried there 10th November [Grave 366]. His wife survived him many years, and died at Croghan House, Lifford, 18th February, 1853, and was buried at St Anne's, Ballyshannon, 22nd February, in the 85th year of her age [Grave 366].