He settled in Wellington and called his land holding Kilbirnie after the town in Scotland; the name is still in use as a Wellington suburb.
The Kilbirnie Earl of Crawford sought shelter and his father-in-law, Robert Hamilton of Bourtreehill, gave his estate to the distressed family.
He specialises in local and social history and has written books on the history of the Garnock Valley and Doon Valley, including the towns of Beith, Barrmill, Dalmellington, Gateside, Kilbirnie, Patna, and Waterside.
He was born in Glasgow, the son of Hugh Crawford of Kilbirnie and from a fairly early age served in the armies of Christian IV of Denmark, Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden and Charles I Louis, Elector Palatine.