Individual Details

This John? The data following fits this man - yet I have not been able to reconcile this family with the estate records of Anson Critcher. This connection may well be wrong.

There is a Granville Estate file for J. H. Critcher, 1880.
I found what I believe to be his widow and children in the 1880 census, living with her brother. I have found no other John that would be approximately this age.
Sassafras Town, Granville, NC, Hh 190
Hiram H. Hester, 31, saw & grist Mill
Anna E. Critcher, 26, sister
Lilly, 5, Niece
Henry J., 4, nephew
Edward, 2, nephew
E. D. Currin, 26, Miller
Sherman Overby, Black, 14, servant

From the file:
1 Jan 1879 To the Probate Judge, Granville Co, NC. My husband John H. Critcher died intestate and it is necessary for someone to administrate the estate - request that B. T. Winton be appointed.
6 Jan 1879 B. T. Winston qualified to serve as administrator of the estate of J. H. Critcher who died without a will.
15 Jan 1879 Commissioners had allotted Anne E. Critcher widow of J. H. Critcher, dec'd, the personal property for support except some lumber on the mill yard. Winston requests permission to sell the lumber for cash. Petition granted. Value of estate estimated at $500 - heirs not listed.
7 Apr 1879. Inventory and accounts. He had sold the lumber for $29.12. Notes due were all doubtful of collection.
6 Dec 1880. Final Settlement. Commissioner's had laid off a year's allowance for Ann E. Critcher - $187.00. She had also been paid $389.92.
Note: it seems a bit odd that no provision were made for the children. It is also true that neither John no his children were mentioned when Anson Critcher died (John had predeceased his father).

A second estate file was created for "John Critcher, 1879" but it was obviously this same man.
11 Jan 1879 The commissioners laid off for Mrs. Annie E Critcher, widow of John Critcher & three children under fifteen years of age the following articles for their year's allowance: cash, $5, household & kitchen furniture, provisions on hand, plantation tools, Carryall, old buggy & Sulky, two cows and one calf, mule, sow and nine shoats. $187.00 Total. M. S. Daniels & G. W. Watkins, Commissioners. Deficiency to be paid by personal representation, $413.00.

I found these two North Carolina marriages:
Lillie Florence Critcher, daughter of Annie E. Knott and John H. Critcher married Bermice B. Richardson, 12 Jun 1925, Wake Co NC. They were both age 45. He had been married previously.
William E. (Edward) Critcher, son of Annie & John Critcher, married 7 Jun 1911, Wake Co, NC, to Ethel Bullock. He was 34 (born about 1877) and she was 24.

After John Critcher's death, Annie married John Knott and they are found in 1900 in Mecklenburg, VA with two of the Critcher children. By 1910, they were in Wake Co. NC

Birth	1844	Granville County, North Carolina
Death	Dec 1878	Granville County, North Carolina

Father	Anson Critcher (1811 - 1882)
Mother	Phoebe Mallory (1813 - 1856)
Sibling	James T. Critcher (1832 - 1900)
Sibling	Rebecca Jane Critcher (1835 - 1912)
Sibling	Frances J. Critcher (1836 - )
Sibling	Joseph A. Critcher (1838 - )
Sibling	William H. Critcher (1840 - 1862)
Sibling	Lucy Critcher (1842 - )
Sibling	Elizabeth Critcher (1846 - )
Sibling	Charles Critcher (1848 - )
Sibling	Emma Critcher (1852 - )
Sibling	Robert O. Critcher (1854 - )
Sibling	Roger Sameul Critcher (1856 - 1957)