Crawford was engaged by the Hudson's Bay Company in 1843 and served as ship's carpenter aboard the Beaver, the Cadboro and the Cowlitz before being assigned shore duties at Fort Victoria where he was engaged between 1848 and 1850. His main duties involved building a boat as well as some finishing carpentry work for Reverend Staines' accommodation. His whereabouts following his resignation from the Company in 1851 have not been traced.