On May 27, 1811, Crittenden married Sarah O. Lee at her home in Versailles.[11] Lee was a cousin of future U.S. President Zachary Taylor and aunt of US Senator Wilkinson Call.[12] They had seven children before Sarah's death in mid-September 1824.[13] Among their children were Confederate major general George Crittenden and Union general Thomas Leonidas Crittenden. Their daughter Sallie Lee "Maria" Crittenden was the mother of John C. Watson, a Rear Admiral in the U.S. Navy during the late 19th century.[14]