The times., 1898-08-02
THOMAS CRESAP.
He Was One of the Noted Men In
CalcEiaI Days


York, Pa. Aug. 1.-Cresap's fort in
lower Windsor townshop, York county,
about eighteenmiles from the Maryland
line, has been discovered.
II recalls TO memory one of the most
remarkable men who ever lived in this
State. The northern limits OF Lord Bal
timores domain, as originally granted,
took in the place now occupied by the
southern part of Philadelphia, running
due west and including in Maryland a
splendid tract OF country. The Calverts
as Maryland contends, were cozened out
of this rich domain by the Penns. but be-
fore the final settlement condition near
~ approaching a border warfare prevail
ed for many years. Both the Calverts
and the Penns made land grants in this
disputed territory and the conflicting
claims occasioretf constant turmoil.
Cresap settled on the Susquehanna,
nearly opposite Columbia. Pa. and built
blockhouse, not for defense against the
Indians, for the Indians were then peace
able, but for defense against the Penn
sylYania settlers. It IS likely that Cresap
went at the request of Lord Baltimore
10 np-Q the county tDI AAAAb- l$Jll L~AAhA-
more had made grants to number of
Catholics and these received harsh treat
nent from Penn's people.
In the immediate neighborhood of Cre-
sap's fort colony of Germans had set
tied under grants from Penn. Cresap, at
the head of fifty men. marched against
them to drive them out. a fracas en-
sued. in which Pennsylvania named
Knowles Dantg was killed The sheriff of
Lancaster county proceeded against
Cresap with posse but he had taken
refuge in his fort and stood a siege. The
sheriff finally succeeded. under cover of
darkness, in setting fire to the fort. Gre
sap rushed out and attempted 10 break
through the besiegers, but was capclred,
along with four of his comradees. They
were imprisoned in Philadelphia and the
inha bEants Of that town fiocked TO get a
sight of the Maryland monster" as they
called him. In an address to the King by
the government of Maryland 1t was
charged that the Penns had allowed one
of these prisoners to starve TO death in
jail
After remaining in Jail a year. Col
Cresap was released by order of the King
and came to Maryland, and in 1879 got a
grant of land from Lord Baltimore at a
place a few miles north of the present
site of Hagerstown. This was one of
the earliest STdiiS west the Blue
Ridge. 1t is one of the most fertile and
beautiful portions of the State and is still
known by the name it received from
Cresap, namely Long Meadows. Here,
when the French and Indian war broke
out, Cresap built fort a refuge from
the Indians The farm, or that part of
the original tract upon which the fort
and dwelling stood, is now owned by Mr..
William S. Young, 14lS Druid Hill Ave
nue., Baltimore. A portion of the stone
wall of the fort is still preserved in the
springhouse. This farm. after the Revo-
luton came into the possession of Col
Thomas Hart, and it was there that his
daughter, Letitia, the wife of Henry Clay
was born.
Thomas Cresap was born in Yorkshire,
England, and came to America at an
early age. After the events narrated
above he established hunting lodge on
the Potomac, near the mouth of the
South Branch. When the Indian war be-
gan he received a commission from Gov
Dunmore in the colonial troops, and was
with Braddock on his fatal campaign to
Fort Duquesne. In this campaign he was
intimately associated with Washington
and later on was connected with Wash
inSton in the Ohio company enterprise
After Braddock's defeat there was a
period of Indian warfare in Western
Maryland extending over nearly ten
years. In all this time Cresap was the
chief defense of the western frontier. He
penetrated farther west than Cunber-
land, when one of his sons, Daniel. was
killed by an Indian. the mountain where
his death occurred being still known as
Dams Mountain. Negro Mountain in the
same neighborhood, got its name because
upon it a negro man owned by Cresap
was killed by an Indian.
Thomas Cresap lived. it is said, more
than a hundred years. His adventures
were many and exciting. His son Mich
ael was scarcely less distinguished. He
lived at Long Meadows, while his father
was at his lodge en-the Potomac. AT the
beginning of the Revolution he led two
companies of riflemen from Frederick
county, then including the present three
western counties. though the wilderness
to join Washington. at Boston. After
taking part in the military operations
there he started home on sick leave. but
got no farther thafr-New York. There he
died and was buried with military hon
ors and in the presence OF great crowd
in Trinity Church graveyard. His tomb
stone bears the following inscription: I'm
memory of Micfia elsEresap. the first cap
tain, of the rife battalions. and son of