West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1902-01-23
MICHAEL CRESAP, INDIAN FIGHTER

| IN recent article IN the New York Times
two distinguished Marylaudets are s,rancel,
confused with each other.
They are Thomas Cresap and his son
/ Michael Near the door Of the north tram
sep, Of old Trinity Church, in New YORK.
there is tombstone Inscribed, "In Memory
/ Of Michael Cresap. Fhst Captain Of the
| Rifle Battalion, and son of Col. Thomas
Cresap, Who Departed this Life oct rs.
1908 This stone. il appea,s from the
article i'm the Times, is a copy OF the original
which was moved many years ago to the
New York Historical Society along with
other tomhs,oues from the same churchyard
The article referred to goes on TO speak of
Michael Cresap as the Indian fighter who
was accused by Jefferson of the murder of
The Indian Chief Logan. II was Thomas
Cresap who was SO accused, but who was
subsequently entirely eNonerated from even
a suspicion Of such an act. Thomas Crcsap
was born in Yorkshire, England. lie emi.
grated 10 Maryla and received from ord
Baltimore one OF the first grants of land
made in what is now Washington county .
This grant was made in 1880, and is still
known 10y It's original name Of "I.ong Mead
oWs. Il is situated few miles north Of
liagerstown. This farm was subsequently,
owned by Thomas Hart and upon IL his
daughter, Luoreiia Hart, the wife of Henry
Clay, was born. II is now The property of
William Young of Baltimore.
Thomas Cresap was an intimate friend Of
Washington and was associated with him i'm
i752 in the Ohio Company lie took par,
in the Braddock campaign aud was an oGi.
Ger Of the Colonial Militia aud distinguished
himself by his intrepid bravery. Lord Dun.
more gave him commission in the Virginia
Army although he was citizen Of Mary.
land In the subsequent terrible war with
the Indians, when the western part Of the
State was devastated, he fought desperately
for the protection of the colonis,s. lie
built hunting lodge several miles west Of
South Branch, on the Potomac: Dams
Mountain, near Cumberland, was named
after Cresap's son, Daniel, who was killed
by an Indian ON that mountain, and Negro
Mountain.w was so named, because negro
owned by Cresap was killed there by am
Indian. Jefterson's accusation that Cresap
killed Logan was the result of a strange mis-
take. Cresap took leading part i'm the
disturbances along the Pennsylvania border
growing out of the disputes rs to the boun.
dary between Lord Baltimore and the penns.
Col Cresap was sent by Lord Baltimore 10
occupy the disputed territory ON the Susoue.
hanna, near Columbia Here ne was a,
tackled by the Pennsylvania sheriff his
house was burned and Crcsap captured az
he ran out lie was carried to Philadelphia
and there exhibited as the "Matyland Mon.
ster. "
As soon as the news Of the outbreak #
the Revolution reached Maryland two COM
panies were organized in Frederick county.
one Of them being raised in what is now
Washington county OF this Michael
Cresap was captain These troop, were
dressed as Indians and each one was an ex.
pert marksman. Ohio Holland Williams
was a lieutenant in one Of the companies
lhey marched through the wilderness ia an
almost direct line for Boston Washington
was greatly pleased at the arrival Of these
soldiers along with Morgan's company.
which came from Jefferson aud Berkeley
counties in Virginia. Three months after
Cresap's arrival az Boston he asked for sick
leave aud started on bis long journey 10 his
home al Long Meadow lie got only as
far as New York, when he died and was
buried with military honors in Trinity
Churohyard. Several Of the descendants Of
Thomas and Michael Cresap arc now living
in this town.