Michael Cresap
Encyclopedia
Michael Cresap was a frontiersman born in Maryland
. He was the son of the pioneer Thomas Cresap
. He spent part of his adult years in the Ohio Country
as a trader and land developer. He led several raids against Indians whom he believed were hostile to white settlement. Logan
of the Mingo
Indians accused Cresap of murdering his family. In fact, the killings were almost certainly perpetrated by Daniel Greathouse
, yet Cresap was immortalized in Logan's speech (quoted in Thomas Jefferson
's Notes on the State of Virginia
) as the murderer of Logan's family.
As a result of the murders, Logan waged war on the settlements along the Ohio and in western Pennsylvania
, killing, perhaps, nearly thirty men, women and children. Lord John Murray Dunmore
, the British Royal Governor of Virginia, raised an army and appointed Cresap to the rank of captain. The decisive battle of Dunmore's War
was the Battle of Point Pleasant
. Here Dunmore's forces defeated a band of Shawnee Indians led by Cornstalk
.
After Lord Dunmore's War, Cresap returned to Maryland and subsequently raised a company of riflemen for the Continental Army
during the American Revolution
. He died from illness in New York City
while in the service of the army; he is interred there in Trinity Church Cemetery
.
The Michael Cresap House
was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1972.
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. He was the son of the pioneer Thomas Cresap
Thomas Cresap
Colonel Thomas Cresap was an English-born pioneer settler in the state of Maryland, and an agent of Lord Baltimore in the Maryland-Pennsylvania boundary dispute. During the dispute, Cresap became a notorious figure in the Conejohela Flats areathe Susquehanna Valley in the area south of Wright's...
. He spent part of his adult years in the Ohio Country
Ohio Country
The Ohio Country was the name used in the 18th century for the regions of North America west of the Appalachian Mountains and in the region of the upper Ohio River south of Lake Erie...
as a trader and land developer. He led several raids against Indians whom he believed were hostile to white settlement. Logan
Logan
Logan was a Native American leader.Logan may also refer to:- Australia :* Logan City, a local government area in Queensland* Electoral district of Logan, an electoral district in the Queensland Legislative Assembly...
of the Mingo
Mingo
The Mingo are an Iroquoian group of Native Americans made up of peoples who migrated west to the Ohio Country in the mid-eighteenth century. Anglo-Americans called these migrants mingos, a corruption of mingwe, an Eastern Algonquian name for Iroquoian-language groups in general. Mingos have also...
Indians accused Cresap of murdering his family. In fact, the killings were almost certainly perpetrated by Daniel Greathouse
Daniel Greathouse
Daniel Greathouse was a settler in colonial Virginia. His role in the Yellow Creek massacre in 1774 was instrumental in starting Dunmore's War....
, yet Cresap was immortalized in Logan's speech (quoted in Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
's Notes on the State of Virginia
Notes on the State of Virginia
Notes on the State of Virginia was a book written by Thomas Jefferson. He completed the first edition in 1781, and updated and enlarged the book in 1782 and 1783...
) as the murderer of Logan's family.
As a result of the murders, Logan waged war on the settlements along the Ohio and in western Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, killing, perhaps, nearly thirty men, women and children. Lord John Murray Dunmore
John Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore
John Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore was a British peer and colonial governor. He was the son of William Murray, 3rd Earl of Dunmore, and his wife Catherine . He is best remembered as the last royal governor of the Colony of Virginia.John was the eldest son of William and Catherine Murray, and nephew...
, the British Royal Governor of Virginia, raised an army and appointed Cresap to the rank of captain. The decisive battle of Dunmore's War
Dunmore's War
Dunmore's War was a war in 1774 between the Colony of Virginia and the Shawnee and Mingo American Indian nations....
was the Battle of Point Pleasant
Battle of Point Pleasant
The Battle of Point Pleasant, known as the Battle of Kanawha in some older accounts, was the only major battle of Dunmore's War. It was fought on October 10, 1774, primarily between Virginia militia and American Indians from the Shawnee and Mingo tribes...
. Here Dunmore's forces defeated a band of Shawnee Indians led by Cornstalk
Cornstalk
Cornstalk was a prominent leader of the Shawnee nation just prior to the American Revolution. His name, Hokoleskwa, translates loosely into "stalk of corn" in English, and is spelled Colesqua in some accounts...
.
After Lord Dunmore's War, Cresap returned to Maryland and subsequently raised a company of riflemen for the Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
during the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
. He died from illness in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
while in the service of the army; he is interred there in Trinity Church Cemetery
Trinity Church Cemetery
Trinity Church Cemetery consists of three separate burial grounds associated with Trinity Church in Manhattan, New York, USA. The first was established in the Churchyard located at 74 Trinity Place at Wall Street and Broadway...
.
The Michael Cresap House
Michael Cresap House
Michael Cresap House is a historic home in Oldtown, Allegany County, Maryland, United States. It is a -story, two-part stone and brick house built about 1764. The house is associated with Michael Cresap , a well known Ohio frontiersman....
was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1972.