Indian trader, born in Maryland in 1742. In 1774, at Wheeling, he led an attack on the Indians, who had become unruly, and defeated them, while another party barbarously destroyed the entire family of Logan, a friendly chieftain. Logan accused Cresap of the murder, in a speech that has become classic, but Cresap was not guilty. Commissioned captain of the militia of Virginia, he joined the Dunmore expedition, and returned to Maryland; from there he went to Ohio in the spring following, and penetrated the wilds of far western Virginia. Later he was commissioned captain of a company of Maryland riflemen, and went with his company to Massachusetts to join the American army. But when he arrived at his destination he was overcome by sickness, and died on his way homeward, in New York City, in 1775. His remains lie buried there, in Trinity churchyard, and a tombstone marks his grave.
