Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History
Benson Lossing, Ed.

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Cresap, Michael 1742-1775

Trader; born in Alleghany county, Md., June 29, 1742; removed to Ohio in 1774, and after establishing a settlement below the present city of Wheeling, organized a company of pioneers for protection against the Indians; and, on April 26, declared war and defeated a band of Indians on the river. About the same time another party of whites massacred the family of the famous chief Logan, who hitherto had been friendly to the whites. Cresap was accused by Logan with having led the party which killed his family, but it was subsequently proved that Cresap was in Maryland at the time of the occurrence. Cresap received the commission of a captain in the Hampshire county militia in Virginia from Governor Dunmore. He joined the army under Washington, but ill-health forced him soon afterwards to retire from active service. He died in New York City, Oct. 18, 1775. Several publications have been issued since his death with the intention of relieving his memory from the reproach of having instigated the massacre of Logan's family. See Logan.