America 250 – Revolutionary War Ancestor Benjamin Cruzan Sr.
By Kathleen Weddle Sizer
My 4th great-grandfather Benjamin Cruzan Sr. was born c. 1758 in Delaware in the Colonies and died 5 June, 1848, at Cross Plains, Indiana. He received a pension for service in the Revolutionary War first in Ohio, Adams Co. Court of Common Pleas, age 67 with pension rate of $8 a month 12 April 1825 and arrears of $35.55 recorded in Book B, Vol. 11, page 8, File No. 35,869 He moved to Rush Co, Indiana receiving a pension 4 March, 1833 to 5 June 1848, when he died. His pension or Virginia claim number is 19,436 for Bounty Land Warrant; U.S. Pension Roll of 1835, Vol. IV 3 Indiana, Benjamin Cruzan alias Cruidson, rank private, annual allow $96 to date; Record No. 85,196. His pension was rejected twice before because one paper spelled his name Cruidson and another Kruzen. He had to show value and no land and his personal items were valued at $100.08 ½.
In Roster of Soldiers and Patriots of the American Revolution Buried in Indiana by Mrs. RC. O’Byrne, Clearfield Company, L.C. #68-18632, page 110: Cruzan (Cruidson) Benjamin of Ripley County, born about 1758; Enlisted on June 1, 1780 in Hillsborough, State of North Carolina service – private in company commanded by Major Moore Fauntleroy, Regt. of Col. Anthony Walton White, Virginia line,1st Reg. horse, fall of 1780-1783 4th Continental Dragoons. In 1782 he was in Yorktown and on May 21, 1782, Colonel Brown of the British troops was attacked by General “Mad” Anthony Wayne. The vanguard of the Americans was composed of 60 horsemen and 20 infantries led by Colonel Anthony White. These [men] made a spirited charge, killing or wounding 40 of the British and making 20 of them prisoners; discharged in South Carolina. He was in Company C 5th Troop, 1st Regiment Light Dragoons when discharged in 1783 or 1784. Brother Isaac Cruzan also enlisted in Major Fauntleroy’s company.
Benjamin served at Fort Henry, Wheeling, Virginia testifying for Benjamin Long that they both knew two men, Jacob Crow and Jacob Nave (Knave), killed by Indians. At time of service, the fort was under Captain Johnson. Long entered service at Cook’s Tavern about 60 miles from Wheeling’s Fort Henry. There were several attacks at Fort Henry over the course of the Revolutionary War. The fort was built on a plan like other forts on about 1/2 acre of land with the fort being about 175 feet long and 125 wide with block houses on each corner, cabins in the fort holding about 50 men and the stockade walls were 8-10 feet in height made of pickets.
Grandfather also served in the War of 1812 from Kentucky under Pogue’s Militia Regiment August 27, 1812 to September 26, 1812.
