Benjamin Cleaver, born in Maryland, 1751

Scope and content:

Forms: Xerox copies of manuscripts of Affidavits and Certificates (2 items, 5 pages)

Persons: Benjamin Cleaver, born in Maryland, 1751. Names given as character and service certification references: Uriah Pirtle; James Bentle [sic]-[Bentley?]; William Ewing; John Jamison; Peter and John Fulkerson; Charles and William C. Wortham; John Cunningham. Names mentioned in association with military service: General [George Rogers] Clark; Captain Davis; John Murray, Earl of Dunmore. Appended affidavit of Clergyman Martin Utterback and Charles Wortham certifying Cleaver's statement regarding his military service.

Places: Grayson County, Kentucky; Tygart Valley; Point Pleasant; Pittsburg, Pennsylvania; Falls of the Ohio/Kentucky.

Subjects: Military Service: 1774-1782. Resident of Tygart Valley in 1774 ("on the Monongahela R. [River]"); In 1774 appointed Sergeant and served in guarding the "forts" and frontiers of the Tygart Valley against Indian attack; served in Dunmore's War, marched to the mouth of the Kanawha River, and was in the Battle of Point Pleasant; served under Captain Friend, 1775, guarding forts and frontiers of the Tygart Valley and helped in buildings another Fort; continued in service in the Tygart Valley, 1776-1778, and during this period served as a guard on a cattle drive to Pittsburg, cattle intended for the use of the "Revolutionary Army"; 1779 moved to near the Falls of the Ohio; served with General Clark in guarding and building forts at the Falls; served in Captain Davis' Company in General Clark's expedition against the "northern Indians"; burn Shawnee towns and took prisoners. [These forts were possible Westfall, at Beverly; Haddon near Huttonsville; and Currence, at Mill Creek]

Access and use