Captain John A Cribbs

A Patriot of the American Revolution for PENNSYLVANIA with the rank of Private. DAR Ancestor # A067484

GEDCOM Note

Baptism: March 31, 1755, New Hanover Church, Philidelphia. Pa. Military: 8th PA Reg of Continental Line Westmoreland Co. Militia.

John Cribbs served in the Revolutionary War, first as a private in the Pennsylania Regiment of the Continental Line. He attained the rank of Captain. After the war he stayed in the militia and at one time was a Major. Later he accompanied General Arther St. Clair on his campaign against the lndians. Captain John Cribbs was killed in the disastrous battle when St Clair was defeated on November 4, 1791.

After his death the administration of the estate was granted to his widow, Catherine (Harrold) Cribbs whom he had married in 1778 or 1779. ln the westmoreland county Adm. Docket Book A, page 156 administration is granted to Catherine Cribbs and William Jack on July 8, 1792. Daniel Harrold and Michael Huffnagle were the sueties.

lnventory of the estate was taken on August 13, 1792 by Anthony Altman and Valentine Steiner. Among the items mentioned were cattle. horses, sheep, wheat and rye, saddles, cooking utensils, bed-clothes, one watering pot, one mortar and pisol at 3 sh.9d; 5 pewter basins, and 11 pewter plates; and Delft Hessing Sword at sh; 1 small looking glass and chest lock .a5 2sh; one musket and lifter at 3 sh 9d; chairs, tables, a chest; 16 spoons; clothes valued at 9 pounds ( a large amount at that time-evidently the captain was a fine dresser ) a store at 3 pound 10 sh; 2 keggs and a bar -lead valued at 7 pounds, 1'8 sh and 8d; one Morocco Leather Pocket-book, and tobacco box at 2sh 6d; one glazing mill at 15 sh; one potter's turing wheel at 7sh2d; one clay mill at 12 sh 6d; one keg red lead, 103 pounds at 5 pounds 3 sh; 223/4 lbs of Bar lead at 15 sh 2d; 7 pounds of black glazinng at 1 sh 9d; two kegs of lead shillings 7-pence. This was a large amount for a comparatively young man.

A final account of the estate was presented to the Court and approved on March 12, 1798. The administrators are the given as Catherine Lock (the late Catherine Cribbs) and William Jack. Their accounts show that the receipts of the estate were 228 pounds, 1sh, and 10 d. While the expenditures were 115 pounds, 18 sh and 10 1/4 d; leaving a balance 112 pounds 2 sh and 11 1/4 d.

lt was signed by Castherine Krebsin and then changed to Schlosin, the German form of the name Lock, with the feminine ending in each case. Catherine Harrold Cribbs was married second to Jacob Schlos around 1797.

That Captain John Cribbs was a potter by trade is obvious and he may have learned his trade from his uncle Michael Fedele, who was a potter, as suggested by Joseph M Kellog. However, a article found in the Penn Magazine of History and Biodraphy, Vol. 54 (1930), page 113 says Christian Piercy ( or Piersy ), potter, first comes to our notice in Pennsylvania Gazette of Dec. 21 1774, when he offered a reward of six dollars for a run away apprentice boy; one John Cribbs, aged seventeen, who either cared little for his master or did not aspire to be a potter, from Pottery, China, and Glass Making in Philadelphia by Harold E Gillingham. Sons of the Captain, Christopher and Peter also became potters.

John and Catherine Harrold Cribbs lived in Hemppfield township, Westmoreland County. Catherine was born in Berks County, Pa. in 1750. They were married around 1778-79. In the census of 1790 he is as having one male over 16 (himself) 6 males under 16 years and 3 females. At his death there were only six children heirs. Two sons had died young.

Sponsors at his baptism were Michael Fedele, Sr. and his wife, grandparents.

He was in the Revolutionary War. He enlisted first as a private in the 8th Pennsylvania regiment of the Continental Line, and is said to have served throughout the war. He attained the rank of Captain. After the war he held the rank of Major. The Pa. Archives, 5th series, vol 3, p 1379, give a list of the militia officers in the First Battalion, "agreeable to election" of the Westmoreland "Matltia", dated July 7, 1789. The Colonel was Christopher Truby, and the Major was John Cribbs. Later, John accompanied General Arthur St. Clair in his campaign against the Indians, and was killed in the battle when St. Clair was defeated on May 4, 1791. (See Gresham's History of Westmoreland County, and other histories of the time.)

John appears on a tax list of 1789 in Armstrong township of Westmoreland Co., with one tract of land (Pa. Archives, 3rd series, vol 22). His home, however, seems to have been in Hempfield Township, where he appears in the federal census of 1790, as having one male over 16 years (himself), 6 under 16 years, and 3 females.

John, with his brother-in-law John Harrold, was an Administrator of his Father-in-law's estate, that of Christopher Harrold Sr., and signed the bond as such on April 7, 1787. He had acted as the trusted agent of Christopher Harrold for a number of years, as shown by an account of claim made by him against the estate. He also signed the agreement among the heirs of Christopher Harrold which made over the home farm property to the youngest son Daniel Harrold.

After his death in 1791, the administration on his estate was granted to the widow Catherind Cribbs and William Jack, on July 8, 1792. Daniel Harrold and Michael Huffnagle were the sureties on the bond. (Westmoreland Adm. Docket A, p 157) See Cribbs family genealogy for a list of items enumerated.

He was a potter by trade. Most probably he had learned this trade while a youth from his uncle Michael Fedele Jr., who was a potter. Several of his sons also became potters.

1. BIRTH: New Hanover Lutheran Church Records, "Pennsylvania GermanChurch Records," Vol. II, Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc.,Baltimore, 1983, page 220.

!2. MARRAIGE: A. "The Harrold Genealogy," by Joseph M. Kellogg, page45-46.

! B. Baptism records of Old Zion Churchh, Westmoreland Co.,PA, lists Catherine Harrold "in single state" as God-parentwith Jacob Bebar at the baptism of Jacob, son of John and Barbara Harrold on 3 March 1776.

! C. First child born to John Cribbs and Catherine Harroldwas on 10 Feb 1780, Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, HempfieldTwp., Westmoreland Co., PA. "History of Old Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church," by William Arter Zundel, published byChurch Council, page 212.

! D. ADMINISTRATION OF ACCOUNTS 1798: Westmoreland Co., PA.

! "The Administration of Accounts of Catherine Lock (late Catherine Cribbs) Administration of William Jack Esq., Administrator of all the singular goods and chattle's rights and Credits which ere of Captain John Cribbs, late of the County of Westmoreland, deceased...."

! E. LAND RECORD: Deed Book 10, page 410, Westmoreland Co.,PA. (Lists heirs of Christopher Harrold...Jacob Lock and his wife Catharine..............)

!3. DEATH: "Early History of Western Pennsylvania," by William L. Iscrupe, S.P.G.S., Laughlintown, PA, 1989, Appendix No. XXV, from the Authentic List of the Killed and Wounded in the Army of the United States, commanded by Major General St. Clair, Nov. 4th, 1791 from the returns of the Adjutant General.

!4. MILITARY RECORD: Revolutionary Soldier, Private, PA (DAR Patriot).

! John Cribbs (Kreps/Cribs) was on the payroll of Captain Wetzel's Company of the Pennsylvania Rifle Regimentand was listed as a private under the date of March 6,1776, commanded by Col. Samuel Miles. After the war, he enlisted again during trouble with the Indians inthe 1st Westmoreland Militia in 1786 and given the rank ofCaptain. He was killed at this time at St. Clair's Defeat in Ohio 4 Nov 1791.

! PA Archives, Fifth Series, Vol. 2, pages 277, 287,289, 291-293, and 295.

! PA Archives, Fifth Series, Vol. 3, page 366. " " Vol. 4, page 161. Sixth " Vol. 2, pages 871, 875. " " Vol. 3, pages 1379-1380,1389.

!5. LAND RECORDS: A. Deed Book 8, page 281, Westmoreland Co., PA.

! B. Deed Book 9, page 139, Westmoreland Co., PA.

!6. STATE TAX LIST: Hempfield Twp., Westmoreland Co., PA, "Pennsylvania Archives," Vol. XXII, Third Series, page 513.

!7. INVENTORY OF ESTATE: 13 Aug 1792, Westmoreland Co., PA.

Miss Laura B. Cope. DAR ID Number: 40101 Born in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Descendant of Jacob Byerly and of John Cribbs, of Pennsylvania. Daughter of Cyrus P. Cope (1838-1910) and Sarah Jane Cribbs (b. 1850), his wife, m. 1869. Granddaughter of George A. Cribbs (1820-62) and Jane Skelly, his wife, m. 1845. Gr.-granddaughter of William Skelly (war of 1812) and Mary Elizabeth Byerly, his wife; Christopher Cribbs (b. 1780) and Mary M. Silvis, his wife, m. 1847. Gr.-gr.-granddaughter of Jacob Byerly and Elizabeth Harmon, his wife; John Cribbs and Katharine Harrold, his wife. Jacob Byerly, (1760-1858), enlisted at seventeen from Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and in 1833 applied for a pension. It was allowed for two years actual service as private. He died in Westmoreland county at the advanced age of ninety-eight. Also No. 24273. John Cribbs served as a private in the Pennsylvania Continental line. He was with Gen. Arthur St. Clair in the campaign against the Indians and, 1791, was killed on the Wabash. View full context

Mrs. Emma Thomas Brinker. DAR ID Number: 40102 Born in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Wife of William N. Brinker. Descendant of Jacob Byerly and John Cribbs. Daughter of Capt. Jacob Thomas and Alice Cribbs, his wife. Granddaughter of Capt. George A. Cribbs and Jane Skelly, his wife. See No. 40101. View

Mrs. Maude J. Lauffer Sommers. DAR ID Number: 68350 Born in Westmoreland County, Pa. Wife of A. F. Sommers. Descendant of Henry Lauffer and of John Cribbs. Daughter of Henry A. Lauffer (b. 1850) and Josephine L. Beamer (b. 1855), his wife, m. 1872. Granddaughter of Jacob F. Lauffer (b. 1822) and Susannah Cribbs (1829-91), his wife, m. 1845. Gr-granddaughter of Henry Lauffer, Jr. (1793-1873), and Anna Marie Gress (1795-1870), his wife, m. 1814; Christopher Cribbs (b. 1780) and Mary M. Silvis (b. 1780), his wife, m. 1800. Gr-gr-granddaughter of Henry Lauffer and Barbara Alliman (1771-1846), his wife; John Cribbs and Katharine Harrold, his wife. Henry Lauffer (1753-1821) served as frontier ranger for Westmoreland County, Pa., 1778-83. He was born in Northampton County; died in Westmoreland County, Pa. John Cribbs served as a private in the 8th Pennsylvania, Continental Line. He died, 1791, in Ohio. View

The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution Volume 148 page 218Mrs. Ruth Alberta Alcorn Kough.147683 Born in Greensburg, Pa. Wife of Walter Kough. Descendant of Lieut. Bernard Bowman, John Cribbs and Jacob Byerly, as follows: 1. William O. Alcorn (1871-1902) m. 1895 Abbie A. Cope (b. 1872). 2. Richard Alcorn (1843-1914) m. Susan George (b. 1839); Cyrus P. Cope (1838-1910) m. 1869 Sarah Jane Cribbs (b. 1850). 3. George Alcorn (1816-45) m. 1836 Margaret Bowman (1811-69); George A. Cribbs (1820-62) m. 1845 Jane Skelly (1825-64). 4. Adam Bowman (1780-1864) m. 1804 Ann Elizabeth Kuhn (1785-1869); Christopher Cribbs (b. 1780) m. 1800 Mary M. Silvis (b. 1780); William Skelly (1784-1867) m. Mary Elizabeth Byerly (1787-1845). 5. Bernard Bowman m. 1st 1775 Catharine Drysbaugh; John Cribbs m. Catherine Harold; Jacob Byerly m. 1781 Elizabeth Harmon (1760-1858). Bernard Bowman (1749-1824) was lieutenant in the Northampton County, Pennsylvania militia under Capt. Henry Bowman. He was born and died in Northampton County, Pa. John Cribbs served as private in the 8th Pennsylvania Continental Line. He was killed, 1791, at St. Clair's defeat. Jacob Byerly (1760-1858) received a pension for service as private in the Pennsylvania Line. He was born at Fort Bedford; died in Westmoreland County, Pa. Also No. 14638