An American Family History

Abraham Cross was born about 1751 in St. John's Parish, Baltimore County, Maryland. He was the son of William Cross and Alice Cole.

He served in the American Revolution. He was a private in the North Carolina militia and served under Captain William Hicks and Captain Topp for 14 months. The regiment was commanded by Colonel Isaac Shelby.

He married Elizabeth Ensor. She was the daughter of John Ensor and Eleanor Todd.

Abraham and Elizabeth's children may have included:

William Cross (1780),
John Cross (1788),
Joseph Cross (1790),
Elizabeth Cross (1792),
Elisha Cross (1794, married Rachel Sampson),
Hannah Cross (1797),
David Looney Cross (1798, married Mary Adeline Himes),
Abraham Cross (1800).

In 1786 Abraham Cross signed the Petition for Division of Sullivan County.

He appeared on the 1812 tax list in Sullivan County, Tennessee.

In 1835, he appeared on the pension list in Sullivan County.

He is buried at Smith-Cross Cemetery in Piney Flats.

Abraham died in 1845.

North Carolina (now Sullivan County)
By virtue of a warrant to one directed of No. 1953 I have Surveyed for Joseph Cross part assignee of Abraham Cross seventy two acres of Land lyin on Linvill Creek and bounded as follows

Viz.
Beginning at a Hickory and Black Oak Matthew Coles corner and with his lines due East 300 poles
to a white Oak and black Oak on a hill above the sink of the Creek N. 21 E. 20 po.
to two black Oaks and a white Oak S.15 E.28 po.
to a small white Oak on George Hyms line and with the same due west 131 po.
to a white oak on David Shelbys lines and with s^d lines S.1. E.3 po.
to a white Oak due west poles to a white Oak S.55 W.59 po.
to a Pine on a ridge N. 48 W.90 po.
to a white Oak on a flat ridge, N. 25 E.36 po.
to a white Oak S.53 E.30 poles to the beginning.
Dec 18th 1787
Frelkeason? Sharp s.s.c

The rod or perch or pole is a surveyor's tool equal to 5 1⁄2 yards.

In contracts and pleadings usually people and things mentioned before are designated by the term said (sd ) for clarity. Aforesaid (afd, afsd, aforesd ) means it was already mentioned.

Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements
Pension application of Abraham Cross (Crass)
S1900 fn18NC
Transcribed by Will Graves
State of Tennessee, Sullivan County

On this 22nd day of August personally appeared in open court before the Justices of the court of pleas now sitting Abraham Cross a resident of the State & County aforesaid age eighty years....

That he served six months in the service of North Carolina from Washington County known as Sullivan as a drafted militia man under Capt. Hicks. That he was During said six months partly the times at the fort at shoats ford and on scouting parties and sometimes as an Indian spy against the Indians allies to the British,

and if I ever Received any discharge don't recollect it other than verbally which service was performed in the year 1777.

In the year 1779 leaved two towers [sic, tours] down the Holston and on the frontiers at Big Creek at Koch [?, could be Koils] Station and its vicinity and did serve one month each time more no written discharged.

Late in the summer of 1781 volunteered under Capt. Lopp for four month tour and did serve said four months was marched to Gen. Marion's Camps in South Carolina was marched below Monks [Moncks] corner took number of prisoners & brought them to the camps and did continue service until the expiration of the time for which I entered the service in all I think Rendered over one year service and has no documentary proof.

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension of annuity except the present and has declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency of this State or elsewhere and that this is the first effort that he made to have his name enrolled on the pension list
Sworn to and subscribed this day and year aforesaid in open court
S/ Abraham Cro[ss]

Edward Cox & Joseph Malone residents of Sullivan County do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Abraham Cross who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration and believe him to be eighty years of age that he is reputed and believe in his neighbour [sic, neighborhood] where he resides to have been a Revolutionary soldier and we concur in that opinion.Sworn to and subscribed in open court
22nd of August 1832
S/ Edward Cox
S/ Joseph Malone