Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 273, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 November 1910 — A Comer in Ancestors [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

A Comer in Ancestors

By ELEANOR LEXINGTON

Cruger Family (Copyright by McClure Syndicate)

' The Cruger family, as the name shows, dates back to the time of the Crusades, Cruger was originally Cruclger, and was the Medieval Latin word for cross-bearer, from the words “crux,” a cross, and “gere,” carry. From Cruciger the name became Creuziger and Creutzinger, and finally Cruger, and in Germany and Holland, Kruger. The name was first given to a {knight in one of the Crusades, at the jend of the eleventh century, and (from him the family spread throughout Germany, Holland, Denmark and lEngland. One Casper Crucigar, a (German, helped Luther translate the |Bible in 1532. In 1190 Sir Philip de jCrueuger went with Richard I. of England on the third crusade to {Palestine. Sir Philip is supposed to ’ t

Shave descended from the German house of Von Cruger or Kruger, and from him the line is unbroken down to John Cruger, the flounder of the American family. ' About 1700 this John Cruger, an Englishman of good education, appearance and standing, came to New York. He went into business and talso into politics; in 1712 he was made alderman, and for 22 consecutive years he held this office. Five years after giving it up, in 1739, he was . made mayor, and continued in this capacity until his death in 1744. He Is spoken of as a man of tact and discretion. In those days it was very difficult for a mayor to keep peace between the people on the one side, [who were jealous of their rights, and the governor on the other, who was

jealous of the king’s rights. But Cruger seems to have accomplished this task.

In 1702 he married Maria, daughter of Hendrick Cuyler of Albany. They had five daughters, Anna, Marla, Sarah, another Maria, for the first died of smallpox, and Rachel; and three sons. Tileman, Henry and John.

Although John left no descendants, he is by far the most interesting of his generation. He showed unusual ability even as a child. From 1754 to 1755 he was aiderman and from 1756 to 1765 he was mayor. He was the first speaker and president of the first colonial assembly, and he was a member of that body for 17 years, from 1759 to 1775. He wrote the famous “Declaration of Rights and Grievances” adopted by the Stamp Act congress in 1765, the first notable piece of political writing In our history, and said to be the model on which Jefferson based the Declaration of* Independence. He also started the movement which led to the establishment, 1768, of the New York chamber of commerce, modeled on the English board of trade, and the first mercantile society established in America. He died in 1791

The most interestfig member of the next generation is also the one who left no heirs. His name was John Harris Cruger, and he married Anne, daughter of Brig. Gen. Oliver De Lancey of New York and the British army. When war was threatened De Lancey raised a brigade, called “De Lancey’s battalions,” for the “defense of Long island and other exigencies;” and he commissioned his son-in-law, who was strongly In sympathy with his mother country, lieutenant colonel. Cruger’s military record was brilliant. Among other things he commanded Fort Ninety-Six in South Carolina when It was attacked, and he forced the American general, Nathaniel Greene, to raise the siege. After the war he went to England, and died there. The late Stephen Van Rensselaer Cruger was brevetted for gallantry in the Civil war. He was in Europe when hostilities broke out, but he hurried home and went to the front. He was terribly wounded at Resaca, and was honorably discharged. As soon as his wounds were healed he begged to be reinstated, and was with Sherman on his march to the sea.

Tho arms are blazoned: Argent, a bend azure charged with three martlets or, between two greyhounds courrant, proper. Motto: Deo non Fortuna. Crest: A demi-greyhound saliant, gorged or. Motto (beneath the wreath): Fides.