John Cralle

John married first to Judith Ball, the daughter of Col. Spencer Ball, on January 17th, 1750. Judith died in April of 1759, they do not appear to have had any children. John married next to Spelman Garner on July 3rd of the same year. John and Spelman were half cousins through their grandmother Hannah Fox. They went on to have at least five children.

In 1758 John's name was listed on the Northumberland County rent roll. John had served as High Sheriff of Northumberland County and as a Justice. He was a Captain in the Northumberland County Militia. When the Fifth Virginia Regiment was formed to aid in the Revolutionary War, John volunteered to serve even though he was already 50 years old and had much to leave behind. John signed up in Captain Thomas Gaskins' Company on February 23rd, 1776. He was made sergeant on September 28th, 1776. The Fifth Regiment of Foot was commanded by Colonel Josiah Parker as part of Brigadier General Peter Muhlenberg's Brigade in Major General William Alexander's “Lord Stirling” Division.

During the war the Fifth participated in the Chesapeake Campaign, the December 26th, 1776 attack on Trenton and the battles at Princeton, Brandywine and Germantown. The Fifth was also present for Washington's crossing of the Delaware.

After a long and hard 1777 the Fifth went to winter camp at Valley Forge, PA. When the regiment entered camp 357 were counted with only 98 listed as fit for duty. Muhlenberg's Brigade was stationed on the far eastern flank of the encampment beside the Schuylkill river. Disease and starvation killed as many as 2,000 of the 12,000 troops at Valley Forge. John's death was recorded on February 1, 1778. His exact burial location is unknown.