Crawford, Col. William, Capture Site
Why it's listed
This roadside site east of Leesville Village, in Jefferson Township, Crawford County, Ohio, marks the place where Col. William Crawford was captured by Delaware Indians in 1782. The exact point is thought to be where Paramore Creek crosses what is now Route 229. According to the inventory, Crawford was tortured and burned at the stake four days after his capture. Crawford was of Scotch-Irish descent and born in Virginia. He learned surveying in the company of George Washington, served under Generals Braddock and Washington, and took part in many campaigns. He is described as largely responsible for the defeat of the Indians in this area. In 1927 the Crestline Kiwanis Club erected a monument at the capture site, which faces the road and sits close to it. The location is publicly owned and is included as part of the Leesville Village group of historic resources.
Significance in brief: The site is tied to the capture of Col. William Crawford, a Revolutionary-era military officer, in 1782. The form says he was tortured and burned at the stake four days later. It also describes Crawford's career as a surveyor and officer who served under Generals Braddock and Washington.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 79002812, listed April 3, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | .5 mi. E of OH 598 and CR 229, Leesville |
|---|---|
| County | Crawford County |
| Listed | April 3, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79002812 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Areas of significance | Military, Exploration/Settlement |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a monument site; the monument stands about 12 feet from the road and is publicly owned. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 40.79715, -82.78220 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Sites (archaeological sites, battlefields, landscapes) are often listed with a restricted address to protect them from looting or disturbance. Listing is honorary for private owners; federal undertakings on or near the site go through Section 106 review, and state laws may protect burials and artefacts regardless of listing.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 79002812.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.