Richard Baird's Deposition, 1758

Richard Baird's Deposition, 1758 from Pennsylvania Archives, First Series, III, (1853) 396. York County, §§. The Affirmation of Richard Beard, of Hamilton's Bane Township, aged twenty-two years, who saith, that his Habitation being at the Foot of the South Mountain, on the South-East side thereof; on Thursday the thirteenth day of April last, about 7 o'clock in the morning, He, this Deponent, was in his house with Katharine his Wife, John his child, about seven months old, Thomas Potter, son of the late Captain John Potter, Esq., Deceased, Frederick Ferrick, his Servant, about fourteen Years of age, Hannah McBride, aged about Eleven Years, William White, about nine Years old; in his Field were Samuel Hunter and Daniel McMenomy, Labourers, when a party consisting of nineteen Indians, came and Captivated Samuel Hunter and Daniel McMenomy in the Field, and afterwards came to the dwelling house of this Deponent, and about six of them suddenly rushed into the house and were immediately driven out by this Deponent and Thomas Potter; the Door of the house was thrown down by our pressing to keep the Indians out, and their pressing to come in, they shot in the house at us, and shot away Thomas Potter's little finger. We then had time to know their Numbers, and in a little time surrender'd, on the promise of the Indians not to kill any of us, they tied us, & took us about Sixty Rods up the Mountain, where their Watch Coats lay, for they were naked except the Britch Clouts, Legins, Mocasins and Caps; then they brought the two men that had been at Work in the Field, and in about half an hour, they order'd us to March, setting me foremost of the Prisoners. We marched one after another at some Distance; at about seven miles they kill'd my Child, which I discovered by seeing its Scalp, about twelve o'clock I saw another Scalp, which I knew to be Thomas Potters. I have since been informed that they killed him at the Place where their Match Coats lay. Fryday the 14th, about twelve o'clock, they murder'd Samuel Hunter on the North Mountain, they drove us over the Allegheny Mountain a day and a half, and on Monday Night about ten o'clock, I escap'd, they having sent me several Times about three Rods from the fire to bring Water. In nine Nights and Days I got to Fort Lyttleton, having had no food other than four Snakes, which I had kill'd and eat, and some 265