Richard Bard

Richard Bard

• BIRTH 8 Feb 1736 -York County, Pennsylvania, USA
• DEATH 22 Feb 1799 (aged 63) -Franklin County, Pennsylvania, USA
• BURIAL Church Hill Graveyard, Mercersburg, Franklin County, Pennsylvania, USA
• MEMORIAL ID 16590251 · View Source

Richard was an Indian Capture

[DAR Marker]

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/16590251/richard-bard

A Patriot of the American Revolution for PENNSYLVANIA with the rank of PRIVATE. DAR Ancestor #: A005951

SPECIAL NOTE: There is no research in "The Bard Family" by G.O. Seilhamer (or anywhere else to date - 2011) that supports with documentation or any official verification of various other siblings of Richard Bard, William Bard, and (Rev.) David Bard shown on some Ancestry family trees (such as Sarah Bard b.1728, Adam Bard (or Baird) b.1730, Robert Baird b.1735, or John Batte Bard b.1745.) To the best knowledge available Archibald Beard (Bard) only had 4 children: Richard Bard b.1736, William Bard b.1738, a daughter: Unknown Bard b.1740, and (Rev.) David Bard b.1744.

Presumed to have been born in Ireland 1736 (the Bards are said to have immigrated to the US about 1740).

Marriage: 22 December 1756 (Age 20) Catharine Poe - Franklin Co., PA, USA. Death: Age 63. Burial: 22 February 1799 (Age 63) Fairfield, Adams Co., PA, US. Burial: Church-Hill Cem., Mercersburg, Franklin Co., PA, USA.

Richard Bard:

The complete and uninterrupted lineage of the Bard family begins in 1736 with the birth of Richard Bard who was born in Carrol's Delight, February 28th. At the time of his birth, Carrol's Delight was recorded as an area in northern Maryland. With the definite establishment of state borders at a later date, this area is now the western part of Adams County, Pennsylvania, and is a few miles east of Gettysberg.

Richard's father Archibald had built a mill on Mud Run, a tributary of Middle Creek. The location was between Sugar Loaf mountian and Jack's mountian. It was here that Richard learned the trade of a miller, and where he brought his young wife after their marriage.

Richard and his wife "Kitty" (Catherine Poe) and child John were captured by Deleware Indians in 1758. They watched in horror as their young son was killed and scalped by the bloodthirsty savages. During their crueling march while captives, Richard managed to escape, but his wife Kitty was held captive for two and a half years before Richard found her again. He was forced to pay 40 Pounds Stearling to the Indians for her release.

Prior to her safe return, Richard had in 1760 written a lengthy ballad about the capture of his family and of his escape.  The ballad was found and preserved by his descendants and a copy of that ballad is included in the summary of the Bard Family.  Richard and his wife Catherine  after being reunited raised a large family (10 children).

Richard served in Capt. Culbertsons company, 6th Battalion, Cumberland County Militia in 1777. Richard served as Justice of the Peace for Peters Township; he was also a member of Pennsylvania convention of 1787 to which the constitution framed by the Federal Convention was submitted.

Like many early settlers of that day on the Pennsylvania frontier, Richard Bard acquired extensive tracts of land. Most of his holdings were on the western side of the Alleghenies, also some land Presbyterian Kentucky. As was commonplace with men of means of that era, Richard owned several slaves which were an important part of his assets.

Richard Bard died on February 22nd 1799 and was buried in the Presbyterian cemetery at Churchill, now Mercerberg Pennsylvania.

Richard Bard's millitary service in 1777 will establish the right of those who wish the privilege of membership in the National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution (D.A.R.). The record of his service appears in the Pennsylvania Archives, Fifth Series, Vol. 6 382.

Curtis Bard added this on 3 Aug 2010.

Heather Grace Haley originally submitted this to Haley-Killebrew-Barnes-Wall Family Tree on 29 Dec 2009.

CHART 1 (RICHARD) IS THE FIRST SON OF ARCHIBALD BEARD

CHARTS 2 (WILLIAM) AND 3 (REV. DAVID), COVER THE OTHER TWO SONS.

Occupation/Service: Farmer, Miller; York (Adams) & franklin Counties, Pennsylvania.

Justice of the Peace (1786).

Member of the Pennsylvania Convention of 1787.

Delegate to the Harrisburg Convention of 1788.

Places Lived: Near Bard's Mill (on Mud Run- the main tributary of middle creek) on The Bard Homestead at "Carroll's Delight", (near what is now Fairfield), in York Ctny (was Frederick Co., MD, USA; then Adams Ctny PA, USA; now York Co., PA, USA).

Some time after the Indian capture (about1764) he lived on the "Bard Plantation" on the East Conococheague River in Peter's Twp., Franklin Co., PA, USA; near what later became the Williamson Village area.

Land/Possessions: Bard's Mill at Mill Place.

Purchased the "Bard Plantation" on the East Conococheague River in Peter's Twp. in Franklin Co., PA, USA; near what later became the Williamson Village area (about1764).

Purchased 300 acres in Mt. Pleasant Twp. (1777), which later

became a part of Westmoreland county, PA, USA.

Purchased 2,000 acres (1780) near what later became Salem, KY, USA and is now BardsTown, KY, USA.

Military: Served in the Revolutionary War with Captain Joseph

Culbertson's Marching Company (1777) at the Phidadelphia Campaign, and Captain Walter McKinnie's Ranging Company on the western frontier.

Tradition/Misc.: Poem:

The Richard Bard Ballad: (Also known as "The Woeful Ballad", or "Bard's Lament".) (*3 Vol I Pg 14)

On a woeful day the heathen came,
And did us captive make:
And then the miseries commenced,
Of which we did partake.
Ninteen the number of them was,
And in the house they came:
But battle unto them we gave,
And drove them out again.
One of the foremost that came
With him a cutlass brought:
But cousin Potter took the same:
As they together fought.
At one a pistol I did snap,
But off it did not go:
"A pistol pistol" he cries out,
And from the door they go.
But ere they go they at us shoot,
Us thinking for to kill;
But 'mazingly God them deprived
Of their malicious will.
O' terrifying were the screams
That we from them did hear;
As also was the sight because,
They naked did appear.
Back of the house they soon appear,
"Surrender," they request;
And since their number was so great,
We thought the same was best.
Then quickly came they in the house,
And made of us their prey:
They did us bind and house did rob,
And so all went away.
With us our child they captive take,
A child of tender age:
Five more young persons are
Exposed to cruel rage.
And now together when we're summed,
The number is just nine:
Which these most cruel Indians
Have captured at this time.
Not far, however, did we go
Ere came we to a hill,
Where they our cousin Potter's blood
Inhumanly did spill.
Those hardened savages did act
As though they did no wrong,
And in his head a tomahawk left,
And brought his scalp along.
Out of my arms my child they took,
As we along did go,
And to the helpless babe they did
Their cruel malice show.
Both head and heart the tomahawk pierced,
In order him to slay,
And then they robbed him of his clothes,
And brought his scalp away.
But God the cries of innocent blood,
Undoubtedly will hear:
And he the same for to avenge
Will certainly appear.
"If you do speak," they say to me,
"We'll surely at you fire,"
When leave to speak unto my wife
I did from them desire.
To do a favor leave was asked
By my beloved, that she
Her love might there manifest,
And it express to me.
But they do aggravate our grief,
Throughout each doleful hour:
No privilege they would allow
To speak unto each other.
As we were travelling, they saw
A man and at him shot.
Power and mercy here appeared,
For get him they did not.
But forty miles now having gone,
This day is at an end;
They halt, and here to stay this night
Is what they do intend.
And here, the fire and us between,
Our infant's scalp they place;
Thinking that while we viewed the same,
Our sorrows would increase.
And ere they do themselves compose
In order for to rest,
An unseen way they take to bind
The poor and the oppressed.
And when the morning's light appears,
And we the road pursue,
An awful sight is on the same
Presented to our view.
For in our sight they tomahawked
One who with us was taken:
And for a bed for this poor man
His blood by them was given.
O, terrifying 'twas indeed
To hear his dying screams,
And from his head and heart to view
Those red and running streams.
But at his terror they did laugh,
They mock his dying groans:
Most artfully they imitate
His last expiring moans.
By reason of the rugged road
Our raiment it all tore,
And down our legs the blood doth run,
Unfelt the like before.
Whilst on the dismal road I think,
With wondering filled am I,
How it could be that my poor wife
Could cross those mountains high.
For I myself did almost faint
Under their cruel hands;
But it was God that strengthened us,
Against their hard commands.
O, may all those that never saw
Or felt the like of this,
Unto the Lord give praise and thanks,
And God forever bless.
With great barbarity we're used,
As guilty of a fault,
If, we without acquainting them,
To take a drink do halt.
But now to Allegheny Hill,
At length we come unto,
Where those inhuman savages
Expose some of us do.
As we ascend this lofty hill,
No wonder we're amazed
To hear the awful sound that's made
When war-halloos were raised.
For every scalp and pris'ner gained,
A loud halloo they make:
As if it were their great delight
A human life to take.
The night that we lay on the hill,
A snow on us did fall:
This was a night of sore distress
Unto each of us all.
For we could not come near the fire,
Through all that night:
O had not God sustained us
We sure had died outright.
When in the morning we arise,
"March on" by them we're told;
But this to us is misery great,
Our feet being sore and cold.
At Laurel Hill we found a creek
Both high and swift the stream,
So by the hand I took my wife,
To help her o'er the same.
But for this love I showed to her
At me they're in a rage,
And nothing else but me to beat.
Their anger to assuage.
So great the strokes the cruel foes
Have given to me here,
That for ten days the bruises do
Exceeding plain appear.
The load to carry which they here
Did give to me this day,
I an account will minute down.
From truth I will not stray.
Two bear skins, very large indeed,
And one bed quilt also,
Two blankets and six pounds of meat,
All on my back must go.
Bare six score miles now we have mark'd,
But fifty doth remain,
Between us and the bloody place.
Where standeth fort Duquane.
At three rods distance from a run,
Encamp'd this night are we,
But when for drink they do me send
No more they do me see.
Alas for me to go 'tis hard
Whilst with them is my wife,
Yet 'tis the way that God ordained
For me to save my life.
But after me they quickly run
Not doubting of their prize;
But God turns into foolishness
The wisdom of the wise.
O cruel man In vain you strive
In vain you follow me,
For since the Lord gainsaith I can
No longer captive be.
God the device can disappoint
Of wicked men and wise,
So to perform they can't always
Their cruel enterprise.
But now although at liberty
Through mercy I am set,
Yet miserable is my life
For want of food to eat.
O dreadful sore my sufferings were
Which force me to depart
Whilst no provisions I had got
My life for to support.
O'er hills that's high and swamps that's deep,
I now alone must go,
Travelling on I suffer much
From briers poison do.
Unto a hill, I now arrive,
About four miles it's broad,
And o'er this hill the snow doth lye
Though elsewhere it is thaw'd.
Much laurel is upon this hill
Its leaves are fill'd with snow,
So I upon my hands and knees
Under the same must go.
My hands thro' this excessive cold
Extremely swelled are
Of sufferings I in this place
Abundantly do share.
But 'tis not only in the day
That hardships do abound,
For in the night they also do
Encompass me around.
In hollow logs or 'mongst the leaves
At night is mine abode;
No better lodgings wet or dry
Throughout this lonely road.
Three days I've traveled since escape.
But there is three days more
In which I have for to lay by
My foot's so very sore.
Amazingly my foot is swell'd
With heat is in a flame,
And though I'm in this desart land
Can't walk I am so lame.
Not wholly from my pained foot
That causes pain to me,
For by not having food to eat
My woes encreased be.
Almost five days I now have been
Without the least supply,
Except bark buds, which I did pull
As I did pass them by.
Though I'm not able now to walk,
I creep upon my knees:
To gather herbs that I may eat,
My stomach to appease.
But whilst I'm roving thus about,
A rattlesnake at speed,
I view a running unto me,
This mercy is indeed.
For by this snake I'm supplied
When kill the same I do,
How timeously this mercy came
None but myself can know.
A rattlesnake, both flesh and bone,
All but the head I eat;
And though 'twas raw, it seemed to me
Exceeding pleasant meat.
Full souls do loathe the honeycomb
When they've enough to eat:
But unto him that hungry is,
Each bitter thing is sweet.
When ripen'd is my beeling foot,
Which mightily did ake,
I with a thorne did pierce the same,
And thereby ease partake
But least my foot I further hurt
My breeches tear I do,
And round my feet I do them tye,
That I along might go.
But when to walk I do attempt
Gives me excessive pain,
Yet I must travel with sore foot
Or die and here remain.
So when a few miles I did go,
Unto a hill I come
Whilst on the lofty top thereof
I thought I heard a drum;
And judging people near to be
On them I gave a call,
But sure there was not one to hear
Being weak, conceit was all.
But by these calls for help I gave,
I evidently see,
That I'm more spent than what I thought,
Or judged myself to be.
For though I'd raise my voice as high,
As I had power to do,
'Bove fifty rods it can't be heard,
'Tis so exceeding low.
Being now eight days since I escap'd
Unto a river came,
Whilst wading it I suffered much
Being so very lame.
But having Juniatta cross'd
I to a mountain came,
With cold I ne'er was so distress'd
As I was on the same.
For in a night that's very cold
I there my lodging take,
And as my clothes were wholly wet
I tremble did and shake.
My hand by this excessive cold
Is so benum'd that I
Can't move, no, not a single joint,
Were it a world to buy
Then I although the night was dark
Did homewards march away,
Least I should perish with the cold
Should I for daylight stay.
But on my journey in this night
With joy a fire I see,
This was the strangest providence
That ever happened me.
For when I by the same had staid
Until the light appear
I see a road just at my hand
Which doth my spirits cheer.
If I had not beheld this fire
This Indian path I'd cross'd
And then from all appearance I
Forever had been lost.
Along this path I went with haste
As much as I could make,
But 'twas not fast that I could go
I was so very weak.
Now having been nine days and nights
In a most starving state
Not having food of any kind
Except four snakes to eat.
But on the evening of this day
I met with Indians three
Surprised I was and really thought
Them enemies to be;
But they proved kind and brought me to
A place where English dwell,
Fort Littleton, the place by me
Was known exceeding well.
The time since first I captive was
This is the fourteenth day,
Five with the Indians and nine since
From them I ran away.
Thanks to the Lord, because he did,
Incline the enemies heart,
To give an opportunity
To me from them to depart.
Thanks to the Lord who did provide
Food in the wilderness
For me, as much as did preserve
My life whilst in distress.
Thanks to the Lord because that he
In desarts, pathless way,
Directed me so that I did
At no time go astray.
And now from bondage though I'm freed,
Yet she that's my belov'd,
Is to a land that's far remote,
By Indians remov'd.
Alas alas for my poor wife
That's gone to heathen lands,
There to obey their very hard
And their unjust commands.
By thinking on your misery
Increased is my wo;
Yea pained is my aking heart
For what you undergo.
Were all things of this spacious globe
Offered to ease my mind,
Alas all would abortive prove
Whilst Kitty is confined.
The thoughts of you my loving wife
Embitters unto me,
The sweetest comforts that can by
A world produced be.
Oh now I may like to a dove
In her bewildered state,
Bemoan the loss of my dear wife,
My true and loving mate.
But though we in this life ne're more
Partake of other love,
God grant that we one day may meet
In joy and peace above.
O Kitty dear where'er you be,
God will you keep, I know:
And in and through his blessed son,
Unto you mercy show.
And may he by this sore distress,
Prepare you for a fight
Unto the great inheritance
Of blessed saints in light. 97th verse

Note: The above poem was pieced together from various sources.

Spoon.... SEE CA, USATHAR, USAIN, USAE POE NOTES.

Descendant of White Eyes...BB Pg

Bardstown, KY, USA story (pg. 194)... Bard's Mill was later called Marshall's Mill and then Virginia Mills. The village of Virginia Mills still exists, and there is a nearby road called "Carroll's Tract". Neither the Mill nor Richards's small cabin are standing now (Circa 1987). The area is overgrown, but the creek area and tapeworm railroad remnants are still visible. Mr. Ferdinand Schneider (Ham: W3HTL, located at 560 Mt. Hope Rd.) felt that the "Potter Oak" (where the Indians killed Thomas Potter) was no longer standing- but that is hard to determine. He has one of the original millstones set in cement as part of his garage, and claims another is still buried in the mill foundation rocks. We carried one of the smaller foundation/spillway rocks home, and visited another mill (Anderson's) that must have been very much like Bard's Mill. (Anderson's Mill- described on page 463 of the Bard Book- then called Irwinton Mills & as being connected to the early Bard-Irwin families). We bought an original sketch of Anderson's Mill by Mr. Charles J. Stoner at Mrs. Evelyn H. Gingrich's Gift Shop, 6952 Lemar road (ie: Lemasters -Upton), Mercersburg, Franklin Co., PA, USA, 17236 Ph: (717) 328-2085). She is the exclusive agent for Stoner's art, and indicated that he may sometime in the future do prints of other Bard orientated places; such as the Church-Hill Cem., the Richard Bard cabin, Indian scene, etc. Mrs. Paul Crist {Ph: (717) 642-8818} (located at 555 Mt Hope Rd. which is across the street from the mill remnants and the Schneider's, and on the same side as the area where Richard's cabin once stood) has a picture of Richard's Cabin which her husband Paul painted (deceased 1 year; Circa.1986). Richard Bard (6F-R&JM3) of Colville Wash. has a picture of this painting and we hope to acquire a copy in the course of our correspondence with him. Mr. Crist was forced to tear down the cabin some years earlier because of vandals trespassing and causing problems there. *1

Visit to Church-Hill Graveyard at Mercersburg, Franklin Co., PA, USA, Piece of wall, Graves, Fort-like Church at Church-Hill - Mrs McDowell (her son was the caretaker of the Church-Hill Graveyard, Mr. Crawford lives nearby.

Visit to a house that may have been Judge Archibald's near Mellott's Farm on Lemasters-Upton road (was S. Houston Johnston Land). It looks much like the house the Bard Book mentions on page 191 as being the house of Richard Bard, and as having burned. The house we saw may have been the house described on page 193, as belonging to Judge Archibald. As per Kittochtinny Historical Society, Chambersburg, Fairfield, Etc.

SEE BARD FAMILY NOTES AND MAPS v1.1(1990). * 2

Death: (63 Years). Buried in the Church-Hill Cem. at Mercersburg, Franklin Co., PA, USA.

Sources: The Bard Family, by G.O. Seilhamer; Pg. 158, 159.

• 1 *2 July 1987 visit to Pennsylvania-CB & SFB
• 3 "Oil, Land and Politics the California Career of Thomas R. Bard", by William H. Hutchinson, University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK, USA 1965. (A two volume biography of Thomas R. Bard.)
  • Note that at the time of the signing of the above documents (1766, 1769, 1772) Richard & William were sometimes referred to as "BARD" but signed their names; "BAIRD". showing the apparent ambiguity of the spelling of the name.

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Richard Bard

• BIRTH 8 Feb 1736 - York County, Pennsylvania, USA
• DEATH 22 Feb 1799 (aged 63) - Franklin County, Pennsylvania, USA
• BURIAL Church Hill Graveyard, Mercersburg, Franklin County, Pennsylvania, USA
• MEMORIAL ID 16590251 · View Source

Richard was an Indian Capture

[DAR Marker]

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/16590251/richard-bard
Richard was an Indian Capture

[DAR Marker]* Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Jan 23 2024, 20:07:45 UTC