raceIn the year 1758, the new world was in the midst of the French and Indian war.  Raids led by natives on British colonies were an everyday occurrence.  Despite this, the residents of York County, more specifically Hamiltonban Township, felt some level of safety in their location.  There were no permanent Native American settlements in the area, so encounters with Natives were scarce.  However, the area was not completely isolated from the war.

On April 13, 1758, a group of 19 Delawares raided the homestead of one Richard Bard and his family.  Those in the house at the time were Richard himself, his wife Katherine, his son John, aged 7months, his servant Fredrick Fettick, 14, Hannah McBride, 11, William White, 9, and Thomas Potter.  Samuel Hunter and Daniel McMenomy were working in the field and were the first to be captured.  Following their capture, the Delawares attacked the house. After a failed attempt to shut and hold the doors, Richard and the others surrendered, but only after being promised no one would be killed.  They were tied up and made to march up the mountain.  It wasn’t long before the Natives broke the promise. 

In Richard Bard’s deposition dated May 12, 1758, he states in detail what happened to the group of 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…Fryday the 14th, about___ o’ clock, they murder’d Samuel Hunter on the North Mountain…” (Thomas et al.  9-10). 
​
After being dragged for miles on end, watching one after another of his companions being killed, Richard Bard managed to escape when he was asked to fetch water for the group.  After nine days and nights, he came across a group of three Cherokee.  This group of natives was sympathetic to his struggle, and helped him reach Fort Lyttleton safely.  Even today, the remains of the mill race can be seen on Mount Hope Road.