Scotland born, James Burd came to the American colonies in 1747. He first lived in Philadelphia,then Shippensburg, Pa, and finally moved to Lancaster County. During the French and Indian War, he was an officer in the British army. He was a builder of roads and forts on the Pennsylvania frontier. He briefly served in the American army during the Revolutionary War. He died in 1793 at his home in Dauphin County Pa.
Chapters: James Burd in Scotland/Merchant in Philadelphia/Roadbuilder for Braddock/Engineer: Builder of forts/Loyal Hanna and the Forbes Campaign/The Monongahela and the Redstone country/Fort Pitt and an indian treaty/Burd and Bouquet/Fort Augusta and Pontiac's conspiracy/Fighting Franklin's "Old Ticket"/Tinian/Revolutionary period/Independence/The last frontier.
This is a story of Hannes, a German-Lutheran boy who joined a band of Swiss Mennonites fleeing from Europe's desperate terror and poverty of the 17th century. It is a story of the perils of Hannes' journey and the improvement of his rifle, brought from his fatherland.