James Burd
He was a young man that came to Philadelphia in 1748 from Scotland and soon married Sarah Shippen, the daughter of a prominent politician Edward Shippen. By 1752, he moved his growing family to oversee his father-in-law's land holdings near present-day Shippensburg, Pennsylvania. In 1756, he settled on a farm in Lancaster County, but decided to join the military as an officer at the outbreak of the French and Indian War. He would arrive in a position during which he played a crucial role in fortifying the frontier. He was commissioned a Major at Fort Augusta and by December 8, 1756, after the resignation of Lieutenant Colonel William Clapham, he took command of the large fort.
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Under his oversight, the fort was completed, as well as the finishing of the brush-strewn path, known as the Provincial Road, that stretched between the fort and Conrad Weiser's homestead. Two years later, Burd was promoted to Colonel and accompanied General John Forbes on the Duquesne Expedition. He left with almost 360 men and suitable provisions and decided that he would leave 40 men stationed at Fort Augusta. As the large group of troops moved westward, Burd contributed his ideas and input, as well as experience, into the construction of Fort Ligonier. In November of 1758, Fort Duquesne was abandoned by the French, and subsequently, Burd was sent to the area around Lake Erie where he supervised the construction of roads and fortifications.
Most importantly, upon his return from the Great Lakes region, he, along with Joseph Shippen, oversaw the erection of Fort Burd (later more often called Redstone Old Fort) which served as a depot for river transport to Fort Pitt during the war. Afterwards it was a stopover for pioneers going toward the Northwest Territory, heading south to the Missouri Valley, and traveling far west to the Oregon Country. James Burd eventually returned to Fort Augusta in 1760, where he remained until the dissolution of the Pennsylvania Regiment.
Most importantly, upon his return from the Great Lakes region, he, along with Joseph Shippen, oversaw the erection of Fort Burd (later more often called Redstone Old Fort) which served as a depot for river transport to Fort Pitt during the war. Afterwards it was a stopover for pioneers going toward the Northwest Territory, heading south to the Missouri Valley, and traveling far west to the Oregon Country. James Burd eventually returned to Fort Augusta in 1760, where he remained until the dissolution of the Pennsylvania Regiment.