Wednesday, 10 August 1791 a notice in the Carlisle Gazette said:
"Rewrd offered for 2 deserters from the encampment at Bedford, on then ight of the 30th instant. William Kerlton, a Drummer, 5' 7 or 8"high, s hort curly hair; dar complexion, is very talkative. DanielFailing, 5' 9 " high, fair complexion. Hugh Purdy, Ensign; 2dRegiment of Levies."
He was a Capt in the war against the Indians.
He and brother William were among the soldiers killed by Indians atthe d efeat of St Clair on the Ohio/Indiana border. Fort Recovery waslater b uilt on the site with a monument erected naming those who diedthat day , including Lt Hugh Purdy and Capt William Purdy.
From the Mifflin Co, PA, Orphan Court, File #3617 File Orphan Court:
The commonwealth of PA to the sheiiff of Mifllin County
Greetings. We command you that you summon James Purdy administrator oft he estate of Hugh Purdy deceased. So that he be and appear beforesaid J udge at Lewistown for Orphan Court there to be here on theThird Monday o f November next to show cause if any thing he has whyhis administratio n amount of the estate of the said deceased shouldnot be settled accor ding to law.
Witness Jonathan Walker esq. In Lewistown on 21 day of August in theye ar of our Lord
1806.
John Norris
From Fermanagh Twp history:
"A song, written over ninety years ago, entitled “General Arthur St.Cl air’s Defeat,” November 4, 1791, contains many allusions toparticipato rs in the battle. The twenty-ninth and thirtieth versesallude to Hugh a nd William Purdy, sons of James Purdy, who werekilled in that battle. T he author of the poem was Major Eli Lewis,founder of the town of Lewis berry, York county, Pa., publisher of thefirst paper ever printed at H arrisburg, and father of Ellis Lewis,late judge of Supreme Court of Pe nnsylvania.
The Purdys and young Anderson,
Whose names should be revered,
They fought like brave heroes,
But death was their reward.
Full twenty paces in the front
Of their men they did go;
The enemy soon spied them out,
Which proved their overthrow."
