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Notes for ANDREW MCBRAYER:
A curious reference to another 'McBrair' during the early era of Pennsylvania leads to the speculation there could possibly have been a fourth brother. The possibility has not been ruled out, however, that he might have been a son of one of the known three. His name was Andrew McBrair.
His story is this: It was early in July of 1754. George Washington and his troops were moving toward Fort Duquesne in an attempt to surprise the French commander, DeVillers. "...DeVillers learned that Washington forces were entrenching themselves at (Christopher) Gist's plantation. He thereupon disencumbered himself of all his heavy stores, and leaving a sergeant and a few men to guard the boats, pushed on in the night, cheered by the hope that he was about to capture the forces of Washington. Arriving at Gist's plantation in the early morning of July 2nd, he saw the entrenchment which Washington had there begun to erect, at once invested them, and fired a general volley. No response came from the entrenchments; for the prey had escaped. However, at Mr. Gist's house, some Indians with the French captured Elizabeth Williams and three of James Lowrey's traders, named Andrew McBrair, John Kennedy, and Nehemiah Stevens." (C. Hale Sipe: "The Indian Wars of Pennsylvania")
No additional references have been found on this Andrew. The puzzle exists as to exactly who he was and what happened to him. It is said that during that period one habit of the Indians was to stake out their captives and skin them alive!
Dr. Egle, in his book, " The History of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania", describes 'Lowery's traders' as being from 'Donegal - back in Lancaster County' ... the area where the three brothers settled.
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