Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski / The Engagement of Frankstown monument sits along Rt. 764 across from Rutter's in Duncansville.

A ceremony will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, to rededicate the marker commemorating the 1781 capture of Captain John Boyd and members of the Bedford County Militia by Seneca warriors.

A marker, a bronze plaque mounted on natural stone, was originally placed in 1923 along Route 764 just south of Eldorado by the Blair County Historical Society.

Because it was dangerously close to traffic on Route 764 and because some of the information had been found to be inaccurate, the Frontier Patriots Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution, had a new monument erected along Route 764 on property donated by Imler’s Poultry. That memorial was recently renovated and the ceremony to remember the events of June 3, 1781, will also be a time to rededicate the marker.

According to history accounts, on Sunday, June 3, 1781, a detachment of the Bedford County Militia led by Captain John Boyd left Fort Fetter in the Frankstown Township of Bedford County (in the vicinity of the Comfort Inn at Wye Switches) and walked north along the Beaverdam Branch of the Frankstown Branch of the Juniata River.

The group was searching for a party of Seneca warriors who had recently attacked a farmstead, killing the husband and taking the wife and children captive.

The Bedford County Militia hoped to find the Seneca party and free the woman and children.

At a point just south of where Sugar Run empties into the Beaverdam Branch (to the east of the McLaughlin Oil and Propane Co.), a party of Seneca warriors led by British Lieutenant Robert Nelles rose up and ambushed the Bedford County Militia men.

A short “engagement” ensued and when it was finished, 12 Bedford County Militia men lay dead and six were wounded. Nelles and his Seneca warrior allies took nine men captive. As they were walked north toward Fort Niagara, three of the men could not keep up because of their injuries, so the Senecas killed them, too.

Those attending the ceremony, expected to last about an hour, will hear a recounting of the Engagement at Frankstown. Those attending should bring a folding chair and umbrella, if it rains.