Biographical Sketch of Dr. Absalom BAIRD (1881); Chester County, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Candace Roth . Copyright. All Rights Reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ********************************************************* From THE HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, by Futhey and Cope (1881); pg. 469 "BAIRD, Dr. Absalom, is said to have been the son of John Baird, an English officer in Braddock's army, who married, in Philadelphia, Catharine McLean (or McClean), and lost his life at Grant's Fort, near Pittsburgh, after Braddock's defeat. His widow, who is supposed to have had relatives in that neighborhood, made her home near Kennett Square, and (it is believed) supported herself by teaching school while her son grew up and studied medicine. Absalom married Susan, daughter of George Brown, of Kennett, and several children were born to them at that place. After the Revolution, during which he served as a physician, he removed to and settled in Washington, Pa., where he died. On one occasion Dr. Baird fell into the hands of Indians, who were about to take his life, but he, suspecting that one of them was a white man in disguise, made the Masonic sign, which was recognized, and he was spared. Among the descendants of Dr. Baird were Rev. Alex. Reed, of Parkesburg, and Dr. Thomas B. Reed, of Philadelphia."