David Pollock

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Husband David Pollock ¹

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           Born: Abt 1784-1785
     Christened: 
           Died: 30 Jan 1807 1
         Buried: 

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         Father: James Pollock (1728-1812) 2 3 4
         Mother: Mary Herron (      -1820) 2 3

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Wife

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

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Children

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General Notes: Husband - David Pollock

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He was killed under the following circumstances: He had gone over the mountains eastward, on business, or, as some suppose, on an affair of the heart. In his return he had stopped at the house of one Statler, or Slotter, on the mountain, to take breakfast and feed his horse, and had proceeded on his journey. He had not traveled far when two men stopped and shot him; they then drew him off the road and robbed him, concealing his body behind a log, and made for the woods. This occurred on the old Pennsylvania road between Stoystown and Statler's tavern. Some packers from Westmoreland county, traveling down the road and near the place, heard the report of two guns. Coming to the spot, they found a hat, a whip, and a horse; they also saw tracks into the woods, which they traced for two or three rods, but could see nothing more. They then went on towards Statler's, and soon met a footman to whom they showed what they had found, and told the story. The footman knew the horse and said he had traveled in company with the owner the day before. The packers then took the horse on to Statler's; Mr. S. immediately sent an express to Stoystown. In the meanwhile, some horsemen coming up the road, examined the place and found the body within a rod or two of the road. While the packers were coming with the footman they saw two armed men on the road, who immediately took to the woods. The neighbors then collected and pursued them, and, about midnight, found them in a house about six miles from Somerset. The woman of the house came out and told the party there were two men in the house. The men heard the noise and prepared to escape. Two of the party, Macks Koontz and Jacob Lambert, went in. One of the men, who afterwards proved to be the murderers, attempted to escape by the door, and on his way fired at one of the party, the bullet passing through his clothes. The man was then fired on by a number and instantly killed. The other was quietly arrested and lodged in the Somerset jail. From papers found on their person they proved to be Frenchmen, named Noel Huguel and John Duplie Arnaud. Huguel, the surviving murderer, was tried at Somerset, convicted, and hung. They bore the evidences of their guilt on their person. The body of Mr. Pollock was stabbed in ten or fifteen places. He had been shot through the neck and his throat cut in such a manner as nearly to sever his head from his body. A part of the dirk, with which he had been stabbed, was found in the body; the other part, with Mr. P.'s watch and seventy dollars in money, was found in the possession of the prisoners. The indignation of the people was such that Huguel had to be protected from lynch law.* On the same day, January 20, 1807, Mrs. Rachel Pollock, wife of Thomas, the eldest brother of David, died in childbed. The Rev. Mr. Lytle states, that while the two dead bodies lay in the same room at the house of James Pollock, Mrs. P., the mother, replied to one of the women present, who was trying to console her, "It might be worse." "But what could be worse," the friend replies; "here is your son murdered and your daughter-in-law dead?" "Well," said Mrs. P., "it would have been great a deal worse if my son had murdered some other man."
*See American Register 1806-7, i. 214.

1 Wm. H. Egle, Historical Register: Notes and Queries, Historical and Genealogical (Harrisburg, PA: Lane S. Hart, Publisher, 1883), Pg 199.

2 George Dallas Albert, History of the County of Westmoreland, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA: L. H. Everts & Co., 1882), Pg 701.

3 Samuel T. Wiley, Biographical and Historical Cyclopedia of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA: John M. Gresham & Co., 1890.), Pg 166.

4 John W. Jordan, LL.D., Genealogical and Personal History of the Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvania (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1913), Pg 728.