In Amasa J. Parker's 1897 "Landmarks of Albany County" on page 69 it says of John Peter Ball of Berne: "Once while plowing in his field, during the war of 1812, he was suddenly confronted by Indians and taken prisoner, he was returned unharmed."

Could that be real, or is it more likely to be family legend?

Harold Miller

AlbanyHilltowns.com