Nathaniel Day born about 1716 in Plumstead Township, Bucks County Pennsylvania. He was the son of Christopher, Sr and Martha Day. Nathaniel married Susan Wylie circa 1737-1740.

James Edward Day author of Descendants of Christopher Day of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Post Master General under Kennedy and "father of" the zip code wrote that there was an indication that Nathaniel served in the French and Indian War and died in 1754. He does not cite a reference for this statement. Several other resources state that Nathaniel died specifically in March 1754. Some researchers state that he died in Bucks County and is buried in Day Cemetery while others state he died in Frederick County, Virginia. This compiler believes that Nathaniel was living in November 1757.

The French and Indian War was precipitated over rights to land in the Upper Ohio Valley. The Indians united with the French committing depredations and cruelties to frontier settlers and their families. By the spring 1754 authorities in Pennsylvania and Virginia were receiving reports of French activity in Ohio territory. Regiments and volunteer militia were formed in Pennsylvania and Virginia counties. Fort Prince George was built in February 1754 at the site of today’s Pittsburgh. The area was claimed by both Pennsylvania and Virginia. The fort was overpowered by the French. The French began building Fort Duquesne in April 1754. Between these two major events there was a lot of activity in March 1754 when Nathaniel Day is said to have died. A Virginia Regiment of fifty men were ordered to lay out roads and forts on March 5^th. It was on March 16^th that 5 to 600 French set out to take the Forks of the Ohio. On March 31^st George Washington was commissioned Lieutenant Colonel of the Virginia Regiment and marched toward the Ohio to aid Captain Trent in constructing fortresses and defending against hostilities of the French.

This was the beginning of the French and Indian War also known as the Seven Year War. The Day family was caught in the middle of historical events. Nathaniel’s wife would be killed by Indians in 1756. One of Nathaniel’s sons David was killed during the same attack. And two of his daughter’s Sally and Margaret [our ancestor] were captured but saved by yet another son, John. Son Nathaniel gave aid during Dunmore’s War and John would later fight at the Battle of Point Pleasant.