Biographies for Frederick County Maryland   Captain John Adlum of Frederick Town Maryland 1725/27 -1819 Contributed by John and Gene Sharp sharpjohng @ sbcglobal.net Captain John Adlum was born in County Antrim Ireland about 1725 / 1727. His father was John Adlum Senior (1699 -1773) and his mother Elizabeth Berwick (1705 -1760). Captain John Adlum was one of eight children; six daughters and two sons. He was particularly close to his siblings and had an especially close bond with his younger brother Joseph Adlum (1728- 1814). The Adlum family immigrated to Pennsylvania 1732. His father, John Adlum Senior, first settled in Lancaster and then moved to York Town, York County, PA, where he held office as County Sheriff and Coroner. He and his brothers appeared to have helped their father in his leather tanning business. From his father he learned to take an active interest in civil affairs and the Adlum family members were active in some of the early opposition to British rule. Captain John Adlum married about 1764 his wife was named Margaret (unfortunately her last name was not recorded). The young couple moved to the relatively new municipality of Frederick Town, Maryland (First settled in 1745) about the same time perhaps her family had some connections to the "Old Line State.' Together the couple had seven children Margaret Catherine born July 11, 1767, Catherine born February 12, 1771, John born October 23, 1772, Joseph; William; Elizabeth and Mary born January 1, 1777. Over the years Captain John Adlum became a prosperous tanner and farmer and took an active interest in the growing political movement against British rule. He took part in the Committee of Observation for Frederick County, MD where he was a leader in meetings that plotted a strategy of resistance to the crown. During the Revolution, he was an officer in the local militia and is referred to in many documents. That he had the support and respect of his community is reflected in the Maryland State Archives where in March 1776 his Frederick neighbors recommended and petitioned for his appointment as Captain in the local Frederick Town Militia Company, his commission was subsequently confirmed by the Maryland Council of Safety on 26 March 1776, afterwards he is referred to as Captain Adlum. Captain Adlum was renowned for his for his sound and beneficial advice. His nephew Major John Adlum, in his Memoir, recollected one such instance when he visited with his uncle John in Frederick Town I went to my Uncle John Adlum's at Frederickstown in Maryland. And as I was disappointed in getting into the Army, my inclination leaned towards my going to sea wherefrom my vanity and the good opinion I had of myself, I thought I could learn a profession by which, I might advance myself in the World. I mentioned this circumstance to my Uncle , but he informed me that there were several young men from that Town, had went to sea, and that they were in the British prisons. As I had witnessed their treatment of prisoners, it somewhat cooled my ardor. And he advised me as I had then learned a trade, and which he was then following, and he appeared to have good deal of business and was getting forward in the world. I suffered myself to be persuaded to go to work in his shop and again to commence dressing skins, eventually peace was proclaimed, when I immediately began to study the art of surveying and concluded to go to the back parts of Pennsylvania and to follow that business. During this visit with his uncle, Major Adlum, had a chance to meet his cousins and first cousin Margaret Catherine Adlum quickly became his favorite. Although he was gone for many years seeking his fortune on the then uncharted frontiers of Pennsylvania and New York; where he worked as a surveyor and land developer, he returned to Frederick Town to marry Margaret C. Adlum on 13 December 1805. After their wedding together, Margaret and Major John Adlum, moved to Harve de grace Maryland, where they farmed and kept in close touch with her family at Frederick Town. The couple had two daughters: Margaret Catherine Adlum born 1810 and Ann Maria Adlum born 1815. Margaret Catherine was close to both her parents and from their family correspondence they exchanged visits often. Both daughters Margaret and Ann Maria spent time with their grandparents and came to love their days in Frederick Town. Their correspondence reflects a warm and loving relationship. In a typical exchange dated June 12, 1806, Captain John Adlum wrote to Major John Adlum, thanking him for his present of fifty barrels of herrings and informing him that he was unable to send him a wagon load of corn because of transport difficulties. He informs the Major that his son John Adlum Junior "was married on Tuesday last to Miss Polly Cooly a neighbor's daughter as far as I can lean a reputable family" For more on Major John and Margaret Adlum, see http://www.genealogytrails.com/washdc/bio_adlum_m.html Part of the War of 1812 was fought in Maryland .... in fact Frederick Town was designated as an alternate capital with some of James Madison's cabinet officers fleeing there after the Washington DC briefly succumbed to the British Army. Captain John Adlum's son Joseph Adlum volunteered and served in the First Regiment (Ragans) Maryland Militia while son in law Major John Adlum again resumed military life and helped in the defense of Harve de grace on November 10, 1813 In 1819. Fortunately the Frederick Town and its environments were spared the worse depreciations and the Peace of Ghent in 1815 allowed normal life to resume in Frederick County. Captain John Adlum was near 90 years of age and as his health declined his family paid him frequent visits especially his daughter Margaret who wrote her husband Major John reporting that her father was declining in health. He died shortly afterwards and the local paper printed this obituary, Captain John Adlum, "was an active and zealous supporter of independence; he was a member of the Committee of Public Safety; was always ready to promote the public welfare; was exemplary in his private life, and a man of probity, integrity and deportment. He bore a long and painful illness with pious resignation to the will of God, supported with confidence in the merits of his Redeemer." [Town Herald, Frederick Town, MD Saturday, May 1, 1819] Captain Adlum's beloved wife Margaret survived him by at least a year or so for she is listed on the 1820 Census which was enumerated in November 1820. Last Will and Testament of John Adlum (1732/34-1819), Frederick Town, Frederick County, Maryland, Wills H.S. No. 2, p. 255 dated 27 February 1819 and probated 19 May 1819 255 In the name of God, Amen I John Adlum of the City of Frederick in the Frederick County Maryland and Being weak in body from sickness but of sound mind, memory and understanding, and wishing to make disposition of all my worldly property do make this my last will and Testament. - Imprimis, after my financial expenses and all my lawful debts are paid I will and bequeath unto my well Beloved wife Margaret if it please god that she should outlive me all my personal property that I die possessed of Secondly, I Give and Bequeath to my well Beloved wife the use of a lot of land I now possess situation on the Turnpike Road leading to Baltimore and containing about [illegible] acres more or less it being part of a survey called Locust Level She to have al the rents and benefits arising out of it during her natural life - But if my Executors hereafter named should at any time think there was necessity to sell and dispose of it at any time after my decease they are at full Liberty so to dispose and sell it , and make a little in fee. - Thirdly, But if it should not be sold during the Life time of my wife It is my will and desire after her death that it be equally divided Between my son Joseph and my daughter Elizabeth Share and Share alike.- Fourthly, and lastly I ordain nominate constitute and appoint my Well beloved wife Margaret and my son Joseph to be my Executor and Executrix to this my last Will and testament hereby revoking and annulling all former wills by me heretofore made declaring this and none other my Last will and Testament this Twenty Seventh day of February In the year of our lord, one thousand eight hundred and nineteen. - John Adlum Seal [Note: John Adlum died sometime after 27 February 1819 the exact date of his death is uncertain. The following paragraphs were from the Frederick County Court probate proceeding dated 19 May 1819] Jacob Bergen Peter Fout Jacob Haller Frederick County to wit, On the 19th day of May 1819 there came Joseph Adlum and made Oath on Holy Evangels of Almighty God that the foregoing instrument of writing is the true whole will and Testament of John Adlum died late of Frederick County deceased that hath come to his hand & possession and that he doth not know of any others. - Swore, before Henry Steiner Regt Frederick County, to wit On the 19th day of May 1819 there came Jacob Berger, Peter Fout & Jacob Haller, the three Subscribing witnesses to the foregoing last will and testament pf John Adlum Senior later of Frederick County deceased and made Oath on the Holy Evangels of Almighty God that they did see the Testator or therein named sign and seal this will that they heard him publish pronounce and declare the same to be his last will & testament that at the time of his so doing he was to the best of their apprehension of sound and disposing mind memory and understanding that they respectively subscribed their names as witnesses to this will in the presence and at the request of the Testator and all in the presence of each other - Swore, before Henry Steiner Regt [Transcription from a copy of the original in the Frederick Court House by John and Gene Sharp] Sources: Adlum, John Memoirs of the Life of John Adlum Spent principally in Pennsylvania Maryland and the District of Columbia- Eisenhart, Willis W. The Abbott-Adlum - Green Families, Abbotstown, Pennsylvania 1957 Gahn,Bessie Wilmarth Major Adlum of Rock Creek, Records of Columbia Historical Society Volume 19 pages 127 -139. 1937 Burke, Helen Whitacre Mostly About the Whitacre and Warner Families 1981 with revisions 1982 Records of Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, City of York, York County, Pennsylvania, 1733-1800 National Archives and Records Administration, Index to the Compiled Military Service Records for the Volunteer Soldiers Who Served During the War of 1812. Washington, D.C.: M602, 234 rolls. Census of the United States for 1790, 1800, 1810 and 1820 Frederick Town Maryland Back to Frederick County Home page   ©2007 Genealogy Trails