Washington District of Columbia
 Margaret Adlum July 13, 1767 - July 16, 1852 Wife of John Adlum, a Revolutionary War Soldier Furnished by : Gene Kerr Sharp and John G. Sharp
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| Margaret Adlum Biography |
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Margaret Adlum was born July 13, 1767, at Frederick Town Maryland. She was the eldest of six children born to John Adlum and his wife Margaret (last name is not known). Her father was born in Ireland about 1725 or 1727 and emigrated to Pennsylvania 1732. He first settled in York Town,York County, PA, but moved to Frederick, Maryland about 1764. Over the years he became a prosperous 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 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 as: "Captain John Adlum". About 1780, Margaret Adlum met her first cousin and future husband Major John Adlum (1759-1836) who had come to Frederick, MD to visit his uncle. Her future spouse John Adlum was gone for many years seeking his fortune on the then uncharted American frontier and worked as a surveyor and land developer. He returned to Frederick twenty years later in 1805 to marry Margaret Adlum on 13 December 1805. Together Margaret and John Adlum had two daughters: Margaret Catherine Adlum born 1810 and Ann Maria Dent born 1815. Their family correspondence reflects a warm and loving relationship. The Adlum family first lived and farmed at Harve de grace, MD and later moved to the District of Columbia (about 1814) where Major Adlum pursued his business interests and especially his experiments with domestic grapes and production of table wine. Margaret's father Captain John Adlum died about 1814. Throughout her long life she remained close to her family; especially her sisters and her roots in rural Maryland. From the extended family correspondence that survives, Margaret Adlum appears to have been a kind and loving mother and grandmother Her husband died in 1836. After Major Adlum's death she seems to have managed the family business interest with great success and ability. Her daughter Margaret Catherine Adlum married Cornelius Barber scion of a wealthy planter family, the couple had five children then tragically these five young lives and Margaret's joy were all taken in 1849 during an outbreak of cholera. This sad event is reflected in lengthy provisions of her Last Will and testament, where she takes extraordinary care to protect the financial future of her family, especially, the surviving child of her daughter Margaret C. Barber and the children of her younger daughter,Ann Maria Dent, who died in 1849.
Margaret Adlum died July 16, 1852 and is buried along side her husband Major John Adlum at Oak Hill Cemetery Georgetown, MD.
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In transcribing Margaret Adlum's Last Will and Testament and its subsequent Codicil, we have taken care to retain the documents punctuation spelling grammar, and document lay out as faithfully as possible. Where the spellings are unique or may cause confusion it has been followed by the bracketed conventional usage. We have also placed some footnotes where necessary to note the individuals specifically mentioned in the will. Bracket information denotes that which is not in the original manuscript.
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[Last Will and Testament of Margaret Adlum (1767 -1852)] [dated 1 December 1849, Box 21]
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This is the last will and Testament of me Margaret Adlum of Washington County in the District in the District of Columbia widow of John Adlum Late of said County First I will and direct that all of my just debts be fully paid Next I give devise and bequeath unto Eliza Kolp, Daughter of Henry Kolp late of Frederick County Maryland, the House and the lot which I own in Frederick City in the said County with appurtenances, to her and her heirs for ever But I will direct that she and they permit her mother Catherine Kolp and Miss Elizabeth Adlum to reside therein during their lives and life of the survivor without paying rent, but they are not to have the privilege renting the same Also I give and bequeath unto the said Eliza Kolp my negro boy Ned aged about seventeen years, a slave for life, to her own use absolutely Also I give and bequeath unto my two sisters the said Catherine Kolp and Elizabeth Adlum the legacy of or sum of two hundred and fifty dollars each to be paid to them respectfully as soon as the same can be [ paid]to them respectively as soon as the same can be made out of the fund or property to which I am entitled arising from the settlement between the heirs of William Bingham late of Philadelphia and the representatives of my late Husband. Further I direct that all my household goods and effects of every kind and all my farming implements shall be equally divided between my Daughter Margaret C. Barber the wife of Cornelius Barber and my said niece Eliza Kolp, to whom I give the same accordingly Also I hereby charge all my said debts, and also the expense of removing the remains of my said late Husband to the place of my interment, and of erecting a suitable tomb stone upon the sum of thirteen hundred dollars I pass out at interest in Virginia, if the same shall not be used by me during my life; and I further charge upon the same sum the legacy of two hundred dollars, which I do hereby give to my said niece Eliza Kolp, to be paid to her thereout as soon after my decease as can be: and any residual there may be of the said sum of thirteen hundred Dollars , I give the same to said Daughter Margaret C. Barber Also I give and bequeath unto my Grandson John Adlum Barber, the son of said Cornelius and Margaret C. Barber, the sum of five thousand Dollars, to be paid out of the said Bingham fund , at his age of twenty one years, with the increase and accumulation thereof in the mean time, to be invested by Executor herein after named, until said age;1 Elizabeth Adlum Kolp 1791 - after 1860 2 Miss Elizabeth Adlumborn January 1, 1777 is Margaret Adlum's youngest sibling she remained unmarried. 3 Catherine Adlum Kolp born February 13, 1771 is Margaret Adlum's younger sister 4 Margaret C. Adlum Barber 1810-1892 & Cornelius Barber 1803 -1853. 5 John and Margaret Adlum are buried at Oak Hill Cemetery, Georgetown, District of Columbia http://www.genealogytrails.com/washdc/bio_adlum_j.html 6 John Adlum Barber 1838 -1905
and if he die before the age the said legacy and its increase shall pay to his proper legal representatives. Also I give and bequeath unto Rebecca Austin, the Daughter of Austin late of the Eastern Shore of Maryland , the sum of three hundred dollars, out of said Bingham fund And I give and bequeath out of the same to my Daughter Margaret the sum of one thousand Dollars to be placed at interest and the income applied equally to the benefit of my slaves Peter and Ellen , Peter to begin to receive his when he attains sixty years of age, and Ellen her share at the age of fifty; neither of which said Negros shall be sold; the said principal sum to sink into the residuum of my estate when no longer needed for the purposes aforesaid And from and after my decease I hereby do manumit and set free my negro women Mary Augustus in consideration of her faithful conduct And as to all the rest residue and remainder of my Estate real and personal and mixed whosesoever situated, I direct the same shall be divided into two equal parts; one of which said parts I hereby give devise and bequeath to unto my said Daughter Margaret C. Barber her Heirs Executors Administrators and assign: and the other equal half part thereof I give devise and bequeath unto my friends Robert Barnard and Joshua Pierce of the County aforesaid and the survivors of them and their Executors Administrators and Assigns of such survivors In trust that the same can be converted into money as may be, and placed out at interest upon good and safe securities, and kept out at interest until the youngest of the children of my late Daughter Ann Marie Dent the late Wife of Henry H. Dent shall attain his or her age of twenty one years; and I direct that the interest accruing from such investments shall from time to time as received be invested until the time aforesaid and from principal; and upon the youngest of the said children attaining his or her age of twenty one years, my said Trustees or Trustee shall divide the whole of the said trust fund with accumulations equally between the said children of late Daughter share and share alike; and if any of them die before the said period of division , without leaving lawful issue the survivors or survivor shall take the share or shares of him or them so dying , equally, at the period aforesaid; but if any of them shall leave such issue , such issue shall be entitled to his her or their parents share; and if all the children of my said late Daughter shall depart this before the said period of Distribution , without leaving such issue then living , then I do give devise and bequeath the whole of said trust fund intended for the children of my said late Daughter unto Margaret C. Barber her heirs and executors administrators and assigns And I do herby direct that Trustees of the said fund shall be kept up and appointed by the nomination of the survivor or by the proper Court, so that the preservation of the said fund, for the purposes aforesaid shall not fail; and I direct that the said Henry H. Dent shall not at any time or in any circumstances be a Trustee of the said fund, or in nay way receive or control the same I authorize my said Trustees or Trustee for the time being to change this said securities form time to time , and to reinvest the funds as aforesaid; hereby declaring that they or he shall not be7 In the year 1849 the year this will was written, slaves Peter and Ellen Jenkins were 52 and 47 years of age respectively. In 1862 they 65 & 60 respectively and listed as "slaves for life" in Margaret Adlum's daughter, Margaret C. Adlum Barber's, Petition for Compensation. See http://www.genealogytrails.com/washdc/mcb1862.html 8 Mary Augustus is the only slave named in this will who is to manumitted and who is designated a legacy directly on Margaret Adlums's death, most likely Mary Augustus was Margaret Adlum' personal maid. Her name is not listed on the 1860 census for the District of Columbia. 9 Henry H. Dent 1815 -1872 married Ann Marie Adlum ( 1841
answerable for any loss unless the same happen by or through his or their willful default or neglect; nor the one for the other; and are authorizing them to obtain from time to time out of the said trust fund all costs and expenses to which they may be put and a reasonable compensation for their services; and enjoining it upon them to pay the said trust funds at the period fixed for distribution, to the said children of my said late Daughter personally and to no other person whomsoever, hereby declaring that this his or her receipt alone shall discharge the said Trustees of Trustee And I do personally nominate and appoint Robert Barnard and Joshua Pierce joint Executors of this my last Will and testament hereby revoking all former or other wills by me at any time heretofore made In witness whereof I the said Margaret Adlum have hereunto set my hand and seal this first day of December in the year Eighteen hundred and forty nine Signed sealed and Declared by the above named Margaret Adlum ) The Testatrix as and for her last Will and Testament in the presence, at her request ) [signed] Margaret Adlum and in the presence of each we hereunto subscribe our names as witnesses thereto )[Margaret Adlum died July 16, 1852 the following paragraphs were from the probate proceeding]
Hezakiah Magruder [signed]
Susan Ann Pierce [signed] July 27, 1852
Mary Ann Clark [Signed]
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District of Columbia Orphans Court [District of Columbia Probate Court]
Washington County July 27, 1852 - This day appeared Hezekiah Magruder
& Susan A. Pierce two of the subscribing witnesses to the forgoing last will and
testament of Margaret Adlum later of Washington County aforesaid, directed & severally
made oath on the holy Evangels of almighty God, that they did
See the Testatrix therein named Sign & Seal this will; that she published pronounced &
declared the same to be her last will and testament that at the time of so doing she was to
the best of their apprehensions of sound & disposing mind , memory, that they together
{ilegible] subcribe their names as witnesses to this will in the presence & at the request of
the testatrix , & in the presence of each other.
10 Hezekiah Magrude, born circa 1805, and was a wealthy physician with a practice in Georgetown.
[dated 10 August 1850 Box 21] This a Codicil to the last Will of Margaret of me Adlum widow of the late John Adlum of Washington county in the District of Columbia, bearing date the first day of December last past. Whereas in and by my said last Will I have directed all the residue of my Estate real personal an mixed to be divided into two equal parts, one of which I have given to my Daughter Margaret C. Barber absolutely; and the other to Robert Barnes and Joshua Pierce and the survivors in Trust for the benefit of my Grandchildren , the children of my late Daughter Ann Maria Dent s therein expressed Now in regard to the said [illegible] or half part of the said residue of my estate given to my said Daughter Margaret C. Barber I do hereby give devise and bequeath the same unto the said Robert Barnard and Joshua Pierce and the survivor of them and their heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns of such survivor In Trust for my said Daughter Margaret C. Barber and to permit her to receive the income and proceeds thereof and to use and employ and dispose of the principal of the same in such a manner and for such purposes, either absolutely or otherwise , as she my said Daughter shall think proper; the said Trustees or Trustee for the time being in all respects to observe and carry out whatever directions my said Daughter may give in writing relative to the employment or disposition of this or half part of the said residue of my Estate or of the income and proceeds thereof both principal and income to be at all times for her sole and separate use and benefit and free from the control , debts and engagements of her Husband And I do hereby authorize my said Daughter Margaret C. Barber to make such deposition of the principal and interest and income of the said trust fund as she may think proper , absolutely or otherwise, by Will or deed to be executed by her in the usual from; and if she shall die without making any disposition thereof , I give the same unto the child or children she may leave at her death, and to any lawful issue of such as may have died , equally the children taking their parents share, with benefit of survivorship among them And in event of my said Daughter dying without leaving children or issue of any as aforesaid , and without having made any such disposition of the said Trust fund as I have hereby authorized her to make by Will or otherwise , then do direct that such part thereof shall remain unconsumed and undisposed of by her , shall pass to my nearest relations according to law And I do hereby direct that the trustees for the purposes above expressed shall be kept up in the manner directed by my Will as to the fund given for the benefit of my said Grandchildren the children of my late Daughter Ann Maria Dent And in my said Will I have given the said other moiety or heft part of the said residue of my Estate unto my Grandchildren the children of my said deceased Daughter , and have provided in event of their death without lawful issue before the period fixed for the distribution of the same; that the same shall pass to my said Daughter Margaret C. Barber absolutely Now I do further declare that if the share intended for my said Grand children Dent shall come to my said Daughter under the provisions of my Will , the same shall be held by the Trustees above named upon the same trusts and with the same powers of disposition in all respects that are herein before expressed declared and given in relation to her original moiety or half part hereby and by my said Will given and bequeathed to or for her benefit as aforesaid. And in addition to the devises and bequests contained in my said Will to and in favor of my niece Eliza Kolp I give her the sum of Three thousand dollars to be paid out of the Bingham fund as soon as the same shall be realized. I also give to my said Daughter Margaret C. Barber out of the same fund, instead of the provision made by my Will, the sum of one thousand dollars to be expended or such part as may be necessary, in purchase and improvement of a burial place for myself and family; the expenditure to be entirely under her direction and in her discretion. I give a Legacy of one hundred dollars to my woman Mary Augustus, to whom I have given freedom by my Will. And I give Peter and Ellen to my said Daughter, confirming the provision made for them by my said Will Further, I give unto my said Daughter Margaret C. Barber, the negro woman I have recently purchased called Susan Carroll until she shall arrive at the age of forty four years, and then I do direct that she shall be free. I have directed by my Will and also by this Codicil, certain of the Legacies to be paid out of the Bingham fund. If my share of that fund or a sufficient fund thereof should be realized in my life, or if I should leave sufficient personal Estate /other than the specific bequests I have made / my intention is, that the Legacies above referred to shall be paid thereout, although the whole of my interest in the Bingham fund any not have been realized. In witness whereof I have hereto set my hand and seal , and declare this to be a Codicil to my said Will, this of our tenth day of August in the year one thousand and eight hundred and fifty, confirming my said Will in all respects. Signed sealed published and declared ) by the said Margaret Adlum as Codicil her last Will, in the presence ) [signed] Margaret Adlum of us, who in her presence, at her request, and in the presence of each other, has ) subscribed our names as Witnesses thereto.11 In 1862 her Petition for Compensation, Margaret C. Barber listed Susan Carroll as 36 years of age. She is described as "seamstress & house servant". Susan Carroll is noted as "To serve till 44 years of age - 8 years to serve", she also has three young children Dennis, Ann Marie and William all described as "slaves for life" http://www.genealogytrails.com/washdc/mcb1862.html
Hezakiah Magruder [signed] Susan Ann Pierce [signed] July 27, 1852 Mary Ann Clark [Signed] A 6 x District of Columbia Orphans Court [Probate Court for the District of Columbia] Washington County July 27, 1852 - This day appeared Hezekiah Magruder & Susan A. Pierce two of the subscribing witnesses to the forgoing last will and testament of Margaret Adlum late of Washington County aforesaid, directed & severally made oath on the holy Evangels of almighty God, that they did See the Testatrix therein named Sign & Seal this codicil; to the last will and testament that at the time of so doing she was to the best of their apprehensions of sound & disposing mind, memory, that they together with Mary Ann Clark subscribe their names as witnesses to this will in the presence & at the request of the testatrix, & in the presence of each other - Ed. N. Roach Regt of Wills |
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Sources
District of Columbia Orphans Court (Probate Court) Will of Margaret Adlum, 1852 Box 21 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
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