The Historic Adlum House In Pennsdale was built about 1769
It is believed this may have been used on the Underground Railroad
Located on Narber Fry Rd, south of 220, In Pennsdale, Lycoming County Pa
The house was possibly either built by John Adlum, or by for "a brother of William Ellis", who lived "just across the fields from William & Mercy Ellis' house at Wolf Run". Either way, it was the Adlum house for close to 50 years.
"The limestone portion of the house was built in 1769 and then approximately 50 years later the wooden section of the house was added. This beautiful stone house was just across the fields from William and Mercy Ellis' house at Wolf Run, and was built for William's brother. " - Freedom Bound
"He [Adlum] was also called upon several times to meet with the Indians for the purpose of making treaties, and in 1791, he and Colonel Pickering met a body of 100 Indians at Newtown (Elmira). About this time he settled near Muncy where he had taken up a large amount of land, and built a stone house still known today as the Adlum house." - Historical Sketches Of The Bench & Bar In Lycoming County
"John Adlum was not a known abolitionist, but some people speculate that the house may have harbored runaways because Adlum's sisters were friends with the Ellis family. There is a secret door in the wall of the attic that leads to a large crawl space and a tunnel in the cellar that is said to have once gone to a milk house behind the barn" - Freedom Bound
The historic home was featured in a Muncy House and Garden Tour.
Description of a Muncy Home & Garden Tour At The Adlum House:
"John Adlum, recently back from visiting with Thomas Jefferson, entertains guests who stroll through his period gardens where boxwoods create the formality, while wisteria vines surround the teahouse. Perennials, which bloom through the three growing seasons, provide a relaxing atmosphere."
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Soldier, Surveyor, Author, Winemaker, often called The Father of Viticulture, John Adlum was born in 1759 the son of Joseph and Catherine Adlum, of Yok Pa. His father was one of the earliest settlers and served as the second sheriff of York County.
John Adlum 1759-1836
John was the eldest son, of 10 children. He learned surveying and in 1789 was sent by Gen. John Luckens to survey land at Presque Isle. William Maclay [of Sunbury]William Maclay [of Sunbury] was one of the men who recommended Adlum be appointed by the government for "examining the navigation of the Susquehanna River."
In 1790, Samuel Maclay [brother of William], Timothy Matlack, and John Adlum set out to survey and explore the streams and rivers to attempt to discover a possible road to connect the waters of the Allegheny with the West Branch, and possibly with Lake Erie. Maclay and Adlum kept complete and comprehensive journals , which "make most valuable contributions to the early history of the great Susquehanna Valley."
In 1792, Adlum, along with John Wallis, drew a map of inland navigation, including sketches of how the canal and locks work.
Adlum was called on several times to meet with Indians for the purpose of making treaties.
About 1791 Adlum settles at Pennsdale, in what is now Lycoming County. He took up a "large body of land", and brought with him his mother, three younger brothers, and six sisters.
Adlum served in the Revolutionary war, and was taken prisoner at Fort Washington on November 16th 1776.
Adlum was an intimate friend of both Joseph Priestly, and Col. Frederick Antes, of Northumberland, where he regularly visited.
At the age of 54, bachelor John Adlum married his cousin Margaret, and they moved to "The Vineyard" in Washington D.C., where they had two daughters.
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At The Vineyard, Adlum gained international reputation in the cultivation of the grape. In 1823 he wrote a book entitled A Memoir of the Cultivation Of The Vine IN America and the Best Mode Of Making Wine.
General Adlum died at the Vineyard, March 1 1836.
John Adlum
1759-1836
Sacred
to the Memory of
MAJOR JOHN ADLUM
a Native of Pennsylvania
and a Soldier of the American Revolution
Who Departed this Life
on the 14th Day of March Anno Domini 1836
in the 77 Year of Age
"He died and he lived an Honest man
the Noblest Work of God"
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READ MORE
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John Adlum on the Allegheny: Memoirs for the Year 1794
Memoirs of the life of John Adlum in the Revolutionary War
by Adlum, John, 1759-1836
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History of Lycoming County Pennsylvania
edited by John F. Meginness, 1892,
Chapter 4 - Adlum is mentioned several times, as one of the administrators in the Samuel Wallis estate, and also in various dealings with Wallis.
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Soldier, Surveyor, Author, Winemaker, often called The Father of Viticulture. During the American Revolution 17-year-old John Adlum joined the Second Company of Colonel Michael Swope's Pennsylvania First Battalion. Captured during the Battle of Fort Washington he was held in New York as a British prisoner of war. He gave his parole not to rejoin the militia and was returned to his home in York, Pennsylvania. He became a surveyor on the Pennsylvania frontier coming to know the Seneca people and their chief Kaiiontwa'kon (by what one plants) or Cornplanter. His diary of observations about the Seneca has been invaluable to researchers and historians. In 1792 he and John Wallis completed a map of Pennsylvania known as the Adlum-Wallis map depicting planned roads and canals as well as those already existing. When a wealthy man he began early experiments with grape production at Swan Harbor Farm in Havre de Grace, Maryland. He served in the War of 1812 as a Major in the Provincial army and was later appointed a Brigadier General in the Pennsylvania militia. He and his family moved to the District of Columbia in 1814 where he established 230 acres of grapes known as The Vineyard to continue his viticulture experiments. He wrote two of the earliest books in America on winemaking and its production. He and Thomas Jefferson corresponded for 15 years and Jefferson planted clippings of Adlum's vines at Monticello. Adlum is best known for the development of the Catawba, a grape very popular with vineyards in New York and Pennsylvania. The vine, Allegheny fumitory, Adlumia fungosa is named after him.
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Associate Lay Judge John Adlum
John Adlum was born in York, Pennsylvania, April 29, 1759, the son of Joseph and Catherine Adlum. His father was sheriff and coroner of that county. Very little is known of John Adlum’s early life. He learned surveying and in 1789, was directed by Surveyor General Lukens to re-survey in the northwestern part of the state. That same year he was commissioned by the state, on recommendation of William Maclay, Benjamin Rush, John Nicholson and Colonel Thomas Hartley, to study the Susquehanna with a view to its navigation, and subsequently with Benjamin Rittenhouse to examine the Schuylkill river. He was also associated with Samuel Maclay and Colonel Timothy Matlack as commissioners, by appointment of the Supreme Executive Council, to survey the West Branch of the Susquehanna, the Sinnemahoning and Allegheny rivers, in 1790. The object of these surveys was to ascertain if communication could be established with Lake Erie. The same year, he also entered the employ of Samuel Wallis to make surveys.
He was also called upon several times to meet with the Indians for the purpose of making treaties, and in 1791, he and Colonel Pickering met a body of 100 Indians at Newtown (Elmira). About this time he settled near Muncy where he had taken up a large amount of land, and built a stone house still known today as the Adlum house. During his residence in this county, he made extensive surveys of land, and also served as agent for William Bingham. In Deed Book 1, page 60, will be found Articles of Agreement entered into between Samual M. Fox et. al., and John Adlum regarding the survey of one and a half million acres of land lying on both sides of the Allegheny mountains.
John Adlum was a soldier in the Revolution, later a Major in the Provincial army during the administration of the elder Adams. He was afterwards a Brigadier General in the Pennsylvania Militia. He was a friend of Dr. Joseph Priestley and took a deep interest in his chemical experiments, As a scientific agriculturalist he was highly successful. After he left Lycoming County, in 1798, he conducted a large vineyard near Georgetown. Two of his Steigel decanters which once held wine from his vineyard are now in the possession of the Muncy Historical Society.
At the age of 54, he married his cousin, Margaret Adlum, of Frederick, Maryland. They settled on a farm near Havre de Grace, after leaving here. He finally located at a place he called “The Vineyard,” two miles from Georgetown, where he died March 1, 1836, aged 77 years. The Muncy Telegraph of March 19, 1836, page 3, gave the following account:
We see announced by the National Intelligence the death of Major John Adlum, at his residence, “The Vineyard”, near Georgetown, D. C., at 12 o’clock at night on the 1st inst., aged 76 years and 11 months. Major Adlum was a native of this State, and soldier of the Revolution, after which event he resided for many years in this neighborhood, and at the organization of this county was appointed one of four Associate Judges required by the then existing law. He was afterward commissioned Brigadier General by Governor Mifflin, and subsequently a Major in the Provincial army during the administration of President, the elder Adams. His biographer in the Intelligence said: ‘An intimate knowledge of the deceased, for about six and forty years, enabled the writer to declare that, in his opinion, he has not left behind a more honest man. A widow and two amiable daughters remain to lament the loss of the best of husbands, and the most kind and affectionate of parents." - From HISTORICAL SKETCHES
of the Bench and Bar of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania
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One occupant was John Adlum, who was a friend of Thomas Jefferson. The farm belonged to the Adlum family for 50 years during the time of slavery.
John Adlum was not a known abolitionist, but some people speculate that the house may have harbored runaways because Adlum's sisters were friends with the Ellis family. There is a secret door in the wall of the attic that leads to a large crawl space and a tunnel in the cellar that is said to have once gone to a milk house behind the barn" - Freedom Bound
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From the Journal Of Samuel Maclay:
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A History and Guide for Research
By Donna Bingham Munger · 1993
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