Col. John Hannum and Alice Parke
Husband Col. John Hannum 1
Born: Christened: Died: 7 Feb 1799 2 Buried: - Bradford Meeting-house, Marshallton, Chester Co, PA
Father: John Hannum ( -1773) 3 Mother: Jane Neild (Abt 1719-1808) 4
Marriage:
Wife Alice Parke 2
Born: 12 May 1744 2 Christened: Died: 17 Mar 1830 2 Buried:
Father: Jonathan Parke ( - ) 5 Mother: Deborah [Unk] ( - ) 5
Children
1 M John Hannum 2
Born: 8 Jun 1768 2 Christened: Died: Buried:Spouse: Sarah Jackson ( - ) 2
2 F Jane Hannum 2
Born: 27 Dec 1769 2 Christened: Died: Buried:Spouse: John Douglass ( - ) 2
3 M Jonathan Hannum 2
Born: Christened: Died: Buried:
4 F Mary Hannum 2
Born: Christened: Died: Buried:Spouse: William Kinnard ( - ) 2
5 M Washington Lee Hannum 2
Born: 26 Oct 1776 2 Christened: Died: Buried:
6 M Richard M. Hannum 6
Born: Christened: Died: Buried:Spouse: Charlotte Ruston ( - ) 6
7 M James Hannum 2
Born: Christened: Died: Buried:
8 M Caleb Hannum 2
Born: Christened: Died: Buried:
9 F Deborah Hannum 2
Born: Christened: Died: Buried:Spouse: Emmor Bradley ( - ) 2
General Notes: Husband - Col. John Hannum
He settled on a large farm on the Brandywine and Valley Creek, in East Bradford, Chester County, Pennsylvania, which had been purchased by his father.
He was an active Whig, and an influential citizen of Chester County from the days of the Revolution to the day of his death. Dec. 20, 1774, a general meeting of the citizens of Chester County was convened at the court-house, in the borough of Chester, to devise measures for the protection of their rights as freemen, in pursuance of the recommendation of the Continental Congress. A committee of seventy were appointed accordingly, of whom John Hannum was one. From that time he was a zealous participant in all the movements which led to and resulted in the independence of the United States. Most of the time he was a magistrate, and was often employed by the civil authorities in important confidential business, as well as holding a commission in the militia. At the time the British army invaded Chester County, on its way from the Head of Elk to Philadelphia, Col. Hannum resided at the "Centre House" (now in the village of Marshallton), between the two main branches of the river Brandywine, and the night of Sept. 10, 1777, was passed by Thomas Cheyney, Esq., a relative of Col. Hannum, at the house of the latter. (At that perilous crisis it was not deemed prudent for Squire Cheyney to lodge at his own house.) Next morning-being Brandywine battle-day-the two set out together to visit the American army, known to be then in the vicinity of Chads' Ford. As they descended towards the west branch of the stream, near Trimble's mill and ford, they discovered coming down from the hills opposite a very numerous body
of soldiers, evidently British. This very much surprised Messrs. Hannum and Cheyney, and they moved round the adjacent hills, in order to observe the direction taken by the enemy. Finding them going toward Jefferis' Ford, on the east branch, and believing them to constitute the chief portion of the English army, they resolved at once, and at some personal risk, to proceed with the intelligence to Gen. Washington. Squire Cheyney, being mounted on a fleet hackney, pushed down the stream from Jefferis' Ford until he found the American commander-in-chief.
Col. Hannum remained with the army during that unfortunate day, and in its retreat, and continued with his old friend, Gen. Wayne, until the night of the "Paoli massacre." After that cruel affair Col. Hannum returned to his residence, where, a short time afterwards, he was captured one night in his bed by a party of British light-horse, who had been piloted thither by a Tory neighbor, and he was carried a prisoner to Philadelphia. The party robbed Mrs. Hannum of her gold watch, and took everything of value in the house that they could carry away. The colonel subsequently made his escape, and was soon actively aiding the great cause in which he had embarked.
May 6, 1778, the Council taking into consideration the appointing of commissioners, agreeably to the act of attainder, etc.: "Ordered, That the following persons be appointed, to wit: For the county of Chester, William Evans, Thomas Cheyney, Thomas Levis, Patterson Bell, and John Hannum."
Sept. 25, 1779, two affidavits of the circumstances of Col. Hannum's escape from the enemy were read, and ordered to be forwarded to Gen. Washington.
Col. John Hannum to President Reed:
"BRADFORD, June 15, 1780.
"Sir, Pursuant to your orders, I have collected 28 cattle and 101 sheep, all that I could collect in so short a time; having not received your orders till the 11th instant.
"It gives me concern that the army is reduced to the extremity they are, being well assured that one person may be found that will engage to furnish the Pennsylvania troops with every necessary provisions, and to suffer death the day they are destitute thereof."
Nov. 7, 1781, Col. Hannum resigned his office of justice of the peace, in consequence of his election to the General Assembly; and on the 9th of the same month he resigned the office of commissioner of forfeited estates in the county of Chester. April 16, 1782, an order was drawn in favor of Col. John Hannum for his services as one of the auditors for settling the depreciation of the pay of the Pennsylvania line. Col. Hannum was elected to the Assembly in the years 1781, '82, '83, and '85, and again in 1792. He was also a delegate from Chester County in the State convention for ratifying the Constitution of the United States. While in the Assembly he was instrumental in procuring the repeal of the Test Law, which was enacted during the struggle for independence, in order to keep the opponents of that measure out of the government of the State, and prevent their mischievous interference. When independence was established the "Test" was considered a grievance, and its repeal was agreed to. Col. Hannum, in conjunction with his friend, John Patton, was probably the most active and influential man in the county in procuring the removal of the seat of justice from Chester (the ancient Upland) to the vicinity of the Turk's Head, in Goshen township. Hannum and Patton were the real founders of West Chester, and the proper authorities complimented the memory of those men by giving to the old Strasburg and Boot roads, within the borough, the names, respectively, of Hannum and Patton Avenue.
In 1783, Col. Hannum was appointed Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds of Chester County, which offices were held by himself and his son Richard to the time of his death.
1 J. Smith Futhey & Gilbert Cope, History of Chester County, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA: Louis H. Everts, 1881), Pg 586, 718.
2 J. Smith Futhey & Gilbert Cope, History of Chester County, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA: Louis H. Everts, 1881), Pg 587.
3 J. Smith Futhey & Gilbert Cope, History of Chester County, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA: Louis H. Everts, 1881), Pg 497, 586.
4 J. Smith Futhey & Gilbert Cope, History of Chester County, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA: Louis H. Everts, 1881), Pg 586.
5 J. Smith Futhey & Gilbert Cope, History of Chester County, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA: Louis H. Everts, 1881), Pg 502.
6
J. Smith Futhey & Gilbert Cope, History of Chester County, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA: Louis H. Everts, 1881), Pg 587, 718.
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