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John Cummins

John Cummins[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9]

Male 1777 - 1833  (56 years)

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  • Name John Cummins  [10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17
    Born 3 Apr 1777  Smyrna, Kent, Delaware, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Died 28 Jul 1833 
    Buried St Peter's Episcopal Church, Smyrna, Kent, Delaware, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I601063038  Master Tree | Descendants of James Morris and Margaret Cooke
    Last Modified 23 Jun 2007 

    Father Senator Daniel Cummins,   b. 28 Jul 1737, Dover, Kent, Delaware, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 10 Jun 1797  (Age 59 years) 
    Mother Frances Wells,   b. 1 Apr 1740, Queen Anne's, Maryland, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 11 Nov 1784  (Age 44 years) 
    Married 7 Sep 1756  St. Luke's Parish, Queen Anne, Maryland, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  [18, 19, 20, 21
    Family ID F539541119  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Susan Holliday Wilson,   b. 29 Jun 1788,   d. 17 Oct 1842  (Age 54 years) 
    Married 17 Jun 1806  Delaware, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  [18, 22
    Children 
    +1. Susan Holliday Cummins,   b. 4 Nov 1807, Smyrna, Kent, Delaware, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 16 Mar 1892  (Age 84 years)
    +2. George Wilson Cummins,   b. 08 Jan 1809, Smyrna, Kent, Delaware, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 23 Jan 1891  (Age 82 years)
    +3. John Holliday Cummins,   b. 19 Jul 1810, Kent, Maryland, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 16 Oct 1884, Galena, Kent, Maryland, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 74 years)
    +4. Alphonsa Cummins,   b. 13 Aug 1812, Smyrna, Kent, Delaware, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 5 Sep 1880, Smyrna, Kent, Delaware, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 68 years)
    +5. Martha Ann Cummins,   b. 20 Apr 1817, Delaware, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Bef. 1888  (Age 70 years)
    +6. Dr. William Cummins,   b. 21 Jun 1814,   d. 22 Apr 1883  (Age 68 years)
    +7. Mary Ellen Cummins,   b. 5 Sep 1818,   d. 11 Sep 1865  (Age 47 years)
    +8. Daniel Cummins, II,   b. 12 Apr 1820,   d. 9 Jun 1861  (Age 41 years)
     9. Rachel Anne Wilson Cummins,   b. 23 Aug 1822,   d. 22 Oct 1823  (Age 1 years)
    +10. David James Cummins,   b. 16 Mar 1824,   d. 9 Aug 1898  (Age 74 years)
     11. Anne Wilson Cummins,   b. 9 Jan 1826,   d. 1849  (Age 22 years)
     12. Robert Holliday Cummins,   b. 1 Apr 1829,   d. 1911  (Age 81 years)
    +13. Rev. Alexander Griswold Cummins,   b. 12 Nov 1830,   d. 1904  (Age 73 years)
    Last Modified 24 Jul 2008 
    Family ID F539541135  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 3 Apr 1777 - Smyrna, Kent, Delaware, United States Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarried - 17 Jun 1806 - Delaware, United States Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBuried - - St Peter's Episcopal Church, Smyrna, Kent, Delaware, United States Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 
    Pin Legend  : Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  • Notes 

  • Sources 
    1. [S2600187877] The Ocean Highway, Katherine Kellock.
      The Cummins House (private), E. side of Main St., N. of Mt. Vernon St., is a massive but plain brick house that is suggestive of the size of the fortunes made here in the grain and mercantile business of the early 19th century. It was built by John Cummins (1777-1833), who at 21 became a partner in the leading store, soon bought out the owner, and also went into the grain trade. Within 20 years he had become the leading grain merchant in Delaware and had made Smyrna second only to Wilmington as a grain port. From Delaware, and a large part of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, came many wagonloads of grain to be carried in his vessels to Wilmington, Philadelphia, New York, and Boston; returning, his schooners brought manufactured goods and supplies, which were placed in his warehouses, whence his wagons set out for towns and crossroads stores of two States.

      A few feet from the south end of the house is a small square brick building covered with gray flaking paint; this was the office of the merchant, and is a survivor of days when nearly every prosperous merchant, lawyer, and doctor in the State had his sanctum in a separate little building near his home, where many pipe-smoking or tobacco-chewing afternoons were spent with congenial callers.

    2. [S5351741064] Delaware Governor's Register 1674-1851, 65.
      October 30 -- The Governor made the following appointments: James Clayton, Captain; James Harper, Lieut.; Alexander McClemtns, Ensign, Light Infantry to 5th Reg. Presley Allee, Capt.; John Cummins, Lieut.; ...

    3. [S5351741064] Delaware Governor's Register 1674-1851, 65.
      November 11 -- Presley Spruance, Lieut.; Wistty McDowell, Ensign, in the Light Infantry whereof Presley Allee is Captain. John Cummins app'd Brigade Major.

    4. [S5351741064] Delaware Governor's Register 1674-1851, 232.
      The Governor comissioned...Kent -- John Cummins, Brigadier General of the Second Brigade.

    5. [S5351741064] Delaware Governor's Register 1674-1851, 235.
      1827 -- The Governor accepted the resignation of John Cummins who was appointed Brigadier of the 2nd. Brigade on the 6th. inst.

    6. [S5351741065] Wilmington, Delaware : three centuries under four flags, 1609-1937, Lincoln, Anna T, (Rutland, Vt.. Tuttle Pub. Co.. c1937), 209.
      On June 15, 1827, another committe composed of James Brobson, James Gardner, Joseph Grubb, William Larkin advertised a loan for $50,000 on the credit of the Borough, for the purpose of supplying Wilmington with water. These bonds were to pay interest at a rate not exceeding five and a half percent per annum, payable semi-annually and reimbursable in ten years.

      The mill on the south side of Brandywine, formerly the property of Joseph Shipley, was bought from John Cummins for $28,000. This mill had what was termed a "first right, that is, if by reason of a long continued drought, or from any cause, there should be a deficiency of water, this mill should have a supply in preference to others."

    7. [S8072066280] Brick Store Landing Near Smyrna, Delaware, Mcternan, Donald.
      According to the map of Appoquinimink Hundred in Beers' 1868 "Atlas of the State of Delaware, the owner of the property at Brick Store Landing was A.G. Cummings. The name is incorrectly spelled. Alexander Griswold Cummins was the youngest son of John Cumming (1777-1833), considered to have been the wealthiest man in the state of Delaware at the end of the second decade of the nineteenth century. The elder Cummins made his fortune largely by purchasing grain from thefarmers of central Delaware and the Eastern Shore of Maryland, storing it in granaries which he had purchased or built near Smyrna, and shipping it to buyers in wilmington, Philadelphia, New York and Boston, often in his own bottoms. These vessels would return with various goods with which Cummins supplied a legion of merchants on the Peninsula."

      "John Cummins also owned one of the renowned Brandywine merchant flour mills at Wilmington which Samuel Shipley superintended for him. Through the influence of Entrepreneur Cummins and others like him, Smyrna became second only to Wilmington as a grain port in the state."

      "During his lifetime John Cummins bought many farms in Delaware and Maryland, often through sheriffs' sales. That a numberof these properties passed to his children at his death is attested to by Beer' Atlas. Brick Store Landing was one of these."

      The rest of the article includes photographs, drawings, and descriptions of the building. "The south gable bears the date of '1767' in glazed headers."

    8. [S8072066312] Wilmingtonian And Delaware Advertiser (Wilmington, Delaware), 14 Jun 1827.
      We understand that the Corporation of this Borough have purchased the Mill adjoining the Brandywine bridge, of Mr. John Cummins, and in the course of the ensuing summer it will be used to raise the water from the Brandywine Creek for the use of this town.

    9. [S8072387512] The Morris family of Philadelphia, descendants of Anthony Morris, born 1654-1721 died, Moon, Robert Charles, (Philadelphia: Moon, 1898-1909.), Vol 2., Page 623.
      John Cummins, b. in Smyrna, April 7, 1777; d. July 29, 1833, a son of Daniel and Frances Cummins. After being for four years in partnership with George Kennard, the leading merchant of Smyrna, he bought out Mr. Kennard's interest, and started in the mercantile business for himself. Being possessed of great natural ability, and excellent judgment, he was so successful, that in a few years he amassed a large fortune for that time and by the time he had attained middle life, he was the most extensive individual grain dealer in Delaware. John Cummins being an excellent financier, was elected President of the Commercial Bank of Smyrna, but at the expiration of the Charter of that institution, he declined to take an interest in the Smyrna Bank, and opened a private bank, in connection with his large mercantile, milling and real estate interests, and conducted it successfully until his death. In religion, John Cummins, like his ancestors, was Episcopalian. He was chief founder and supporter, through life, of the Protestant Episcopal Church at Smyrna, as the memorial chancel window, of this church, donated by his youngest son, the Rev. Alexander J. Cummins, expresses. He was a delegate, as long as he lived, to the General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States.

      As a gentleman of the old school, he was punctilious, and regular in his habits; in the domestic circle he was typical of the best example of the husband and father. Besides possessing great mental strength, he was a man of indomitable will, energy and perseverance.

      The following inscription is upon the tombstone of John Cummins:--

      "Active in life and tranquil in death
      Behold how the Christian dies."



    10. [S8072068418] The Ocean Highway; New Brunswick, New Jersey to Jacksonville, Florida, Katherine Kellock.
      The Cummins House (private), E. side of Main St., N. of Mt. Vernon St., is a massive but plain brick house that is suggestive of the size of the fortunes made here in the grain and mercantile business of the early 19th century. It was built by John Cummins (1777-1833), who at 21 became a partner in the leading store, soon bought out the owner, and also went into the grain trade. Within 20 years he had become the leading grain merchant in Delaware and had made Smyrna second only to Wilmington as a grain port. From Delaware, and a large part of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, came many wagonloads of grain to be carried in his vessels to Wilmington, Philadelphia, New York, and Boston; returning, his schooners brought manufactured goods and supplies, which were placed in his warehouses, whence his wagons set out for towns and crossroads stores of two States.

      A few feet from the south end of the house is a small square brick building covered with gray flaking paint; this was the office of the merchant, and is a survivor of days when nearly every prosperous merchant, lawyer, and doctor in the State had his sanctum in a separate little building near his home, where many pipe-smoking or tobacco-chewing afternoons were spent with congenial callers.QUAY

    11. [S5351741064] Delaware Governor's Register 1674-1851, 65.
      October 30 -- The Governor made the following appointments: James Clayton, Captain; James Harper, Lieut.; Alexander McClemtns, Ensign, Light Infantry to 5th Reg. Presley Allee, Capt.; John Cummins, Lieut.; ...QUAY

    12. [S5351741064] Delaware Governor's Register 1674-1851, 65.
      November 11 -- Presley Spruance, Lieut.; Wistty McDowell, Ensign, in the Light Infantry whereof Presley Allee is Captain. John Cummins app'd Brigade Major.QUAY

    13. [S5351741064] Delaware Governor's Register 1674-1851, 232.
      The Governor comissioned...Kent -- John Cummins, Brigadier General of the Second Brigade.QUAY

    14. [S5351741064] Delaware Governor's Register 1674-1851, 235.
      1827 -- The Governor accepted the resignation of John Cummins who was appointed Brigadier of the 2nd. Brigade on the 6th. inst.QUAY

    15. [S8072068428] Wilmington, Delaware : three centuries under four flags, 1609-1937, Lincoln, Anna T, (Rutland, Vt.. Tuttle Pub. Co.. c1937), 209.
      On June 15, 1827, another committe composed of James Brobson, James Gardner, Joseph Grubb, William Larkin advertised a loan for $50,000 on the credit of the Borough, for the purpose of supplying Wilmington with water. These bonds were to pay interest at a rate not exceeding five and a half percent per annum, payable semi-annually and reimbursable in ten years.

      The mill on the south side of Brandywine, formerly the property of Joseph Shipley, was bought from John Cummins for $28,000. This mill had what was termed a "first right, that is, if by reason of a long continued drought, or from any cause, there should be a deficiency of water, this mill should have a supply in preference to others."QUAY

    16. [S8072066280] Brick Store Landing Near Smyrna, Delaware, Mcternan, Donald.
      According to the map of Appoquinimink Hundred in Beers' 1868 "Atlas of the State of Delaware, the owner of the property at Brick Store Landing was A.G. Cummings. The name is incorrectly spelled. Alexander Griswold Cummins was the youngest son of John Cumming (1777-1833), considered to have been the wealthiest man in the state of Delaware at the end of the second decade of the nineteenth century. The elder Cummins made his fortune largely by purchasing grain from thefarmers of central Delaware and the Eastern Shore of Maryland, storing it in granaries which he had purchased or built near Smyrna, and shipping it to buyers in wilmington, Philadelphia, New York and Boston, often in his own bottoms. These vessels would return with various goods with which Cummins supplied a legion of merchants on the Peninsula."

      "John Cummins also owned one of the renowned Brandywine merchant flour mills at Wilmington which Samuel Shipley superintended for him. Through the influence of Entrepreneur Cummins and others like him, Smyrna became second only to Wilmington as a grain port in the state."

      "During his lifetime John Cummins bought many farms in Delaware and Maryland, often through sheriffs' sales. That a numberof these properties passed to his children at his death is attested to by Beer' Atlas. Brick Store Landing was one of these."

      The rest of the article includes photographs, drawings, and descriptions of the building. "The south gable bears the date of '1767' in glazed headers."QUAY

    17. [S8072068455] Wilmingtonian And Delaware Advertiser (Wilmington, Delaware).
      14 Jun 1827 We understand that the Corporation of this Borough have purchased the Mill adjoining the Brandywine bridge, of Mr. John Cummins, and in the course of the ensuing summer it will be used to raise the water from the Brandywine Creek for the use of this town.QUAY

    18. [S8072066281] Delaware Marriages, 1645-1899 , (The Generations Network, Inc., 2005, Provo, Utah).
      Record of this marriage may be found at the Family History Library under microfilm reference number(s) 0006417.

    19. [S8072066282] Wells Family, [email protected], (OneWorldTree).

    20. [S8072068442] COLONIAL ANCESTORS - The Johnson & Freeburn Ancestry & Related Families, William Raymond Johnson, S.A.R, [email protected], (OneWorldTree).

    21. [S2600122392] History of Delaware 1609-1888, J. Thomas Scharf, A.M., LL. D., (Kennikat Press, Port Washington, NY/London), Vol. 87A pg 113.9.

    22. [S8072066281] Delaware Marriages, 1645-1899 , (The Generations Network, Inc., 2005, Provo, Utah).
      Record of this marriage may be found at the Family History Library under microfilm reference number(s) 0006417.QUAY