When Did D. Adam Kuhn of Philadelphia Marry?

WHEN DID DR. ADAM KUHN OF PHILADELPHIA MARRY? Editor's Note v ital information— evidence concerning births, marriages, and deaths— is sometimes found in unexpected places. The sketch for Dr. Adam Kuhn of Philadelphia in the 1933 Dictionary of American Biogra¬ phy1 narrates his medical studies and career, commenting that “lacking powers of imagination, he had a capacity for accurate observation.” The biography states, “When he was thirty-nine years of age Kuhn mar¬ ried Elizabeth (Hartman) Markhoe, widow of Francis Markhoe and daughter of Isaac Hartman, of St. Croix.” An examination of the sources for the biography indicate that the genealogical information was proba¬ bly from Jordan’s Colonial and Revolutionary Families of Pennsylvania.2 That publication— often suspect, because information was submitted by descendants— states, at page 529 [emphasis added}'. Issue of Dr. Adam Simon and Anna Maria Sabina (Schrack) Kuhn Adam Kuhn, M D, b at Germantown, Nov 17, 1741, d July 5, 1817, m May 14 1780, Elizabeth (Hartman) Markoe At page 530, it states [emphasis added}: Dr. Adam Kuhn . . , He married on the Island of St. Croix, May 14, 1781, Elizabeth (Hartman) Markoe, born August 20, 1755, died February 25, 1791, widow of Francis Markoe, and daughter of Isaac and Margaret Carrell (Nanton) Hartman, of that island. Which year is correct? Both the biographical sketch and Jordan skip over the Revolutionary War era (Jordan states that for twenty-three years, beginning in May 1775, Kuhn was a physician at Pennsylvania Hospital). However, the requests for passports from Pennsylvania’s Revolutionary Governments, presented in this issue, at page 172, suggest otherwise. In October 1780, Adam returned from St Croix, but was obviously under suspicion of being a Loyalist sympathizer. He apologized for being deficient in respect to the garrisons below the City, but this was insufficient. He was forced to return to St. Croix, finally receiving permission in March 1781 to return to Philadelphia. His statement in October 1780 mentions his father-in-law Isaac Hart¬ man. Thus, it is clear that Adam and Elizabeth married in 1780, not 1781. 1 Dumas Malone, Dictionary of American Biography (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1933), 10:511. 2 John W. Jordan, Colonial and Revolutionary Families of Pennsylvania, 3 volumes (New York: Lewis Publishing, 1911), 1:529-30. 188 Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine Vol. 45 (2007) 2007 When Did Dr. Adam Kuhn of Philadelphia Marry? 189 More details of the episode, omitted from the popular biographies, are revealed in the published documents of the Supreme Executive Council. On 21 September 1780, Adam Kuhn “being examined before this board, it appears he is a very suspicious character, whose going at large is dan¬ gerous to the Commonwealth.” They committed him to the new prison and ordered that the sloop Elizabeth be taken into custody and the cargo examined. On 12 October they ordered that Doctor Adam Kuhn, his wife, and family depart the state within three days in the sloop Elizabeth, giv¬ ing £100,000 bond with two £50,000 sureties. On 23 October they again took up the case, resolving that he should depart on the sloop Elizabeth, William Westcoat, Master, for St. Croix ... on Wednesday next, the 25th instant, releasing him from the bond and sureties. On the 24th a petition was read from divers inhabitants of the city of Philadelphia on his behalf, and on consideration, dismissed. On 7 March 1781, a petition from John, Frederick, Peter, and Jacob Kuhn, on behalf of their brother to return to and reside in the state, and this was granted.3 A small mystery remains. In 1780, Adam, his wife, and family were ordered to depart. He supposedly had no prior marriage; he was a new¬ lywed, hence no children; his father and brother were in Philadelphia. Who were the family ordered to depart with him? The most likely answer is that they were relatives of Elizabeth (whose loyalties may have been problematic). COURT DAYS IN GREENE COUNTY, 1800 The days that the county court was in session were an important social occasion— perhaps a bit too much so, considering this item found in the Greene County Court of Quarter Sessions.* September Session 1800 Notice sent to the Tavern Keepers by order of the Court The Tavern Keepers in and adjacent to the Town of Waynesburgh are hereby informed that it is desired by the Court that they lock up their Houses at ten o’clock every Night during the sitting of the Court— If they do not, and any noise or disturbance happen in their Houses they will be proceeded against as keeping a disorderly house, and if so found, their Licence refused or taken from them. 3 Minutes of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania in Colonial Records of Pennsylvania [Harrisburg: State of Pennsylvania] 12(1852):501-2, 504, 515-16, 517, 650. These last two documents are part of the series being abstracted in PGM. * Greene County Court of Quarter Sessions, Dockets, 1797-1803:57 (FHL #857,225).