Col. John Lynn (Brother of Capt. David Lynn II) was born on August 29, 1760, in Rock Creek Parish, Frederick County. He was the youngest son of Judge David Lynn and a Native of Maryland.  He resided in Cumberland, Allegany County until 1833 on his estate, “Thorton Meadows,” situated on the tract “Wild Cherrytree Meadows, at McHenry, Allegany (now Garrett) County.

          He married Eleanor Edelin, daughter of Christopher Edelin and Jane Jones on February 26, 1784 .  Eleanor was born October 19, 1762 and died April 13, 1824.  In 1854 she was re-buried at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Frederick, MD.

          John and Eleanor had two daughters, (1) Jane Lynn, b. June 8, 1785 ; d. Oct. 30, 1835 .  Jane never married. (2) Elizabeth Lynn, b. March 12, 1790 ; d. Sept. 29, 1855 , who married Davis Richardson Jan. 29, 1811 .  He was the son of William Richardson and Anna Davis.  He was born March 22, 1785 and died Oct. 20, 1858 .  Both women are buried along with their parents at Olivet Cemetery, Frederick, MD. 

          John Lynn was a surveyor and possibly a planter in his later years.  He served in the Lower House, Washington County from 1788 to 1789.  He held local office as a Justice in Allegany County and was a Maryland Senate elector, Allegany County , 1801.  

Col. William Washington in the thick of the battle at Eutaw Springs where Lt. John Lynn was wounded.

         John was involved in a political dispute with Gen. Daniel Heister in the early 1800’s.  Heister, who was a candidate for Congress in 1801, felt that even though French seizures of American vessels justified war, a declaration of war would be inexpedient.  Lynn claimed that Heister stated the French had grounds for taking ninety-eight out of every hundred ships they had captured from the American, and that paying tribute to the French by allowing them to seize American vessels, without protest, was wrong.  John felt that “a nation that weighs her purse against her honor never fails to lose both.”  Among other accusations which Lynn made was a claim that General Heister favored a post road which would benefit his land, and that it was not the high price of produce which hurt the farmers, but the high rents for farms charged by landowners such as Heister.  John was an original member of the Society of Cincinnati of Maryland.

          John owned 4 slaves in 1790.  In November 1785, he received half pay of a lieutenant, about L200.00 annually for his war-related disability.  He controlled half of a 131 acre tract in Frederick County, which his wife inherited from her father; he also leased on a life tenancy, three lots in Washington Town , Washington County (later became Cumberland, Allegany County ).  He sold his wife’s inherited land in 1789; sublet in 1792 two of the three lots which he had held on a lifetime tenancy since 1785; by 1792 he purchased four soldiers’ lots in Allegany County and sold them the same year; purchased part of a lot in Cumberland in 1796, which he sold the same year; patented with three others in 1796 a tract of undisclosed acreage in Allegany County, but sold his one fourth undivided part the same year; purchased a 1,000 acre tract in Allegany County in 1806, and sold 500 acres of it the same year, then between 1806 and 1813 sold another portion of undisclosed acreage for $3,500; purchased in 1812 a lot in Cumberland that he had been leasing since 1808.

          Col. John Lynn died on March 18, 1813 of pleurisy and was buried in Frederick County.  The size of his estate at time of death is unknown.  (Information taken from BIOGRAPHIES OF WESTERN MARYLAND by Vicki Lynn-Turney )  

The following is a glimpse into the Revolutionary War from various military journal writings from Annapolis

February 17 Liber C. B. No. 24

Ordered that Mr John Shaw Armourer, deliver to Lieutt John Lynn eleven Muskets, three Cartridge Boxes, and twelve Musket Cartridges for the use of the Detachment of Maryland Troops under his Command ordered to Guard the State Ship at West River , building by Mr Steward. —

February 17 Liber No. 78

[W Paca in Council to Honble Intendant.]

We have thought it proper to order a Company of Men from Frederick Town, to be stationed at Mr Stephen Stewards, for the Protection of the State Ship. It will be necessary to supply them with Liquor, and we therefore request you to order to be purchased for their Use, 50 Gallons of common Rum, Brandy, or Whiskey. We presume, Liquor may now be purchased on some Months Credit.

Ibid.

[W Paca in Council to Honble Intendant.]

We shall be obliged to you to procure and deliver to Captn John Lynn 2 Pair of Shoes and 11 Shirts, for a Detachment of the Continental Line ordered to West River , for the Protection of the State Ship.

February 18 Liber No. 78

[ Annapolis to Commodore La Ville Brune]

The Chevalier de la Luzerne was so obliging as to order the Pole Cat to Cruize in our Bay, for the Protection of our Commerce and Defence of our Citizens, who were exposed on our Shores. I should have been happy to have seen the Captain of the Pole Cat, on his Return, and to have learned from him the Situation and Force of the Enemy, but altho' he anchored off the Harbour, I was deprived of that Happiness.  It is Sir, with great Concern, that I am obliged to solicit a farther Assistance from His most Christian Majesty's Naval Force; Every Day brings fresh Intelligence of the Enemy's Depredations in the Bay and on our Shores. There are now an armed Schooner and two Barges in the River Patuxent, committing the most wanton Depredations. I hope Sir, you will be pleased to direct the Pole Cat down to our Relief and to order such other Assistance as you can possibly spare, and which may be calculated for such Service. It is not indeed, improbable but what the Enemy may direct their Operations against this City, unless we can have some Defence by Water

Wednesday 19th February 1783 .

Present His Excellency the Governor,

Benjamin Stoddert, Gabriel Duvall & James Brice Esquires. —

[Wm Paca in Council to The Merchants of Baltimore Town ]  

     You cannot be strangers to the Depredations daily committed by the Enemy in our Bay. Not content with interrupting our Trade, they are guilty of the most wanton Destruction of Property on the Shores.  Unfortunately for the People who are exposed to their Ravages, there is no Force belonging to Government, able to oppose them. Were our Barges completely manned and fitted, they would be quite insufficient for the Purpose, and the State Ship building by Mr Steward cannot be finished in any reasonable Time. Under these disagreeable Circumstances, we are compelled, once more, to put the Patriotism and Public Spirit of the Merchants of Baltimore Town , to the Proof. We understand they have generally determined, not to send out their Shipping, until the Result of the Negotiations carrying on in Europe , is known, and we therefore flatter ourselves they will be able, without Injury to themselves, to afford us the Aid we have to solicit on the present Occasion; which is, to lend three armed Sloops or Schooners of eight or ten Guns and upwards, completely manned, and 50 Men over and above the Crews of these Vessels, for one Month, if their Services should be so long wanted. We want the 150 Men, to man three Barges belonging to the State, which are now at this Place.  We propose that the armed Vessels and Barges shall be commanded by such Officers as the Merchants shall appoint. From the best Information we can obtain, there are thirteen Barges, one Sloop, and two Schooners, belonging to the Enemy, now in the Bay : their largest Vessel mounts 10 Guns, the greater Part of their Barges, we apprehend, are small; and we think the Force we have mentioned, added to the Pole Cat, which we expect to get, will be quite sufficient to drive them out of the Bay : but if we should be disappointed in the Pole Cat, we shall in that Case, be under the Necessity of requesting one more Sloop or Schooner, and that no Time may be lost, we beg you will be so obliging as to consult Commodore La Ville Brune, on this Subject. The Whole of the Prizes taken by this Equipment, shall be divided among the Crews, agreeable to the Practice in like Cases, and we will agree to pay the Men, at the End of the Cruize, at the Rate of three Pounds per Month, and the inferior Officers in Proportion; the Commanding Officer £20. and the other Captains £15., the Lieutenants £10. p Month, besides furnishing them with a sufficient Quantity of good Provisions and Liquors. As for the Sloops, or Schooners, we will agree to pay for them, if it should be required, such Price as you shall agree upon, by the Month; and we will engage that the Value of them shall be paid to the Owners, in Case of Loss or Capture; and any Damage they may sustain, shall be repaired at the public Expence. We need not add that the utmost Dispatch is essentially necessary in this Business. Whaland has taken Post with a considerable Force, and is building Barracks at Cages Straights, and there are Vessels now in Patuxent, doing great Damage. The Warehouses all over the State, are in the greatest Danger. We send an Express with this, and we hope to hear from you by his Return.  

362 Journal and Correspondence.

February 19 Liber No. 78

[W Paca in Council to Col. Samuel Smith]

We have enclosed, open for your Perusal, a Letter to the Merchants of Baltimore Town . We hope you will give it all the Weight in your Power, and we request you will be so obliging as to take upon yourself the Transaction of the Business, in Behalf of the State. If our Request is complied with, we flatter ourselves, the Vessels and Hands will be down in two or three Days: every Moment's Delay is big with the Ruin of some defenceless Family.

(Taken from original text and contributed through the research of South Trimble Lynn, Jr.)