Albert Cummins Lynn

1871-1949

     Albert Cummins Lynn, son of David Lynn III, CSA and Mary Jane Acheson Lynn, was born July 7, 1871 in Wheeling, West Virginia and died January 1949 in Washington D.C.  He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

     Albert  enlisted in the US Navy on April 23, 1898 at the age of 27.  He served on the USS Marblehead during the Spanish American War and was discharged on February 16, 1899. He remained in the Naval Reserve and when World War One came around,  he became a Boatswain's Mate on March 22, 1918 and then made Ensign on February 21, 1919.  During World War One he served aboard the USS LAKE SUPERIOR. Albert Lynn was discharged on September 30, 1921.  He served on the Washington, D.C. police force as a detective between wars and after.

     South Trimble Lynn relates his memories of his Uncle Albert, "Buzz" (Albert Jr.) and "Woozie" (Elizabeth), my cousins, were frequent visitors at my childhood home, 3700 Quebec St. N.W., Wash. D.C. as well as my Uncle Albert.  I spent many summers at Uncle Albert's home on Solomons Island, Maryland.  The creek behind Solomons was the first training area for our WWII landing crafts.  I used to lie on the old steamboat wharf, fishing and whiling away the time as a 15 year old. I would watch the landing craft stream out of the creek, headed up the Patuxent to Drum Point on the Chesapeake Bay where they would mock landings on the beaches for the up and coming beach landings in the Western Pacific during WWII."

     He married his first wife, Evelyn Meacham on November 19, 1900.  She was born May 11, 1881 in Rockville, Indiana and died October 29, 1913 in Washington D.C.  She was the daughter of John Frederick Meacham and Rosamond Burnett.  She is buried at the Glenwood Cemetery in Washington D.C.

Children of Albert and Evelyn:

1.  Rosemond Acheson Lynn, b. Oct. 7, 1902; d.

2.  Albert Cummins Lynn, Jr. died at birth

3.  David Lynn V, b. Dec. 9, 1905, Washington D.C.; d. Feb. 17, 1964, Inglewood, CA

Albert's son, David Lynn V. 1952

 Albert's daughter, Rosamond (Center) with her daughters, Evelyn and Roselyn. 1945

Washington Post Nov. 20, 1900

To see letters Albert wrote home from the USS Marblehead while they prepared to sink the collier Merrimac in Santiago Harbor during the Spanish American War, please click on this link.  The letters are addressed to his sister, "Minnie" ( Lavinia Acheson Lynn)

Letters Home

Left to Right: Friend George, Brother David Lynn IV, Albert Cummins Lynn

Albert's discharge from the Navy was purchased by his brother, David in 1899 

This document is an explanation of a "Purchased Discharge"

USS Marblehead - Spanish American War

Chief Gunner's Mate Albert C. Lynn 

Back Row, 2nd from the Right; Ensign Albert C. Lynn on the USS Lake Superior. . Albert re-enlisted to fight in WWI at the age of  about 47

USS Lake Superior - World War I

 

     Albert married his second wife on March 20, 1920, Elizabeth Bell Hudnall in St. Paul's Church in Alexandria, VA.  She was the daughter of John William Hudnall.  She was born September 7, 1898 and died August 7, 1933 in Asheville, No. Carolina. She is buried at Glenwood Cemetery, Washington D.C.

Children of Albert and Elizabeth:

1.  Elizabeth Virginia Lynn, b. Jan 25, 1922

2.  Baby Lynn, b. Jan 25, 1922; d. Jan. 25, 1922; Twin sister to Elizabeth

3.  Albert Cummins Lynn, Jr., b. Aug 7, 1925

Albert Cummins Lynn, Jr. 2006

Daughter Elizabeth and her husband Captain Bierer.

   "An Heroic Rescue. - The _____ and heroic deed of Mr. Albert Lynn of Solomon's Island prevented what would have been the drowning of Mrs. Dixie Somervelle and her little son at Drum Point wharf on Monday night last.  She was walking on the wharf about eleven o'clock, waiting for the steamer, when in the intense darkness she accidentally stepped overboard.  Mr. Alexander Barril who had a light heard the accident and rushing to the__________________________ ___in the warehouse but in a few seconds after the alarm was given he had thrown ___his coat and was at the place where she fell, but owing to the intense darkness, he could only locate them by the phosphorescent glimmer of the disturbed water.  Without the slightest hesitation he lunged overboard and grasped both mother and child in one arm and made for one of the piles to which he clung until relieved by Capt. C. R. Belt and others present, who reaching over drew them up one at a time until all were safe.  Mrs. Sommervelle was greatly overcome and it was some minutes before she recovered _________and composure sufficient to shower her grateful thanks upon the young man who had so __________ and unselfishly risked his own life to save hers and her son's.  It was a brave and heroic deed when we consider the disadvantages of the tides and the intense darkness, the approaching steamer and the danger of falling into the grasp of the drowning woman.  It is needles to say that he received the warmest thanks from the lady he had rescued and unbounded praise from hundreds who were soon made aware of the accident."

Albert Cummins Lynn - 76 years

"This cap and ball shotgun belonged to Albert.  During the Spanish American War he acquired it as a gift from a shipmate.  When the United States Navy decided to block the harbor in Cuba so as to bottleneck the Spanish Fleet, the various American ships drew straws to send one man each along with a collier, the Merrimac, to sink it in the mouth of the harbor.  Albert's shipmate drew the lucky straw.  The "Dutchman" as Albert called him, gave Albert the shotgun as a keepsake.  I was given this gun by a friend of Uncle Albert's on a visit to Solomons Island, Maryland in the 1950's.  The old "Dutchman" survived the action but did not ask for the return of the gun.  I carried this gun throughout many reenactment battles as the Captain of the 18th Virginia Regiment of Infantry CSA during the 1960-1980 era."  South Trimble Lynn
Washington Post - Obituaries - On Sunday, January 23, 1949, at Kecoughtan, Va, Albert C. Lynn, the beloved father of Albert C. Lynn, Jr., Miss Elizabeth V. Lynn, David Lynn of Los Angeles, Ca, and Mrs. A.J. Boggs, Pickens, SC; brother of David Lynn and Mrs. James Jack. Remains resting at Chambers Funeral Home until Thursday, January 27, at 11:00 am.  Services in Fort Myer Chapel at 11:30 am.  Internment Arlington National Cemetery.