John Crum

Spelled variously, one-time Albany resident John Crum probably was born after 1750. As more than one similarly named contemporary is at risk in the region, we seek defining information on the Albany resident's origins and path to Albany.

During the 1760s, the general surname (including Crom and Crumb) has been encountered in the part of the lower Manor settled mostly by Palatine Germans several decades earlier. Others (Krom) were encountered in records from Orange and Ulster counties. Perhaps, the contemporary settlement at "Crum Elbow" in Dutchess County has some relation to this individual. This sketch strives to focus on the life of the Albany resident of 1790.

Based on his supposed age, we expect to find information about him in the extraordinary records generated during the era of the American Revolution. That said, perhaps he was the "John Crum" who had not signed the Association in Haverstraw (Orange County) during the summer of 1775. A John Crum was listed on a roster the men in the Fifth Regiment of the New York Line commanded by Colonel Lewis Duboys. Yet another John Crum appears to have inhabited what became Montgomery County.

By the mid 1780s, he appears to have been living in the vicinity of Albany. In 1785 and '86, he was paid in wheat from city of Albany coffers.

In 1788, his personal property was assessed under the house of either Anna Van Iveren or Casparus Pruyn - perhaps near 74 Pearl Street in the second ward.

His wife was Jane Jolly. In 1789 and 1792 - and perhaps earlier, their children were christened in the Albany Presbyterian church.

In 1790, the household of "John Crom" in the second ward was listed on the Albany census with a female and three "other free people." At that time, no males were enumerated. Two years earlier, the second ward assessment valued the personal property of "John Crum" modestly within another household - probably on or near Pearl Street.

However, in 1800, the household of one "Jane Crum" with two young boys and two young girls and a women between 26 and 45 was enumerated on the census of the first ward - perhaps near what became South Pearl Street. Additionally, two other Crum-named households were listed on the city census. A year earlier, the first ward assessment valued the modest real and personal property of "John Crum" in that same general vicinity.

In general, we are puzzled over his varying representation on censuses and other community surveys.

After that, the life of the Albany John Crum has not been recovered as a result of our ongoing sweeps of the community and Internet-based records examined. Past diminishing returns, we move on for now!

Sources: The life of John Crum is CAP biography number 7740. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources. Thought provoking perspectives on the family name appear online.

Pension: Yet another John Crum from Saratoga served in the Revolutionary army and died in 1789, Much later, his widow applied for a pension.