Solomon Adams was a brother of Samuel Adams, Benjamin Adams and Rachael Adams, who settled on Stony Creek on the site of the present Seventeenth Ward of the City of Johnstown before the Revolutionary War, as the writer possesses a copy of an affidavit to prove. Samuel Adams was killed in a fight with an Indian in an ambush by the Indians, and the Indian was also killed, and both were buried close together, near Elton, this County, and Solomon Adams and Rachael Adams escaped to Fort Bedford, and John Cheney and Thornton Bridges were captured and carried either to Kittanning or Detroit, where they were kept prisoners for several years. Solomon Adams afterwards became a soldier – one report is a Captain, in the army of Washington; hence Cambria County had one Revolutionary soldier who lived within its border before the War of Independence. (1)

Captain Solomon Adams in 1781 had charge of a company of Rangers who were located somewhere in Brothers Valley, most likely in the vicinity of Johnstown, where he made his home. His company belonged to the Third Battalion of the Bedford County Militia, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Barnard Dougherty, and of which John Woods was major. The battalion was divided into eight companies, this” First company, commanded by Oliver Drake; second, by Christopher Bridgely; third, by George Hostadler; fourth, by Samuel Moore; fifth, by Peter Ankeny; sixth, by Solomon Adams; seventh, by William McCall; eighth, by Philip Cable. These assignements bear date of “20th April, Ano dom. 1781.”

There was another company of Bedford township of which Solomon Adams was chosen captain. On September 29, 1781, the sub-lieutenant for Bedored county directed that an election be held to select officers, the result of which was: Solomon Adams, captain; Allen McComb, lieutenant, and William Clark, Jr., ensign. The judges of th election were Arthur McCaughey and James Fletcher; inspector, John McCaughey. (2)

 

Sources:

(1) Souvenir of the Diamond Jubilee and history of St. Augustine’s Church, Dysart Post Office, Cambria County, Pa. (1922). New Guide Publishing Co.

 

 

 

(2) Story, Henry W. (1907). History of Cambria County. Volume 1, pg. 22. Lewis Publishing Co.  https://digital.libraries.psu.edu/digital/collection/digitalbks2/id/35709

Bedford Militia, Pennsylvania Archives. Series 6. Vol. 3. pg. 5.