Adam Francis Plummer: Champion of faith, family and freedom

Adam Francis Plummer: Champion of faith, family and freedom By Douglas Burton diary, which he began on the day of his until the end of his life. Cupid Plummer’s marriage to Emily Saunders at what is son, Barney, and his wife, Sallie, inspired Sometimes an agent of change is a today known as the New York Avenue young Adam to walk 13 miles on weekends person of modest means who influences Presbyterian Church. Adam and Emily to bring them gifts of cloth and food. many by virtue of moral example. Such Plummer, along with their two babies, As a young man, Plummer refused is the case with Adam Francis Plummer, attempted to escape the Three Sisters to drink alcohol. His youngest daughter, who was born a slave in 1819 but who re- Plantation in 1845. They believed that Nellie Plummer, has written that “instead fused to be defined by his circumstances. their marriage license would serve as of spending his time among idle gossipers Plummer was born into slavery at “free papers” once they gained sanctuary or with those who drank, Adam Plummer Goodwood Plantation, near Upper Marl- in northern states. - taught himself all he possibly could. Ifhe boro, Maryland on May 14, 1819 and was Marital fidelity and family loyalty were had not taken advantage of this opportu- owned by the powerful Calvert family Adam and Emily Plummer. traditions in the Plummer family and key nity to learn t6 read and write, we would until 1864. From the age of 10, he was to Adam’s success in life. Adam’s grand- know very little of our family history, not separated from his parents, who were father, Cupid Plummer, had been granted even the births and Cleaths:• slaves on another plantation owned by the in the basics of spelling and grammar. his freedom and a land grant as a reward In 1866, Adam and Emily Plummer bor- Calverts. His opportunity arrived when It was unlawful at the time for slaves to for serving as a surrogate for his owner rowed money from friends and dispatched he was befriended by a manumitted slave, be educated or literate, and Bowser was during the American Revolutionary War. their eldest son, Henry, to travel to New Reverend John Bowser, a Methodist, who risking execution or re-enslavement by He could have abandoned his wife and Orleans to retrieve his sister, Miranda. traveled in the Bladensburg District in the teaching young Plumiller to read. his children, who remained . enslaved. 1830’s. Bowser secretly schooled the boy Plummer’s life is chronicled in his _ Instead, he chose to remain with them »see PLUMMER I· D13

PLUMMER signed a contract with the seller to make exemplified by Adam Francis Plummer, full payment of the $1,000 within- two his descendants and the citizens who years. Only by scrimping and saving, have learned from his determination, From page 012 selling home-grown roses and sending pride and endurance:’ Rl’!verend Jerome When the brother and sister returned to their children to take on diverse jobs Fowler, Plummer’s great, great grandson, Riversdale Plantation on Friday, October were the Plummer’s able to make the gave the keynote lecture at Maryland’s 19th, the family and friends gathered to payments whenever demanded by the first Plummer Day celebration at the welcome Miranda home. Miranda told seller. Through their dedicated efforts, Kingdom Missionary Baptist ·Chu_rch in her story of a recurring dream regarding the family was able to pay off the note . Bladensburg on May 30th. her people living in darkness and she in eighteen months-six months short of Based on her father’s diary, Plummer’s leading them to the light of God. They the deadline. daughter, Nellie Arnold Plummer, wrote prayed and sang into thenight to express It is worth noting that Plummer was and published a family autobiography, thanks to God. willing to take risks to defy the laws of Out Of the Depths or the Triu.mph of In 1867, this band of believers was the land that were unjust: the law pro- the Cross in 1927. Plummer’s diary is recognized as the First Colored Baptist hibiting slaves to marry and prohibiting housed at the Anacostia Community ,.,Church. In 1873, the growing congre- slaves to obtain literacy. On the other Museum (See “Hand of Freedom: The gation purchased a building from the .hand, he kept the mandates of God: he Life and Legacy of the Plummer Family;’ Presbyterian congregation in Bladens- honored his father and mother, and he at anacostia.si.edu.) burg. That congregation, now known was loyal to hi~ wife and children. Plum- as the St. Paul Baptist Church, -Inc. of mer’s children grew up to be respected Douglas Burton is a former Associate Prince George’s County, continues today Reverend Jerome Fowler. ministers~ teachers and farmers. Editor of Insight on the News magazine. as a vibrant community of faith with The County Executive of Prince He is also a co-founder of the Com- facilities in Capitol Heights and in Fort George’s County Maryland recently de- mittee for Plummer Day. Reverend Je- Washington. for $1,000 in an area that would later be clared May 30, 2015 as “Adam Francis rome Fowler, Administrator of St. Paul In 1868, Plummer entered an agree: incorporated as Edmonston, Maryland. Plummer Day” in recognitiono f the “liv- Baptist Church, Inc. of Prince George’s ment to purchase a 10-acre parcel ofland In order to make the purchase, Plummer ing legacy of faith, family and freedom County, contributed to this article.