Adeline Oliver (b. ? - d ?)
MSA SC 5496-51390
War of 1812 Refugee, Prince George's County, Maryland
Biography:
Adeline Oliver was born in Maryland to an enslaved woman Nell who was owned by James Coombs and his wife Mary Meeky Lyles. The Coombs family lived in the Swan Creek Neck area of southern Prince George's County. Adeline Oliver, like her mother and siblings belonged to James and Mary Lyles Coombs. In 1808, Joseph Coombs sold Adeline along with her mother and siblings Thomas, Ned, and James to Col. William Lyles. Col. Lyles was the father of Mary Lyles Coombs. Adeline's former owner, Joseph Coombs died shortly after he sold Adeline.
Somehow, Adeline and other slaves belonging to Col. Lyles came back into the ownership of his daughter Mary Lyles Coombs. Mrs. Coombs ownership of Adeline was short lived. In 1812 America went to war with Great Britiain and as early as 1813 the British placed a blockade on Maryland waterways. In 1814, the British were lying in the Potomac River. British admiral Alexander Cochrane issued a proclamation in April of 1814 offering immediate emancipation to any person willing to take up arms against the Americans, or people who wished to settle in British territories. By this time Adeline was the wife of Moses Oliver, who was an enslaved man belonging to Col. William Lyles. Adeline and Moses Oliver were the parents of one year old Laura Oliver. A group of slaves belonging to Mrs. Coombs, including Adeline and her young daughter, escaped to a British Vessel in the Potomac River.Return to Adeline Oliver's Introductory Page
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