Note 218 — {318} CHAPTER LIV

Dr. John Cummins was born in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, in 1780. Having studied medicine with Dr. Rush of Philadelphia, he emigrated to Mississippi Territory to engage in the practice of his profession, settling first at Port Gibson; later having married a daughter of Judge Bruin (1804) he removed to the plantation on Bayou Pierre, where Cuming visited him. He endorsed heavily for Burr and Blennerhassett, losing by them about $65,000. Burr’s maps left in his care are important evidence of the destination of his expedition. Dr. Cummins was called to Richmond in order to testify at the Burr trial, and afterwards attempted to recover some of the money he had lost, but with no success. Removing to the parish of Concordia, Louisiana, he lived the life of a wealthy cultivated planter—being especially interested in literature—until his death in 1822. The details of his history have been kindly furnished by his granddaughter, Mrs. T. C. Wordin, of Bridgeport, Connecticut.—Ed.