John Hannum III (1744 – February 2, 1799), also known as Col. John Hannum was a politician, businessman and colonial militiaman in Chester County, Pennsylvania influential in the establishment of West Chester, Pennsylvania as the county seat.
[1] While a colonel in 1st Battalion of Chester County Militia, John Hannum and his friend and brother-in-law Thomas Cheyney achieved a certain fame in identifying and notifying George Washington of the movement of British troops under the command of General William Howe across the Brandywine River at Trimble's Ford in their march past Jefferis Ford toward the Battle of the Brandywine.
Later he was taken captive by the British and held prisoner in Philadelphia until his escape (see his letter to George Washington describing this ordeal).
In 1784, Hannum, among others, was selected to build a new Court House and Prison for the County of Chester in a location within one and a half miles from the Turk's Head Tavern.
[5] Hannum Ave. in West Chester (leading from the center of town to Strasburg Rd) was named for him.