Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Blackadder, Adam
BLACKADDER, ADAM (fl. 1674–1696), covenanter, was second son of the elder John Blackadder [q. v.], brother of Dr. William Blackadder [q.v.], physician to William III, and of Lieutenant-colonel John Blackadder [q.v.] He was born about 1659. He was bred to t e mercantile profession in Stirling, and in November 1674, while still an apprentice, he was, along with several others, apprehended, because he had not subscribed e ‘Black Bond 'of history, and for attending conventicles. The entire household remained steadfast to their father. His eldest brother (Dr. Blackadder) presented a petition to the privy council, and obtained his temporary re- lease. He was at least twice subsequently imprisoned, once in Fife, and once in Blackness Castle. In the latter his and Welsh's dungeons are still shown. His seizure and imprisonment in Blackness was for having been present at his father's preaching near Borrowstownness (Linlithgowshire), on which occasion no fewer than twenty-six children were baptised. Compelled by persecution to be an exile, Blackadder is found next in Sweden. He was a merchant in Sweden for nine years. Haying married a Swedish lady, whom he had converted from Lutheranism to presbyterian Calvinism, they were obliged to fly the country. The penalty at the time for a Swede who changed to Catholicism or Calvinism was death. About the close of 1684 he was settled in Edinburgh. Twelve years later his name is found in the Darien Papers (Bannatyne Club, 1849) among the subscribers to the Darien Company — '26 March 1696. Adam Blackader, merchant in Edinburgh, as factor for his brother, Captain John Blackader, in Flanders, 100l.' He wrote a narrative of his fathers sufferings, worked into Dr. Crichton's full 'Life,' which he submitted to Wodrow. He is also known to have written a number of political tractates on the state of parties and the Darien scheme. The date of his death is not discoverable.
[Authorities cited under Blackadder, John; Anderson's Scottish Nation; Wodrow MSS.; Howie's Scots Worthies; Dodd's Scottish Covenanters; Gilflllan's Scottish Covenanters.]