Person:James Addair (1)

Estate Records

Addair, James, dec.. Apr. of estate ret. March 1824.

[Source: "A Brief of the Wills and Marriages in Montgomery and Fincastle Counties, Virginia, 1773-1831, by Anne Lowry Worrell, pg. 45].

Records in Virginia

• 1772 - James Addair settled first on 200 acres of land on the east river.

• 1773 - Montgomery County, Virginia tithables list - James Addair in Trigg's Company.

• 1774 - James Addair was paid for 37 days service in Captain James Robertson’s Company, and in 1782 he was taxed on four horses and 11 cattle (Kegley, Soldiers, p. 42; Kegley, tax list, p. 1).

• 1775 - James Addair tract of 86 acres under the loyal Company which was surveyed in 1775 [Montgomery County Survey Books A, p. 215; C, p. 51; D, p. 144].

• August 24, 1786, the Montgomery County Court ordered that James Addair have leave to open a bridle way from Pepper’s Road opposite his own house and across the River at Addair’s plantation, “thence by the office and from thence the nearest and best way” into the road leading to Callaway’s Iron Works.Although no road was established at this time, a bridle way was fixed, and the road followed later (Montgomery County Order book 1, p. 267).

• October 1791 James Addair specifically petitioned the General Assembly for a ferry and the words follow here:

To the Honourable the speaker and the other members of the General Assembly.The petition of James Addair of the County of Montgomery humbly sheweth that your petitioner being an early adventurer in the Western County settled himself on the bank of the New River at a pass much frequented by travellers.That he long Continued to aid them with al the assistance a canoe could afford without requiring or indeed desiring any compensation.That thus peculiarly situated and the way in order of time becoming still more public (from a Division of the County and the erection of the Public Buildings) your petitioner was constrained to erect a boat for the accommodation as well of his neighbors as travellers.

Your petitioner therefore prays that your Honorable House would take his case under consideration and grant him leave to keep a ferry across New River from his own Land to the Land of James Craig, Esquire on the opposite shore upon similar terms to other established ferry’s across the same.And your petitioner shall pray etc.

James Addair

• 1799 James Adair sold to his son James Addair, Jr. 10 acres of land on the west side of the New River, The same year Thomas Addair, no relationship known, sold James Addair, Jr. 100 acres on the west side of the New. The same year James Addair, Sr. sold to James, Jr. 317 acres also on the west side of the New River, of which the ten acres was part (Montgomery County Deed Book C, pp. 239, 263; Summers, Annals, p. 938).

• 1810 James Addair, Sr. married Martitia (called Retitia or Retishe in the marriage bond) Page, the name of his first wife not recorded.In 1817 James Addair and his wife Martitia sold the 880 acres to John Mc Taylor (Montgomery County Marriages; Montgomery County Deed Book F, p. 320).

• 1823 James Addair, Sr. died about 1823 when his appraisal was taken on June 13 of that year. His son James Addair, Jr. was the administrator of the estate (Montgomery County Will Book 4, p. 44).The inventory included several items of interest as follows: horses, cows, calves, yearlings, sheep, hogs, corn in the crib, one tub of wheat, one tub of rye, saddle, crosscut saw, handsaws, frying pan, mattock, scythe, cradle, “geers”, “heckle”, bacon, a soap tub, tallow, a pot rack and fire shovel, log chains, 3 ovens, 4 pots, skillet and baker, some pewter, tin crocks, churns, pails, salt, one gun, two little wheels, 4 pair of cards, one plate, razor, candlestick, money scales, cupboard and it contents, books, 3 beds, chest, a check reel, loom and tackling, some wool, a coffee mill, 2 big wheels, wheat in the field, rye in the field, a saddle, 12 geese, 2 whetstones, grindstones and axes.Debts due the estate were also listed.

1.   Kegley, Mary B, and F. B. (Frederick Bittle) Kegley. Early adventurers on the western waters. (Wytheville, Virginia: Kegley Books, c1995, 1998 (Marceline, Missouri : Walsworth Pub. Co.)).

   Chapter 3
   The Families
   Addair
   
   James Addair, Sr. first appears on the New River as a tithable in 1773, being listed in Trigg’s Company. He appears to have lived on the West Side of the New River, near present Radford, probably from the time of his arrival in the community. The Commissioner’s certificates however show that he settled first on 200 acres of land on the east river in 1772, and the surveys show an additional tract of 86 acres under the loyal Company which was surveyed in 1775 (Kegley, tithables, p. 25; Montgomery County Survey Books A, p. 215; C, p. 51; D, p. 144).
   Nevertheless, he acquired 880 acres of land, part of several entries and grants, and established himself near present Radford, where he open the road and established the first ferry at that location which served the residents of both sides of the river for many years (Montgomery County Survey Book B, p. 581).
   In 1774 James Addair was paid for 37 days service in Captain James Robertson’s Company, and in 1782 he was taxed on four horses and 11 cattle (Kegley, Soldiers, p. 42; Kegley, tax list, p. 1).
   On August 24, 1786, the Montgomery County Court ordered that James Addair have leave to open a bridle way from Pepper’s Road opposite his own house and across the River at Addair’s plantation, “thence by the office and from thence the nearest and best way” into the road leading to Callaway’s Iron Works.Although no road was established at this time, a bridle way was fixed, and the road followed later (Montgomery County Order book 1, p. 267).
   In October 1791 Addair specifically petitioned the General Assembly for a ferry and the words follow here:
   To the Honourable the speaker and the other members of the General Assembly.The petition of James Addair of the County of Montgomery humbly sheweth that your petitioner being an early adventurer in the Western County settled himself on the bank of the New River at a pass much frequented by travellers.That he long Continued to aid them with al the assistance a canoe could afford without requiring or indeed desiring any compensation.That thus peculiarly situated and the way in order of time becoming still more public (from a Division of the County and the erection of the Public Buildings) your petitioner was constrained to erect a boat for the accommodation as well of his neighbors as travellers.
   Your petitioner therefore prays that your Honorable House would take his case under consideration and grant him leave to keep a ferry across New River from his own Land to the Land of James Craig, Esquire on the opposite shore upon similar terms to other established ferry’s across the same.And your petitioner shall pray etc.
   James Addair
   
   
   Those who signed the petition are as follows, using the spelling given in the original petition.John Charlton, Henery Bingaman, Sameuel Spery, Peter Clyne, John Bingaman, Jones Powers, Obidge P. Spery [O’Spery?], William Tabert, Christan Bingaman, Alexander Page, Stephen Dyele, David Love, Adam Bingaman, Geo. Wiser, Jacob Peck, Bengeman Saul Cicel, Henery Wiser, Jacob Henderson, Sameuel Cicel, Matheias Wiser, John Lanter, Francis Munsey, James Hog, John King, Jacob Bingaman, James Fisher, Peter Helvie, Frederick Halve, John Pacer, Peter Riffe, John Kearby, William Taber, Juner., William Daly, Archable Tabor, William Byers, Edward Morgan, Joseph Hogg, George Peck, JohnDay, John Shepard, Thos. Johnson, SamuelMichael, George Helmets, Stephen Booth, Peter Penner, Skidmore Munsey, Philip Martin, Jacob Pait, MardockMcKensey, Jeremiah Pait, Adam Berainger, Isaac McKensey, John Munsey, Tarenc Poplay, Gasper Gareleck, John Garlick, Samuel O’Spery, Junr., Bengeman Spery, Josef Coffer (?), Richard McDanel, Brian McDanel, Joseph McDanel, John Coffer, Andrew Stobo, Hennry Stobo, John Shilling, Cary Alley, John Scot, Samuel Jones, John Shefellbarger, Alexander Mares, Sameuel Ingram, Willam Godsbuy.
   The above notice was “Stuck upon the Court House of the said County on the court day thereof in the several months of August and September” and witnessed on the 3rd day of October 1791 by Abram Trigg, Clerk of the Montgomery court (Montgomery County Legislative Petition, October, Virginia State Library, Archives).
   Further references are found to the Addair’s crossing of the New River, In 1794 a bridle road was opened from John Scott’s) the land later sold to Cornelius Brown of Belspring, where the Brown’s Ferry was established_ to the courthouse with the crossing of the River at James Addair’s.In 1795 a roadway from Colonel Joseph Cloyd’s (on Back Creek in present Pulaski County) to the courthouse with the crossing at the New River at James Addair’s Ferry, and with James Addair as overseer.In 1796 James Addair was bonded to keep the ferry over the New River to the lands of James Craig (Summers, Annals, pp. 851, 860, 862).
   In 1799 James Adair sold to his son James Addair, Jr. 10 acres of land on the west side of the New River, The same year Thomas Addair, no relationship known, sold James Addair, Jr. 100 acres on the west side of the New. The same year James Addair, Sr. sold to James, Jr. 317 acres also on the west side of the New River, of which the ten acres was part (Montgomery County Deed Book C, pp. 239, 263; Summers, Annals, p. 938).
   In 1810 James Addair, Sr. married Martitia (called Retitia or Retishe in the marriage bond) Page, the name of his first wife not recorded.In 1817 James Addair and his wife Martitia sold the 880 acres to John Mc Taylor (Montgomery County Marriages; Montgomery County Deed Book F, p. 320).
   James Addair, Sr. died about 1823 when his appraisal was taken on June 13 of that year.His son James Addair, Jr. was the administrator of the estate (Montgomery County Will Book 4, p. 44).The inventory included several items of interest as follows: horses, cows, calves, yearlings, sheep, hogs, corn in the crib, one tub of wheat, one tub of rye, saddle, crosscut saw, handsaws, frying pan, mattock, scythe, cradle, “geers”, “heckle”, bacon, a soap tub, tallow, a pot rack and fire shovel, log chains, 3 ovens, 4 pots, skillet and baker, some pewter, tin crocks, churns, pails, salt, one gun, two little wheels, 4 pair of cards, one plate, razor, candlestick, money scales, cupboard and it contents, books, 3 beds, chest, a check reel, loom and tackling, some wool, a coffee mill, 2 big wheels, wheat in the field, rye in the field, a saddle, 12 geese, 2 whetstones, grindstones and axes.Debts due the estate were also listed.
   James Addair, Jr. son of James, Sr. owned land in several areas, but probably lived near his father when he was first established.In 1800 he sold the 100 acres from Thomas Addair to George Surfeis [Surface], and it went eventually into the John McTaylor estate.In 1811 lands on the East Side of the New River, part of the Francis Reilly grant, also went to John Mc Taylor.The same year Addair purchased 487 acres from the Shell heirs, the land being located on Back Creek adjoining Alexander Mares.Addair appears to have lived on this tract.In 1813 James Addair, Jr. sold 100 acres, part of this tract to Abraham Songer, and in 1816 sold 204 ½ acres to Jacob Peck.In 1819 he purchased 370 acres adjoining his own lands from John Mc Taylor.This was the Goldman-Wylie tract.In 1843 he purchased 186 acres adjoining Andrew Muirhead from John and Eliza Caddall (Montgomery County Deed Books C, pp. 262, 263, 541; E, p. 279; F, pp. 141, 142; G, p. 236; Pulaski county Deed Book 1, p. 505).
   In April 1844, shortly before his death, James Addair, Jr. exchanged a 60 acre tract for William Miller’s 23 acre tract.A few days later Addair sold 130 acres on the Back Creek to his nephew Ezekiel Summers “for love and affection and $1”, part of 260 acres purchased by Addair in 1833 (Pulaski County Deed Book 1, pp. 378, 379, 380).
   Beginning in June 1845 the heirs of James Addair, Jr. deceased, began to sell their interests in his estate.There was a total of 1,494 acres in several tracts, and 27 slaves, 16 males and 11 females.Over the next few years 19 deeds were recorded in Pulaski County, naming heirs and co-heirs from Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana, Alabama, and several locations in Virginia.The Summers and William Miller had all of the ten shares except one and went to court to get a division of the estate between them.A release was made by Susan Summers, George Summers and his wife Nancy, James Summers and his wife Tabitha, and Ezekiel Summers and his wife Elizabeth to William Miller who was to pay them $1,250 in return for all the Back Creek lands embracing the mountain tracts joining, also a tract conveyed to Ezekiel Summers in the lifetime of James Addair, being part of the mountain tract.In return Miller released his claim to the “Creek lands embracing the tract called Harbison” (Pulaski County Deed Books 1, pp. 508, 510, 532, 536, 539; 2, pp. 8, 12, 32, 38, 52, 153, 157, 239, 355, 356, 469, 470, 580, 581, 700, 701).
   James Addair, Jr. was not married and the only Montgomery County marriage for an Addair female is that of Jane Addair who married John Kirby in 1791.Thomas Addair was a witness (Montgomery County Marriages, Book A, p. 38).
   William Miller of Back Creek who obtained the Addair property, was married in 1818 to Mary Kirby, the daughter of John, mentioned above.They had five children.He married second Clarissa Campbell and had no children.He lived to be 96 years of age, dying on Back Creek in 1891.William Miller was the son of James and Margaret Wygal Miller of Back Creek.Mary Kirby Miller and her sister Nancy Kirby Miller, first wife of James Miller, Jr., were reared by James Addair, Jr., their uncle.The mother had died and the father moved to Alabama.James Addair’s log house stood on the approximate site of James Glendy’s brick mansion called “Sunnyside” on Back Creek (Darst, The Darsts of Virginia, pp. 363, 365).

2. ↑ Ancestry.com. Public Member Trees: (Note: not considered a reliable primary source).

   https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/14185696/person/84305396/facts

3.   United States. 1820 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M33).

   Name: James Addair Senior
   Home in 1820 (City, County, State): Christiansburg, Montgomery, Virginia
   Enumeration Date: August 7, 1820
   Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 15: 1
   Free White Persons - Males - 45 and over: 1 [b. 1775 or before]
   Free White Persons - Females - 45 and over : 1 [b. 1775 or before]
   Slaves - Males - Under 14: 1
   Slaves - Males - 26 thru 44: 1
   Slaves - Females - 14 thru 25: 1
   Number of Persons - Engaged in Agriculture: 2
   Free White Persons - Under 16: 1
   Free White Persons - Over 25: 2
   Total Free White Persons: 3
   Total Slaves: 3
   Total All Persons - White, Slaves, Colored, Other: 6