Family:Thomas McAdams and Cynthia Stephenson (2)

Thomas Cunningham McAdams Family

Thomas Cunningham McAdams and Cynthia Stephenson lived near Leesburg in Washington County, Tennessee during the 19th century. Together they raised a family of 11 boys, 9 of whom survived to adulthood. A family record was kept by one of their sons, Robert, and is the source for much of the information contained in this article. Images of a 1968 transcription of the record are included on this page.

Their parents arrived in Washington County before 1800, migrating from Virginia and Pennsylvania. They were Presbyterians of Scots-Irish ancestry. Thomas and Cynthia were married September 18, 1834 according to the record^N1. Their children were

• Matthew Judson McAdams, born August 15, 1835

• John Cloyd McAdams, born December 20 or 30, 1836

• Hugh Morrison McAdams, born November 30, 1838

• David Brainard McAdams, born February 3, 1941

• WIlliam Plummer McAdams, born March 14, 1843

• Samuel Bryson McAdams, born February 3, 1845

• Robert Newton McAdams, born December 3, 1847

• James Houston McAdams, born February 14, 1850

• Chalmers Stephenson McAdams, born February 16, 1853

• Thomas Cunningham McAdams, Jr., born August 29, 1855

• Charles Alexander Hodge McAdams, born April 5, 1858

Matthew, John, David and Samuel all fought for the Union during the Civil War in Tennesssee Cavalry regiments, though they were raised with slaves in the household ^S1.

Photo of transcription of McAdams Family Record, page 1

Photo of transcription of McAdams Family Record, page 2

Photo of transcription of McAdams Family Record, page 3

Photo of transcription of McAdams Family Record, page 4

Photo of transcription of McAdams Family Record, page 5

1.   Thomas McAdams, in 1860 US Federal Census Slave Schedule, Jonesboro, Washington, TN.
   1860 Slave Census, Thomas McAdams entry
2.   Other dates appear for the marriage. Sistler's "Early East Tennesee Marriages" has a marriage bond date of 16 September 1834. The IGI lists 16 Jan 1835 as the date based on Washington County records which corresponds to the digital images available on Ancestry.com of "Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002" from the TN State Library and Archives.