Person:James Adair (13)

RESEARCH_NOTES: 1. Censuses: 1810 US: Laurens Co., South Carolina, five Adairs are found in a total of 72 pages as follows; page numbers represent which page in 72 the entry is found. All age numbers are single digit except one (13). I am not sure which 1810 Adairs these fit exactly:

 P. 25, Wm. Adir, 001103010002
 P. 58, Elisha Adear or Adiar, 32011101100 (13)
 P. 58, Benja. Adir, 021011020102
 P. 59, Jas Adir, 100102001000
 P. 60, Jas Adir, 200102001000

2. FHL film 446460, Patron Research Dept. for Marie G. Sheranian, has the following three entries from "Land Grants recorded at Clerk's Office, Laurens, S.C., assigned to an unspecified James Adair who seems to fit this James because of its involvement with Allison Creek and also with the Price family (see also Brownlee notes below):

 "Apr 12, 1788 - James Adair from Thos. Allison, 100 A, Bk. B. p. 329 on Allison Creek.
  Apr 21, 1788 - James Adair, 110 A., Bk. B., p. 328 on Allison Creek.

  July 4, 1797 - James Adair from Price and Margaret Williams, 50 A on Allison Creek, Bk. D, p. 207."

The following two grants are from the same typescript and may apply to this James Adair or the other James Adair who was the "Sadler" and son of Joseph Adair, Sr. [I haven't yet seen the transaction for any other names or witnesses.]:

 "Oct 13, 1795, James Adair from John and Sarah... 10 [100?] A on Duncan's Creek, Bk. F. p. 49.
  Oct 12, 1795, James Adair 100 A on Duncan's Creek, Bk F, p. 50."

3. Jett Hanna [[email protected]] provided me on 8 Jul 2005 with a copy of his analysis of the Brownlee manuscript as follows. It mirrors my own understanding; however, anything with which I disagree I note in [brackets]. Jett entitles his paper as "Laurens County Area Adair Family Trees." It is broken down by three families: James Adair who married Eleanor, his brother Joseph who married Sarah Laferty, and a William of whom absolutely nothing is known except just his name on the Williams Petition and that Brownlee notes he died 1780-84 and that his estate was administered 1784 per Abbe Wills, p. 10. Text quoted as follows:

 "This tree is based on Early Adairs of Laurens County, South Carolina, by Mildred Brownlee.  This was provided to me by W. Lee Adair, who obtained it from the Laurens County Public Library.  Handwritten notes show a date of 1990 on Brownlee's manuscript.  I have not examined these deeds personally.  In some cases, notes and questions below are my own additions.  This analysis seems to discredit some of the trees in the Adair History and Genealogy, and adds significantly to what is know of the Laurens area Adairs. I have not fully finished analyzing this work, and may have left out parts that are not as critical to my work.
 "Based on this work, it appears very possible that the elder Joseph Adair (m. Sarah, m. Susannah) and his brother James (m. Eleanor) settled in Laurens County at the same time, as suggested by the Adair History and Genealogy.  I do not believe, however, that this James was the author of the book on the Indians and reputed patriarch of the Cherokee Adairs. This James was a cooper (barrel maker) according to the deeds.  Modern editions of the History of the American Indians suggest that the author James Adair was a direct immigrant to South Carolina, but with no concrete evidence.
 "The Williams Petition: In the tree, LCW is Laurens County Wills; LCD is Laurens County Deeds.  Also mentioned is the Williams petition.  This petition is a significant document in analyzing the Laurens County Adairs.  Published in the South Carolina Magazine of Ancestral Research, Vol. XV, No. 1 1987, p. 32-33, the original is #5767, Manuscript Department, Wm. Perkins Library at Duke University.  The petition is in support of Colonel James Williams, a militia leader of the Patriots in the Laurens area (Little River Regiment). The petition, signed by members of the Little River Regiment, is directed to the Governor of South Carolina and the Privy Counsel, and attests to Williams’ devotion to the Patriot cause.  Williams led militia in a number of battles.  I suspect that this petition was provided prior to Williams’ elevation to the rank of Brigadier General following the Battle of Musgrove Mill, which was fought in what is now Laurens County. Williams had been accused of puffing his role in the battle.  Williams went on to die at Kings Mountain -- one of the few Patriot casualties that day on October 7, 1780.  Williams had run for the South Carolina legislature as a Patriot in 1778, only to lose to Robert Cunningham, the infamous Loyalist leader.  For more on Williams, see Draper, “Kings Mountain and Its Heroes,” (Cincinnati, 1883).  Signers of the Williams petition include the following Adairs: Isaac Adair, Jms. Adair, James Adair, Sr., Joseph Adair, Jr., Joseph Adair, Benjamin Adair, Joseph Adair, Sr., James Adair, Jr, son of James, William Adair, John Adair, and John Adair, Sr., and Alexander Adair. Comparing deed and will records to the names, Brownlee identifies the Adair signers [copies Brownlee’s explanations].  Brownlee’s identifications look very logical to me.
 "The Laurens County Adair Tree:

1. James Adair m. Eleanor: 150a land grant to James Adair-same date as Joseph 250a. Both referred to in records as coopers (barrel makers). James, cooper in LCD F/8,9,10, A/185. Eleanor released right of dower on deed dated 2/12/1796; date of transfer by James was 2/24/1784. Which deeds correspond with which dates? See Joseph below. Eleanor was also witness on deed from William Price and wife, Margaret to James Adair, son of James, 2/6/1792. 1.1 Joseph Adair m. Sarah Dillard [Surname Dillard is a Jett addition and I don't believe proven even though many LDS lines use this as well without documentation.]: Joseph Adair, Jr. to Wm. Holland, 120 ac. Release of dower by Sarah, wife of Joseph Jr., and Eleanor, widow of James Adair, dec'd, LCD F/109. Suggests land owned by James m. to Eleanor, but how does it correspond to land grants? If land belonged to Joseph junior by intestacy laws, why wasn't James m. to Hannah on deed, too? LCD G/570 has dower release for Sarah Adair, wife of Joseph. 1.1.1 Thomas Adair m. Rebecca Brown: LCD H/22, Joseph Adair of Duncan Creek to eldest son Thomas Adair. Witness Jane Adair. Dower releases for Rebecca in LCD H/129, H/209, and land purchased H/228. 1.1.2 ?Hannah m. John Jones: see F/8,9,10. 8 & 9: 8/1/1795. 10: 2/25/1784. F/10 is deed from James Sr. and wife Eleanor to John Jones, has witnesses James Adair, saddler, and James Adair, Jr. [Without giving a reason, Jett places Hannah as a possible daughter of Joseph, son of James; however, Brownlee indicates she believes her to be a daughter of the original James and Eleanor which would make her a sister to Joseph son of James. Perhaps a typo on Jett's part.] 1.2 James Adair m. Hannah: Corresponds to James son of James in the Williams petition per Brownlee. James m. Rebecca had a son James, but probably not old enough to sign petition as James m. Rebecca born 1747 per Indiana tombstone. Petition 1780 would mean James m. Rebecca was 33 in 1780; doubtful his son James could be of fighting age. Compare to Adair compilation. LCD M/77-78 reports death of James Adair, Sr., widow Hannah. Hannah Adair’s will LCW F/65, proven 1826. James 115(2) 1790 Census. 2 daughters not accounted for. James Jr. was under 16 according to this census. 1.2.1 Elizabeth m. James? Parlmore (Palmer): LCD M/77-78 1.2.2 Mary m. John Prather: LCD M/77-78 1.2.2.1 Susannah Prather (Prater?): Witness on will of Hannah LCW F/65. 1.2.2.2 Hannah Prather m. Joseph Dollar 1.2.2.3 Linny m. William Prather 1.2.2.4 Archibald m, Susannah Meadors 1.2.2.5 Martha Prather 1.2.2.6 Betsy/Priscilla Prather m. Daniel Owens 1.2.2.7 James Prather 1.2.2.8 Mary (Molly) Prather 1.2.2.9 Bryce Prather 1.2.2.10 Elinor Prather 1.2.3 Nelly (Eleanor) m. Ramage: LCD M/77-78, LCW F/65. 1.2.3.1 Benjamin Ramage 1.2.3.2 John Jewell Ramage 1.2.3.3 Washington Ramage 1.2.4 James Adair Jr.: LCD M/77-78, LCW F/65. 1.2.5 Hannah m. Rueben Meadors: LCD M/77-78, LCW F/65. 1.2.6 Susannah m. William Cassels (Castles): LCD M/77-78, LCW F/65. 1.2.7 Nancy m. Willis Langston: LCD M/77-78, LCW F/65. 1.2.8 Martha m. Wm. Gamble: LCD M/77-78 Patsey Gamble: LCW F/65."

4. The book "Roster of South Carolina Patriots in the American Revolution," by Bobby Gilmer Moss, lists the following James Adairs, the first of whom is for probably this individual. I am not sure if all of the information is correct or not considering the note he lived in York District. I am not sure how the other James Adairs I list fit in or not. There were other James Adairs in South Carolina at the time and it was a common name among Adairs. Some information may be from more modern and perhaps undocumented family histories. I do not have the abbreviation list as to the sources the author gives:

  "James Adare, Sr., S9264, b. 8/15 May 1752, Bucks Co., Pennsylvania, d. 18 Aug 1818, m. Hannah ____. He entered the service during 1776, while residing in York District, and served under Capt. Frank Ross and Col. Neel. In the same year, he joined a unit under Capt. John McCool and Col. Hopkins. In 1777, he was under McCool and Hopkins and was wounded at Horseshoe Battle on War Woman Creek. He was discharged as a result. Later, he appears in Picken's brigade as one who recovered horses lost at Briar Creek. During 1782, he was under Capt. James Dillard, Col. Casey and Gen. Pickens. He supplied food for distressed widows and families for Casey's unit ans was a wagon master for Col. James Williams from 29 March to 20 May 1780. A.A. 21; Patriot Index."
 Other James Adairs:
 "James Adare. He served 120 days in the militia under Gen. Marion during 1780 and 1781. At one time, he was under Lt. Col. Hugh Horry. Kinsfolk, 1269,; A.A. 21; S350; Y1522."
 "James Adair, Jr., b. c. 1755, d. July 1835, m. Anna ____. He served in the militia. Patriot Index."

5. On file with me are early plats drawings of Duncan Creek prepared by Lee Adair. The James Adair, Jr. noted below is this individual.

 From Lee Adair 13 Sep 2005 [[email protected]]: "I have platted most of the available deed surveys up to 1846 for the Duncan Creek area of Laurens County using the software Deedmapper. The problems with such deed platting are: 1) surveyors weren't always accurate; 2) the terrain was not perfectly flat. In acquiring all the plats, I also had to acquire all the deed records and land transactions and I now have the Laurens County deed books up to Book O (about 1846). These two sources allowed me to place surveys in about the correct positions on the map. I am aided in this by the several rivers and creeks that run through the county and which are platted on the surveys. If there are any specific plats that you need, I can make copies of them and send them to you. One file (Duncan3.jpg) is included to provide a bearing. In the lower left is what looks like the streets of a city. This is Clinton. The interstate running diagonally across this image is I-26. The Duncan Creek Cemetery is located where the D in the text for Duncan Creek Cemetery is.
 One of the properties of Joseph Adair (wife Sarah) is in bright blue just to the right and adjoining that of James Adair (bright yellow). It was a SC land grant that he received in 1786. He sold that with the adjoining property of Samuel Ewing that he had purchased to William Holland in 1796. Whether he and Sarah actually lived there is an open question. The bright blue large tract owned by Joseph Adair is that of Joseph Adair Sr. wife Sarah Laferty. There may be additonal properties of Joseph Adair and Sarah, but I have not placed them yet. There are a number of Joseph Adair properties in which I don't have a reliable spouse name. As always there is more work to be done."

 From Lee Adair 16 Oct 2005 with more on the specific James Adair plat just above Joseph Adair, the cooper, who gave part of his land to Joseph his son who married Sarah ___ : "The property description for the James Adair plat that I sent is as follows:
 SC Memorial Book 13, p. 230. 2 Jan 1775. James Adair, Sr., a Memorial on 200 acres in 96 Distr. on Duncins (sic) Creek between Broad and Saludy Rivers, bounded W on John Brotherton; NW on James Montgomery, NW on John McCrary; NW on John Adair; SE on Saml. Ewing. Survey certified 3 Jun 1773; granted 11 Aug 1774. Quit rent in 2 years. John Rodgers, DS. Delivered 14 Aug 1775 to James Adair.
 150 acres of this property was later sold to John Jones (wife Hannah) in 1784.
 The date alone suggests that this is most likely James Adair, wife Eleanor, and this is

confirmed by the following two deed book entries:

 Laurens Co. Deed Book F, p. 10. 24 Feb 1784. James Adair Senior and wife Eleanor to John Jones blacksmith 150 acres.) Witnesses: James Adair sadler, James Adair Jr., James Miller, Roger Brown.
 We know that this is part of the 200 acre James Adair grant because of the following:
 Laurens Co. Deed Book F, p. 8. 1 Aug 1795. Hannah Jones (widow of John Jones) & son William Jones to John Craig, 50 acres on Duncan Creek, part of 200 acre grant to James Adair Sr. 11 Aug 1774 (150 acres conveyed in by sd J.A and Eleanor in 1784 to John Jones). Bordering properties: John Montgomery, Alexander Fillson, John Owens.
 I have attached a zoomed out version of the Duncan Creek plat area."

BIOGRAPHY: 1. Typescript “Early Adairs of Laurens County, South Carolina.” Compiled by Mildred Brownlee; Source Records: Wills; Intestate Estates; Deeds; Court Records; Cemetery Inscriptions. Some dates of birth and death obtained from Lineage Charts. Dates of birth and death subject to correction. Spelling of names subject to correction. [Note that bracketed comments are later additions by other reviewers including myself - Kerry Petersen.]

 "No legal document has been located to prove unquestionably that James Adair (1752-1818) who married Hannah was the son of James Adair, Sr., cooper, and his wife, Eleanor; however, there are a number of records to support the theory.
 The first record of James Adair, son of James, is the Col. James Williams petition of 1780. It is reasonable to think that signers of the petition would have been at least 16 years of age, thus, born by 1764 or before. James Adair, son of Joseph Adair, Sr., cooper, was born 1747 and would have been age 17 in 1764, hardly or an age to have had a son, James, born in 1764 or before. In 1780, there is record of no James Adair, other than James Adair, Sr., cooper, who was living in the Duncan Creek area and was old enough to have had a son, James, born 1764 or before.
 Laurens County Court Minutes of 1785 mention that James Adair, son of James, was appointed road overseer. A person appointed to this responsible position would surely have been age 21 or older--again. born by 1764 or before.
 The names James and Eleanor appear frequently in succeeding generations of the family of James Adair (1752-1818) and his wife, Hannah. Given the preceding fact, a logical conclusion is that James Adair (wife, Hannah) was a son of James Adair, Jr. and his wife, Eleanor.
 Deed Bk, D, p. 207 - 6 Feb. 1792, William Price and wife, Margaret, to James Adair, son of James Adair, 50 a. on Allisons Creek of Duncan Creek, adj. Thomas Allison, Sr. Wit: Margaret Jewel, Eleanor Adair.
 Deed Bk. H. p. 20 - 26 Dec. 1803, George Liaison (Livingston) to James Adair, 100 a. on Duncan Creek, bound when granted NE on Josiah Greer; SW on Thomas Ellison, other sides vacant... tract originally granted to James Hanna, 12 Jan. 1769, Bk. EEE... Wit. John Puckett. John Hanna. Dower release: Martha (X her mark) Liaison.
 Deed Bk. H, p. 249 - 14 Mar. 1807, James Adair, Sr., to son James Adair, Jr., 100 a. on Duncan Creek, originally granted 12 Jan. 1769 to James Hanna, adj. then on Josiah Greer & Thomas Ellison; except 3 a. of bottom ground which I have cleared off on the aforesaid tract, which 3 a. I reserve to myself and my heirs. Wit: Manassah Finney, Robert F. Adair.
 Deed Bk. K, p. 65 - 11 Jan. 1814, Jacob Miller to James Adair, Sr., 100 a. an original grant to said Jacob Miller & James Templeton on Millar's Fork, waters of Duncan Creek, adj. Wm. Taylor, Basil Holland. Wit: Simon Reeder, Alexander Walkerton. Dower release: Sarah (x her mark) Miller.
 Other land in the adjacent area was purchased by James Adair, Sr. as will be seen by later deeds, he was born 15 May 1752. died 18 Aug. 1818, intestate.
 Deed Book M. pp. 77-78 - State of South Carolina, Laurens District - Whereas James Adair, Senr, of this District departed this life in the month of August 1818 and at the time of his death was possessed of a personal estate, consisting of negroes, horses, cows, hogs, sheep, waggon, household and kitchen furniture, corn, fodder. cotton and various other property not mentioned, all of which he was possessed of at the time of his death, and leaving a widow Hannah Adair and seven children, also four children of Elizabeth Parlmore (Palmer) in the right of their mother, to wit. John Prather in the right of his wife Mary; Nelly Ramage (a widow); James Adair, Jr., Reuben Meadors in the right of his wife Hannah; Wm. Cassels in the right of his wife Susannah, Willis Langston in the right of his wife Nancy; Wm. Gamble in the right of his wife Martha,all of which are entitled to distributive shares of the said James Adair's estate, that is to say, Hannah. the widow of James Adair, dec’d, is to have one third part of sd. after payment of all just debts and other lawfull expenses that may accrue at the intended sale..and the remainder of said estate to be equally divided between the eight children of the sd. James Adair..the four children of Elizabeth Palmore to have their mothers part equally divided between them, share and share alike..Now for the better distribution and equal division of said estate we, Hannah Adair the wife of James Adair decd., John Prather, Nelly Ramage, James Adair, Reuben Meadors, Wm. Cassels, Willis Langston, and Wm. Gamble do agree to sell the estate before described on a credit untill the first day of January 1820 and to divide the proceeds thereof as before directed. Now know all by these presents that we Hannah Adair, John Prather, Nelly Ramage, and James Adair, Junr., Reuben Meadors, William Cassels, Willis Langston and William Gamble, are held and firmly bound unto each other in the following sums, that is Hannah Adair in the sum of three thousand dollars, John Prather in the sum of one thousand five hundred dollars, Nelly Ramage in the sum of fifteen hundred dollars, James Adair in the sum of fifteen hundred dollars, Reuben Meadors in the sum of fifteen hundred dollars, William Cassels in the sum of fifteen hundred dollars, Willis Langston in the sum of fifteen hundred dollars, and William Gamble in the sum of fifteen hundred dollars, to which payment well and truly to be made and done, we bind ourselves, our heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns, firmly by these presents in witness whereof we have set our hands and seals this twenty sixth of October 1818. Now the condition of the above obligation is such that if we Hannah Adair, John Prather. Nelly Ramage, James Adair, Reuben Meadors, Wm. Cassels, and Willis Langston and William Gamble, stand to keep and perform the foregoing intact by selling the before mentioned estate on a credit untill the first day of January 1820. After giving legal notice of the intended sale, and to give a Bill of Sale to such persons as may purchase at the intended sale, then after payment all just debts of sd. estate as well as expenses that may accrue thereon, and the proceeds to be divided according (to the) foregoing agreement then the above obligation to be void or else to remain in full force and virtue. Witness our hands and seals this day above written.

William Cassels Hannah ( X) Adair Simon Reeder Willis Langston John Prateor John L. Abell William Gamble Elenor (X) Ramage James Adaire Reuben Meadors South Carolina ) Laurens District) Personally came before me John L. Able and made oath that he was present & saw Hannah Adair, John Prather, Elenor Ramage, James Adair, Reuben Meadors, William Cassels, Willis Langston, and William Gamble sign, seal, and deliver the within instrument of writing for the uses and purposes therein contained & that he subscribed his name as a witness thereto was present and saw Simon Reeder subscribe his name as a witness to the same. Sworn to before me this 20th Jany, 1829. W.E. Lynch. J.P. J.L. Abell A true record of the original 22nd Jany. 1829. John Garlington. R.M.C.

 The above agreement regarding the personal property of James Adair, decd. was drawn up a short time after his death; however, it was not recorded until after the death of Hannah Adair. Nothing was done about the real estate of James Adair, decd. until a court action was brought sometime in 1819 by William Cassels & wife regarding partition and division. The land was then exposed to public sale.
 Deed Bk. K. p. 316 - 3 Jan. 1820, Samuel Downs, Sheriff of Laurens Dist., to Benjamin Adair for $175 highest bid, 100 a. on waters of Duncan Creek, adj. Wm. Taylor, Basil Holland, Jacob Miller, sold for Judgement in court petition of Wm. Cassels & wife vs. James Adair, dec'd, etal. Wit: J.H. Irby, John B. Griffin. (This was the tract sold to James Adair, Sr. in 1814 by Jacob Miller. See Deed Bk. K, p. 65.)
 Deed Bk. L, p.78 - 3 Jan. 1820. Samuel Downs, Sheriff of Laurens Distr. to Hannah Adair. By virtue of a writ of partition from the Court of Common Pleas in which Wm. Cassels, etal, were plaintiffs for the purpose of obtaining a partition & division of a certain tract of land sheriff exposed to sale and sold to highest bidder; Hannah Adair, for the sum of $985, 224 a. on waters of Duncan Creek adj. Thos. McCreary, John Abell and Wm. Copeland, a tract formerly owned by James Adair, Sr., decd. at the time of his death. Wit: Patillo Farrow, Wm. Taylor.
 Deed Bk. L. p. 36  - 30 July 1821, Hannah Adair to James Adair for $657, 224 a. whereon I now reside, adj. Thos. McCrary, Wm. Copeland, Thos. Beasley, John Abell, sd. James Adair & John Bryan, subject, nevertheless, to my life estate in that part of land lying on the S side of Allison Creek, being the part whereon the dwelling house now stance. Wit: R. Creswell, J.B. Kennedy. (This was the land Hannah bought from the Sheriff.)
 In the Court of Equity, 1821 - Reuben Meadors & wife Hannah vs. heirs of James Adair, Sr., dec’d. Petitioners state that James Adair, Sr. died in 1818, leaving a widow, Hannah Adair & the following children: Mary wife of John Prator; Nelly Ramage; James Adair, Jr.; Susannah wife of Wm. Cassels; Nancy wife of Willis Langston; Martha wife of Wm, Gamble; & Hannah wife of Reuben Meadors.
 That James Adair, Jr. received from his father in his lifetime a tract of land worth $600 and an advancement of personal property; that the other legatees received from their father at the time of their marriages quantities of personal property, except the petitioners who received only a horse worth $40, a cow & calf worth $10, a bed & furniture worth $20. Petitioners seek an accounting of the sale of the real & personal property & equal distribution of the proceeds.
 Affidavit of James Adair, Jr, states that in the lifetime of his father, he received 100 a. on Duncan Creek. adj. when granted NE on Josiah Greer, SW on Thos. Ellison, other sides vacant, the whole of a tract originally granted to James Hannah.
 A copy of the deed was submitted as recorded in Deed Bk. H, p. 249.
 (Records as to resolution of the suit were not included.)
 Hannah Adair, b. 20 Sept. 1750, d. 10 Nov. 1826. The will of Hannah was written 25 Oct. 1826. Among the loose estate papers are statements that the will was written by (?) Kennedy; that Hannah was 70-80 years old; that Robert Long made the coffin; that Wm. Gamble contested the will. Will was admitted to probate 4 Dec. 1826.
 The parents of Hannah Adair are not known.
 WILL OF HANNAH ADAIR

In the name of God, Amen. I Hannah ADAIR, being in a low and afflicted state; and calling to mind the frailly and mortality of us may think proper, do make and constitute the following my last will and testament. I commend my soul and body into the merciful hands of that God from whom I received them, trusting in him to save through the merit of his son Jesus Christ. It is my desire that my heirs bury my body in a decent Christian manner, hoping and believing God will raise it at the great resurrection day. It is my will after the following sums are paid to some of my grand children, to wit, to Patsey GAMBLE, the sum of fifty dollars to be paid to her when she comes of age. To Jinny BEAVERS one cow and calf, and to all the rest of my grand children whose parents are now dead the sum of one dollar. Then all the rest of my property consisting of negros stock and household furniture to be sold and equally divided among my living children viz Elenor RAMAGE, James ADAIR, Hannah MEDDORS, Susannah CASTLES, Nancy LANGSTON , with all the money I may leave and debts due to me on note or otherwise to be equally divided among the above mentioned children, with crop or any other property belonging to me I wish Susannah CASTLES part to be given to herself for the use of her children. It is not my will that William CASTLES should have any management of it, but that it should be the property of my daughter Susannah and her children after her. And I do hereby constitute my son James ADAIR as my executor to put this my will into affect. And I do hereby certify and declare this to be my last will and testament, given under my hand and seal this twenty fifth day of October, and in the year of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, one thousand eight hunderd and twenty six and in the fiftieth year of the Independence of the United States of America. Signed in presence of us her Thomas S. Leak Hannah (X) Adair (SEAL) Isham Milam mark Susannah Prater Recorded in Book F, Page 65. Recorded date not available. Proven date December 4th, 1826. Bundle 3, Package 9.

 Children of James and Hannah Adair - 8 in number:
    1. Elizabeth Adair, date or birth unknown; she died before her father.  Name of her husband not given but is thought to have been James Palmer who died in 1826.  His estate was administered by Henry McKelvey with David Gamble and Wm. Copeland, sureties.  Estate appraisal was made by Wm. Gamble, Reuben Meadors and James Adair.  Names and dates of birth of the Palmer children not known. [NB: one of them was most likely Virginia (Jinny) Palmer who m. William Langley Bevis].
    2. Mary Adair, b. c1771 - mar. John Prather.  Their chn:

Hannah Prather - mar. Joseph Dollar. Linny Prather - mar. William Dollar. Archibald Prather - mar. his cousin, Susannah Meadors. Martha Prather

                               Betsy? or Priscilla? Prather  mar. Daniel Owens. (Daniel Owens thought to have been from Newberry Co.  Daniel Owens, son of John Owens and Mary Long of Duncan Creek community died single in 1811.)

James Prather Mary(Polly) Prather - b. 1808 Bryce Prather - b. 1810 Elinor (Nelly) Prather - b. 1813

    3. Eleanor(Nelly) Adair, b. 2 Jan. 1774 - mar. Benjamin Ramage.

Benjamin Ramage John Jewell Ramage, b. 14 Mar. 1801-mar. Nancy Weyman Adair. Washington Ramage, b. c1810 -mar. Sarah Ann Wilson - Ala.

    4. James Adair, Jr., b. 15 Oct. 1781 - mar. Delilah Holland.

Nancy Weyman Adair, b. 5 Nov. 1805 -mar. Jno. Jewell Ramage. Robert James Adair, b. 2 June 1807 - mar. Sarah Jacks. Elizabeth Adair, b. 17 June 1810 - d. 17 Oct. 1823. Edmond Adair, b. 18 Oct. 1814 - mar. Susan Dillard. Hannah Adair, b. 7 Nov. 1816 mar. Matthew Simpson. Isaac Adair, b. 21 July 1818 - mar. Sarah Dillard. James Henry Adair, b. 4 Aug. 1820 - mar. Elizabeth Pitts. William H. Adair, b. 31 Oct. 1822 - d. 6 Oct. 1844.

    5. Hannah Adair, b. Sept. 1784 - mar. Reuben Meadors.

Susannah Meadors - mar. her cousin Archibald Prather. Paschal Motley Meadors, b. 18 Jan. 1808-mar. Sarah Ann Miller. Oney Meadors, b. 21 Sept. 1809-mar. James M. Braddock. Mary(Polly) Meadors -mar. Pearson Martha Meadors, died Nov. 1856, in her 33rd. year, mar. Lemuel Oxner.

                               Reuben Byrum Meadors, died 25 Apr. 1848 in his 24th year, mar. J. Eunice Richey.  Their dau. Elizabeth, mar. D..P. Buzzard.
                               James Adair Meadors, b. 15 Oct. 1824, mar. (1) Mary Susan McKittrick, (2) Margaret Adeline Hudgens.

?Ann Meadors, died young?

    6. Susannah Adair mar. William Cassels.  NFI
    7. Nancy Adair mar. Willis Langston.	NFI
    8. Martha Adair mar. William Gamble.     NFI"

2. American Revolutionary War Stories involving Mangum and Adair Families in Laurens County Area of South Carolina:

 In John Mangum the Patriot’s application for his American Rev. War pension, he mentions serving with several of the following commanders. He specifically states he was with Col. Joseph Hayes when he was killed and that he received a wound under the hands of the Tory leader William Cunningham aka “Bloody Bill.” The following accounts help understand John’s and the Adair family’s patriotic commitment and puts some flesh to names. See separate notes in the Adair family notes for John Mangum’s Adair family comrades in arms who signed the James Williams Petition which would mean that the Adair and Mangum families probably first came in contact both knowing and serving under James Williams. Both modern Laurens and adjoining Newberry Counties were in the old District Ninety Six of South Carolina.
 a.  “A Laurens County Sketchbook,” by Julian Stevenson Bolick, FHL book 975.731-H2b, p. 9, in speaking of the American Revolutionary War:  “The people, cut off as they were from the coast and seat of government [kp note: at Charles Town or Charleston as it was later known], were not aware of the many grievances of the colonists toward the mother country. Naturally, in the months to follow, many of the Up Country people remained loyal to England, and particularly those who had been given large grants by the king. These people became known as Tories, and a gentleman’s agreement was reached among some of the colonists whereby the Tories in the Carolina "Back Country" should remain in a state of neutrality. Since this agreement was made without the knowledge of Robert Cunningham, a man of high esteem and immense influence among his neighbors in Ninety Six District, he did not feel bound by the agreement. Thus, he continued to urge opposition to the revolutionary movement to the point of being apprehended on an occasion by a group of men dressed as Indians. Learning of Robert’s proposed confinement in Charles Town, his brother Patrick gathered a body of friends and set out

in pursuit of the group. The pursuers failed to overtake the first group, but Patrick and his men learned of, and captured, 1000 pounds of powder being sent as a present to the Cherokee Indians by the governor. Because of the proximity of the Cherokees, it was customary to make gifts from time to time to the Cherokee Nation to encourage friendship. An amount of gunpowder, included with cloth and trinkets, was intended to be only enough to meet the Indians’ needs for hunting, and not a sufficient quantity to incite them to attack the settlers...

 “Unbiased recounting of history must include here the distatasteful authority and influence exerted by two Tory leaders over their followers in dealing with their enemies, the Whigs [kp note: pro-revolution]. The two ‘Bloody Bills’, William Bates and William Cunningham, headed the list of atrocities... Cunningham... belonged to one of the best families in the province. A cousin of Robert and Patrick Cunningham, Bill was the only member of the family to depart from its high standard of chivalry and honor... William was a Whig at the beginning of the struggle... William was ordered to the Low Country, was whipped for some minor offense and was placed in chains. His work of pillage and murder apparently was a retributive vengeance on those who had wronged him, especially his former commander in arms.
 “So, the good citizens and the bad citizens were divided in their partisanship. Before the end of hostilities, the great plantations where

hospitality had been dispensed in generous and gracious manner were closed to friendship because of divided loyalties and sympathies. These homes included White Hall, home of Andrew Williamson; Rosemont and Peach Hill, Cunningham seats and Mount Pleasant, owned by James Williams. In many cases, animosity continued. In the election of 1778, Colonel Williams and Cunningham engaged in gentlemanly fisticuffs, in which the wife of the Colonel seized Cunningham by his queue before friends could come between them. The fact that Cunningham was elected to office was evidence of the strong Tory influence in the district. It will be recollected here that Robert Cunningham had been arrested by Colonel James Williams in 1775 and sent to Charles Town, where he refused to recognize the authority of the Provincial Congress. His arrest created indignation in the “Back Country”, and three years later his friends gave full support to his candidacy.

 “Logan’s History of the ‘Upper Country of South Carolina’ characterizes this area as ‘the classic ground of the American Revolution,’ but it is difficult to locate exact spots of skirmishes occurring with the confines of the present county of Laurens. Meager records show that one encounter took place on the banks of Rabun Creek. While the armed forces on the coast had been occupied with the defense of Fort Moultrie, the western frontier of the state had become ablaze with Indians on the warpath [kp note: the neutrality of the Indians was broken when the British and their allies could use strong persuasion]. Inhabitants along the Saluda River had taken refuge in an old fort known as Lyndley’s, located on Rabun Creek. Early morning of July 15, 1776, 88 Indians and 102 white men attacked the safety station. Major

Jonathan Downes with 150 men had arrived at the station the evening before. The latter were on a mission to join forces with Major Williamson in an effort to suppress the Indians who erroneously had been told that their gift of gunpowder and lead captured so recently would be used by the Whigs to kill them. The attack on the fort was repulsed and thirteen prisoners, all whites dressed as Indians, were sent to Ninety Six for confinement.

 "On another occasion, Major Downes, commanding a small force of Whigs, happened to come upon an armed aggregation of Indians in the Scuffletown area. Tradition says that the Major overcame the Indian chief in a hand-to-hand fight, and that he took off his suspenders, tied the Indian’s hands behind his back and left the fighting field with the captured chieftain astride Downes’ horse.
 “In August of 1780, the Battle of Musgrove’s Mill was fought about twelve miles north of the present city of Laurens on the Enoree River. Major Downes again served gallantly; in this encounter was, also, Colonel Joseph Hayes, who was among those massacred at Hayes Station the following year. In the home of Major Edward Musgrove a garrison of 500 British troops maintained headquarters,. They were regimented soldiers retrained by platoons. The Major, too old for active duty, remained neutral in his sympathies; but his family took a very active part with sons fighting on both sides. On that August day the Whigs took up position within one mile of the mill and were in the process of planning an attack when a skirmish between a British patrol and a Whig reconnaissance group brought the entire British garrison to the scene. Young Captain Shadrack Inman asked permission to take 25 men and act as a decoy to draw the Tories into a three-pronged trap formed by force commanded by Colonel Isaac Shelby on the right, Colonel Elijah Clarke on the left and Colonel James Williams in the center. Shadrack Inman was shot seven times following the retreating British. A simple stone marks the

spot where he fell.

 “The battle is said to have been one of the hardest ever fought in the county with small arms alone ‘...the smoke so thick as to hide a man at a distance of twenty rods. With the aid of Tories, the British had hoped for a quick victory in the South; instead they suffered heavy losses and their strength in South Carolina’s Up Country had been badly shaken.
 “November, 1781, will be remembered as a month of terror for the Whigs and their families in the Ninety Six District at the hands of William Cunningham, who had left Charles Town in August for the purpose of inflicting punishment on the Whigs. Crossing Saluda River, ‘Bloody Bill’ and his band of 300 ruthless followers attacked Hayes Inn, a station which before had been known as Edge Hill, on the stagecoach route through this part of the Up Country. The exact date of this attack is not known, but McCrady in his ‘History of South Carolina in the Revolution’ traces the movements of the group of Tories. On November 7, 1781 thirty Whigs had taken refuge in an unfinished log house without door or windows on a small stream called Cloud’s Creek in Edgefield County. Two of the thirty escaped, the

rest being slaughtered after they had surrendered. Mr. McCrady states ‘it was a fine morning after the massacre at Cloud’s Creek, when at ten o’clock a party led by John Hood rode up to the station (Edge Hill) at full gallop...’ Hayes Inn was burned by shooting out of a musket a ramrod tipped with flax, saturated in tar and set afire. The flaming roof caused suffocation and terror among those inside. “Captain Daniel Williams, with a group of patriots, had rested overnight at the inn. The Captain, only eighteen years of age, and Colonel Joseph Hayes, owner and operator of the inn, were promptly hanged from a pole of the fodder stack. The pole broke; and Cunningham, continuing the cruelty with gave him the name ‘Bloody Bill,’ cut the half strangled men to pieces with his sword. The encounter is recorded as ‘Hayes Station Massacre,’ a terrifying experience related by the one survivor...

 “It was such odious treatment of human beings that prompted General Nathanael Greene of the Whig side to make the following declaration: ‘The inhabitants hunt one another like wild beasts. If a stop cannot be put to these massacres, the country will be depopulated in a few more months, as neither Whig nor Tory can live.” In the District of Ninety Six alone, there were 1400 hundred widows and orphans as a result of the war.”

3. James Williams Petition:

 James Williams Petition listing the Adair family Patriots Note that Thomas[Jefferson] Adair [Sr.]’s parents are the one listed as number 4 (Joseph and Sarah) and his grandparents are number 3 (James and Eleanor). Most of the other Adairs were brothers or cousins (that someday will be the subject of different email). James and Eleanor are the earliest ancestors we can attest to and any earlier Adairs are only wishful thinking without documentation: From Mildred Brownlee’s manuscript “Early Adairs of Laurens County, South Carolina. James Williams was one of the most renown Patriots of the Laurens area and this listing of signers of the petition of the area gives: “James

Williams Petition.” Typescript of Item #5767, Manuscript Dept., Wm. M. Perkins Library at Duke University, Durham NC. Submitted by Mrs. Mary Ann McCrary and published with permission of the Manuscript Dept. This petition pre-dates the Battle of Kings Mountain (7 Oct 1780), as Col. James Williams was killed at that time. [NB: a second version of the petition was located in the South Caroliniana Library in 1999 and the gaps in the Duke University petition were filled in as indicated by brackets. The names: John Hewston and his son John Jr., suggest that this petition was from Spartanburg Co.]

 "To his Excellen[cy John Rutledge, E]sq. Governor & Commander in Chief in & [over th]e state of South Carolina, the Honourable the privy Counsel, the Honourable the Senate & House of Representatives in General Assembly.
 Whereas we (the zealous friends to our country, and to all who love and distinguish themselves in her cause) do understand & are exceeding sorry to hear that there are false & [evilly designing] Accusations either lying on or about to shortly be laid against James Williams, our present Colonel in & over Little River Regiment, and designed (as we believe) by the private Enemies of our country to deprive us of so worthy a friend of his Country in general a good officer to us in particular & thereby do a very singular Piece of Service to the common enemies of America. We do briefly & anxiously remonstrate this: that we experimentally know Colo. James Williams to have been a zealous Patriot from the commencement of the America contest with Briten; and to have always stood foremost in every occasion when called upon to the defence of his country. We do further declare that we have never known said Colo. [Jas.].Williams to distress any individuals in the Regiment who voluntarily & judiciously, when legally called upon and commanded to the field, have turned out in the Defence if their Native Rights & Privileges together with that of their Country; & we do avow it from our knowledge, that whensoever Colo. Jas. Williams either directly or indirectly executed any distressing things, it was upon the stubborn & refractory, whose practices of obstinacy declare them inimical to their country: & and that this he did, as being last promissing Effort to reduce them to the dutiful obedience of loyal & fellow citizens. Without delaying you; we your humble Petitioners do earnestly beg that you will hear this our faithful Remonstrance & proceed with our respected Colo. James Williams & all such unjust & disaffected Clamours as may come before you against him, as your superior Judgements may direct: only begging leave to conclude with this one Remark, that doubtless you know that such clamours are frequently the necessary Effect of Disaffection to the Country.

Robt. McCrery Lt. Colo. Josiah Greer Henry Atwood Thomas Ewing George Davis, Capt. Joseph Ramage James Adair, Sener William Blake Matthew McCrary, Lieut. John Robinson Joseph Adair Juner James Gamble Geogre Young John Bourland Joseph Adair Matthew Cunningham John Greer Juner Benjamin Adair Andrew McCrary Isaac Adair Joseph Adair Sener James Greer Jms. Adair James Adair Junr., son of JamesSUGGESTED IDENTIFICATION OF THE ADAIRS WHO SIGNED THIS PETITION: 1. Isaac Adair - Killed in Apr. 178l, left widow, Ruth. 2. Jms. Adair - b. 1747, son of' Joseph Adair, Sr.; mar. Rebecca Montgomery. 3. James Adair, Sr. - died before 1796; wife, Eleanor. 4. Joseph Adair, Jr. - Son of above James & Eleanor; wife Sarah. 5. Joseph Adair - died 1812; son of Joseph Adair, Sr. 6. Benjamin Adair - died 1823; son of Joseph Adair, Sr.; wife Nancy. 7. Joseph Adair, Sr. - died 1789-90; wife: Susannah. 8. James Adair, Jr., son of James - son of James Adair & wife Eleanor; died 1818, wife Hannah. 9. William Adair - died 1780-84. Estate administered 1784, Abbe. Wills, p. 10. 10. John Adair - died 1813 in Ga., wife Jane; son of Joseph Adair; grandson of Joseph Adair, Sr. 11. John Adair, Sr. - Killed in 1782, wife Sarah. Abbe. Wills, p. 10. Probable son of Joseph Adair, Sr. [Kerry's note: or maybe James Adair, Sr. 12. Alexander Adair - Scotch-Irish immigrant in 1767? See Protestant Immigrants to SC-Janie Revill, p. 74.

BURIAL: 1. Per http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Valley/9708/dcem.html, there is a listing in the Duncan Creek Presbyterian Church cemetery that reads:

 "ADAIR, James (First Settler) , May 15, 1752 - Aug 18, 1818."
 "ADAIR, Hannah, wife of James Adair, Sr., Sept. 28, 1750 - Nov. 10, 1826."

!ORDINANCES: Verified 4 Oct 2005. BAPTISM: ENDOWMENT: SEALING TO PARENTS: SEALING TO SPOUSE: Online Ordinance Index.

1. ↑ GEDCOM file submitted by Kerry Peterson, [email protected]. Created on 28 Oct 2005. Imported on 29 Oct 2005..
2. ↑ GEDCOM file submitted by Kerry Peterson, [email protected]. Created on 28 Oct 2005. Imported on 29 Oct 2005..
3. ↑ GEDCOM file submitted by Kerry Peterson, [email protected]. Created on 28 Oct 2005. Imported on 29 Oct 2005..
4.   GEDCOM file submitted by Kerry Peterson, [email protected]. Created on 28 Oct 2005. Imported on 29 Oct 2005..
5. ↑ Buried in the Duncan Creek Presbyterian Church Cemetery.