Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy

James Adair

Male Abt 1748 - 1818  (~ 70 years)


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  • Name James Adair 
    Born Abt 1748  Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Died 18 Aug 1818  Duncan Creek, Laurens, South Carolina, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Buried Duncan Creek Cemetery, Duncan Creek, Laurens, South Carolina, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I3712  Petersen-de Lanskoy
    Last Modified 27 May 2021 

    Father James Adair,   b. Abt 1714, of, County Antrim, Ireland Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. From 25 Feb 1784 to 12 Feb 1796, of, Laurens, South Carolina, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 70 years) 
    Mother Eleanor,   b. Abt 1726, Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Aft 7 Jan 1803, of Duncan Creek, Laurens, South Carolina, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 77 years) 
    Married Abt 1744  Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F1142  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Hannah,   b. 28 Sep 1750, of, Laurens, South Carolina, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 10 Nov 1826, Duncan Creek, Laurens, South Carolina, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 76 years) 
    Married Bef 1771  of Duncan Creek, Laurens, South Carolina, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
     1. Mary Adair,   b. Abt 1771, of Duncan Creek, Laurens, South Carolina, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Bef 25 Oct 1826, of, Laurens, South Carolina, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 55 years)
     2. Eleanor or Nelly Adair,   b. 2 Jan 1774, of Duncan Creek, Laurens, South Carolina, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1845, Clinton, Laurens, South Carolina, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 70 years)
     3. Elizabeth Adair,   b. of Duncan Creek, Laurens, South Carolina, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Bef Aug 1818, of, Laurens, South Carolina, United States Find all individuals with events at this location
     4. James S. Adair,   b. 15 Oct 1781, of, Laurens, South Carolina, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 6 Jun 1862, of, Laurens, South Carolina, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 80 years)
     5. Hannah Adair,   b. Sep 1784, of, Laurens, South Carolina, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 31 Oct 1866, Laurens, South Carolina, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 82 years)
     6. Susannah Adair,   b. of Duncan Creek, Laurens, South Carolina, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Aft 25 Oct 1826
     7. Nancy Adair,   b. Abt 11 Sep 1791, of Duncan Creek, Laurens, South Carolina, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Abt 20 Mar 1869, of Trion, Chattooga, Georgia, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 77 years)
     8. Martha Adair,   b. Bef 1800, of Duncan Creek, Laurens, South Carolina, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. From 1819 to 1820, of, Laurens, South Carolina, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age > 19 years)
    Last Modified 28 May 2021 
    Family ID F1836  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • RESEARCH_NOTES:
      1. The following genealogical summary of the family of James Adair was provided to me from Shawn Potter Aug 2015. Shawn and his wife Lois are the authors of a book to be published sometime in the future entitiled "Chickasaw Wife and Family of James Adair, Author of the History of the American Indians." The book uses extensive historical documentation and modern DNA analysis to assemble the following family. I provide only a summary of the family and the book should be consulted for the footnotes, more detail, and evidence which all support the following conclusions. (If you are a descendent of this family, Shawn would appreciate your contacting him if you are willing to submit your DNA test results as part of the study upon which the book will be based.) The summary:
      "James Adair was born probably in Ireland say about 1714. He immigrated to America before 1735. James married Eleanor of the Chickasaw Nation in about 1744. Eleanor was born in the Chickasaw Nation say about 1726. She was a member of the Panther clan. James died probably in Laurens County, South Carolina, after 25 Feb 1784 and before 12 Feb 1796. Eleanor died probably in Laurens County after 3 Jan 1803. James and Eleanor were the parents of the following children:
      1. James Adair, Jr., was born in the Chickasaw Nation say about 1748. He married Hannah probably in Laurens County say about 1772. Hannah was born probably in Laurens County on 28 Sep 1750. James died in Laurens County on 18 Aug 1818. Hannah died in Laurens County on 10 Nov 1826.
      2. Joseph Adair was born in the Chickasaw Nation say about 1750. He married Sarah probably in Laurens County say about 1776. Joseph died perhaps in Laurens County after 5 Feb 1804.
      3. John Adair was born in the Chickasaw Nation say about 1754. He married first Ga-Ho-Ga of the Cherokee Nation probably in Laurens County say about 1780. Ga-Ho-Ga was born in the Cherokee Nation say about 1760. Ga-Ho-Ga died perhaps in Laurens County after 7 Feb 1789. John married second Jane Kilgore probably in Laurens County say about 1790. Jane was born probably in Laurens County say about 1773. John died in present-day Oconee County, South Carolina, after 4 Nov 1815 and before 4 Dec 1815. Jane died perhaps in present-day Oconee County after 4 Dec 1815.
      4. Edward Adair was born in the Chickasaw Nation say about 1756. He married first Margaret in Philadelphia on 7 Apr 1784. Edward married second Elizabeth Martin of the Cherokee Nation probably in the Cherokee Nation say about 1789. Elizabeth was born probably in the Cherokee Nation say about 1769. Edward died probably in present-day Oconee County after 3 Nov 1800. Elizabeth died probably in the Cherokee Nation after 13 Jul 1816.
      N.B. James and Eleanor had "children" in 1748; and a daughter lived in Georgia between 1788 and 1791."

      2. 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

      3. 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."

      4. Jett Hanna [jettplane@aol.com] 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.
      1.2.8.1 Patsey Gamble: LCW F/65."

      5. 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 and 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."

      6. From the Internet: "Stub Indents are another important resource. When South Carolina paid claims for goods, services, or damages from the Revolutionary War, they were paid with certificates called indents. Rather like stub checkbooks, the certificates were in two parts: one part was issued to the claimant as compensation; the other part was a stub on which pertinent information, such as the claimant's name, the nature of the claim, and the amount paid was recorded. The state retained the stub of the indents, and they are found at the South Carolina Department of Archives and History in Office of the Commissioners of the Treasury, Stub Indents and Indexes, 1779-1791, 22 vols."
      The following indents are for various Adairs and are from "Accounts Audited of Revolutionary Claims Against South Carolina," ed. by A.S. Salley, The Historical Commission of South Carolina, 1935, copy at FHL:
      a. Vol. 1, #20: No. 347 S; Alexander Adair; addressed to Charleston from Laurens Co. 3 Aug 1786. Alexander gives Robert Scott the power to receive the indent; subscribing witness was James Montgomery; rec'd. 14 Jun 1785. Based on militia duty as a private "before and since the reduction of Charlestown"; mentions Col. Anderson's return.
      b. Vol. 1, #21: No. 348 S; Benjamin Adair; dated 24 Mar 1785; subscribing witness was John Magee, received 14 Jun 1785; based on "a horse lost in public service in 1779"; no locality shown for Benjamin; mentions Col. Robert Anderson's return.
      c. Vol. 1, #22: No. 346 S; Isaac Adair; addressed 5 May 1785 from "Ninety Six District"; empowered Capt. James Dillard to receive payment; subscribing witness was James Montgomery; rec'd 14 Jun 1785; based on militia duty as a private "before and since the reduction of Charlestown"; mentions Col. Anderson's return.
      d. Vol. 1, #23: No. 350 S; James Adair; addressed 18 Sep 1785 from "Ninety Six District, Laurens Co."; empowered John Hunter, Esq. to receive payment; subscribing witness was James Montgomery; rec'd 14 Jun 1785; based on militia duty as a private "before and since the reduction of Charlestown" and as wagon master for Col. Ja's Williams from 29th Mar 1780 to 20 May for 52 day; mentions Col. Rob't Anderson's return.
      e. Vol. 1, #24: No. 340 W; James Adair, Junr; addressed 7 Sep 1783; received 8 Aug 1785; for "flour supplied the militia in 1783 also for recovery of Horses lost in 1779"; also mentions "flour for the use of the widows and distressed families in Col. Casey's Reg't"; also mentions "horses lost at Augusty [Augusta] under the Command of General Williamson 11 of may 1779"; subscribing witness was Robert Hanna.
      f. Vol. 1, #25: No. 1522 Y; James Adare, addressed 27 Jun 1787; based on "120 days Militia duty in Gen'l: Marion's Brigade in 1781, also for a Gun impressed; mentions Lt. Col. Hugh Horry.
      g. Vol. 1, #26: No. 349 S; John Adair; addressed 15 Sep 1785 from "96 District"; empowered John Hunter to receive payment; subscribing witness was James "Adear"; rec'd 14 Jun 1785; based on militia duty as a private "before and since the reduction of Charlestown"; mentions Col. Anderson's return.
      h. Vol. 1, #27: 1955 X; Joseph Adair; addressed 20 May 1785; empowered John Hunter to receive payment; subscribing witnesses included Robert Anderson, J.P., Col. Levi Casey, and Charles Saxon; based on "Joseph Addairs Commissary Commencing 20th of August 1781 and ending the 1sd of March 1782" including sundries, flour, Indian corn, fodder, "Rations and Necessarys for 2 Wounded Men belonging To Gen'l Greens Army 49 days," "1 Gun & Accoutements lost at Savannah," "Corn & Fodder for Col. Jones of Georgia," "Rations for 9 Horses of Capd. Mac bee Comp'y," "Oats for Col. Washington's Men," work with wagon and team.
      i. Vol. 1, #28: No. 106 I; William Adair; addressed 27 Jul 1783; several different men received endorsements in 1786 and 1787 including John Adair, Philip Hart, and John Lewis Gervais; based on service as adjutant for Col. Lacey's Regt. for 60 days June 18, 1780, and 30 days Feb. 12, 1781; subscribing witness was Joseph Palmer, J.P.
      Note also that John Adair shows up empowered to collect in behalf of William Kay and John Edward Auston. He also shows up as "John Adair, J.P." the subscribing witness of Ambros Ball.

      7. 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 [wadair1@tampabay.rr.com]: "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 additional 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."

      8. James Adair could be either the son of the original Joseph Adair the cooper or the son of the original James Adair the cooper. Laurens County Estate Book A-1:
      P. 7: "Will of Hanse Miller being sick and weak of body… 14 April 1788. Wit: Joseph Adair, Thomas Ewings, James Adair."
      Pp. 155-156: "An Inventory of the Goods and Chattles of William Price Decd. Total ₤ 101 11 8 certifyed 5 Nov 1796 by Joseph Adair, Thomas Gammel, Patrick O Briant. Memorandom of the goods and Chatles of Wm. Price decd sold at public Sale on 15 Nov 1796. Purchasers: Margret Price, Ruth Price, Sarah Price, Mary Cunningham, John Adair, William McCoy, William Barksdale, James Adair, Joseph Adair."
      Pp. 156-157: "A list of the Debts due the Estate of Matthew McCrery decd & now in the hands of Smauel Dellard, Admr. Samuel Dillard, Samuel Simpson, Benjamin Adair, John A. Elmore, James Dillard, Joseph Adair, Jesse Dodd, George Bush, Joseph Jeanes, Robert Scott, John Majors, James Ducket, Alie Whitmore, Thomas Elett, John Odle, George Bush, Nicholas Welch, John A. Elmore, Mary Baty, Daniel McCarty, Recd of Joseph Martindale, Paid Doctr Ross, John Boyce, Paid by order of Court for keeping the children for the year 1795. To 5 months duting and boarding one Boy child 10 years old. The same sum to be allowed for keeping one other boy child about 8 years old. 9 May 1796, before Joseph Downs, J.P."
      P. 315: "Sale bill of William Price, decd. Publick saile 15 November 1796. Buyers: Margaret Price, Mary Price, Ruth Price, Sarah Price, Mary Cunningham, James Adair, Wm. McCary, Wm. Barksdil, James Hudleston. A true copy form the original vandue list certified by James Cunningham."

      9. If this James is still alive at this date, the following James Adair Senr. could be this individual; alternatively, it could be the eldest of the two James of the second generation Laurens County Adairs – James (b. 1747) the son of the Joseph the cooper vs. James (b. 1752) the son of James the cooper. Laurens County Estate Book A-1, pp. 98-100: "An account of the sale of the Estate of Joseph Greer decd., 15 of August 1794; purchasers: Andrew McCrary, Joseph Greer, Joseph Adair, John Hansel, Saml McComuthey, Thos McCrary, Joseph Greer, Wm Hunter, John Login, John Elmore, Minasa Willson, Benj. Adair, Newton Higgins, John Grary, Robert Scott, John Owens, James Rammage, Hugh Skelton, Saml Bishop, James Dillard, John Rammage, James Dillard, Robert Grier, Bazzel Brater (cooper tooles), James Adair Senr., John Watson, Simon Tedford, Jonas Greer, J.A. Elmore, George Ross, Ben Adair, Joseph Parkes, Wm Price, Wm Gray, Robert Greer. Total ₤ 56 13 9."

      10. "South Carolina Magazine of Ancestral Research," vol. 15, pp. 164-168, "Some Jury Lists from Ninety Six District" lists a James Adair from the Laurens County subdivision of the District for 18 Apr 1798. There are several James Adairs at this time in the county and this individual may or may not be this person.

      11. "South Carolina Magazine of Ancestral Research," "Laurens District Coroner's Inquisitions 1802-1865," show James Adair, senior, as a juror. Being that the term "senior" was generally used for the oldest "James Adair" of the locality regardless of relationship, this James Adair of this database appears to be the most likely canditate of James still in the area:
      Vol. 25, pp. 22-23: "Inquest on the Body of John Rea. Filed 2nd Jany 1809. Laurens District - An Inquisition Indented taken at John Luks in the district aforesaid the twenty first day of november in the year 1808, before me Robert Long Esquire one of the Justices assigned to keep the peace in and for the said district (the Coroner being absent) upon the view of the body of John Rea of the district of Laurens aforesaid taylor, then and there Lying dead upon the oaths of William Craigg, James Howeton,Samuel Mcconokey, Patrick Scott, James Willson, David Graham, John Dilard, francis Bradock, James Adair senior, Thomas Mccrery, William Mcclure senior, Reuben Meddows, James Craig, David Templeton senior good and Lawful men of the said district who being charged and Sworn to enquire for the Said State, when, where, how, and after what manner the Said John Rea came to his death do Say upon their oathes that he aforesaid John Rea did come to his death By Intoxication... In witness whereof... the Jurors... put our hand and seal the day and year first above written. Robert Long J.P., Willam Craig, James (X) Howerton, Samuel Mconaky, Patrick Scott, James Willson, David Graham, John Dillard, Francis (X) Braddock, James Adair, Thomas Mccrary, William (X) McCluer, Reuben Meador, James Craig, David (X) Templeton."
      Vol. 25, p. 84: [Note: I suggest that Joseph Adair was probably the son of Joseph (the cooper) and Elizabeth Adair, the first James was their son, and the second James was probably the son of James(the cooper) and Eleanor Adair. "Inquest on the dead Body of Jack and African the property of Thomas McCrery... Filed 16 April 1810. Laurens District - An inquisition indented taken at Thomas McCrery's... the Sixth day of April in the year 1810, before me Robert Long one of the Justices assinged to keep the peace for the district aforesaid, upon the view of the Body of a Negro man named Jack... then and there lying Dead upon the Oaths of Joseph Adair, Josiah Williams, John Finney, Manaseh Finney, Abraham Holland, Richard Holland, George McCrery, John Weeks, James Adair son of Joseph, John Gamble, George Gamble and James Adair; good and lawful men of the said district... Say upon their oaths that Jack the Negro... with a Cord madeof cotton usually termed a plough Line... and there in his cabin with said rope Round his neck, double in the form of a noose and the other part tied round one of the ribs of the cabin aforesaid by which means he was strangled to death then and there Volontarily and feloniously as a felon ofeldid kill and Murder and hang himself against the peace of this State. Robert Long, J.P., Joseph Adair, Josiah Williams, John finney, Manasseh Finney, Abram Holland, Richard Holland, Geo. McCrery, John Weeks, James Adair, John Gamble, George Gamble, James Adair."
      Vol. 26, pp. 17-18 [I suggest that Thomas McCrary, Jr., is the husband of Cassandra Adair, Reuben Meadors is husband to Hannah Adair, James Adair Sr is probably the son of James and Eleanor Adair, and James Adair Jr is probably his son.]:"An Inquest on the Dead Body of a Negro man named Daniel the property of Reuben Meddows. Filed November 5th 1816. Laurens District - An Inquest taken at Reuben Meddows in the district of Laurens aforesaid the seventeenth day of September in the year 1816 before me Robert Long Esquire one of the Justices assigned to keep the peace in the district aforesaid... Daniel... Lying dead upon of the oaths of Jason Meddows, James Bonds, James Adair, senior, Thomas McCrery senior, Francis Braddock, Stephen Bradock, Joseph McConohey, James Adair junior, Joseph McCrery, Thomas McCrery junior, William Scott and John finney... Daniel, came to his death, do say upon their Oaths, that he came to his death by the visitation of God then and there to wit Reuben Meddows field aforesaid he died... In witness... Robt Long J.P., Jason Meador for., James (X) Bonds, James Adair, Thomas McCrary, Francis (X) Braddock, Stephen Bradock, Joseph Mcconathy, James adair junr., Joseph Mccrary, Thos McCrary Junr., William Scott, John finney."

      12. Excerpts of "Adairs" from the book "Laurens County South Carolina - Minutes of the County Court, 1786-1789," by Brent H. Holcomb, SCMar, Columbia, South Carolina, 2004. The book notes: "This is a record that has only been recently found after being lost for so many years. It is incomplete missing the first 54 pages, pages 103-126, and an unknown number of pages at the end of the volume. There is at least one other volume, still missing, covering the years 1790-1799."
      It also notes: "Laurens County was formed in 1785 as a county of Ninety Six District. In that year justices of the peace were elected by the General Assembly to be administrators of the county courts. Within the pages of these court minutes are small court cases, lists of deeds presented to be recorded, applications for administrations on estates and wills proved (beginning in 1787), jury lists, petitions of various kinds, appointments for various offices, apprenticeships, estray animals tolled, and other items. The cases heard for debt or damages could not exceed £50, and cases heard for personal damages could not exceed £20. Criminal cases heard could not call for the loss of life or corporal punishment. Larger court cases were heard in the district courts, such as Ninety-Six."
      The Adair records mention mainly James and Joseph Adair - the only problem was there were at least three Josephs and three James who were all adults at the same time as these court records. The two original brothers, James and Joseph Adair, both coopers by trade, arrived in the Laurens County area probably in the early 1760s. James was born ca 1715 and died in Laurens Co. sometime between 1784 and 1796. Joseph was born ca. 1718 and died after Jan 9, 1788 when his will was written. James had at least two sons who were alive in the time period of these court records: Joseph (ca. 1745 - ca. 1820) who married Sarah and James (1752-1818) who married Hannah. The other original brother, Joseph whose first wife was Sarah Lafferty and second wife Susannah Murdough, widow of Daniel Long, had at least three sons, Joseph (1735-1812), James (1747-1831) whose trade is noted as "saddler", and Benjamin (1752/1754-1823/1825). Generally speaking, the eldest living Adair of a given name was given the suffix of Sr. or no suffix at all while the younger Adairs were noted as Jr. or "son of" - in some cases an uncle could be a "Sr" and a nephew or cousin could be the "Jr." depending on age. As to which James and which Joseph are cited in the records below, they could be any of the above because there is no guarantee that the Court properly used Sr., Jr., or whatever. The citations could be a mix of all. The following are just the James Adair quotations:
      Pg. 63, 16 Mar 1786: "A Lease and Release for the Conveyance of 60 acres of Land from John Brotherton to James Adair Proven in open Court by the oath of Thomas Ewing & ordered to be Recorded."
      Pg. 68, 18 Mar 1786: James Adair was on a jury in the case of Robert McNees Plt vs. John Martin Deft concerning debt.
      Pg. 70, 18 Mar 1786: James Adair was on a jury in the case of George Caldwell Plt vs David Allison Deft concerning debt.
      Pg. 73, 18 Mar 1786: "James Adair Plt vs Thos Hughes and Charles Saxon Deft. In Debt. Came the Plt by James Yancey his Attorney and the Defts in their proper Person and Confessed Judgment for £1 s15 d10¼ sterl'g. Thereupon it is Considered by the Court that the Plt. recover against the s'd Defts his Debt aforesaid and his cost by him in this behalf Expended and the s'd Deft in Mercy &c."
      Clerk fees £ 11
      Sheriffs fees 3 6
      Attorney's fees 14
      £ 8 6
      Pg. 88,13 June 1786: "A Lease and release for the conveyance of 110 acres of land from Mary Hillon and John Hillon to James Adair proven in open court by the Oaths of George Ross and John Cammel & Ordered to be recorded."
      Pg. 88,13 June 1786: "A lease and release for the conveyance of 140 acres of land from Mary Hill and John Hillon to John Cammel proven in open court by the oaths of George Ross and James Adair & ordered to be recorded."
      Pg. 96, 16 June 1786: "James Adair vs Jonth'n Gilbert. Debt S.P. By Consent of the parties this suit is ordered to be Continued till next Court."
      Pg. 98, June 16, 1786: "James Adair vs Thos Persons. Attachment. Trover. This day came the Plaintiff by J. Yancey his Atty and the attachment being Returned Executed, and the Deft not Replevied by appearance or put in special bail tho solemnly called, on motion of the Plaintiff by his atty aforesaid it is ordered that Judgment be entered for the Plt for what damages he hath sustaind by Accation of the Trover & Convertion in the Declaration mentioned to be Inquired of by a Jury unless the Defendant shall appear and Plead to Issue at the next court." [Kerry's note: the case just before this was for exactly the same thing for James Montgomery vs Thos Persons.]
      Pg. 134, 14 Dec 1786: "David Wlch Plft. vs John Barnet Deft. In Debt. By consent of the Parties by their attys they have mutually submitted the Determination for this Suit to Nathan Barksdale, James Adair, and Charles Simmons and agreed that their award thereupon should be made the Judgement of the Court, which s'd aware was Ordered to be Returned into Court Immediately."
      Pp. 148-149, 13 Mar 1787: James Adair was sworn as Grand Juror for the county.
      Pg. 149, 13 Mar 1787: James Adair participated as a Grand Juror in the case State vs. Mansfield Walker and John Blackwell. Indictment for Sabbath braking.
      Pg. 152, 14 Mar 1787: "James Adair vs. Henry Johnston & David Simpson. By consent this suit is ordered to be dismist at Plfts. Cost."
      Pg. 159, 16 Mar 1787: "James Adair vs. Thomas Pearson. This day came the Plft by his Attys and the attachment being returned execution on 300 acres of land the Property of Deft and the said Deft not appearing to Replevy the same or Plead to the Plfts Declaration agreeable to a former Order of this Court, Therefore upon a Jury to wit [jury named]… upon their oaths do say that the Plft hath Sustained by accation of the Trespass in the Declaration mentioned, upon their oaths do say that the Plft hath Sustained Damages by accation thereof to £20 besides his cost, thereupon it was Considered by the Court that the Plft Recover against the s'd Deft his damages aforesaid in form aforesaid assest and his cost by him in this behalf Expended and the s'd Deft in Mercy &c." [Kerry's note: There were three exact same cases against Thomas Pearson with James Montgomery, James Adair, and Joseph Adair as individual plaintiffs with all three in sequence.]
      Pg. 165, 12 June 1787: "James Adair, son of James Adair, is appointed Overseer of that Part of the highway leading from Hughes's mill on Enoree and James Young's on Bush River in the room of Tho's Ewing. Ordered that he cause the free male inhabitants and slaves contiguous to and convenient to said road, to work thereon and to cause the same to be kept in repair for one year as the law directs."
      Pg. 215, 11 Mar 1788: "A power of Attes Adair acknowledged in Open Court and Ordered to be Recorded."
      Pg. 301, 12 Mar 1789: John D. Kern vs Charles Hutchings. In Case. This day came the parties by their attorneys & thereupon Came also a Jury [jury named] upon their oaths say that the Deft is not Guilty on fhe Nonperformance of the promises & assumptions in the Declaration mentioned & that he go hence without day and Recover against the s'd Plft his Cost by him in this behalf expended, Whereupon it was ordered accordingly.
      On application made on oath by James Adair a witness in said suit, ordered that the Plft pay him the sum of 35/ for 14 days attendance at 2/6 P'r day.
      Also Joseph Adair the sum of 32/ for 13 days attendance at 2/6 P'r day."
      Pg. 324, 18 Sep 1789: "James Adair vs. James Miller. In Slander. By consent this suit is ordered to be Dismist at Deft's cost."
      Pg. 326, 18 Sep 1789: James Adair was drawn as a petty juror.
      Pg. 317, 15 Sep 1789: "James Adair vs. Eliphaz Riley. S. Process Debt. Continued by Consent till next court."
      Pg. 322, 17 Sep 1789: "James Adair vs. Eliphaz Riley. By Consent of the Parties ordered that a Commission issue directed to John Calloway Smith and Wm Robertson Esq'r or any other Justices of the County of Wintown (sic, for Winton) to take the Examination of John Wild a witness for the Deft he giving the adverse party Ten days previous notice of the Time and place of s'd Examination & Return a Certificate of the same to our next Court Together with this commission."
      Pg 331, 16 Dec 1789: James Adair vs. Eliphaz Riley. S. Process debt. This day came the Parties by their attorneys & thereupon came also a Jury [jury named] upon their oaths do say that the Plft take nothing by his bill but for his false Clamour be in Mercy &c & that the Deft Go hence without day & recover against the s'd Pft his cost by him in this behalf Expended &C."
      Pg. 334, 16 Dec 1789: "The last will and testament of Joseph Adair Dec'd was presented in open court by James Adair the Ex'r and proven by the oath of James Montgomery and Ordered to be Recorded. Ordered that a Probate thereof issue in due form &c.
      Ordered that a warrant of Appraisement Issue to four freeholders of this county to View and appraise the estate of the s'd Jo's Adair Decd & Return an account of the same to the Ext'r within the Time Prescribed by Law."

      13. 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.]
      "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, Willis Langston, John Prateor, William Gamble, Elenor (X) Ramage, James Adaire, Reuben Meadors
      Simon Reeder, John L. Abell
      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 judgment 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.)...
      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. Hannah (X) Adair (Seal) her mark
      Signed in presence of us: Thomas S. Leak, Isham Milam, 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. [Their chn:]
      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. [Their chn:]
      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. [Their chn:]
      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"

      14. 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 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 distasteful authority and influence exerted by two Tory leaders over their followers in dealing with their enemies, the Whigs [KP note: pre-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."

      15. James Williams Petition listing the Adair family Patriots. Note that Thomas Adair's parents are the ones 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. The petition has come to me from Mildred Brownlee's manuscript "Early Adairs of Laurens County, South Carolina" and also from the "South Carolina Magazine of Ancestral Research," vol. 15, p. 32. 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 us a good source of patriots also associated with him. Col. James Williams and Capt. Josiah Greer were also military leaders of many of these same individuals during the 1778 American invasion of British East Florida per the source of Doctor George Ross' medical reimbursement papers quoted in this database under Rebecca Montgomery's notes. This petition typescript is 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 Carolina Library in 1999 and the gaps in the Duke University petition were filled in as indicated by brackets.] {Any notes or comments added by me are in these brackets.}
      "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.
      [Signed:] Robt. McCrery Lt. Colo.; George Davis, Capt.; Matthew McCrar[e]y, Lt.; George Young; Matthew Cunningham; Andrew McCrary; James Greer; [James Dillard]; [John Owens]; [Samuel Ewing]; [William Davis]; [Absolom Filby]; [John McCrary Sener]; [John McCrary Juner]; [Robert Long]; [Matthew McCrary]; [William Bean]; [John Williams J.P {note J.P. is crossed out}]; [Wm. Arthur Capt.]; Josiah Greer; Joseph Ramage; John Robinson; John Bourland; John Greer Juner; Isaac Adair; Jms. Adair; [Thos McCrery J.P.]; [James Ones]; [Andrew Ones]; [John Watson]; [Hughes Manford (?)]; [David Watson]; [Isaac Greer]; [James Ralley]; [John Ramage]; [John Glenn]; [John Jones (M L. (?)]; Henry Atwood; James Adair, Sr.; Joseph Adair Jr.; Joseph Adair; Benjamin Adair; Joseph Adair Sr.; James Adair Jr., son of James; [William Adair]; [John Finney]; [John Adair]; [John Adair Sener]; [James Craige]; [William Craig]; [James Howerton]; [Phillip Whitten]; [John Gray]; [John Greer]; [James Montgomery]; Thomas Ewing; William Blake; James Gamble; [Edward Stapleton]; [John Gamble]; [William Huddleston]; [James Huddleston]; [Alexander Adair]; [Benjamin Willson]; [Benja. Goodman]; [Daniel Williams]
      Suggested identi