Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy

Elizabeth or Betsy Reese

Female 1772 - 1850  (77 years)


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  • Name Elizabeth or Betsy Reese 
    Born 22 Sep 1772  of, Rowan, North Carolina, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Female 
    Died 15 Mar 1850  , Warren, Kentucky, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Buried Steep Hollow Cemetery, Three Forks, Warren, Kentucky, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I3730  Petersen-de Lanskoy
    Last Modified 27 May 2021 

    Family Elisha Adair,   b. 23 Nov 1776, of Duncan Creek, Laurens, South Carolina, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 19 Mar 1844, , Warren, Kentucky, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 67 years) 
    Married 21 Jan 1795  , Rowan, North Carolina, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Last Modified 28 May 2021 
    Family ID F1828  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • RESEARCH_NOTES:
      1. Censuses:
      1800 US: Laurens Co., South Carolina:
      Elisha Adair Free White Males: age 0-10: 3; age 16-26: 1 Free White Females: age 16-26: 2 Other: 0 Slaves: 0

      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

      1820 US: Laurens Co., SC.
      Elisha Adair, Males 0-10:2, 16-26:3, 26-45:1; Females: 0-10:1, 10-16:2, 26-45:1; 13 slaves.

      1830 US: Elisha and family are listed in Warren Co., Kentucky.

      1840 US: Warren Co., Kentucky, pg. 1 of 120:
      Elish Adair, Males 0-5:2, 10-15:2, 20-30:1, 60-70:1; females: 0-5:1, 20-30:1, 60-70:1.

      1850 US: A son Elisha M. Adair, age 35, and his family are listed in second District of Warren Co., Kentucky.

      2. FHL Book 929.273EL54h "George Michael Eller and Descendants of His in America," compiled by James W. Hook, 1957, also on FHL film 896571, item 2, pp. 17-31, clarifies early North Carolina counties and land grant practices:
      "Land grants in North Carolina originated with an entry application which was filed in the county where the land was situated and if not lost are now on file there. This was followed, sometimes soon and sometimes years later by an order from the land office for the tract to be surveyed. Sometimes soon and sometimes years later the survey was made and a surveyor's plat filed with the Secretary of State in Raleigh. Then came the grant which may have been issued reasonably near the date of the survey or sometimes several years later. These grants, orders to survey and the survey itself are on file now in the Secretary of State's office at Raleigh...
      Many counties were formed from what originally was Rowan County, namely Surry and Guilford in 1770, Burke and Wilkes in 1777, Randolph in 1779, Iridell in 1788, Stokes in 1789, Buncomb in 1791, Ashe in1799, Davidson in 1822, Yancey in 1833, Davie in 1836 and Yadkin in 1850. Some of these counties were grandchildren of Rowan County; for instance Wilkes was taken partly from Burke and partly from Surry, Randolph from Guilford, Buncomb and Yancy form Burke, Ashe from Wilkes and Stokes and Yadkin from Surry. These facts must be kept in mind when tracing early Rowan County families."

      3. 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.]:
      A. "Joseph Adair, b. 12 Apr. 1735 (from a chart), d. 17 Oct. 1812, said in Dr. Adair's History to have married Sarah Dillard but Laurens Co. legal documents prove that the Joseph Adair whose wife was Sarah, was a son of James Adair, Sr., cooper (died before 1796) and his wife, Eleanor.
      The only record found to date naming a wife of Joseph Adair, son of Joseph Adair, cooper, is the deed from Book J. p. 50 which documents her as being Elizabeth Adair in 1808. Whether she was a 1st wife, 2nd. wife, etc., we have no positive record. She evidently had died before Joseph Adair wrote his will in 1812 in which he named no wife but "my eight children".
      Deed Bk. J, p. 100 - Shows a plat of 340 a. on Miller's Fork of Duncan Creek measured out for Joseph Adair and Elisha Adair. Joseph Adair for $100 paid by Elisha Adair deeds to said Elisha Adair all that tract of land containing 340 a. more or less, part of tract. of land including 800 a.* originally granted to Joseph Adair on 13 Sept. 1774. Said tract is to remain in possession of said Joseph Adair during his natural life and also that of his wife during her natural life so that this conveyance is not to take place or be of fore during the natural life of either the said Joseph Adair or his wife but the land hereby conveyed ie. to remain the property or the said Joseph Adair during his life as tho this conveyance had never been made or entered into. In witness whereof I, the said Joseph Adair, have hereunto set my hand and seal the 15 day of July 1802.
      Joseph Adair (seal)
      In presence of James Adair, John Hunter
      Recorded Aug. 31. 1809.
      (Either the Register of Deeds recorded in error the 800 a. figure as a single grant or the 800 a. was intended to represent the accumulation of several smaller grants. No single grant of 800 a. to a Joseph Adair has been located.)
      Deed Bk. J, p. 50 - Joseph Adair and Elisha Adair for $350 deed to Alexander Wilkinson, a tract of land containing 150 a. more or less, on the waters of Duncan Creek, on a branch called Miller's Branch beginning at a poplar thence S 74 E 40ch 50 links to a white oak. thence due E 13.70 to a stake, thence N 79 W 24.46. etc., mentioning "meanders of said creek" to the beginning corner. 4 Nov. 1808.
      Joseph Adair (Seal), Elisha Adair (Seal)
      In presents of Thomas McCrary, Senr., James Adair
      South Carolina, Laurens District) I, JA Elmore, one of the Justices of Quorum for the said district, do hereby certify unto all whom it may concern that Elizabeth Adair, Senr., the wife of the within named Joseph Adair, Senior and Elizabeth Adair, Junr. the wife of the within named Elisha Adair did this day appear before me and upon being privately and separately examined by me did voluntarily renounce, release, and forever relinquish unto the within named Alexander Wilkinson all their right and claim of dower of, in, or to the premises within mentioned. 23 Nov. 1808.
      her mark Elizabeth E Adair, Elizh. Adair
      (L.S.) JA Elmore, J.Q.
      Recorded 14 Jan. 1809.
      (The 150 a. above is evidently part of the 340 a. which Joseph Adair had previously deeded to Elisha Adair but retained life estate for himself and his wife. In order to insure that there would be no future legal entanglements, both Joseph Adair and Elisha Adair entered into the sale of the land. Their wives, both of whom were named "Elizabeth", released dower rights.)
      *It should be noted here that Joseph Adair of above deed was called Sr. after the death of his father. During the period with which we are concerned, the terms "Sr." and rily "son of" but could be nephew, grandson, cousin and sometimes not related by blood. When a man known as "Sr." died, the man of the same name who had previously been known as "Jr." now became "Sr." Very confusing, to say the least. The terms "Sr." and "Jr." were also occasionally used with women's names.
      Records of the eight children named in the will of Joseph Adair who died in 1812 begin on page 6. A copy of his will can be found in Will Book D-1, p. 105. Probate records are in Box 3, pkg. 6.
      Recorded in Will Book D-l, Page 104, Bundle 65, pkg. 10. Proven January 14, 1813. David Anderson Ordy. Will of Joseph Adair:
      "State of South Carolina Laurens District. In the name of God, Amen. Know all men by those presents that I Joseph Adair of tho same State and District are now in good health and in my natural senses at this date and time make this my last will and testament. At my death I bequeath my body to tho tomb, my soul to the almighty God, my maker and created and Jesus Christ my redeemer. Likewise I give and bequeath unto John Adair my son all the land that I layed off for him, that Richard Hollen and John Frier now lives on and one Negro woman named Jude. Likewise, I give and bequeath unto my son James Adair all that part of a tract of land he now lives on lying on the South Side of Little Dunkins Creek bounded on land of Thomas McCrary, Alexander Wilkerson, Elisha Adair and one Negro man named Duke. Likewise, I give and bequeath unto my son Robert Adair the money that he did receive from Alexander Wilkerson for a tract of land made over by me and my son Elisha Adair to said Wilkerson and one Negro girl named Tamer. Likewise I give and bequeath to my son Elisha Adair all that part of land I now live on containing three hundred and seventy five acres more or less, resurvayed by John A. Elmore one Negro boy named Morris, one new waggon and all her harness. Likewise, I give and bequeath unto my grandson Joseph Adair, son of Elisha Adair, one set of silver coat buttons, and one set of silver breeches buttons to my son Robert Adair. I likewise, give and bequeath unto my daughter E1izabeth and her husband John Huston, one Negro girl named Clartis to be thern during there natural life, and at their death to be equally divided among all Elizabeth Huston's children of her natural body. Likewise, I give and bequeath unto my daughter Jean, wife of Thomas Holland. one Negro girl named Dice. Likewise, I give unto my daughter Cassy, wife of Thomas McCrary one Negro woman named Lid. Likewise, I give and bequeath, unto Charity, wife of David Little, one Negro woman named Sarah and all the rest of my perishable property to be equally divided among my eight children of my natural body. I hereby set my hand and seal this 20th of January, 1812. It being the thirty sixth and thirty seventh years of American Independency. And l do here appoint Elisha Adair and John Adair my Executors.
      Joseph Adair (Seal)
      Witness present: Richard Holland, William Adair, George McCrary
      Recorded in Will Book D-1, Page 105. Recorded date not available. Proven Jan, 15, 1813. David Anderson Ordy."
      B."Elisha Adair - "to son Elisha Adair, all that part of land I now live on containing 375 a.; one Negro boy Morris; one new wagon and all her harness." "to my grandson, Joseph, son of Elisha Adair, one set of silver coat buttons."
      It is established that the given name of the wife of Elisha Adair was Elizabeth. In dower releases she is called Elizabeth and also Betsy. Laurens Co. records have not provided proof of her maiden surname. Marriages of Rowan Co. NC, 1753-1868, by Brent Holcomb contains a record of the 21 Jan. 1795 marriage of one Elisha Adair and Elizabeth Reese with Thomas Farmer Reese as bondsman. The 1800 census of Laurens Co. shows Elisha Adair with 3 sons under age 10 which would be compatible with a 1795 marriage. In 1818, Elisha Adair was co-administrator with the widow, E1izabeth Pool, on the estate of her husband, Robert Pool, dec'd.. The widow Elizabeth Davis Pool was born 1785; her mother was a Reese and would have been of the generation to have been a sister of the Elizabeth Reese who married an Elisha Adair. If this is actually the case, Elisha Adair was uncle-by-marriage of Elizabeth Davis Pool and would account for his connection with her husband's estate. So far as can be determined, Elisha Adair had no family connection with the Pools.
      Elisha Adair sold his land in Laurens Co. in 1821. He was involved in 1822-24 in court actions along with his sons, Joseph Adair and Thomas R. Adair, regarding debt. (Question: What does the "R." in Thomas R. Adair's name stand for? Reese??). Elisha does not appear on 1830 census of Laurens Co. and is said to have moved to Ala. [NB: Elisha moved to Warren Co. KY where he and his wife Elizabeth are buried in Steep Hollow Grave Yard near Three Forks]. Laurens Co. census records indicate that Elisha had 5 or 6 sons and 3 daughters. Known sons are Joseph who married in Laurens Co. ... name unknown..and Thomas R. Adair who married Jane Blakely. Dr. J.B. Adair's History names Isaac Adair who married Jane Henry and a son. [NB: this is incorrect. Isaac Adair was a son of Benjamin Adair and Nancy George, based on power of attorney requests from him while living in Perry Co. AL, following his father's death. (Laurens Co. Deed Book N, p. 8. 56 May 1833. Nancy Adair, William Adair, Isaac Adair, Benjamin Adair, William Craig, Sally Adair, now Sally Craig, James Jameson in right of his wife Jane Adair, William Scott in right of his wife Margaret Adair, all of Perry Co., AL, appoint John Adair their lawful attorney in Laurens Co., giving him POA.].
      In a letter written in 1966 by the late Laura Pulley to an Adair descendant in Ala. is the statement: "in 1822, Laurens Co. SC, Elisha Adair entitled to 1/8th part of the estate of Washington Adair dec'd. Probate Records. Box 3, pkg. 11 contains the intestate records of Washington Adair dec'd. administered 7 Oct. 1822 by Joseph Adair with Thomas R. Adair and Jesse Johnson, sureties. Inventory of property included 2 slaves, 1 horse, 1 cow, 1 bed & furniture, 1 bedstead, 1 saddle & bridle, and wearing apparel, There was no mention of a wife or children and the package contains no record of payment to heirs. This brief record indicates that Washington Adair was probably a son of Elisha Adair with his estate being handled by brothers Joseph and Thos. R. Adair. Washington was evidently single. His living brothers and sisters would have inherited equal shares of his estate and his father would have also been entitled to an equal share. Seven brothers and sisters and a father...thus, 8 equal shares.
      Mrs. Pulley's letter further states: "other children of Elisha Adair who were paid shares were Allen Adair, Richamond (Richmond?) Adair and Matilda Adair`" This quoted record in not contained in the estate package and Mrs. Pulley gave no documented reference for the statement. It must have come from one of the various Probate Journals which are probably now in SC Archives in Columbia. and hopefully can be located in the future. There is also the possibility that a will for Elisha Adair can be located in Ala. Until such event a proposed family for Elisha Adair will be found on page 8.
      Elisha Adair, b. c1774, mar. Elizabeth (Reese? on 21 Jan. 1795? Some definite proof is needed for this.) Chn:
      Joseph, b. 1796?-proved son of Elisha by his grandfather's will and by court records.
      Washington, died single in 1822.
      Isaac, b. 1800? (Dr. J.B. Adair History), mar. Jane Henry.
      Thomas R., b. 1802, mar. Jane Blakely - proved son of Elisha by court record.
      Allen
      Richamond (Richmond)
      Matilda
      [NB: also Rozina Adair who m. Samuel Gilmore in Warren Co., KY and Elisha Milton Adair who m. Mary Rector in Warren Co., KY.]
      The above list would account for 6 siblings of Washington Adair. Early census figures indicate the possibility of 2 other daughters - one of whom must have died before 1822, name of the other not known. In Scott Co. MS, 1850:
      Isaac Adair, 52 mechanic, SC
      Jane, 51, SC
      John P., 22, AL
      Henry M., 20, AL
      Hosey G., 16, AL
      Wm. S., 8, MS
      Thomas R. Adair and Jane Blakely remained in Laurens Co. The remaining children of Elisha Adair moved from this state with their parents."

      BIRTH:
      1. Undocumented 22 Sep 1782 per Rootsweb.com Worldconnect database ":793592." Seems too early considering a marriage in 1795. Judging from the 1840 census where she was between 60 to 70 years of age, she would have been born between 1770 and 1780.

      MARRIAGE:
      1. LDS IGI has an extracted record per FHL film 6330285 "An Index to Marriage Bonds filed in North Carolina State Archives," Batch M516001, 1868, which gives the following: Elijah Adair and Elizabeth Reese, 21 Jan 1795, Rowan Co., North Carolina. I am not sure what would have taken Elijah to NC.

      DEATH:
      1. Undocumented 15 Mar 1850 in Warren Co., KY and burial in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in the same county per Rootsweb.com Worldconnect database ":793592."