| Notes |
- RESEARCH_NOTES:
1. In 2024, Shawn Henry Potter and his wife Lois Carol Potter published their book "The Family of Indian Trader and Author James Adair," which concludes that James and Joseph, the two oldest Adairs of our line in Laurens County, SC were brothers. James was known in Cherokee records as an "Irishman." Additionally, using a variety of sources, they also conclude that the same James was the Indian trader and author, and husband of two Native American wives. With scientific Y-DNA and haplogroup testing of male descendants with the Adair surname in upstate South Carolina, they also provide a genetic roadmap of the earliest generations and relationships. Using a limited data set 17 Adair-surnamed males, they concluded on pages 164-70 that there were three related branches and one unrelated branch as follows.
A. Branch 1 (our branch): James and Joseph Adair, who were brothers living in Duncan Creek.
B. James had at least two sons named James Jr. and Joseph. James Jr. had a son James Adair III, who had sons Edmond and Robert. Joseph had a son Thomas, who had sons Samuel and Thomas.
C. Joseph had sons Joseph Jr., James, and Benjamin. Joseph Jr. had sons Elisha and Robert.
D. Branch 2: Two other contemporaries, brothers Edward and John Adair of Cane Creek, were great-grandchildren of the same man who was the grandfather of James and Joseph on a separate line. The intervening generations and the common link are all unknown Adairs. John had sons Walter and Edward. Edward had sons Walter and Edward (the latter having a son Calvin, with Calvin having sons Ephraim and George). Descendants of this line became later leaders in the Cherokee Nation. John's wife, Jane Kilgore, was a neighbor of James Adair in Duncan Creek.
E. Branch 3: Another contemporary William Adair of Fishing Creek, was a cousin whose grandfather was the brother to the grandfather of James and Joseph. His father and grandfather's names are unknown. William had two sons John and William Jr.
F. There was potentially a fourth branch for another contemporary known as Alexander Adair, who lived in Laurens County and had two sons. However, a comparison of haplogroups show that they did not share a common direct male-line ancestor with the other three branches within the past 4,000 years.
Besides all of the ancestors of these branches being unknown and unproven, other conclusions concerning our original ancestor James Adair, the Indian trader, were as follows:
Page 12: The names of the historian James Adair's ancestors remain unknown regardless of many erroneous theories that have become popular over the years. The most pernicious is from William Curry Hardlee who suggested that he married Clark Hobson in Virginia and later lived in North Carolina, where he was locally known as Dr. James "Robin" Adair. The book offers convincing evidence that these were two separate men and in separate places at any given time.
Page 8: Adair engaged in the deerskin trade beginning in 1735 in the Cherokee Nation. He never became wealthy from it.
Pages 81-83, 92, 191-92: Adair married first a Cherokee woman from among the lower Cherokee in upstate South Carolina when he began to trade with the Cherokee Nation in 1735. It was important to have a native wife to be accepted in trade and to live among the Cherokee. He made seasonal travel between upstate SC and Charleston, mainly with trade goods and deerskins. In about 1744, he lost his Cherokee wife and children, who all may have fallen victim with a European disease. Little is known about her, but from Adair's writing, it is certain he learned the lower Cherokee dialect and lived in upstate South Carolina from 1735 to 1744. The trading trail at this time led through Duncan Creek, where he would later settle.
Pages 95, 98, 102, 192: Adair married second a woman named Eleanor from the Chickasaw Panther clan in upstate SC in early 1744, who taught him Chickasaw and introduced him to her lower Chickasaw relatives in upstate SC and upper Chickasaw relatives in the vicinity of present-day Tupelo, Mississippi. In May 1745, James and Eleanor led their packhorse trains, loaded with bundles of deerskins, from Ogoula Tchetoka (Tupelo, MS) to the markets of Charleston [some 700 miles). They traveled in the company of several of Eleanor's closest maternal-line relatives, including the historian's "favorite friend" Payamataha, later the principal chief of the tribe.
Pages 96-97, 100, 116-18, 136: Details about Eleanor's life are frustratingly scarce. His writings prove he was a member of the tribe in late 1749 and in a position of command among the Chickasaw Nation in 1760, when he led a party of 43 lower Chickasaw warriors in support of SC in the 1760 Anglo-Cherokee War. (The exploits of Captain James Adair in this war are described in a contemporaneous newspaper account at the time.) He mentioned in 1767 that he was writing his book in the company of his wife. Also, during the same year, an eyewitness named Malcolm McGee confirmed Adair was married with a Chickasaw wife after 1767. Adair's reference to himself as a "brother" of the Chickasaw people reflected his lasting marriage to his Chickasaw wife until at least 1775. Since the Chickasaw practiced a matrilineal system, Eleanor, as a member of the ruling Panther clan, was what Adair wrote when he said she was "as great a princess as ever lived among the ancient Peruvians, or Mexicans."
Page 8: In 1745, SC Governor James Glen commissioned Adair to secure a peace treaty with the French-allied Choctaw Nation. He was successful, but the governor and legislature reneged paying his 1748 and 1750 petitioned expenses. This was a devastating financial loss for Adair.
Page 109-10: Adair confirms he was living in Ogoula Tchetoka (Tupelo, MS) in 1765.
Pages 9-11: In 1772 and 1774, Adair managed to fund at least two transatlantic voyages in his quest to publish his manuscript about the American Indians. An essential element of his strategy involved a seven-year campaign of personal persuasion, stair-stepping his way from one person to the next, as he sought support from ever more prominent and influential colonial leaders, who included Indian superintendents, ministers, Continental Congress delegates, governors, and even Benjamin Franklin. Rather than royalties, Adair took the greatest part of his payment in printed copies of his influential book "The History of the American Indians," which mainly only paid for his two trips to Great Britain. If he realized any profit, it was very little especially in light of the American Revolution which began in 1775 and blocked all commerce between nations and diverted the attention of his potential readers on both sides of the Atlantic.
Pages 141, 146, 175, 182-89, 193, 196: Adair was considered to have been living fulltime in the Duncan Creek area by 1773 when he received a royal grant for 200 acres bordering the land of his brother Joseph Adair. However, it may have been on land he already occupied. According to the book, he may have lived there as early as 1747 with Eleanor remaining there while Adair made annual trips to the Chickasaw and Charleston. Occasionally, she would also accompany her husband on those trips and to renew ties with her upper Chickasaw family. Eyewitness Malcolm McGee also puts him in his retirement among the Lower Cherokees, most likely of the Duncan Creek area. By 1779, when the local residents signed what is called the Williams Petition during the Revolutionary War, James signed his name. He may have been the author of the document considering the appearance of uncommon words found in both Adair's book and the petition. His signature matches that of the known correspondence of James Adair the historian. In his retirement years, he became a cooper like his brother to support himself.
Pages 196-97: In 1774, when he returned from London after publishing his book. He stopped in in Northern Ireland before returning back to America. He was accompanied by his distant cousins John and Edward Adair of Cane Creek, as noted above in the DNA results. Upon their arrival, they took on the Indian trade business and also married Cherokee wives.
Page 199: According to dates on local legal documents, Adair died in Duncan Creek after 25 Feb 1784 and before 12 Feb 1796. Eleanor died after 3 Jan 1803. No gravestones survive.
2. This note is now dated and changed per the more updated note above from 2024:
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 entitled "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."
My comments:
1. To this list of children, I would add at least two more children based on my own research. The first is a son named Laferty Adair based on the LDS records of St. George Utah Temple as reported by relatives in the 1870s. The second one is less certain but possible: Hannah who married John Jones, which can possibly be construed but not proven from a land deed. See the notes in this database for both of these individuals for a fuller explanation. For now, I continue to show these two individuals as children of James Adair subject to further research.
2. Before Shawn's new analysis of this family, I had two additional daughters based on my previous (but now less certain) assumption that the James Adair of Pennsylvania was our same James Adair. The following is from "The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine," v. 19 (1952-1954), pp. 303-305, "Register of Baptisms 1701-1746, First Presbyterian Church, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania." The magazine notes: "...the "original of the record is in the Presbyterian Historical Society, Philadelphia. It is published here to complement the Calendar of the Marriages, 1701-1745, in the Pennsylvania Archives, 2nd series, vol. IX... Other publications of contemporary Philadelphia Church Records include the Calendar of marriages from the register of Christ Church (founded in 1695 as the first parish of the Established Church of England), in the Pennsylvania Archives, 2nd series, vol. VIII; the Baptism and Burials of 1709-1760 from the same register in the 'Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography,' vols. 12-1 and 1-7 respectively; and a digest of the minutes and registers of Philadelphia Monthly meeting of Friends, in Hinshaw, 'Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy,' vol. II. "In this register of baptisms is found evidence of considerable missionary travelling by the Rev. Jedidiah Andrews, (the first minister, who served from 1698 until his death in May 1747) as far north as Staten island, New York, and south as Cape May, New Jersey. [A list of place names is included and described in the article.]" The two children born to a James Adair:
a. Charity, dau. of James Adair, b. 3rd inst., bapt. 6 Jul 1740.
b. Jane, dau. of James Adair, b. 28 ult., bapt. 3 Jun 1742.
Note that even though we cannot prove the above James Adair is the same as ours, it is a possibility that needs to be further researched. There are mentions of other James Adairs in early Pennsylvania records as evidenced by the following. In each case, note the location of each James Adair in regards to Joseph Adair, the brother of our James Adair, who lived in West Fallowfield Twp. of Chester Co. in 1753 and Lancaster Co. in the early 1760s:
a. Http://www.pa-roots.com/~chester/taxlists/sadsbury_tas_list_1753.htm shows James Adair on the 1753 List of Taxables for Sadsbury Township of Chester County. Chester County was due east of Lancaster County adjoining the State of Delaware. On the same list is Andrew McCleary who may in fact be the Andrew McCreary who was associated with the early Adairs in Laurens Co., SC, in the 1760s. Sadsbury and West Fallowfield are adjoining townships in Chester County and both are right on the county line with Lancaster County." The proximity of James and Joseph would seem to indicate this may be our James; however, his activities as an Indian trader in the Chickasaw Nation would seem to be at odds with this. It would seem that this is not the man who dies in Bucks County in 1760 since Bucks County is a bit removed from this area.
b. The probate of a James Adair in Bucks County, Book No. 3, p. 33, with a will date of 2 Jul 1760 and a proven date of 19 Nov 1760 (his wife was executrix and sole legatee; note that there was no mention of children including Charity and Jane). Bucks Co. is a couple counties north of Lancaster Co. The 1760 death proves this man is not our man, but the fact that no children are listed in the probate opens up the possibility the children belong to a different James, perhaps even ours (on the other hand maybe the daughters were already deceased or married).
c. "The Pennsylvania Gazette," 13 Jan 1763, "List of Letters remaining in the Post Office in Philadelphia": James Adair, Lancaster County. This could very well be our James Adair since his brother Joseph was living in Lancaster Co. Certainly different from the James Adair who died in 1760. He may not have been living there as much as using his brother's address. There is not enough information in this entry to know if this could be the father of the two children Charity and Jane.
3. From: Shawn & Lois Potter March 19, 2005: "If you can document each generation of your lineage to Thomas Adair (born about 1775 in Laurens County, SC), who married Rebecca Brown, then you have some very interesting ancestors. According to Margaret Brownlee's manuscript (pp. 17-18), this Thomas Adair was the eldest son of Joseph Adair (born about 1755 or before), who married Sarah ___. This Joseph Adair was a son of James Adair, Sr. (born about 1715 and died before August 2, 1790) and Eleanor ___. This James Adair, Sr. was a brother of Joseph Adair, Sr. (born about 1718 and wrote his will on January 9, 1788), who married secondly Sarah Lafferty, and an uncle of Joseph Adair, Jr. (born about 1745 and wrote his will January 20, 1812), who married Elizabeth ___. All these James Adairs and Joseph Adairs can get very confusing. I am descended twice from James Adair, Sr. and Eleanor ___ and once from Joseph Adair, Sr. and Sarah Lafferty. But, I have a lot more research to do before I will feel like I have them figured out. I think Margaret Brownlee, the author of the manuscript I sent to you, has passed away. She would have been someone to consult."
Also from Shawn: "Thanks for your note. I received Margaret Brownlee's manuscript from either Lee Adair (wadair1@tampabay.rr.com) or Jett Hanna (jettplane@aol.com), both of whom have contributed notes to the Ancestry.com bulletin board for the Adair surname. I can only judge Margaret's reliability from my use of this one manuscript. I have noticed a few mistakes that might be described as typos -- a few obviously wrong dates and perhaps wrong names in her text. But, on the whole, I am very impressed with her work. She tried to document all her statements and she appears to have gained access to many original records. Her manuscript provides a radically better understanding of these families than existed before her work. Having said that, I do suspect she was wrong about her statement regarding the identity of James Adair the Indian trader. I am not yet certain, but I suspect that James Adair, who married Eleanor, was the Indian trader..."
My follow-up note 1 Sep 2015: Since the above was written ten years ago, Shawn and his wife Lois are the authors of a book to be published sometime in the future entitled "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 make a persuasive case that James Adair was indeed the Indian trader and author and that Eleanor his wife was a Chickasaw Indian woman. Having contributed to and reviewed working copies of their book, I am convinced.
4. Manuscript "Early Adairs of Laurens County, South Carolina," compiled by Mildred Brownlee, 1990, copy at the Laurens County Library; 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. "SC Archives, Council Journal 34 p. 39, 2 Feb. 1768 - Petitions for Warrants of Survey:
James Adair - 150 a. - Waters of Duncan Creek - granted 1768 (James was noted as James, Sr. up to his death.)
Joseph Adair - 250 a. - Waters of Duncan Creek
Council Journal 34, p. 236, 7 Dec. 1768 - Petitions to Prolong Warrants:
Joseph Adair - 250 a. - on Duncan Creek
His 250 a. was granted in 1770 (where Duncan Creek Church now stands). Joseph Adair sold this grant in 1778 to Benjamin Adair. (Deed Bk. A, p. 189)
The above is the first record for Joseph Adair, Sr., cooper, found in Laurens Co. [This is incorrect. Joseph Adair petitioned for 200 acres on the Waters of the Santee (Council Journal of 3 Dec 1766, p. 874). The Memorial for this property reads as follows: A Memorial exhibited by Joseph Adair, 200 acres of a Plantation or tract of land contg. 200 acres situate in Berkly County on the So. side of Enoree River on a branch thereof called Millers Creek bounded Ewardly on land of Frances McCall, and on all other sides on vacant land. Survey certified the 7th of March 1769 (Plat Book 9, p. 341) and granted the 2nd day of June 1769 to the memorialist. Quit rent to commence two years hence. SC Memorial Book 8, p. 482. 9 Sep 1769]. James Adair who petitioned for land on the same date as Joseph is possibly the James Adair who married Eleanor and who had died in Laurens Co. prior to 12 Feb. 1796. Early deeds refer to him as James Adair, cooper. His 150 a. grant is evidently the one shown on Union Co. Land Grant map #4 and #12 on a branch of Duncan Creek which is called McCall's Branch on map #4. Other early maps refer to this branch as Miller's Fork. On present day maps it is called Sand Creek ... NE of Clinton, in the area between Hwy. 72 and Hwy. 98. Since available deeds do not make clear the disposition of the above 150 a., there is still some uncertainty that the grant was to James Adair, wife Eleanor; however, it is certain that he was in Laurens Co. 11 Aug. 1774 when he received a grant of 200 a. on a branch of Duncan Creek. Land Grant map #4 says granted in 1770 but deeds say 1774; this grant lying between the main branch of Duncan and Philson's Crossroad, and very near to Joseph Adair, Sr.'s original grant.
Since both Joseph Adair and James Adair have been identified as coopers and they both petitioned for land on the same date, it seems logical to think that they were brothers. (Dr. James Adair's History states that James Adair, Indian trader, was a brother of Joseph Adair, Sr.) [Modern DNA research on descendants of the Indian trader James Adair provided me in 2015 by Shawn Potter now substantiates this claim.]
Council Journal 34 should be consulted for any other possible information which might be contained in the land petitions of Joseph and James Adair in 1768.
The exact year that Joseph Adair arrived in South Carolina has not been determined. He was in Lancaster Co., Pa. in 1759 when he was given Power-of-Attorney to sell land for John, Josiah, and Jennet Ramage. In his History of the Presbyterian Church in SC, George Howe, D.D. states that in 1763 or 1766, Joseph Adair, Thomas Ewing, Wm. Hanna, and the McCrearys had united in building a house of worship. The June 9, 1896 issue of The Laurens Advertiser has an article about the 130th anniversary of Duncan Creek Presbyterian Church which was "organized in summer of 1766."
B. "James Adair, Sr., cooper, & Eleanor, his wife. As stated on p. 1, it has not been definitely determined that this James Adair was the one who petitioned for land along with Joseph Adair, cooper, in 1767; however, he has been documented as the James Adair who received a grant of 200 a. on Duncan Creek 11 Aug. 1774. Surety for this grant was certified 3 June 1773, so James Adair was in Laurens Co. before that date, (See Deed Bk. F, pp. 8, 9, 10).
He is also considered to have been the James Adair, cooper, to whom John Brotherton and wife, Esther, sold in 1774, 60 a. on a spring branch of Duncan Creek. (See Deed Bk. A, p. 185.)
Birth date of James Adair, Sr., cooper, is not known. He died sometime between 24 Feb. 1784 (date of deed to John Jones, blacksmith) and 12 Feb. 1796 (date of deed to which Eleanor, widow of James Adair, dec'd, released her right of dower). Birthdate of Eleanor Adair is unknown; last record of her is also 12 Feb. 1796, release of dower. On 6 Feb. 1792, she was witness to a deed from William Price and wife Margaret, to James Adair, son of James. [Actually Eleanor's last mention is 7 Jan 1803 with her release of dower in a land transaction as reported further below.]
James Adair, Sr. left no will in Laurens Co. No estate papers have been located in Laurens Co. Eleanor Adair left no will or estate papers in Laurens Co. Data from Laurens Co. deeds indicate that a son of James and Eleanor was Joseph Adair.
Deed Bk. F, p. 109 - 12 Feb. 1796, Joseph Adair, Jr. to Wm. Holland, 120 a. on a small branch of Duncan Creek. N on John McCreary now John A. Elmore, SW by John Adair now Benj. Adair, S by me, a grant of 2 Oct, 1786; the other plantation of 100 a. purchased from Samuel Ewing 16 Dec. 1778, part of 150 a. grant to Samuel Ewing 30 Sept. 1774, Joining the above tract.
Joseph Adair, Jr.
Wit: B.H. Saxon, JA Elmore, Basil Holland
Release of dower: Sarah Adair, wife of Joseph Adair, Jr.; Eleanor (x) Adair. Widow of James Adair, dec'd.
(Joseph Adair called "Jr." to distinguish from Joseph Adair, son of Joseph Adair, cooper, who was at that time called Joseph Adair, "Sr.", after the death of his father in 1789.)
Deed Bk, G, p. 570 - 7 Jan. 1803, Joseph Adair, planter, to John Daniel Kern of Charleston, merchant, 86 a. on N side of Duncan Creek, adj. said J. D. Kern. N 10, W 40, S 30, etc., on Joseph Adair line, S 80, E ??, etc. on Mistres ?Musgrove (seems to be error for "Mistress Montgomery").
Joseph Adair
Wit: Thomas Martin, Tailor; William Dabbage
Release of Dower: Sarah Adair, wife of Joseph Adair, Jr.; Eleanor (x) Adair, widow of James Adair, dec'd."
5. 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 reknown 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. The source of this petition 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 identification of the Adairs who signed this petition:
1. Isaac Adair - Killed in Apr. 1781, 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.
{Note the above suggestions are as provided by Mildred Brownlee. I make the following additions of individuals related to the Adairs:
13. James Gamble - father of William Gamble who marries Martha Adair, daughter of James Adair who was son of James Adair, Sr., the original settler and cooper.
14. Robert Long - Son of Susannah Murdough from her first marriage before she married Joseph Adair the cooper.
15. John Owens - Husband of Mary Long. Mary was the sister of Robert Long and a daughter of Susannah Murdough from her first marriage before Joseph Adair.
16. John Ramage - Husband to Jean or Jane Adair, the daughter of Joseph Adair the cooper and his first wife Sarah Laferty.
17. George Davis - Died 1781- 1783. First husband to Elizabeth Adair, daughter of Joseph Adair, Jr. and Elizabeth ___.
18. James Montgomery - Father to Rebecca who married James Adair, the saddler and son of Joseph Adair the cooper. James' other daughter Isabella married Dr. George Ross who was a physician with many of the above in their East Florida expedition in the early days of the Rev. War.
19. John Jones - There were two John Jones in the area at the time. One was the husband of Hannah Adair, {possible} daughter of James and Eleanor Adair. Unsure which John Jones this may be. Our John Jones died before Sep 1788."
6. Jett Hanna [jettplane@aol.com] provided me on 8 Jul 2005 with a copy of his analysis of the Mildred Brownlee manuscript as follows. His analysis 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 his name on the Williams Petition, Brownlee's note that 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 known 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. [Recent DNA analysis conducted by Shawn Potter as of 2015 shows that in fact James Adair, the Indian trader and author, is the same James Adair married to Eleanor and brother of Joseph Adair.]
"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 also use but again never with 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 -- this is probably because 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. This appears to be speculative based on the deed her husband had involving the Adairs.]
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."
7. FHL book 975.731 H2b "A Laurens County Sketchbook," by Julian Stevenson Bolick provides a good historical background of Laurens County, South Carolina [with my edited notes added in brackets]. This background assists in better dating our Adairs and in sorting out some published errors in other sources:
Pg. 1: "An early record showing an original grant from George III to an ancestor of the Putnams of Gray Court has Laurens District in Craven County. "Wallace's History of South Carolina" verifies the fact that a vast tract of land to the south of Virginia had been granted in 1663 by Charles II to eight British lords. Craven County, an extensive region covering most of South Carolina and parts of North Carolina, was a part of this sprawling acreage. In 1719 the people threw off the rule of the Lords Proprietors, at which time the rights of the government and seven-eighths of the soil were ceded to the King. A later territorial separation placed Laurens in the Ninety Six District. On March 12, 1785, Laurens was made a separate District by an Act of the General Assembly…
"Major Jonathan Downes, a colonial officer, headed a group of influential citizens commissioned to survey the territory. Gentleman Justices serving with Major Downes included James Montgomery [father of Rebecca Montgomery who married James Adair. Jr.], Silvanus Walker, William Mitcherson and Charles Saxon. After the districting was made legal by the act of legislation, the justices were authorized 'to build and keep in good repair at the charge of the county one good and convenient courthouse with necessary jury rooms and one good and sufficient county gaol together with a pillory, whipping post and stocks…"
Pg. 3: "In 1790 the first government census taken after the adoption of the Constitution gave Laurens District 1,395 heads of families, with a total population of 9,337 including Negro freedmen and slaves. Laurens District, at that time, had a larger population than any other district above Newberry, the latter outnumbering Laurens by only a few hundred.
Pg. 4: "The first permanent white settler to come to Upper Carolina is believed to have been John Duncan of Aberdeen, Scotland. He first stopped in Pennsylvania, but as early as 1753 he was known to have been in the Ninety Six District on land bordering a creek later named for him.
"On a return to Pennsylvania, Duncan influenced friends to come to Ninety Six and establish homesteads. He brought his own family and a pair of fine stud horses to pull the first wagon ever to roll over soil between the Broad and Saluda rivers. A lush growth of maiden cane bordering the creek had been the deciding factor for closing out his interests in Pennsylvania.
"Two of the settlers to accompany him were David and Charles Little, for whom a community was named later. [David Little, 1767-1812, married Charity Adair].
"Records show early land grants to Andrew McCrary (McCreary), Joseph Adair, Robert Hanna, Thomas Ewing, James Pollock, Thomas Logan and Thomas Craig - all in the group following Mr. Duncan to Carolina."
Pg. 5: "Still another friend of John Duncan was Joshua Palmer, a minister, who was so influential in the new community that when he moved to Indiana about 1828 he carried with him several families from his ecclesiastical society…
"Robert Long was brought to this country at the age of five months, and at the age of two years was moved from Pennsylvania to the South. Robert's father was a well-known construction engineer, who by government contract in 1769 built Fort Charlotte on the Savannah River. [Robert Long, son of Daniel Long and Susannah Murdough; Susannah becomes Joseph Adair, Sr.'s second wife after Sarah Lafferty. Brownlee states Daniel died in 1767; is this a different Robert Long? On the other hand the British built the fort for the French and Indian War, which was 1756-1763 - so the 1769 date could be in error.]
"From North Carolina James Williams came, having been attracted to the fertile lands bordering Little River where he pursued farming and engaged in a mercantile business. His plantation was named Mount Pleasant..." [James Williams was the subject of the James Williams Petition that most early Adair men in Laurens County signed.]
Pg. 7: "After peace was secured by a vigorous and successful campaign against the Indians in 1761, the backwoodsmen of Carolina, as all people in the territory remote from Charles Town were called, gave their undivided time to replacing the temporary dwellings with more adequate homes. Many of the settlers had stopped in Virginia, but there it was made clear that only those who belonged to the Established Church were welcome; consequently, the ones believing strongly in freedom of worship came on into Carolina. They were principally Scotch-Irish and by no means adventurers…"
Pg. 17: "Littlesville: One of the first centers of population in Laurens County was Littlesville on Duncan the Adairs, are buried in the old Duncan's Creek Church cemetery. One of the gravestones bears the inscription 'David Little, a native of Ireland.' It is not known which of the early Adairs was the father of Charity, but the Adairs were in this section, probably as early as were the Little brothers. [Charity was the daughter of Joseph, son of the original Joseph Adair the cooper.] Joseph B. [Sr.] came from Ireland in 1711 and died in Laurens County in 1801; Joseph, Jr., [son of Joseph Sr.] was born in Pennsylvania (the state from which John Duncan recruited settlers) in 1733 and died in Laurens in 1812; and John B. was born in Duncan's Creek neighborhood in 1758 and died in Georgia [son of Joseph Jr. and brother to Charity]. Doctor W.S. Glenn of Spartanburg had in his possession in 1930 a map of a very early date which showed a community called Littlesville, about three miles from the historic Duncan's Creek Church. The site is no longer listed even in the crossroad category, the majority of the people from this creek bank settlement having moved to the thriving community of Clinton…
Pp. 42-43: "Duncan's Creek Presbyterian: One of the early utilitarian buildings was Duncan's Creek Presbyterian Church in the rural section of Jacks Township. Servants of the John Duncan family had erected a brush arbor about 1753, at which time John Duncan had come into the area. A more permanent building of fieldstones was put up in 1764, and that date is visible in a cornerstone of the presently used building erected in 1842. The date 1764 was retained for historic purposes. The original granite walls, two feet in thickness, and the straight-backed pews of oak attest to the strong faith of the era and of the congregations of that particular church. In recent years the small-outmoded reed organ from the fieldstone church was given to Thornwell Home for children in Clinton, where it is still used on occasions calling for a colonial atmosphere. During the Revolutionary War, the church building served as a place of protection for the people of that area. Often referred to as the mother of Presbyterian churches, it is the oldest church organization in the upper part of the state. Both Lisbon Presbyterian and Clinton First Presbyterian were started as mission extensions of the Duncan's Creek Church. The first minister was the Reverend Hezekiah Balch, year 1776. In the same year John B. Kennedy was ordained and continued as pastor intermittently for fifty years. In 1788 the Duncan's Creek Church became involved in serious difficulties. The majority of the members being canny old Scotchmen, theological discord was instituted over whether to use Rouse's or Watt's version of the Psalms. Sixty-three members seceded to form other churches. Although each plantation had its own burial ground, Duncan's Creek church offered burial plots in its churchyard in 1776. Some of the ancient mounds have lost their identity, but one bearing the marking 'Samuel Long, aged 19 years, November 15th, 1776, is still legible [brother of Robert Long and son of Daniel Long and Susannah Murdough]. Sixteen soldiers of the Revolution are buried in the churchyard. In October of 1964, Duncan's Creek Presbyterian Church observed with appropriate ceremony the two-hundredth anniversary of its founding…"
8. "South Carolina Magazine of Ancestral Research," vol. 13, pp. 213-218, "Memories of Laurens County," contributed by Mary A. Seyle, CGRS. The selected entries below give additional good history on the establishment Laurens County. :
"Wallace in his 'History of South Carolina" tells us that as early as 1731 the king sought to interest colonists for Carolina and other provinces where the older settlements were in danger of attacks by the Indians. It has been stated that many settlers came to South Carolina at the close of the French and Indian Wars. However, there were already a number of settlers in the Laurens area and other communities before Braddock's defeat in 1755.
That is also the year when Governor James Glen concluded a treaty with the Cherokees whereby the Indians ceded to the crown all the land south of the old Indian line, thus making room for more settlers. They came down from Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and from countries overseas. They came, they inspected, they admired, and a goodly number settled in Carolina, quite a number in present Laurens County.
The earliest settler of Laurens County, we are told, was one John Duncan, who came from Aberdeen, Scotland, to Pennsylvania. He then visited South Carolina for a while, in 1742, and later, about 1751 returned to South Carolina with his family and some friends. Other early settlers whose names still may found in the area came down after Duncan. John Craig from Ireland was granted a tract along the Enoree River. John Kern came from England; Frederick Kern, from Germany...
At this time, while the settlers were busy establishing homes, cultivating new land, and dealing with the Indians who were no longer so friendly as they had been, another trouble kept them busy. The lawless element that is present in any new community appeared in upper South Carolina, stealing stock, robbing and murdering, when the colonists sought to protect themselves, and generally adding to the hardships the new community had endured. The responsible citizens finally took matters in their own hands and formed bands of Regulators, as they called themselves, meting out what they considered just punishment. The lawless ones retaliated, sometimes the inhabitants were sued by the outsiders, there were incidents of violence, and the honest men suffered. After many protests, the citizens of the upper part of the province made their voice heard. They felt that as subjects of the king, they were entitled to the same rights and privileges as other free Englishmen, and asked for themselves and their families schools, churches, and a part in the government of their community.
A justifiable compliant of the up-country was that all courts sat in Charleston, all cases were tried there, and no lawyer was allowed to practice unless he had 'been admitted to the bar by the Court of Common Pleas of Charleston, or any attorney of that court, and a resident of this Province.' Travel was slow in the 18th century, and it was a long trip for a man to take from the upper part of the province to Charleston even to be admitted to the bar, and a very long way to go to register a deed or transact any legal business.
Eventually vigorous protests were heeded, and under the Court Act of 1769 entitled 'An Act for the More Convenient Administration of Justice in this Province,' courts were established, rules for the election or appointment of sheriffs and other officials were laid down, the and duties of the judges were clarified. Jails were built, and dates for the sitting of the courts were set. At Ninety-Six, the court house town for the area now Laurens County, courts were to sit on the 15th of April and November. If Court Day fell on a Sunday, the court was to begin the following day...
Having won her independence and the Treaty of Paris having been formally signed in 1783 (although the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown in 1781 virtually ended the fighting) South Carolina now turned her attention to internal orgainization and development. No longer a province, but now a state, she busied herself laying out counties, building court houses and setting up her own government. And with a very few exceptions all of our counties were created after the close of the Revolution.
Laurens County was created... 12 March 1785... Six counties for the district ... called Ninety Six...
Charles Woodmason, an Anglican missionary to the 'wilds of South Carolina' in his book 'Carolina Up Country before the Revolution' takes a very pessimistic view of the manners and morals of this part of the state prior to and shortly after the Revolution. However, the records show several churches in the present Laurens County before the Revolution.
John Duncan who was the first settler in Laurens is said to be responsible for the first Presbyterian Church in the county. He is the man from whom the area Duncan's Creek is named, having settled there about 1751. As early as 1764, he erected a 'brush arbor' where those who wished to worship could assemble for their services. Later he had a meeting house erected. The arbor was actually used before the church itself was built, and that is said to date from 1764.
Hazel Crowson Sellers of North Carolina in her book on 'Old South Carolina Churches' says that John Duncan was joined by his friends Joseph Adair and Robert Long, both of whom were Revolutionary War soldiers, and that Hezekiah Balch held services at Duncan's Creek as early as 1752. Joseph Palmer, a minister, is also said to have been a friend of John Duncan, and was so popular that when he went to Indiana in 1828 a number of the old friends followed him.
The present building at Duncan's Creek is said to be the third erected on the lot, having been built in 1842, and earliest known grave is that of Susannah Long, dated in 1776. A number of soldiers went from this church to fight in the patriot's cause..."
9. The following two quotes are general background information of the larger Scots-Irish migration to America and the South. We know of James Adair's presence in the Southeast and it may have been his influence that helped spur his brother Joseph Adair to migrate south to Laurens County. Alternately is it possible that Joseph was part of the larger Scots-Irish migration pattern to this part of South Carolina that enticed James to settle down with him?
A. The book "The Howard Leytham Stoker Von Dollen Family Histories," FHL 929.273 H833a, by Doris Lewis, 2017 So. 80th Ave., Omaha, Nebraska, 68124, p. 5: "National origins from the 1790 US Census: English 60%, Scotch Irish 9.5%, and German 8.6%. [Accompanying map shows Scots-Irish in the frontier portion or western portions of the states of SC, NC, and VA with a smattering in northern GA and southwestern PA. The Germans are concentrated in south-central PA, western MD, northwestern VA, and with a smattering in central SC and NY. The English are generally coastal.] The Scotch-Irish were used in the old country and again in the new, as 'borderers'. They were fighting families sent out to hold a frontier against aliens. In 1641, 120,000 Scots had been planted in Ulster [Ireland]. In the 1750's, 12,000 came yearly to America, and by 1770, that number grew to 25,000 to 30,000. They were the hardiest and boldest of all immigrants. In 1764, 1000 Scotch-Irish wagons passed through Salisbury, South Carolina, on the way to the mountains."
B. The book "A History of the Baptists," by Robert G. Torbet, p. 228: "The central and western counties of North Carolina were fertile soil for evangelism, with twenty to thirty thousand inhabitants in 1755, followed by a steady stream of settlers who were attracted there by land grants and the state of freedom existing there."
10. 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. The "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/settlers, James and Joseph Adair, were in the Laurens County area by 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 "Senr. 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 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 Att'o from James Templeton to James Adair proven in Open Court by the oath of John Lindsey and Ordered to Ly for further proof."
Pg. 216, 12 Mar 1788: "A Lease and Release for the conveyance of 100 acres of land from Thomas Allison to James 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."
11. FHL book 975.7 N28w, 1994, "Citizens and Immigrants - South Carolina 1768, abstracted from contemporary
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Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy
Abt 1714 - 1796 (70 years)
