Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy

Rebecca Montgomery

Female 1750 - 1835  (84 years)


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  • Name Rebecca Montgomery 
    Born 20 Oct 1750  of Duncan Creek, Laurens, South Carolina, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Female 
    Died 29 Sep 1835  Brookville, Franklin, Indiana, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Buried Old Brookville Cemetery, Brookville, Franklin, Indiana, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I3718  Petersen-de Lanskoy
    Last Modified 27 May 2021 

    Family James Adair,   b. 23 Nov 1747, of, , Pennsylvania, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 23 Mar 1831, Brookville, Franklin, Indiana, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 83 years) 
    Married Abt 1770  of Duncan Creek, Laurens, South Carolina, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Last Modified 28 May 2021 
    Family ID F1839  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • RESEARCH_NOTES:
      1. "The South Carolina Magazine of Ancestral Research," vol. 11, pp. 183-184: "Ninety Six District Militia in the American Revolution," contributed by Robert S. Davis, Jr., Jasper, GA: "The following account of medicines provided South Carolina soldiers during the 1778 American invasion of British East Florida was found in the Lyman C. Draper Collection of the State Hisorical Society of Wisconsin, Volume 1, series VV, fo. 28, and is reproduced here with the permission of State Historical Society of Wisconsin. It was located through Josephine L. Harper, 'Guide to the Draper Manuscripts,' (Madison: State Historical Society of Wisconsin, 1983). The Draper Collection is available on microfilm at the South Carolina Archives, the University of Georgea, Emory University and elsewhere." The doctor was George Ross who was the brother-in-law to Rebecca Montgomery (he married Isabella Montgomery):
      "1778. The publick of South Carolina ... to George Ross ... Dr: To medicines adminstered to the Men, who went out in the Expedition to Florida under the command of Colonel Williamson, By Order of Colonel James Williams.
      August 9th
      :8= Vomit 32 s/6-purging Ingredts: with Rheubard 50s/3 for Jon: Adair Junr: in Capt: Josiah Greers compy. 4₤2S6P.
      9th= Vomit 3s/6 for 2 papers of purgg. Ingredients ₤ 4+ 6 anadyne powders ₤ 3: for Robt: Long in Ct: Greers Co: 8 12 6..."
      17th= Vomit 32s/6 Febrifuge Ingredients ₤3..5s for Jon. Ramage..Capt: Greers Co. 4 17 6.
      15th= Febrifuge Ingredients for Jon. Romage ... Capt. Greers Compy. 3 5 0.
      16th= visit 4 miles 40s/6 cooling powders ₤3 for Jon: Ramage ... Capt. Greers Co. 5 0 0.
      3 1/2 ozs saline mixture ₤5 for Jon: Ramage ... Capt. Greers Compy. 5 0 0.
      Vomit 32s/6...for Isaac Adair...Capt. Greer's Company. 1 12 6.
      ninety six District
      July 31st 79
      Personally appeared before me one of the States Justices of the peace Wm Boss... and made oath that the above acct: is Just and true ... /S/ J.S. Hayes JP; For Doctr: George Ross /S/ Wm Ross.
      Augst. 4 1779
      I Dow hear by sertifi that the above Serves Was Don by My orders this from under my Hand this day a bove wrten /S/ Coll Jas Williams."

      2. 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 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, daughter of James and Eleanor Adair. Unsure which John Jones this may be. Our John Jones died before Sep 1788."

      3. Father was James Montgomery who was prominent in Laurens Co., SC, as one of the judges of the county court. He is mentioned in many court records and also as a neighbor with the Adairs in the County's early records. Jett Hanna [jettplane@aol.com], a descendant of this couple and also of Robert Hanna whose son married Sarah Adair, a daughter of this couple states: "Robert Hanna] took over as JP from James Montgomery in 1791 when James M.'s health began to fail him - I have the petition that was circulated to get Robert appointed to that position. Robert had served as a JP earlier as well. I think Montgomery was also a legislator."

      4. 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.]:
      "James Adair. Dec. 1747 in Pa., d. 23 Mar. 1831, in Ind., mar. Rebecca Montgomery, b. 20 Oct. 1750. d. 29 Sept. 1835.
      James Adair owned land on Duncan Creek and land adjacent the Enoree River, including a grant of 144 a. to himself; also, 150 a. on the N side of Enoree River in Spartanburg Co. He is identified in early deeds as James Adair,"Saddler". After the death of James Adair, Sr., cooper whose wife was Eleanor, James Adair, Saddler, was then identified as James Adair, Sr. When James (wife Rebecca Montgomery) moved to Dearborn Co., IN c1803/04, he gave Power-of-Attorney to his brother Benjamin Adair to sell his lands in SC. (Deed Bk. G, p. 666), There in not much documentation in Laurens Co. records for names of the children of James and Rebecca Adair; however, two of their sons remained here for several years. In 1804, by POA, James Adair. Sr. sold to his sons, Joseph Adair and George R. Adair, jointly, 110 a, on Enoree River, part of land he had purchased from the widow of Nathaniel Hillen and also 144 a. on Enoree River which had been granted to himself. (Deed Bk. J, pp. 161162; Deed Bk, A. p. 308). In 1807, Joseph Adair sold his ½ interest in the above mentioned tracts to his brother, George R. Adair. Rachel Adair, wife of Joseph, released her dower right (Bk. J, pp. 160-66). According to Indiana data, Joseph Adair died there 3 July 1839.
      George R. Adair continued to live in Laurens Co. where he appears on tho census of 1820. By Oct. 1826, he was living in Gwinnett Co., Ga. c1800. George R. Adair married Rachel Musgrove, daughter of Edward Musgrove. She was half-sister of Mary Musgrove Berry of Revo. fame.
      Some of the children of James and Rebecca Adair:
      Joseph Adair, died 3 July 1839 (Ind.), mar. Rachel ___.
      George R. Adair, to GA, mar. Rachel Musgrove.
      From Indiana data:
      Margaret Jane Adair, b. 1773 mar. John Ewing.
      Rebecca Adair, b. 2 Aug. 1786, mar. James Remy.
      John Adair
      Jane Adair. mar, ___ Eads.
      Isaac Adair, b. 30 July 1792, mar. Jane Holland or Harlan.
      Lucretia Adair. mar. John Wildridge.
      James Adair"

      5. Laurens County Estate Book A-1, p. 52-53: "Will of James Montgomery of the Dist. of Ninety Six... to my two daughters Rebecca Adair & Isabella Ross, one cow & calf; to Margret my wife, all money in hand & that may be due me, furniture, & cattle with plantation on which we live, 150 acres; also one other tract of 466 acres in Greenville County on Harrolds branch of Enoree, granted to Wm. Lacey, sold to Thos Pearson & was since attached & sold at Sheriffs sale & purchased by me; son in law Jas Adair Exr with my wife, 17 Aug 1791. Jas Montgomery (Seal), Wit: Wm Craig, John Craig, Isabella Craig."

      BURIAL:
      1. Find-a-grave accessed 13 Dec 2013, section 5, row 10, James/Rebecca/John/Benjamin, tombstone photos:
      Memorial #68276106: "Sacred to the memory of Rebecca consort of James Adair who departed this life Sep. 29th A.D. 1835 aged 84 years 11 months & 9 days."
      Memorial #38947979: "Sacred to the memory of James Adair who departed this life March 23rd A.D. 1831 aged 83 years & 4 months."