THE STORY OF DAVID
David Adams, the grandfather of Revolutionary War veterans Jesse Jr & Bryant Adams was likely born during the first decade of the 18th century, a son of Thomas & Elizabeth Adams of Prince George County, Virginia. His father died during 1722 and that elaborate will plus sibling migration details and court records following David's own death 26 years later provide valuable details helping us to know more about David and his family than would otherwise be possible and to establish which of Thomas & Elizabeth's sons provide the link between the veterans and their great grandparents
From Thomas Senior's 1722 will we learn that David was one of seven children -- Thomas Junior, William, David, Henry, Benjamin, Elizabeth & Mary -- and at that time they were residing in Martins Brandon Parish of Prince George County, Virginia. The Parish extended all the way from the south bank of the James River east of the Jamestown settlement to Virginia's southern border and researchers have placed Thomas place of death at both extremes. The southern edge would include the Three Creeks area where we know the sons settled during the two decades following his death (linking with what is documented by sibling Revolutionary War pension records as well as records within jurisdictions encompassing or adjacent to Three Creeks/ Adams Grove).
Thomas Sr's will may or may not have listed his sons in order of their birth listing David third and Henry fourth but from Henry's adult son serving as co-administrator of Davids 1748 estate leaving twelve orphans too young to serve in that capacity Henry was likely a few years older than David. (Henry's oldest son was born prior to 1727 while David's children were all born during the1730s & 1740s)
Of Thomas & Elizabeth's children we learn that Thomas Junior had apparently "left the nest" and William was assigned the role of caring for widowed Elizabeth (and their minor children until youngest son Benjamin was grown) until her death in return for which he would inherit ALL of his father's land. Cash or crop bequests were made in addition to animals, personal property, etc to all David's siblings as well as to him in order to later acquire their own property. William and both sisters (and likely Thomas Junior) were married. A remainder interest in estate assets at the direction of widow Elizabeth was to be divided following her death specifically between David, Henry and Benjamin suggesting that older siblings Henry & William as well as the daughters may have been from an earlier marriage
Using their inheritance on 24 Mar 1725 siblings Henry Adams purchased 150 acres on the South side of Nottaway River and South side of the Three Creeks while that same day Thomas purchased 100A on the South side of Nottoway River. on the North side of the 3 Creeks & South side of Plowman's Swamp (Per Nugent's Cavaliers & Pioneers -- VA Patent Bk #2) . Both would later be involved in connection with David's own estate, These locations are in close proximity to what became known as "Adams Grove" in Southampton County. Two decades later David obtained land close to Henry. The 12 Jan 1745 patent to David Adams describes this land as 175 acres on the south side of Three Creeks north of Longmeadow Branch. We learn from Southasmpton County court records during several years of bickering over ultimate distribution of David's estate assets and care of orphaned children that much transpired during those decades including multiple unrecorded marriages and births of at least twelve children -- Robert, Jesse, Henry, Mary. Benjamin, Elizabeth, John, David Jr, Lucy, Sarah, Reuben & Thomas
Where was David during those two decades? Most likely along with younger brother Benjamin he remained in the household now headed by older brother William until adulthood. Clearly he was married and had a family beginning in the early 1730s
David died prior to 5/20/1748 just three years after acquiring his 3 Creeks property. This was the year before Southampton County was formed from Isle of Wight County. IOW County acted promptly to process the estate and their records indicate that:
Adams, David, v1, p4
1748 May 20
The Estate of David Adams deceased
( L s p)
To Benjamin Beard 10- 15- 4 1/2
To John Adams 1- 6- 6
To John Killegrew 0- 4- 0
To Mary Blake 1- 2- 2 1/4
To Joshua Cloyd 0- 10- 7 1/2
To George Harper 0- 10- 9
To Daniel Roberts 0- 15- 6
To Edward Lundy 0- 2- 6
To William Womack 0- 7- 0
To R Kello 57 18 N Tob @ 14/ 0-7-11
To a Lawyers fee 0-15-0
To my Trouble in the management of this estate 5-10-7
22-15-11 1/4
To Balance Contra
95-15-6 1/4
L118-11-5 ½
By the Sale of the Estate 96-19-9
By cash for tobacco 7-17-2
By ditto 3-0-0
By do Wm Jones Lands 2-0-0
By cash in the house 8-14-6 1/2
Errors excepted Henry Adams & John Adams L118-11-5 1/2
The above amount audited & find it rightly tottled
Jas Ridley -- Peter Butts
Isle of Wight Co Deed Book
Ordered May 19, 1748. R. March 9, 1748 (old calendar)
DAVID ADAMS: Estate appraised by HARMON READ, WILLIAM LEE, WILLIAM WOMMACK,
Signed: ROBERT ADAMS
Proceeds were handed over to ROBERT ADAMS, David's oldest son.
.."Book 194" excerpt in Southampton library indicates David's will was dated 5/20/1748 and probated 11/9/1749. Appears it was an administration rather than a will
Southampton County came into being in 1749 and it took only a few pages from their first Court Order Book for fireworks to begin (which coincidentally permit us to identify those twelve orphaned children of David.) It turns out that Robert was under 21, the legal age to sell land. Reopened estate administrators Henry & John (David's brother and Henry's son not to be confused with David's son "Orphan John") filed a court action for return of the proceeds that had been officially turned over to Robert under IOW jurisdiction.
Robert had sold the land the children inherited from David to widowed Olive Howell who was about to remarry. (likely his cousin Olive, daughter of David's older brother Thomas)
"On 6 Mar 1749 Robert Adams sold 175A on the south side Three Creeks (north of Longmeadow Branch) from a 12 Jan 1745 patent to David Adams". At the same time he also sold an adjacent 175 acres David had acquired from its original owner
Henry & John later filed suit against Olive, her father (Henry's own brother) & her new husband trying to invalidate the sale. Then they went after others thought to have estate assets in their possession Their requests were denied but ultimately Robert turned over all proceeds for court oversight
One by one over the next several years adults representing orphaned children of David filed suit against the administrators.
Southampton County Order Book #1 --
begins with Court June 1749
Name Page Guardian
re Robert p13 Henry vs Robert to deliver estate
p23 estate delivered to court & in order
"Infant" Henry p29 Thomas Moore gdn
against Robert p35 Henry & John Adams for attachment
Orphan Sarah p80 Samuel Worthington
Orphan Benjamin p153 Thomas Adams & Burwell Atkinson
(attachment vs guardians of Benjamin)
(Burwell had married Olive Howell)
(Sarah) p174 attachment order vs gdn Samuel W
(11/1751 Court begins on p179)
(Henry) p185 Bill of complaint vs gdn Thomas Moore
(Robert) p190 Robert moved -- attachment vs gdns
Orphan John p200 (Bill of complaint vs Gdn John)
p205 John removed as gdn
Mary Adams p224, John Ivey & Mary his wife vs Henry Adams for her distributive share of her father David Adams' estate -- awarded L8
Orphan David p237 William Thompson
Orphan Lucy p238 Edward Shelton / John Ivey
Orphan Reuben p238 Edward Shelton / Benjamin Adams
(Adminisrtion) p272 Henry & John motion to settle
Robert p303 attachment dismissed
p365 Sarah paid her share
Jesse p393 filed as tithe - no estate claim
Orphan Thomas p400 gdn name not copied
Order Book #2 -- 1959/63
Elizabeth p48 gdn James Bell vs Henry - June 1760
(dismissed because estate closed but Hannah Bell ties the knot of Elizabeth as a proper heir in 1766 by her Sussex County will showing ITEM. I give and bequeath to Elizabeth Adams the Daughter of David Adams one bed and furniture to her and her heirs forever)
Following their deaths quite likely both he and his brother Henry Adams Sr along with their families were buried either on their respective farms or in a nearby graveyard. Both are known to have died very near Adams Grove. No 18th century Adams gravestones have been found but they may be among the unmarked graves noted within the Old Adams Grove and/or Adams Farm Cemeteries
=====
David Adams, the grandfather of Revolutionary War veterans Jesse Jr & Bryant Adams was likely born during the first decade of the 18th century, a son of Thomas & Elizabeth Adams of Prince George County, Virginia. His father died during 1722 and that elaborate will plus sibling migration details and court records following David's own death 26 years later provide valuable details helping us to know more about David and his family than would otherwise be possible and to establish which of Thomas & Elizabeth's sons provide the link between the veterans and their great grandparents
From Thomas Senior's 1722 will we learn that David was one of seven children -- Thomas Junior, William, David, Henry, Benjamin, Elizabeth & Mary -- and at that time they were residing in Martins Brandon Parish of Prince George County, Virginia. The Parish extended all the way from the south bank of the James River east of the Jamestown settlement to Virginia's southern border and researchers have placed Thomas place of death at both extremes. The southern edge would include the Three Creeks area where we know the sons settled during the two decades following his death (linking with what is documented by sibling Revolutionary War pension records as well as records within jurisdictions encompassing or adjacent to Three Creeks/ Adams Grove).
Thomas Sr's will may or may not have listed his sons in order of their birth listing David third and Henry fourth but from Henry's adult son serving as co-administrator of Davids 1748 estate leaving twelve orphans too young to serve in that capacity Henry was likely a few years older than David. (Henry's oldest son was born prior to 1727 while David's children were all born during the1730s & 1740s)
Of Thomas & Elizabeth's children we learn that Thomas Junior had apparently "left the nest" and William was assigned the role of caring for widowed Elizabeth (and their minor children until youngest son Benjamin was grown) until her death in return for which he would inherit ALL of his father's land. Cash or crop bequests were made in addition to animals, personal property, etc to all David's siblings as well as to him in order to later acquire their own property. William and both sisters (and likely Thomas Junior) were married. A remainder interest in estate assets at the direction of widow Elizabeth was to be divided following her death specifically between David, Henry and Benjamin suggesting that older siblings Henry & William as well as the daughters may have been from an earlier marriage
Using their inheritance on 24 Mar 1725 siblings Henry Adams purchased 150 acres on the South side of Nottaway River and South side of the Three Creeks while that same day Thomas purchased 100A on the South side of Nottoway River. on the North side of the 3 Creeks & South side of Plowman's Swamp (Per Nugent's Cavaliers & Pioneers -- VA Patent Bk #2) . Both would later be involved in connection with David's own estate, These locations are in close proximity to what became known as "Adams Grove" in Southampton County. Two decades later David obtained land close to Henry. The 12 Jan 1745 patent to David Adams describes this land as 175 acres on the south side of Three Creeks north of Longmeadow Branch. We learn from Southasmpton County court records during several years of bickering over ultimate distribution of David's estate assets and care of orphaned children that much transpired during those decades including multiple unrecorded marriages and births of at least twelve children -- Robert, Jesse, Henry, Mary. Benjamin, Elizabeth, John, David Jr, Lucy, Sarah, Reuben & Thomas
Where was David during those two decades? Most likely along with younger brother Benjamin he remained in the household now headed by older brother William until adulthood. Clearly he was married and had a family beginning in the early 1730s
David died prior to 5/20/1748 just three years after acquiring his 3 Creeks property. This was the year before Southampton County was formed from Isle of Wight County. IOW County acted promptly to process the estate and their records indicate that:
Adams, David, v1, p4
1748 May 20
The Estate of David Adams deceased
( L s p)
To Benjamin Beard 10- 15- 4 1/2
To John Adams 1- 6- 6
To John Killegrew 0- 4- 0
To Mary Blake 1- 2- 2 1/4
To Joshua Cloyd 0- 10- 7 1/2
To George Harper 0- 10- 9
To Daniel Roberts 0- 15- 6
To Edward Lundy 0- 2- 6
To William Womack 0- 7- 0
To R Kello 57 18 N Tob @ 14/ 0-7-11
To a Lawyers fee 0-15-0
To my Trouble in the management of this estate 5-10-7
22-15-11 1/4
To Balance Contra
95-15-6 1/4
L118-11-5 ½
By the Sale of the Estate 96-19-9
By cash for tobacco 7-17-2
By ditto 3-0-0
By do Wm Jones Lands 2-0-0
By cash in the house 8-14-6 1/2
Errors excepted Henry Adams & John Adams L118-11-5 1/2
The above amount audited & find it rightly tottled
Jas Ridley -- Peter Butts
Isle of Wight Co Deed Book
Ordered May 19, 1748. R. March 9, 1748 (old calendar)
DAVID ADAMS: Estate appraised by HARMON READ, WILLIAM LEE, WILLIAM WOMMACK,
Signed: ROBERT ADAMS
Proceeds were handed over to ROBERT ADAMS, David's oldest son.
.."Book 194" excerpt in Southampton library indicates David's will was dated 5/20/1748 and probated 11/9/1749. Appears it was an administration rather than a will
Southampton County came into being in 1749 and it took only a few pages from their first Court Order Book for fireworks to begin (which coincidentally permit us to identify those twelve orphaned children of David.) It turns out that Robert was under 21, the legal age to sell land. Reopened estate administrators Henry & John (David's brother and Henry's son not to be confused with David's son "Orphan John") filed a court action for return of the proceeds that had been officially turned over to Robert under IOW jurisdiction.
Robert had sold the land the children inherited from David to widowed Olive Howell who was about to remarry. (likely his cousin Olive, daughter of David's older brother Thomas)
"On 6 Mar 1749 Robert Adams sold 175A on the south side Three Creeks (north of Longmeadow Branch) from a 12 Jan 1745 patent to David Adams". At the same time he also sold an adjacent 175 acres David had acquired from its original owner
Henry & John later filed suit against Olive, her father (Henry's own brother) & her new husband trying to invalidate the sale. Then they went after others thought to have estate assets in their possession Their requests were denied but ultimately Robert turned over all proceeds for court oversight
One by one over the next several years adults representing orphaned children of David filed suit against the administrators.
Southampton County Order Book #1 --
begins with Court June 1749
Name Page Guardian
re Robert p13 Henry vs Robert to deliver estate
p23 estate delivered to court & in order
"Infant" Henry p29 Thomas Moore gdn
against Robert p35 Henry & John Adams for attachment
Orphan Sarah p80 Samuel Worthington
Orphan Benjamin p153 Thomas Adams & Burwell Atkinson
(attachment vs guardians of Benjamin)
(Burwell had married Olive Howell)
(Sarah) p174 attachment order vs gdn Samuel W
(11/1751 Court begins on p179)
(Henry) p185 Bill of complaint vs gdn Thomas Moore
(Robert) p190 Robert moved -- attachment vs gdns
Orphan John p200 (Bill of complaint vs Gdn John)
p205 John removed as gdn
Mary Adams p224, John Ivey & Mary his wife vs Henry Adams for her distributive share of her father David Adams' estate -- awarded L8
Orphan David p237 William Thompson
Orphan Lucy p238 Edward Shelton / John Ivey
Orphan Reuben p238 Edward Shelton / Benjamin Adams
(Adminisrtion) p272 Henry & John motion to settle
Robert p303 attachment dismissed
p365 Sarah paid her share
Jesse p393 filed as tithe - no estate claim
Orphan Thomas p400 gdn name not copied
Order Book #2 -- 1959/63
Elizabeth p48 gdn James Bell vs Henry - June 1760
(dismissed because estate closed but Hannah Bell ties the knot of Elizabeth as a proper heir in 1766 by her Sussex County will showing ITEM. I give and bequeath to Elizabeth Adams the Daughter of David Adams one bed and furniture to her and her heirs forever)
Following their deaths quite likely both he and his brother Henry Adams Sr along with their families were buried either on their respective farms or in a nearby graveyard. Both are known to have died very near Adams Grove. No 18th century Adams gravestones have been found but they may be among the unmarked graves noted within the Old Adams Grove and/or Adams Farm Cemeteries
=====
THE STORY OF DAVID
David Adams, the grandfather of Revolutionary War veterans Jesse Jr & Bryant Adams was likely born during the first decade of the 18th century, a son of Thomas & Elizabeth Adams of Prince George County, Virginia. His father died during 1722 and that elaborate will plus sibling migration details and court records following David's own death 26 years later provide valuable details helping us to know more about David and his family than would otherwise be possible and to establish which of Thomas & Elizabeth's sons provide the link between the veterans and their great grandparents
From Thomas Senior's 1722 will we learn that David was one of seven children -- Thomas Junior, William, David, Henry, Benjamin, Elizabeth & Mary -- and at that time they were residing in Martins Brandon Parish of Prince George County, Virginia. The Parish extended all the way from the south bank of the James River east of the Jamestown settlement to Virginia's southern border and researchers have placed Thomas place of death at both extremes. The southern edge would include the Three Creeks area where we know the sons settled during the two decades following his death (linking with what is documented by sibling Revolutionary War pension records as well as records within jurisdictions encompassing or adjacent to Three Creeks/ Adams Grove).
Thomas Sr's will may or may not have listed his sons in order of their birth listing David third and Henry fourth but from Henry's adult son serving as co-administrator of Davids 1748 estate leaving twelve orphans too young to serve in that capacity Henry was likely a few years older than David. (Henry's oldest son was born prior to 1727 while David's children were all born during the1730s & 1740s)
Of Thomas & Elizabeth's children we learn that Thomas Junior had apparently "left the nest" and William was assigned the role of caring for widowed Elizabeth (and their minor children until youngest son Benjamin was grown) until her death in return for which he would inherit ALL of his father's land. Cash or crop bequests were made in addition to animals, personal property, etc to all David's siblings as well as to him in order to later acquire their own property. William and both sisters (and likely Thomas Junior) were married. A remainder interest in estate assets at the direction of widow Elizabeth was to be divided following her death specifically between David, Henry and Benjamin suggesting that older siblings Henry & William as well as the daughters may have been from an earlier marriage
Using their inheritance on 24 Mar 1725 siblings Henry Adams purchased 150 acres on the South side of Nottaway River and South side of the Three Creeks while that same day Thomas purchased 100A on the South side of Nottoway River. on the North side of the 3 Creeks & South side of Plowman's Swamp (Per Nugent's Cavaliers & Pioneers -- VA Patent Bk #2) . Both would later be involved in connection with David's own estate, These locations are in close proximity to what became known as "Adams Grove" in Southampton County. Two decades later David obtained land close to Henry. The 12 Jan 1745 patent to David Adams describes this land as 175 acres on the south side of Three Creeks north of Longmeadow Branch. We learn from Southasmpton County court records during several years of bickering over ultimate distribution of David's estate assets and care of orphaned children that much transpired during those decades including multiple unrecorded marriages and births of at least twelve children -- Robert, Jesse, Henry, Mary. Benjamin, Elizabeth, John, David Jr, Lucy, Sarah, Reuben & Thomas
Where was David during those two decades? Most likely along with younger brother Benjamin he remained in the household now headed by older brother William until adulthood. Clearly he was married and had a family beginning in the early 1730s
David died prior to 5/20/1748 just three years after acquiring his 3 Creeks property. This was the year before Southampton County was formed from Isle of Wight County. IOW County acted promptly to process the estate and their records indicate that:
Adams, David, v1, p4
1748 May 20
The Estate of David Adams deceased
( L s p)
To Benjamin Beard 10- 15- 4 1/2
To John Adams 1- 6- 6
To John Killegrew 0- 4- 0
To Mary Blake 1- 2- 2 1/4
To Joshua Cloyd 0- 10- 7 1/2
To George Harper 0- 10- 9
To Daniel Roberts 0- 15- 6
To Edward Lundy 0- 2- 6
To William Womack 0- 7- 0
To R Kello 57 18 N Tob @ 14/ 0-7-11
To a Lawyers fee 0-15-0
To my Trouble in the management of this estate 5-10-7
22-15-11 1/4
To Balance Contra
95-15-6 1/4
L118-11-5 ½
By the Sale of the Estate 96-19-9
By cash for tobacco 7-17-2
By ditto 3-0-0
By do Wm Jones Lands 2-0-0
By cash in the house 8-14-6 1/2
Errors excepted Henry Adams & John Adams L118-11-5 1/2
The above amount audited & find it rightly tottled
Jas Ridley -- Peter Butts
Isle of Wight Co Deed Book
Ordered May 19, 1748. R. March 9, 1748 (old calendar)
DAVID ADAMS: Estate appraised by HARMON READ, WILLIAM LEE, WILLIAM WOMMACK,
Signed: ROBERT ADAMS
Proceeds were handed over to ROBERT ADAMS, David's oldest son.
.."Book 194" excerpt in Southampton library indicates David's will was dated 5/20/1748 and probated 11/9/1749. Appears it was an administration rather than a will
Southampton County came into being in 1749 and it took only a few pages from their first Court Order Book for fireworks to begin (which coincidentally permit us to identify those twelve orphaned children of David.) It turns out that Robert was under 21, the legal age to sell land. Reopened estate administrators Henry & John (David's brother and Henry's son not to be confused with David's son "Orphan John") filed a court action for return of the proceeds that had been officially turned over to Robert under IOW jurisdiction.
Robert had sold the land the children inherited from David to widowed Olive Howell who was about to remarry. (likely his cousin Olive, daughter of David's older brother Thomas)
"On 6 Mar 1749 Robert Adams sold 175A on the south side Three Creeks (north of Longmeadow Branch) from a 12 Jan 1745 patent to David Adams". At the same time he also sold an adjacent 175 acres David had acquired from its original owner
Henry & John later filed suit against Olive, her father (Henry's own brother) & her new husband trying to invalidate the sale. Then they went after others thought to have estate assets in their possession Their requests were denied but ultimately Robert turned over all proceeds for court oversight
One by one over the next several years adults representing orphaned children of David filed suit against the administrators.
Southampton County Order Book #1 --
begins with Court June 1749
Name Page Guardian
re Robert p13 Henry vs Robert to deliver estate
p23 estate delivered to court & in order
"Infant" Henry p29 Thomas Moore gdn
against Robert p35 Henry & John Adams for attachment
Orphan Sarah p80 Samuel Worthington
Orphan Benjamin p153 Thomas Adams & Burwell Atkinson
(attachment vs guardians of Benjamin)
(Burwell had married Olive Howell)
(Sarah) p174 attachment order vs gdn Samuel W
(11/1751 Court begins on p179)
(Henry) p185 Bill of complaint vs gdn Thomas Moore
(Robert) p190 Robert moved -- attachment vs gdns
Orphan John p200 (Bill of complaint vs Gdn John)
p205 John removed as gdn
Mary Adams p224, John Ivey & Mary his wife vs Henry Adams for her distributive share of her father David Adams' estate -- awarded L8
Orphan David p237 William Thompson
Orphan Lucy p238 Edward Shelton / John Ivey
Orphan Reuben p238 Edward Shelton / Benjamin Adams
(Adminisrtion) p272 Henry & John motion to settle
Robert p303 attachment dismissed
p365 Sarah paid her share
Jesse p393 filed as tithe - no estate claim
Orphan Thomas p400 gdn name not copied
Order Book #2 -- 1959/63
Elizabeth p48 gdn James Bell vs Henry - June 1760
(dismissed because estate closed but Hannah Bell ties the knot of Elizabeth as a proper heir in 1766 by her Sussex County will showing ITEM. I give and bequeath to Elizabeth Adams the Daughter of David Adams one bed and furniture to her and her heirs forever)
Following their deaths quite likely both he and his brother Henry Adams Sr along with their families were buried either on their respective farms or in a nearby graveyard. Both are known to have died very near Adams Grove. No 18th century Adams gravestones have been found but they may be among the unmarked graves noted within the Old Adams Grove and/or Adams Farm Cemeteries
=====
David Adams, the grandfather of Revolutionary War veterans Jesse Jr & Bryant Adams was likely born during the first decade of the 18th century, a son of Thomas & Elizabeth Adams of Prince George County, Virginia. His father died during 1722 and that elaborate will plus sibling migration details and court records following David's own death 26 years later provide valuable details helping us to know more about David and his family than would otherwise be possible and to establish which of Thomas & Elizabeth's sons provide the link between the veterans and their great grandparents
From Thomas Senior's 1722 will we learn that David was one of seven children -- Thomas Junior, William, David, Henry, Benjamin, Elizabeth & Mary -- and at that time they were residing in Martins Brandon Parish of Prince George County, Virginia. The Parish extended all the way from the south bank of the James River east of the Jamestown settlement to Virginia's southern border and researchers have placed Thomas place of death at both extremes. The southern edge would include the Three Creeks area where we know the sons settled during the two decades following his death (linking with what is documented by sibling Revolutionary War pension records as well as records within jurisdictions encompassing or adjacent to Three Creeks/ Adams Grove).
Thomas Sr's will may or may not have listed his sons in order of their birth listing David third and Henry fourth but from Henry's adult son serving as co-administrator of Davids 1748 estate leaving twelve orphans too young to serve in that capacity Henry was likely a few years older than David. (Henry's oldest son was born prior to 1727 while David's children were all born during the1730s & 1740s)
Of Thomas & Elizabeth's children we learn that Thomas Junior had apparently "left the nest" and William was assigned the role of caring for widowed Elizabeth (and their minor children until youngest son Benjamin was grown) until her death in return for which he would inherit ALL of his father's land. Cash or crop bequests were made in addition to animals, personal property, etc to all David's siblings as well as to him in order to later acquire their own property. William and both sisters (and likely Thomas Junior) were married. A remainder interest in estate assets at the direction of widow Elizabeth was to be divided following her death specifically between David, Henry and Benjamin suggesting that older siblings Henry & William as well as the daughters may have been from an earlier marriage
Using their inheritance on 24 Mar 1725 siblings Henry Adams purchased 150 acres on the South side of Nottaway River and South side of the Three Creeks while that same day Thomas purchased 100A on the South side of Nottoway River. on the North side of the 3 Creeks & South side of Plowman's Swamp (Per Nugent's Cavaliers & Pioneers -- VA Patent Bk #2) . Both would later be involved in connection with David's own estate, These locations are in close proximity to what became known as "Adams Grove" in Southampton County. Two decades later David obtained land close to Henry. The 12 Jan 1745 patent to David Adams describes this land as 175 acres on the south side of Three Creeks north of Longmeadow Branch. We learn from Southasmpton County court records during several years of bickering over ultimate distribution of David's estate assets and care of orphaned children that much transpired during those decades including multiple unrecorded marriages and births of at least twelve children -- Robert, Jesse, Henry, Mary. Benjamin, Elizabeth, John, David Jr, Lucy, Sarah, Reuben & Thomas
Where was David during those two decades? Most likely along with younger brother Benjamin he remained in the household now headed by older brother William until adulthood. Clearly he was married and had a family beginning in the early 1730s
David died prior to 5/20/1748 just three years after acquiring his 3 Creeks property. This was the year before Southampton County was formed from Isle of Wight County. IOW County acted promptly to process the estate and their records indicate that:
Adams, David, v1, p4
1748 May 20
The Estate of David Adams deceased
( L s p)
To Benjamin Beard 10- 15- 4 1/2
To John Adams 1- 6- 6
To John Killegrew 0- 4- 0
To Mary Blake 1- 2- 2 1/4
To Joshua Cloyd 0- 10- 7 1/2
To George Harper 0- 10- 9
To Daniel Roberts 0- 15- 6
To Edward Lundy 0- 2- 6
To William Womack 0- 7- 0
To R Kello 57 18 N Tob @ 14/ 0-7-11
To a Lawyers fee 0-15-0
To my Trouble in the management of this estate 5-10-7
22-15-11 1/4
To Balance Contra
95-15-6 1/4
L118-11-5 ½
By the Sale of the Estate 96-19-9
By cash for tobacco 7-17-2
By ditto 3-0-0
By do Wm Jones Lands 2-0-0
By cash in the house 8-14-6 1/2
Errors excepted Henry Adams & John Adams L118-11-5 1/2
The above amount audited & find it rightly tottled
Jas Ridley -- Peter Butts
Isle of Wight Co Deed Book
Ordered May 19, 1748. R. March 9, 1748 (old calendar)
DAVID ADAMS: Estate appraised by HARMON READ, WILLIAM LEE, WILLIAM WOMMACK,
Signed: ROBERT ADAMS
Proceeds were handed over to ROBERT ADAMS, David's oldest son.
.."Book 194" excerpt in Southampton library indicates David's will was dated 5/20/1748 and probated 11/9/1749. Appears it was an administration rather than a will
Southampton County came into being in 1749 and it took only a few pages from their first Court Order Book for fireworks to begin (which coincidentally permit us to identify those twelve orphaned children of David.) It turns out that Robert was under 21, the legal age to sell land. Reopened estate administrators Henry & John (David's brother and Henry's son not to be confused with David's son "Orphan John") filed a court action for return of the proceeds that had been officially turned over to Robert under IOW jurisdiction.
Robert had sold the land the children inherited from David to widowed Olive Howell who was about to remarry. (likely his cousin Olive, daughter of David's older brother Thomas)
"On 6 Mar 1749 Robert Adams sold 175A on the south side Three Creeks (north of Longmeadow Branch) from a 12 Jan 1745 patent to David Adams". At the same time he also sold an adjacent 175 acres David had acquired from its original owner
Henry & John later filed suit against Olive, her father (Henry's own brother) & her new husband trying to invalidate the sale. Then they went after others thought to have estate assets in their possession Their requests were denied but ultimately Robert turned over all proceeds for court oversight
One by one over the next several years adults representing orphaned children of David filed suit against the administrators.
Southampton County Order Book #1 --
begins with Court June 1749
Name Page Guardian
re Robert p13 Henry vs Robert to deliver estate
p23 estate delivered to court & in order
"Infant" Henry p29 Thomas Moore gdn
against Robert p35 Henry & John Adams for attachment
Orphan Sarah p80 Samuel Worthington
Orphan Benjamin p153 Thomas Adams & Burwell Atkinson
(attachment vs guardians of Benjamin)
(Burwell had married Olive Howell)
(Sarah) p174 attachment order vs gdn Samuel W
(11/1751 Court begins on p179)
(Henry) p185 Bill of complaint vs gdn Thomas Moore
(Robert) p190 Robert moved -- attachment vs gdns
Orphan John p200 (Bill of complaint vs Gdn John)
p205 John removed as gdn
Mary Adams p224, John Ivey & Mary his wife vs Henry Adams for her distributive share of her father David Adams' estate -- awarded L8
Orphan David p237 William Thompson
Orphan Lucy p238 Edward Shelton / John Ivey
Orphan Reuben p238 Edward Shelton / Benjamin Adams
(Adminisrtion) p272 Henry & John motion to settle
Robert p303 attachment dismissed
p365 Sarah paid her share
Jesse p393 filed as tithe - no estate claim
Orphan Thomas p400 gdn name not copied
Order Book #2 -- 1959/63
Elizabeth p48 gdn James Bell vs Henry - June 1760
(dismissed because estate closed but Hannah Bell ties the knot of Elizabeth as a proper heir in 1766 by her Sussex County will showing ITEM. I give and bequeath to Elizabeth Adams the Daughter of David Adams one bed and furniture to her and her heirs forever)
Following their deaths quite likely both he and his brother Henry Adams Sr along with their families were buried either on their respective farms or in a nearby graveyard. Both are known to have died very near Adams Grove. No 18th century Adams gravestones have been found but they may be among the unmarked graves noted within the Old Adams Grove and/or Adams Farm Cemeteries
=====
Family Members
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
