Thomas Adams Sr. (1758 - 1836)

Born 5 Jun 1758 in Goochland, Virginia

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 4 Feb 1836 at age 77 in Elbert, Georgia, United States

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Biography

Thomas Adams was born in 1758, probably in Virginia or North Carolina, and died in 1836, in Elbert County, Georgia. The following is his testimony to William H. Crawford, Judge of the Inferior Court of Elbert County, Georgia. This testimony was given in order for his wife, Sarah (Salley), to obtain benefit of the provisions (pension or annuity) made by the Act of Congress passed June 7, 1832. His testimony, as written by the judge:

He enlisted in the Army of the United States in the month of May or June in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy nine, with Captain William Courtly and served in the (unreadable) regiment of the (unreadable) under the following named officers: to wit, Colonel Francis Taylor, Major John Roberts and Captain William Courtly, and left the service in the spring of the year, one thousand seven hundred and eighty one. That he resided in Albermarle County, State of Virginia when he enlisted in the service of the United States and was appointed Sergeant, (unreadable), his regiment at a place called Albermarle Barracks in the State of Virginia where he was mostly stationed during his term of service. Marched from there to Winchester, State of Virginia as a guard to prisoners, and remained at that place until he was discharged from service.

This testimony was taken from the actual records found in the TexShare website under Revolutionary Soldiers. Also found in the website was testimony from his older brother, James, who also served in the Revolutionary War. He was a member of the Minutemen when he was called into active duty. He served a few months and returned home to his wife and family to tend to family matters. They were living in Virginia. At this time, he enlisted his brother, Thomas, to serve in his place. Thomas served for approximately two years. James eventually went back into active duty and continued his service, until he was mustered out.

Name

Thomas Ford Adams Sr.^[1]

Birth

Date: 1758

Place: VA^[2]

Children

Register of the ages of Thomas Adams & Salley his Wife's Children -- Thomas & Salley were married the 4th day of October, 1786

1. Elizabeth E., born the 15th day of July 1787.
2. Thomas F. Adams, born the 5th day of June 1791.
3. Mourning McL, born born the 8th of February 1793.
4. James B., born the 25th of March 1795.
5. Calvrain, born the 9th day of March 1797.
6. Richard C., born born the 24th day of June 1798.
7. Abner Adams, born the 16th day of March 1800.
8. John, born the 30th day of May 1801.
9. Nicholas M., born the 29th day of July 1804.

Slaves

• 1830 US Census: 5 slaves ^[3]

Death

Date: 1786

Place: Elbert, Georgia, United States^[4]

Buried Thomas Adams Graveyard.

Note: { geni:about_me} A Patriot of the American Revolution for VIRGINIA with the rank of SERGEANT. [http:/services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb?action=full&p_id=A000754 DAR Ancestor # A000754].

Son of James and Cecily (Ford) Adams. Born in Albemarle County, VA. Served as a "substitute" for his brother James Adams in militia units during Revolutionary War. Enlisted in a militia unit commanded by Captain William Courtley a nd Colonel Francis Taylor during the Revolutionary War. He was a sergeant. He was married to Salley Ford 04 Oct 1786 in Virginia. They had nine children. His pension application of Oct 1832 can be read at the following link: http:/files.usgwarchives.net/ga/elbert/military/revwar/pensionsadamstho.txt.

According to "Early Cemeteries and Gravestones: Elbert County Georgia 1798-1919" compiled by the Elbert County Historical Society in 1984 his grave is located in the Thomas Adams graveyard somewhere off of Brewers Mill Rd.

Thomas Adams, Revolutionary soldier. His record as a soldier given in Pension Papers of his brother, James Adams, and he is listed in Elbert Co., GA. Courthouse as a Revolutionary soldier, entitled to two draws in the Land Lottery of 1825. Major Dobb's Battalion, Captain Horton's District - McIntosh's History of Elbert County, GA., page 223. His will is recorded in the Book of Wills, 1835-1860, elbert Co. courthouse.

Moved to Elbert County, Georgia in 1810. Reference: Adams of Virginia by James taylor Adams, Wise, VA. Feb. 1929. aMoved to Elbert Co., GA, Douglas Register, Transcribed and edited, W. Mack Jones.

Information about the children of Thomas Adams and Sarah Ford was taken from a family bible. In possession of Mrs. Frank Westmoreland, 1930, who was Addie Adams, daughter of Rev. John D. Adams, C.S., m. flora Reynolds. John D., s on of John Adams, 1801, m. Nancy Davis. John Adams, son of thomas Adams, Revolutionary soldier. Mrs. Lucindy Harris, a remarkable old lady, lived to be about 90 years old, a direct descendant of thomas Adams, gave me valuable info rmation about the Adams and Thorntons of Virginia, who were early settlers of Elbert Co., Georgia. the names and dates she furnished made it possible to keep the line distinct and make them complete.

One family tradition she told was that the site of richmond, Virginia, formerally belonged to the Adams and that the city does not hold a clear title to it. She remembers hearing, when a child, the elder men of the family discuss ing the advisability of bringing suit to recover the property.

Another tradition was that the Massachusetts Adams and virginia Adams are of the same family but she could not give the connection. Mrs. Harris gave this information to Miss Alpha rogers about 1916.

Thomas Adams and brother James Jr. moved to Elbert Co. GA - James in 1810.

Sources

1. ↑ Record for Mourning Adams [1]
2. ↑ Record for Mourning Adams [2]
3. ↑ 1830 Census: Census Place: Elbert, Georgia; Series: M19; Roll: 17; Page: 159; Family History Library Film: 0007037
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 8058 #1832457 (accessed 11 June 2022)
   Thomas Adams.
4. ↑ Record for Mourning Adams [3] Ancestry Record 60525 #37286144 (accessed 11 June 2022)
   Thomas Adams burial (died on 4 Feb 1836) in Elbert County, Georgia, United States of America.

See Also:

• Find a grave Find A Grave: Memorial #87873057 (Photo of his gravestone with date of death. Page also has some notes on his life. FiindAGrave
• Files on pension application: Pension
• Loper Family Tree Ancestry Family Tree
• Martin Family tree Ancestry Family Tree
• Ancestry Family Tree[4]
• 1810 Census

1850 Census United States War Pension 1812-1816 Virginia County Marriages 1785-1940