Joseph Ross Adams (1820 - 1888)

Born 18 Feb 1820 in Lawrence, Alabama, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Mary Frances (Cravey) Adams — married about 1839 in Texas

Husband of Virginia Newberry (Watts) Adams — married 15 Aug 1882 in Robertson, Texas, United States

Descendants

Died 9 May 1888 at age 68 in Bald Prairie, Robertson, Texas, United States

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Biography

Joseph was born in either Lawrence or Franklin County, Alabama in 1820 to Hopewell Adams and Mary Evans.

Joseph arrived in Texas by 31 Dec 1839 and received a 640 acre Headright grant through the Sabine Land District, based on that date and his status as a married head of household. The sequential listing of Joseph, Mary Adams and H H Adams, their Headright classifications, and census records strongly suggest that Mary was his widowed mother (head of her own household, 640 acres) and H H was his younger unmarried brother (320 acres).

Mary Frances Cravey must have married Joseph by 1839, based on the Texas Headright information. In a Confederate Pension Application by her presumed brother, Andrew Jackson Cravey, he states that the Cravey family arrived in Texas in 1839. There is currently no evidence that the Adams and Cravey families were associated prior to 1839. Mary and Joseph had ten children together:

1. Mary Frances (Adams) Head 1841-1921
2. Martha Jane (Adams) Bevers 1842-1924
3. John Quincy Adams 1846-1919
4. Taylor Adams 1849-
5. Mariah Ann (Adams) Bevers 1850-1932
6. Stephen Henry Blunt Adams 1852-1930
7. Elizabeth (Adams) George 1856-1944
8. James Garrett Adams 1857-1938
9. Travis L Adams 1859-1942
10. Jefferson Davis Adams 1861-1935

Joseph was on the tax roll of San Augustine County in 1846 with 200 acres and on the 1850 census there with his mother, wife, and four children. His occupation was listed as “Printer” and he had real estate with $300 value.

By 1860, Joseph had established himself as a farmer in Robertson County, with $600 in real estate and a personal estate value of $720. His oldest child had married and it appears that son Taylor, born in 1849, had died. His mother, Mary (Evans) Adams, was no longer present, presumed deceased.

In 1861, J R Adams enlisted in Co K 12th Texas Cavalry and served as 2nd Lieutenant. In 1913 his widow , Virginia (second wife), applied for and was awarded a Confederate Soldier’s Pension from the State of Texas, based on his service. His son-in-law, Ezra Eli Head, served in the same unit.

Mary Frances died in 1882 and he married a second time to widow Virginia Newberry (Watts) Hunt. They were the parents of two children:

1. Minta Lee (Adams) Price 1884-1928
2. [Bertie (Adams) Truett 1885-1971

Joseph died in 1888 in Robertson County and is buried at the Texas State Cemetery in Travis County, Texas. HIs probate records are not available online, but the Case File #579 is in Robertson County Court records.

Sources

• "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXLG-FS7 : 23 December 2020), Joseph R Adams, San Augustine, San Augustine, Texas, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

• "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:2:MHGQ-BLN : 18 February 2021), Household of Joseph R Adams, 1860.

• National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington, D.C.; Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Texas; Series Number: M323; Roll: 71], https://www.fold3.com/image/10130648?xid=1022

• "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:2:MC33-34Z : 15 January 2022), Household of Joseph R. Adams, Bald Prairie, Robertson, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district , sheet , NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,255,324.

• *"Texas, County Marriage Records, 1837-1965," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:2:Q2CB-YPYZ : 23 February 2021), Entry for J R Adams and V N Hunt, 15 Oct 1882; citing Marriage, citing Robertson, Texas, United States, Texas State Library, Archives Division, and various Texas county clerks; FHL microfilm 963,258

• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/53173024/joseph-ross-adams: accessed 15 February 2023), memorial page for Joseph Ross Adams (18 Feb 1820–9 May 1888), Find a Grave Memorial ID 53173024, citing Texas State Cemetery, Austin, Travis County, Texas, USA; Maintained by Patricia Gray (contributor 47164589).

• Texas State Library and Archives Commission; Austin, Texas; Confederate Pension Applications, 1899-1975; Collection #: CPA22741; Roll #: 413; Roll Description: Pension File Nos 22741 to 22770, Application Years 1899 to 1914, https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/1807909?mark=ec4d8b8c4add88a715c4f89c95dc38b2d3ebc9a54f3a395bc48a2238c13c8849

• Headsville, https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth839171/m1/32/zoom/?q=%22E%20E%20Head&resolution=1.6486017244703837&lat=2655.7477607947258&lon=875.1612574855488