Phoebe Sophia (Merritt) Adams (1840 - 1921)

Born 24 Nov 1840 in Niagara, New York, United States

Ancestors

Wife of Lucius F. Adams — married 22 Sep 1870 in Lockport, Niagara, NY

Died 9 Apr 1921 at age 80 in Lockport, Niagara, New York, United States

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Biography

Phoebe was born in 1840 to Shubal and Sophia (Wilson) Merritt.^[1][2][3][4] She was born on the family's homestead on Lake Ontario, in what is called Appleton, New York today. It is currently called Marjim Manor and was previously called Appleton Hall, though not by the Merritts or Adams.^[5][6] Phoebe's obituary refers to it as "the old Merritt homestead."^[7] Her parents were early settlers in the area.

She married Lucius Adams in 1870.^[8] They had two daughters: Elizabeth (1871) and Martha (1875).^[9][10] Martha died sometime between 1880 and 1900.

The family made their home in Lockport, New York though they also spent time in Royalton and Olcott.^{[8][9][11][8]} They sold the Merritt home in 1895.^[5]

Lucius died around 1914.^[7] Phoebe died about seven years later in their home on Lewis Street in Lockport at the age of 80.^[7]

Family Myths

There were many legends about her family and their home. The house is now a winery and does ghost tours. It was also on a television show called Ghost Hunters. The legends have been reported in the local paper since at least the 1960s.

One part of the legend is that Phoebe's brother Lewis accidentally shot himself in the house; in reality Lewis died from tuberculosis.^[12] In the myth, Lewis' death is attributed to a curse brought on when he placed "the Morgan Stone" in his rock garden. The stone was said to weigh 500 pounds and have been tied around William Morgan's neck when he was thrown into the Niagara River (though no explanation was given for how it was retrieved from the river after the murder).^[6][13]

Another part of the legend is that Phoebe and Lewis's father Shubal died in a mysterious fire at 3:00 pm, the exact same time of day that his son died.^[6] Shubal did die in the house, but of old age.^[1] Phoebe is said to have rebuilt the house on a much grander scale - one room, "the Baronial Hall," covers the entire footprint of the old house.^[6] It isn't clear if the house really burned down or if Phoebe and Lucius were responsible for renovating it.

Phoebe's death is also part of the legend; though the facts don't match the story.^[6] The door to the Hall was said to swing open every day at 3:00, regardless of any lock. In the legend Phoebe dies suddenly at the exact moment the door swung open while sitting in her room above the Hall. Lucius then abandoned the house in despair. However as described above, Phoebe died in her and Lucius's home on Lewis Street in Lockport, seven years after Lucius died.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} "Death of a Niagara County Pioneer," Lockport Daily Journal, Thursday Evening, March 3, 1881, page 1, available online through Fulton History[1], accessed November 22, 2017
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCBV-V8X : 23 December 2020), Phebe V Merritt in household of Shuble Merritt, Newfane, Niagara, New York, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
3. ↑ "New York State Census, 1855," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K67T-7SY : 3 March 2021), Phebe S Meritt in household of Simon C Meritt, E.D. 1, Newfane, Niagara, New York, United States; citing p. , line #27, family #215, county clerk offices, New York; FHL microfilm 1,577,674.
4. ↑ "New York State Census, 1865," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVNJ-GYFY : 8 March 2021), Sophiah P Merritt, District 01, Newfane, Niagara, New York, United States; citing Census, p. 36, citing multiple county Clerks; Warren and Lewis County Board of Supervisors; multiple counties in New York; Utica and East Hampton Public Libraries, New York. Note: Her first and middle names are switched in this Census entry.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} History of the Manor,[2]
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4} "Appleton Hall Legend Recalled by Historian," Lockport Union-Sun & Journal, Wednesday, February 3, 1965, page 28, available online through Fulton County[3]
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2} "Mrs. Phoebe S. Adams, 80, Resident of County All Her Life, Passed Away," Lockport Union-Sun & Journal, Thursday Evening, April 7, 1921, page 10, available online through Fulton History[4], accessed November 22, 2017
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1 8.2} "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch ([5] : accessed 2 April 2017), Phoebe S Adams in household of Lucius F Adams, Election District 3 Lockport city Ward 5, Niagara, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 62, sheet 3B, family 82, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,241,129.
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch ([6] : 21 August 2017), Martha E Adams in household of Lucius F Adams, Royalton, Niagara, New York, United States; citing enumeration district ED 190, sheet 296A, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 0901; FHL microfilm 1,254,901.
10. ↑ "New York, County Marriages, 1847-1848; 1908-1936," database with images, FamilySearch ([7] : 24 January 2016), Marshall F Capen and Elizabeth A Adams, 30 Jan 1922; citing county clerk’s office, Niagara, New York, United States; FHL microfilm 897,562.
11. ↑ "Lockport People Hurt," Lockport Daily Journal, Friday, August 17, 1894, page missing, available online through Fulton History[8], accessed November 22, 2017
12. ↑ Jim Boles, "Abandoned History: Merritt Farm and St. Mary's boys vocational school," Lockport Union-Sun and Journal, September 3, 2017[9]
13. ↑ Curiously, Phoebe does have a connection to the William Morgan murder, but through her husband, not through the Merritts. Lucius's uncle, Elihu Mather, was one of the main conspirators.