Adna Orcutt (abt. 1805 - 1881)

Born about 1805 in Franklin, Vermont, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Sophia (Potter) Orcutt — married about Sep 1826 in Swanton, Franklin, Vermont, USA

Descendants

Died 10 Apr 1881 at about age 76 in Kansas City, Wyandotte, Kansas, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Ellen Corey [send private message]

Biography

There is some confusion about when Adna's birth and who was his mother. His father Ebenezer's first wife, Nabby Beals, died in 1803 (as recorded on her headstone and Vermont Vital Records). Until recently, no record had been found of his father Ebenezer marrying a second wife, so most people assumed Adna was also the son of Nabby, born shortly before her death (even though the census records all indicated he was born closer to 1805).

In the 1810 census, there is a young boy (under 10) living with Ebenezer (in Swanton, Vermont), presumably Adna. While this would allow for him to be the son of Nabby born in 1803, the 1820 census shows a boy between the ages of 10-15 (not one between 15-20), which would mean he wasn't born until at least 1805.

Recently, a record was found which details a 2nd marriage for Ebenezer Orcutt, to a Reconcile Ferguson in Swanton, Franklin, Vermont on 8 January 1804. (Later land record give her name as Silence.) ^[1] Given that the 1850-1880 census records, in addition to other accounts of his age at the time of his death,^[2] all indicate that Adna was born about 1805, making him the son of Reconcile/Silence Ferguson, not Nabby Beal.

Ebenezer died 15 Apr 1833. Less than two weeks later, on 27 Apr 1833, his older children and their spouses all signed a quit claim deed selling Ebenezer's dwelling, land, and personal estate to Adna for a mere $100. ^[3] So while there are not vital records connecting Ebenezer and Adna, it is almost certain that they were father and son. He is listed as the son of Ebenezer and Nabby Beals (with her death date marked as unknown) in the published Genealogy of John (2) Orcutt, bapt. 1669 died 1753, age 86 years and his descendants.

A newspaper announcement in The Repertory tells of Adna's marriage to Sophia Potter in Swanton in September 1826, but there is no mention of his father.

Adna first appears by name in a census in 1840, still living in Swanton after his father's death (in 1833--no will or probate records have been found).

In 1848 he is said to have been living in Rockville Illinois, preaching to the Cherry Valley Church. ^[4]

In the 1850 census his family is living in Westport, Essex, New York.

By 1860 the family had settled in Grundy County, Iowa, where they remained through the 1870 census.

In the 1880 census, Adna is shown living with his daughter Silence's family in Hardin County, Iowa.

He died at his son Adna J. Orcutt's home in Kansas City 19 April 1881.

Sources

• Marriage announcement: Adna Orcutt to Sophia Potter. Saint Albans, Vermont: The Repertory. 14 Sep 1826 - Page 3 (accessed through Newspapers.com)
• 1840 United States Federal Census (Swanton, Franklin, Vermont)
• 1850 United States Federal Census (Westport, Essex, New York, USA)
• 1860 United States Federal Census (Orcutt Township, Grundy, Iowa)
• 1870 United States Federal Census (Pleasant Valley, Grundy, Iowa,)
• 1880 United States Federal Census (Etna, Hardin, Iowa, USA)
• U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current
• Mitchel, S.H.. Historical sketches of Iowa Baptists. Burlington, IA: Burdette Company, 1886. Page 494.
• Judson, Helen G. and Orcutt, Elbert E.. Genealogy of John (2) Orcutt, bapt. 1669 died 1753, age 86 years and his descendants. 1966. Page 16.

• WikiTree profile Orcutt-96 created through the import of SAMLALcorey.ged on Jun 12, 2011 by Ellen Corey. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Ellen and others.

1. ↑ Swanton, Vermont, Deeds Vols. 1-3, 1790-1808: Land Records, v. 1-3 1790-1808: vol. 2 page 33 (penned), vols. 1-3 page 182 (digital), Ebenezer Orcutt & Recomsile Ferguson 8 January 1804; FHL microfilm 008182148; browsable images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS21-633SV?i=181&cat=90531: accessed 1 February 2019). This marriage record is found in a volume primarily dedicated to land records.
2. ↑ Mitchel, S.H.. Historical sketches of Iowa Baptists. Burlington, IA: Burdette Company, 1886. Page 494.
3. ↑ Swanton, Vermont, Deeds Vols. 11-12, 1831-1838: vol. 11 pages 391-392 (penned), vols. 11-12 pages 221-222 (digital), Adna Orcutt grantee 27 April 1833; consulted as “Land Records, v. 11-12 1831-1838,” browsable images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSY3-MSPB-7?i=91&cat=90531: accessed 1 February 2019).
4. ↑ Mitchel, S.H.. Historical sketches of Iowa Baptists. Burlington, IA: Burdette Company, 1886. Page 494.