Absalom Adams
Absalom Adams of Virginia and Kentucky
by
John Adams
On the history of the surname Adams
Our family name ADAMS means "son of Adam", the latter being a
personal name of Hebrew origin meaning "red". Once everyone was known
by a single name but this led to confusion so an extra name was
adopted. Our name is an ancient one with many thousands of generations
which were not recorded until the 13th century when we find ADAM of
Wales, and Great Britain. These Celt ancestors came from what is now
Germany and Scandinavia about 1500 B.C. By the 14th century A.D., the
name was changed to ADAMS.
Speculation on family ancestry
One possible ancestor is Robert Adams, born 1602 in Devonshire,
England emigrated by sailing ship to Massachusetts Bay in 1635 with
wife Eleanor. He worked as tailor in Salem and Newbury, Mass. and died
in 1682. His cousin Henry Adams of Braintree, Mass. was related to
Presidents John and John Quincy Adams. Our ancestor William "Devil
Bill" Adams is said to have visited with his "cousin" John Quincy Adams
(6th Pres.), in Washington DC, while JQ was serving in the House of
Representatives, about 1840.
Absalom Adams family bio sketch
Absalom Adams, born about 1725, was a Baptist farmer in Fauquier
County, Virginia where he also served in the American Revolutionary War
of 1776, and later moved to Kentucky in search for inexpensive land. He
was married to Elizabeth Fothergill and they raised nine children.
Reference in an Oldham County history book refers to Absolom as the
great preacher of Crab Orchard , a town in Lincoln County, Kentucky
According to Kathryn Hutcherson Campbell's book, "Absalom Adams of
Fauquier County, Virginia," his parents might have been William and
Sarah Adams. I have spoken with Loren J. Adams who has done much work
on the Adams line states that William is one of three possibilities.
Hopefully, through further research his parentage will be ascertained.
The book lists Absalom's occupation as farmer, and his religion as
Baptist. Absalom married Elizabeth Fothergill in about 1752, probably
in Fauquier County, Virginia. Absalom is enumerated as a Virginia tax
payer in Culpeper County, Virginia, during the years, 1782-1787. KHC
information concerning service rendered by Absalom Adams during the
Revolutionary War includes a claim submitted on August 18, 1781, by
Absalom Adams of Culpeper County, Virginia, for (1) one smooth bore
gun, for militia. On June 16, 1783, payment was made to Absalom Adams -
Certificate for one gun. The Culpeper County, Virginia tax list for
1790 included Absalom Adams, Sr., Absalom Adams, Jr., Gavin Adams and
John Adams among the "delinquents" with the note "gone to Kentucky." In
1791, Absalom Adams was listed on the Lincoln County, Kentucky tax
list, and Absalom Adams, Gavin Adams and John Adams were on the Fayette
County, Kentucky tax list. It is believed that Absalom Adams, Sr.
settled in Lincoln County, and his sons in Fayette County. Absalom
Adams, Sr. last appears in the Lincoln County, Kentucky census in 1800.
Neither Absalom nor Elizabeth are listed in the census for 1810, and it
is presumed they died between the 1800-1810 census count. Evidence
supporting Absolom as the father of Feathergill is their proximity and
the frequency of use of names, both for he and his brothers.
Descendants of Absalom Adams Sr. and Elizabeth Fothergill
i. Abraham Adams
ii. Daniel Adams b. unknown d: Bef May 06, 1850 m. Amelia
Hiatt
iii. Absalom Adams Jr. b: Abt 1755 d: 1823
iv. Feathergill Adams b: February 04, 1755 d: September 09,
1807
married Nancy Elizabeth Smith b: 1755 d: 1803-1805
v. .Luke Adams b: 1757-1759 d: September 25, 1840
vi. Thomas Adams b: February 10, 1760 d: October 01, 1828
married Rebecca Wood
viii. Gavin Adams ? b: 1780
ix John Adams ? b: 1780
x. Robert Adams ? b: 1785
William Smith
William Smith b. 1729 in Loudoun Co, Virginia, and died March 23,
1821 in Lincoln County, Kentucky. He married Margaret "Betty" Smith,
who was born about 1740, and died Dec 28, 1821. The slaves in William's
estate (Lincoln County, Kentucky) were distributed among his
descendents. No wills for William and Margaret have been found, only
his inventory dated 23 March 1821 His inventory included 9 slaves,
horses, sheep, cattle, and crops, including tobacco, corn and flax. He
owned household and farm equipment, one rifle gun, one shot gun, shoe
and knee buckles, pewter ware, furniture, 2 books, 115 acres of land,
and notes on Elias Smith. On June 20, 1821 in Lincoln County, Kentucky
widow Peggy Smith is given 33 1/2 acres and 3 Negro women named Isabel,
Winney, Rhoda. The remaining slaves are allotted to the heirs of Nancy
Ball, Reuben Smith, and Feathergill Adams. On December 22, 1822, John
Withers is paid $6.00 for digging graves for William Smith and his wife.
Feathergill Adams
Feathergill Adams, first child of Absalom and Elizabeth, born 4 Feb
1755 in Fauquier, Virginia, died 9 Nov 1807 in Garrard,Ky, married
Elizabeth Smith in 1771. Feathergill Adams served in the American
Revolution as a Waggoner, providing hauling and supply services to
military forces in Virginia. He was also a farmer, Baptist preacher,
miller, and brewer. On August 9, 1774, Feathergill leases land in
Fauquier County, Virginia. On July l, Feathergill sold land in
Montgomery County, Virginia. On April 22, 1789, Feathergill Adams
appears of the Madison County, Kentucky tax roll. Feathergill and
Elizabeth raised eleven children in Garrard, Ky. William "Devil Bill"
Adams, the 3rd child got his nickname serving in the war of 1812.
William is buried in a family cemetery near the Buckeye Road, on the
property he owned, in Sugar Creek Garrard County, KY, and remains the
property of his descendants. Others buried here include his wife and
four daughters. Feathergill Adams was a Farmer and preacher who had a
church in Garrard County, Kentucky, known as the Feathergill Adams
Meeting House. He died of a stroke while preaching. The church is
currently known as the Antioch Christian Church. Feathergill and his
wife are buried at the Antioch Church on Buckeye Pike, in Garrard
County, five miles from Lancaster.
Children of Feathergill Adams and Elizabeth Smith
i. Nancy Ann Adams b: BEF 1774 in Fauquier County, Virginia married
26 July 1791 in Madison Co Ky. to John Hutchinson
ii. Margaret "Peggy" Adams b: in Virginia
iii. William "Devil Bill" Adams b: JUN 16 1776 in Fauquier County,
Virginia Married April 3, 1797 in Lincoln Co KY, to Polly Long
iv. Elizabeth "Betsy" Adams < b: APR 04 1778 in Fauquier County,
Virginia
v. Jane "Jenny" Adams b: AUG 20 1780 in Montgomery County, Virginia
vi. Judith "Judy" Adams b: JAN 16 1783 in Montgomery County, Virginia
married 14 Jan 1800 Garrard Co Ky. To Walter Adams
viii. Absolom Adams b: MAR 27 1785 in Russell County, Virginia married
Elizabeth Slayton 25 March 1807 Garrard Co. KY
ix. Mary "Polly" Adams b: APR 14 1787 in Russell County, Virginia
married Dr. Reuben Adams
x. Katherine "Katy" Adams b: AUG 23 1789 in Culpepper County, Virginia
married 5 July 1800 Garrard Co KY to Thomas Broun
xi. John B. "Jack" Adams b: APR 27 1791 in Sugar Creek, Madison County,
KY married Mary Catherine Sampson.
xii. Martha "Patsy" Adams b: JAN 16 1793 in Sugar Creek, Garrard
County,
KY married 24 Aug 1808 Garrard Co. KY to John Radcliff
John B. Adams, 11th child of Feathergill and Elizabeth Adams, born 27
April 1791 in Sugar Creek, Madison Ky, died 1870 in Rockcastle, Ky,
married Mary Catherine Sampson (born 1793 in VA, died 1862 in Lincoln
Co KY), who was the daughter of William Sampson, on 5 May 1812. He was
a farmer and called "Jack" Adams. He and his wife raised thirteen
children.
i. William Sampson b. Mar 27, 1813 married Elizabeth Green
ii. Elizabeth Adams b. 1816 married Fleming Cummings
iii. Judith Adams b. 1817 married William McCall
iv. Agnes Catherine Adams b. 1819 married George Slaughter
v. Smith Adams b. 1823
vi. Frederick Feathergill Adams b. Nov 23, 1814 married. Miranda Young
vii. Walter Adams b. 1828
viii. Rebecca Adams b. 1830 married William Watson
ix. John Adams b. 1832
x. Mary Windred Adams b. 1834 married William Shindlebower
xi. Harriet Adams b. 1837 married James W. Dunn
xii. Steven Adams b. 1839
xiii. Martha Ann Adams b. 1840