Capt. Robert Adams, Sr.

Capt Robert Adams

• Birth:  about 1689 Goochland County, Virginia
• Death:  Jun., 1740 Goochland County, Virginia
• Parents: William and Mary (Walker) Addams of Martin's Hundred VA (now James City Co). (unproven)
• Wife: Mourning Lewis; 10 children

Possibly due to failing health, Robert Addams wrote his Will in Feb 1738. His estate was left to his wife Mourning, sons James and Robert and daughters Judith Clark, Mary Moreman [Moorman], Eliza Moreman [Moorman], Agnes Farguson [Ferguson], Susanna, Lucy, Anna the younger and Sally.

Depending on the source, Robert's birth year is given as "about" 1680 to 1690. He died ccirca May 1740 (at least before 30 Jan 1741) in Goochland Co., VA.

Contemporary deeds and land grants show his name with two "ds".

Mourning is said to be a LEWIS, but proof of her surname, let alone which of the many LEWIS families she belongs to, has not been determined. However, the LEWIS surname is conspicuously absent in the list of their neighbors and people he deals with in court records. According to Mary Frances (Duncan) Bridges's pedigree chart, they were married 4 FEB 1712 in the area (Henrico Co) which became Goochland Co., VA. Mourning died circa JULY 1765 in Albemarle Co., Va.

Robert gave land to each of his children; although one daughter was not named in his will, he gave her husband 400 acres in 1736.

This Robert Adams is the g.g.grandfather of Gen William Wirt Adams, Comander of the MS 1st Cavalry

Colonel

http://www.deliverancefarm.com/robert_adams1.htm (dead link)

Records in Va. show that Robert Adams sold land to Matthew Collins in Henrico Co. Va.in 1736.

http://www.crystalvoice.org/genealogy/black_tree/pafg46.htm

Sources: 1.Title: My Southern Family Genealogy Home Page Text: Last updated Wednesday, 17-Oct-2001 05:41:42 MDT My Southern Family http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~mysouthernfamily/ ©2000 Becky Bass Bonner <mailto:bbbonner@yahoo.com> & Josephine Lindsay Bass <mailto:jbass@digital.net>. All rights reserved

Notes from FTM Home page of Carolyn May:

Robert received a land patent of at least 1000 acres and probably more. In his will proven on June 17, 1740, he gave his daughter Agnes "400 acres lying in a fork of Lickinghole Creek". Robert and Mourning lived in Goochland Co Va. His will was made in 1738 and probated in Goochland Co., Va in 1740 (Book 3, page 305) Robert Adams received 400 acres in Goochland Co., Va. on the north side of Rivanna in 1732 (Kegley - p27)

• ******************** Adams Family After the items of the Adams Family were completed, the following data was received from J.R. Handrick, Sr. of Fort Worth, Texas. It seems valuable to add it to the record.

(1) Robert Adams, from Island of Anglesea, North Wales. Member of the First House of Burgesses 1620, Colonial Virginia. Register says he was Burgess 1623-24

He came to America on the "Bona Nova" in 1620. Was Burgess from Martin's Hundred, (21V55) his wife applied to the Court January 21, 1628, for permission to administer his Estate, (30V273). His Nuncupative Will proved at James City Court, April 9, 1629 by Oath of John Lyford, Minister (31V214.

The (21V55), (30V273) (31V214 refers to Swenn's Index. There are also references in Records of the London Company, who colonized Virginia.

(2) William Adams, - Ref: D.A.R. Magazine, June 1926, pp 364-365.

(3) Robert Adams, b ca 1680 d ca 1740. His "WILL" dated Feb 22, 1738 and proved June 17, 1740, Goochland. Co.Va

Other references:

The Irvine's, and Their Kin The Adams Family, Book II The Cabell's and Their Kin Our Quaker Friends, by Bell, pub. 19-5-pp 258-259 Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy by Henshaw 6 vol. James Clark - Mansfield and Christopher Clark and Allied Families by Helen Fairfax McNaught Seary pp 252-56 Campbell Chronicles and Family Sketches by R.H. Early p 338 History of Albermarle Co. VA by Edgar Woods. pp 252-56 Henning's Statures at Large of Virginia - Regarding Robert Adams settler in Virginia 1620, etc William Richmond and Timothy Terreee - Colonial Virgnian's by Celeste Jane Terrell Barnhill Doyle's Official Baronage of England under Marriages Historical Register D.A. R. Magazine Oct 1890 and Oct 1894 Whitmore's History of the Adams Family

It is said Robert Adams was a brother of Henry Adams of Braintree, Massachusetts (ancestor of John Quincy Adams

From the Family Tree of Henry Adams the name was first Ap Adams and the first ancestor as Lord Ap Adams, called to Parliament by Edward I, as "Baron of the Realm" from A.D. 1296 to 130

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Robert Adams Compiled by Teresa Martin Klaiber tklaiber@deliverancefarm.com copyright 2004 Family Lineage Investigations Robert Adams (Williamø, Robert£) was the son of William Adams. Robert married Mourning Lewis ,the daughter of Col. William Lewis, 04 Feb 1711/12 in a portion of Henrico County that would become Goochland County, Virginia. Alexander Spotswood had just been appointed governor of Virginia and was doing exploratory expeditions that reached to the crest of the Blue Ridge. The year Adams married hostilities broke out between Native Americans and settlers in neighboring North Carolina. The Tuscarora Indian War would last two years. Daughter Elizabeth was born in October 1713 as the Indian Wars diminished in North Carolina. The family would have eleven children. Of these nine would be daughters. During their lifetime southern Native American Confederacies would remain in the area of Virginia where they lived. Robert had property involving at least 800 acres on a branch of Licking Hole Creek in Goochland County, Virginia. Virginia was under British rule. Robert namesake of his father was born two years prior to the ascent of King George II to the throne in 1727. Their only other son, James was born two years after George II began his reign. In 1732 Adams received land grants on the north side of the Rivanna River in Goochland. The area was far from being developed. The Rivanna begins in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Albemarle County and travels past Charlottsville flowing through Fluvanna County until it joins the James River. Possibly with a premonition of failing health Robert Adams wrote his will in February 1738. He left his estate to his wife Mourning, sons James and Robert and daughters Judith Clark, Mary Moreman (Moorman), Eliza Moreman (Moorman), Agnes Farguson, Susanna, Lucy, Anna the younger and Sally. It is assumed that he died early in 1740 because the courts probated the will on 11 June of that year. Mourning Adams, widow of Robert would survive the French and Indian Wars and would still be living when Thomas Jefferson is said to have made a study of the Rivanna River in 1763. At that time he encouraged the clearing of rocks to make the river navigable for cargo by canoe. In 1762 Mourning gave personal property to son-in-law Charles Douglas. And she was still living on 24 July 1765 when she left deeds of gift to her children in Albemarle County. The document was proven 8 August 1765. Children of Robert Adams and Mourning Lewis Anna Adams, Died young. Anna Adams, Anna was the second daughter of Robert and Mourning bearing the name and was listed as Anna the younger becauseof the death of the first child. Mary Adams, born Oct 1720 in Goochland Co., Virginia; married Charles Moorman; born about 1715; died 1788. Agnes Adams, born about 1718 in Virginia; married James Thomas Ferguson. Susannah Adams, married --?-- Graves. Lucy Adams, married --?-- Graves. Sally Adams, married (1) Henry Harris; married (2) John R Farras. Judith Adams, born Oct 1716; married Micajah Clark about 1736 in Louisa County Virginia; died 1774 in Albemerle County, Virginia. Judith’s grandson James Clark became Governor of Kentucky in 1839. Robert Adams, born 1725 in Goochland County, Virginia; died 1785 in Campbell County, Virginia; married Penelope Lynch 15 Oct 1748; born about 1724. Robert was First Justice of Bedford County, Virginia. Robert served in the Revolutionary War and was known as "Old Robin." In 1780 he was a member of a Vigilance Committee that helped clear the region of outlaws and Tories.

• James Adams, born about 1730; died 1789 in Fluvanna County, Virginia; married Cecily. Elizabeth Adams, born 29 Oct 1713 in Virginia; died 27 Oct 1793; married Achilles Moorman 1715.

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It is possible, not yet proven, that Robert is a son of William and Mary (Walker) Addams of Martin's Hundred VA (now James City Co). According to a number of researchers, records and dates show "...[it is] highly likely this is the Grandson of the first Robert Ad[d]ams of Martins Hundred." (Excerpt from "Biography, Capt Robert Adams, Henrico County, VA")

There are records of an earlier Robert who immigrated from England abt 1609 and died abt 1628, possibly in VA. That Robert may be this Robert's grandfather. With no reference found to a wife or siblings, it is difficult to validate this connection.

For our Robert, several land records, located at the VA State Library in Richmond, indicate he owned many acres in VA, the earliest purchase from about 1717. Most of this land is mentioned in his Will, below. He possibly obtained his Captain status during the Indian Wars; still researching.

Records in Va. show that Robert Adams sold land to Matthew Collins in Henrico Co. Va.in 1736.

speculation about Robert's father: is it William or Peter? There is a Peter Addams 

in the right area at the right time as well with a documented son named James. 

(New Kent Co.) deceased by 10/18/1743 

On 14 Feb 1712, Robert married Mourning Lewis in Henrico Co (now Goochland) VA. Mourning is the daughter of William and Elizabeth (Woodson) Lewis of Turkey Island Creek, Henrico Co (now Goochland) VA.

US & International Marriage Records 1560-1900: Marriage record found and birth dates verified.

Children with Mourning:

1) Anna Adams I (1712-1712)

2) Elizabeth "Eliza" Adams (1713-1793), m: Achilles H Moorman.

3) Judith Lewis Adams (1716-1774), m: Micajah Clark Sr.

4) Agnes "Aggie" Adams (1718-1790), m: James Thomas Ferguson.

5) Mary Anne Adams (1720-1780), m: Charles Moorman Jr.

6) Lucy Adams (b: 1722), m: John Graves.

7) Susannah "Susy" Adams (b: 1723), m: Matthew Graves.

8) Sarah "Sally" Adams (b: 1724), m1: Henry Harris, m2: John R Ferris. 

9) Anna "the Younger" Adams (b: 1725), m: Thomas Sanders. 10) Captain Robert "Old Robin" Adams Jr (1727-1785), m: Penelope Flournoy Lynch. 11) James Adams Sr (1729-1789), m: Cecily Ford.

Possibly due to failing health, Robert wrote his Will in Feb 1738. His estate was left to his wife Mourning, sons James and Robert and daughters Judith Clark, Mary Moreman [Moorman], Eliza Moreman [Moorman], Agnes Farguson [Ferguson], Susanna, Lucy, Anna the younger and Sally.

Goochland County Virginia Will Book 3, pg 305: Transcribed Will of Robert ADAMS- "In the name of God Amen, I Robert Adams being of Sound mind and memory do make this my last will and testament in manner and form following. I give and bequeath all my land and plantation on the River where I now live to my Son James and to his heirs forever after the death of my Wife Mourning, to whom I give the said Land and Plantation during her natural Life.

"Item: I give and bequeath unto my son Robert all my land on the Creek where I live and the mill to him and his heirs forever the ridge back of my stone house is to be the dividing line between my said two sons.

"Item: I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Judith Clark and Mary Moreman 800 acres of land lying at the foot of the Sugarloaf Mountain to them and their heirs forever to be equally divided between them according to quantity and quality and if they can't agree on the division that the same be done by a surveyor at the (?) of my daughter Mary.

"Item: I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Eliz. Moorman and to her heirs forever four hundred acres of land lying on the Mychunk Creek joining the County line. Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter Agnes Farguson 400 acres of land lying in a fork of Licking Hole Creek lying on the Northeast side of Tho. Sanders land to her and her heirs forever.

"Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter Susanna and her heirs forever 400 acres of land lying on the Southwest side of Frances Coley's line on land John Miles now lives.

"Item: I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Lucy and to her heirs forever 550 acres of land lying where the mine was dug and where Mark Lively lived.

"Item: I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Anne the Younger and to her heirs forever 400 acres of land lying on Mychunk Creek joining my great tract up the Creek and is a separate patent.

"Item: I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Sally and to her heirs forever 398 acres of land lying on both sides Dover Mill Creek where I lately dwelt.

"Item: My will is that if any of my maiden daughters die before they are married then the land hereby given shall be equally divided between my two sons and their heirs.

"Item: I give and bequeath all the rest of my estate of what kind or nature so ever both real and personal to my Wife Mourning to be enjoyed and possessed by her during her life and to be disposed by her among my children as she shall think fit provided my said Wife remain a Widow, but if she should marry then my will is that she shall be entitled only to such part as the Law will give her and the remainder in that case given to my two sons to be equally divided between them.

"In witness whereof I have here unto set my hand and seal this 22nd day of February 1738. Hereby also appointing my said Wife my Executrix and revoking all other wills. Signed by Robert Addams (Seal) Signed, Sealed and Published and declared to be his Last Will.

"Witnessed by Henry Wood and Martin (his + mark) King.

"At a Court held in Goochland Co on Jun 17, 1740, this Will was proved by the oaths of Henry Wood and Martin King to be the Act and Deed of Robert Adams and which was ordered to be recorded."

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Depending on the source, Robert's birth year is given as "about" 1680 to 1690. He died c..May 1740 (at least before 30 Jan 1741) in Goochland Co., VA.

Contemporary deeds and land grants show his name with two "ds".

Mourning is said to be a LEWIS, but proof of her surname, let alone which of the many LEWIS families she belongs to, has not been determined.

However, the LEWIS surname is conspicuously absent in the list of their neighbors and people he deals with in court records. According to Mary Frances (Duncan) Bridges's pedigree chart, they were married 4 FEB 1712 in the area (Henrico Co) which became Goochland Co., VA. Mourning died c.JUL 1765 in Albemarle Co., Va.

Robert gave land to each of his children; although one dau was not named in his will, he gave her husband 400 acres in 1736.

This Robert Adams is the g.g.grandfather of Gen William Wirt Adams, Comander of the MS 1st Cavalry.

Links

• Find A Grave Memorial# 45124477

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Col. Robert ADAMS Sr.

1685 - 17 Jun 1740

ID Number: I46372

TITLE: Col. RESIDENCE: Henrico and Albemarle and Goochland Co. VA BIRTH: 1685, Goochland Co. (then Henrico Co.) Virginia DEATH: 17 Jun 1740, James City, Goochland Co.Virginia RESOURCES: See: [S1681] [S1851] [S2811] [S3559] Father: William ADAMS Mother: Mary WALKER

Family 1 : Mourning LEWIS MARRIAGE: 4 Feb 1710, Goochland Co. Virginia +Lucy ADAMS +Elizabeth Mary ADAMS

Mary ADAMS

Susannah ADAMS +Agnes ADAMS +Robert "Old Robin" ADAMS III +James ADAMS Sr. Notes

Records in Va. show that Robert Adams sold land to Matthew Collins in Henrico Co. Va.in 1736.

speculation about Robert's father: is it William or Peter? There is a Peter Addams in the right area at the right time as well with a documented son named James. (New Kent Co.) deceased by 10/18/1743

Children: 2 Robert ADAMS 2 James ADAMS 2 Anna ADAMS + SANDERS 2 Judith ADAMS + CLARK 2 Mary ADAMS + MOORMAN 2 Elizabeth ADAMS + MOORMAN 2 Aggy ADAMS + FERGUSON 2 Susannah ADAMS + Matthew GRAVES 2 Lucy ADAMS + John GRAVES b: 1712 2 Anna ADAMS + DOUGLAS 2 Sally ADAMS + HARRIS

[S2811]

                                                     _(RESEARCH QUERY) ADAMS _

                                                    |                         

                      _Robert ADAMS "the Immigrant"_|

                     | (1580 - 1628)                |

                     |                              |_________________________

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_William ADAMS ______| | (1627 - 1680)       | |                     |                               _________________________ |                     |                              |                          |                     |______________________________| |                                                    | |                                                    |_________________________ |                                                                               |

|--Robert ADAMS Sr. | (1685 - 1740) | _________________________ | | | ______________________________| | | | | | |_________________________ | | |_Mary WALKER ________|

 (1630 - ....)       |

                     |                               _________________________

                     |                              |                         

                     |______________________________|

                                                    |

                                                    |_________________________

Sources

[S1681]

[S1851]

[S2811]

[S3559]

[S2811]

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