Rev. William Adair

Biography

https://www.ancestry.com/boards/thread.aspx?mv=flat&m=723&p=surname...

Mr. Adair was the son of William ADAIR of KINHILT, and brother of Sir Robert ADAIR of Kinhilt and Ballymena.

He (William ADAIR) married the widow of Robert CUNNINGHAM minister of Holywood.

For 43 years William Adair had been a minister of Ayr, and he did not long survive his severance from the charge. He died in February, 1684, and was buried in the shadow of the Church which he had built "betwixt the twa laigh windowes on the east syd of the isle." All through his public life he had been noted for his gift of prayer, and the monument which marks his resting-place represents him on his knees. His character, like his career, had come through strange vicissitudes. Extreme ardour had given place to extreme caution. But it was lit up with heroism in the end. Nothing in his ministry became him like the leaving it.

Next year Alexander Gregorie was translated from St. Quivox to succeed Rev. William Adair.

Origins

https://landedfamilies.blogspot.com/2013/04/23-adair-of-ballymena-c...

William Adair (d.1626) of Kinhilt and Ballymena. Eldest son of Ninian Adair (d. c.1606) of Kinhilt. Made a denizen of Ireland, 1624. He married 1st, Rosina, daughter of Sir Thomas McClellan of Bomby; 2nd, a daughter of Mr Houstoun of Castle Steward, and 3rd, Helen Cathcart of Carlton and had issue:

• (1.1) Sir Robert Adair (d. 1655) (q.v.);
• (3.1) Rev. William Adair (d. 1684); minister of Ayr 1640-84;
• (3.2) Anna or Marian Adair, m. William Houston of Killester. He inherited the Kinhilt estate and the castles of St. John and Dunskey from his father in 1608, but exchanged part of the property, including Dunskey, with 1st Viscount Montgomery, one of the leaders of the Plantation of Ulster, for lands at Ballymena (Antrim) in 1620. He died 4 November 1626.

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From “ William Adair (d.1626) m. Catherine Kirchart”

https://www.ancestry.com/boards/thread.aspx?mv=flat&m=723&p=surname...

In a book on the County of Suffolk, England, vol. 1 by Suckling 1846 there appears a chart for the family of Adair (which may or may not be correct)

William Adair married Catherine KIRCHART. William and Catherine Kirchart had children :

1. Sir Robert Adair was made a denizen of Ireland with his father 1624, served heir to his father and grandfather in the Scottish Estates, Feb. 19 1629. Was made Knight c 1648. Had livery of his Irish estates Dec. 2 1628, made his will Feb 15 1655. Died March 1, 1625. Married Jane, dau. of Archibald Edmonstone of Duntreath.

2. William Adair, younger son, made a denizen of Ireland with his father and brother 1624.

3. Marian, wife of William Houston, of Killester, in Scotland