William James Adams, Jr

A Patriot of the American Revolution for SOUTH CAROLINA with the rank of PRIVATE. DAR Ancestor # A000778

WILLIAM ADAMS, SR. was born in 1733 at Ballymena, County Antrim, Ireland or Parish of Cumber, County Londonderry, Ireland, a son of Scotch-Irishman James Adams (ca.1698-1752) and his wife Jane, family name unknown. Young William came to America with his father, mother and Uncle Robert Adams around 1740, landing in Pennsylvania, probably at New Castle. They quickly moved westward and settled in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, near Harrisburg and Gettysburg. James Adams died there in 1752 and William moved with other Scotch-Irish settlers 500 miles south to the Carolinas around 1756, eventually settling on land situated along Crowder’s Creek in the upper section of present-day York County, South Carolina. William married Margaret Ewart (1746-1824), a daughter of Robert Ewart and Catherine Catherwood, in North Carolina around 1765. They had the following 11 children: Francis Adams, Katherine Adams (Carrigan), Jean H. Adams (Campbell), Robert E. Adams, James S. Adams, William Adams, Jr., Rachel Adams (Barnett), Margaret Adams (Watson), Joseph R. Adams, Elizabeth Adams and John B. Adams.

William served in the 5th South Carolina Regiment (First Rifle Regiment), Continental Line, at the Siege of Savannah in 1779 and fought with his neighbors at the Battle of Kings Mountain in October 1780. Primarily a farmer, he was strongly affiliated with Bethel Presbyterian Church in York County, not far from his home, and served it faithfully for many years as a ruling elder. William Adams, Sr. died at his home in York County on November 27, 1799, and Margaret died there on April 25, 1824. Both are buried in the churchyard at Bethel Presbyterian Church.

The Last Will and Testament of William Adams, Sr., dated March 1, 1799, and recorded in York County, South Carolina, Case no. 52, File No. 5, Will Book A, page 14, reads as follows (spelling and punctuation not corrected):

IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN, I William Adams of York County State of South Carolina Am in good helth of Body and perfect mind and Memory Blessed be God for all his mercies and Calling to remembrance that it is appointed for all Men once to Die, I do make ordain and Constitute This My Last will and Testament in manner following:

And first after all my Lawfull Debts are paid I do Leave and Bequeath unto My Loveing wife Margaret Adams my Negro wench Named Ame and her Choise of any of the Horses Creators on my plantation and her Choise of three Cows And Calves her bed and Furniture And the one half of Dressor and a good and comfortable Sustenance on my place During her Widowhood or Life.

I Do will and Bequeath unto my My loveing Daughter Catrine Carrigan two pounds Sterling and I Do will Unto Jean Capbell two pounds like money and I Do Will and Bequeath Unto my loveing Son Robert Adams two pounds Sterling and I Do will and Bequeath Unto my loveing Son James Adams two pounds like money And I Do will and bequeath Unto my loveing Daughter Rachel Barnet two Pounds Sterling and I Do will and bequeath Unto my loveing Daughter Margaret Watson two Pounds Sterling I Do will and Bequeath My loveing Sons Joseph and William Adams my plantation on which I now dwell to be Divided Equally Between them both and also the remainder or what is lift from a Strait line from the Corner at the Cross Rodes to the beginning Corner and thence Strait from thence to the Rocks and I Do will My Negro Sambo to the foresaid two Boys Joseph and William And I Do leave and Bequeath all the Stock not Mentioned and the waggon and Still and all the farming tools Belonging to the plantation unto the S’d Joseph and William And I Do will and bequeath Unto My loveing Daughter Elizabeth Adams My Negro Boy Named Curry and the Rest of the land ajoining my Son Robert from the line Before Mentioned and Twenty Pounds Sterling to be taken off or Deducted Out of my Sons Estate that is Joseph & William’s if she lives to come to age and all other Things not Mentioned to Continue on the Said Plantation for the use of the Same And I Do Appoint My loveing Son Robert Adams and My Trusty Friend James Hill Executors of this My Last Will and Testament And I Do Revoke and Disanull all other will and Wills made by me and Does Constitute this my last will and testament.

Signed Sealed and Acknowledged this first Day of March year of our Lord Seventeen Hundred Ninety Nine in presence of us William Adams (Seal) James Ramsey Hugh Gordon

Contributed by Robert A. Ragan, a descendant, January 1, 2016.

GEDCOM Note

1799, Mar 1 [written] -- Will Book A Page 14-16, York County, SC 1800, May 5 [proven] Will of William Adams, Dec'dd. Heirs: wife Margaret Adams; daughter Catherine Carrigan; Jean Campbell; son Robert Adams; son James Adams; daughter Rachel Barnett; daughter Margaret Watson; son Joseph; son William; daughter: Elizabeth Adams Executors: son Robert Adams and James Hill Witnesses: James Ramsey, Hugh Gordon