The Adams Family

Alice Adams

Birth: 1847/8, in Kentucky, United States

Baptism: 12 April 1848

Father: George Forbes Adams

Mother: Matilda (Moore) Adams

Census:
1850: Logan county, Kentucky. Name is recorded as Ellen, possibly Ellen G.
1860: Montgomery county, Tennessee

Sources:

Charlie Moore Adams

Birth: 3 May 1884, in Allensville, Kentucky, United States

Father: William Henry Adams

Mother: Carrie Marshall (Jenkins) Adams

Married: Corinne McGraw on 27 December 1916

Death: 18 March 1936, in Nashville, Tennessee, United States

Buried: Belmont Cemetery, Allensville, Kentucky, United States

Census:
1900: Allensville, Todd county, Kentucky

Sources:

Elizabeth Adams

Birth: 1838, in Ireland

Baptism: 1838, in Ireland

Father: George Forbes Adams

Mother: Matilda (Moore) Adams

Notes: On 1 November 1863, Elizabeth's brother William wrote a letter to her from his POW prison in Camp Douglas, Illinois. The letter, transcribed in full at Wartime Letters of William Henry Adams, reads in part:
"Elisa Adams Dearest Sister,
   Your most welcome letter of the 20th and maws of the 24th have come to hand. I recieved the socks and gave two pair away. The net caps were very acceptible. Mon Merritt says if you have another you must send it to him."

Census:
1850: Logan county, Kentucky
1860: Montgomery county, Tennessee

Sources:

Emma Adams

Birth: May 1893, in Tennessee, United States

Father: Joseph Watkins Adams

Mother: Mattie C. (Patrick) Adams

Census:
1900: Robertson county, Tennessee
1920: Robertson county, Tennessee

Sources:

Ethel (Adams) Long

Birth: 6 October 1874, in Kentucky, United States

Father: John Adams

Mother: Mattie B. (Hughes) Adams

Married: Leonard R. Long

Children:
Occupation: School Teacher

Census:
1880: Allensville, Todd county, Kentucky
1900: Mount Pleasant, Maury county, Tennessee
1920: Noxubee county, Mississippi

Sources:

Fannie A. Adams

Birth: June 1853, in Logan county, Kentucky, United States

Baptism: 10 June 1854

Father: George Forbes Adams

Mother: Matilda (Moore) Adams

Census:
1860: Montgomery county, Tennessee
1870: Port Royal, Montgomery county, Tennessee
1880: District 5, Montgomery county, Tennessee

Sources:

Frank Moore Adams

Birth: 1842, in Ireland

Father: George Forbes Adams

Mother: Matilda (Moore) Adams

Notes: Frank Adams enlisted in the Confederate Army with three of his brothers George, John and William. He served  in Morgans 2nd Kentucky Cavalry (Company B). Along with his brothers George and William, Frank was captured on 19 July 1863 while crossing the Ohio River at the Battle of Buffington Island, with Col. Basil Duke in command. The three brothers were imprisoned at Camp Morton, Indiana, where Frank became ill and died. 

Camp Morton Prisoners
Confederate prisoners at Camp Morton c1863
photo from Wikipedia
In a letter home from Camp Morton dated August 13 1863, Frank's brother William wrote of Frank's illness. The complete letter is transcribed at Wartime Letters of William Henry Adams.
"Father,
I seat myself for the purpose of letting you know how we are getting along. George and myself are both well but Frank is tolerable sick, he has got the flux. I think that you had better come to see him and get im out of prison. "

Within a month, Frank was dead. His remains were sent back to Clarksville, Tennessee for burial.

Death: 1863, a prisoner of war in Camp Morton, Indiana, United States

Buried: Greenwood Cemetery, 984 Greenwood Avenue, Clarksville, Montgomery county, Tennessee, United States

Census:
1850: Logan county, Kentucky Frank appears as Frances, age 8, female, in the census. I assume the enumerator mistook Francis for Frances, and then assumed the gender.
1860: Montgomery county, Tennessee

Sources:

George Forbes Adams

Birth: 27 June 1802, in Newtownbutler, county Fermanagh, Ireland

Father: John Adams

Mother: Eliza

Married: Matilda Moore on 23 November 1836, in Urney parish, Cavan, Ireland

Children:
Occupation: Merchant (1850); Farmer (1880) and "Farmer Merchant" in 1870; Postmaster

Death: 7 March 1894, in Cedar Hill, Robertson county, Tennessee, United States, aged 92

Buried: 8 March 1894 in Greenwood Cemetery, 984 Greenwood Avenue, Clarksville, Montgomery county, Tennessee, United States

Notes: George, Matilda, their children and George's father, John, emigrated from Ireland to the United States in 1844. John died shortly before the ship's arrival in New Orleans, Louisiana, and he was buried there on arrival. An elder brother of George's had previously traveled to the United States and purchased property for the family in Tennessee and Kentucky. The Adams family travelled to Kentucky where they purchased a farm (later known as the Joe Gill farm) near Keysburg where they lived until 1857 when they moved to Port Royal, Tennessee. George lists the value of his real estate at $1000 in 1850 and at $12000 in 1870. George bought a 636 acre farm in Port Royal from Felix Northington, paying $20 an acre. In addition to farming and merchant activities, George was appointed US Postmaster in Port Royal on 2 June 1876, and served until 8 December 1879.

Census:
1850: Logan county, Kentucky
1860: Montgomery county, Tennessee
1870: Port Royal, Montgomery county, Tennessee
1880: Montgomery county, Tennessee

Sources:

George Forbes Adams

Birth: 4 December 1838, in Ireland

Baptism: 4 December 1838, in Ireland

Father: George Forbes Adams

Mother: Matilda (Moore) Adams

Notes: George was a twin brother of John Adams. George joined the Confederate Army with three of his brothers John, William and Frank. He served in Company E of the 50th Tennessee Infantry. He was at the Battle of Fort Donelson, escaping capture after it fell. Later he joined John, Frank and William in Morgans 2nd Kentucky Cavalry (Company B). Along with his brothers William and Frank, George was captured on 19 July 1863 while crossing the Ohio River at the Battle of Buffington Island, with Col. Basil Duke in command. William, George and Frank were first sent to Camp Morton, Indiana. It was here that Frank became very ill and died.
Camp Douglas
Camp Douglas
Encyclopedia of Chicago
George and William were later transferred to Camp Douglas, Illinois, where George fell seriously ill. He was nursed at the camp hospital by his brother, William, who wrote of George's deteriorating condition in a series of letters home transcribed at Wartime Letters of William Henry Adams.

The transcriptions include a letter from George himself, dated 7 April 1864, about three months before his death. He writes about his admission to the camp hospital:
"My health has not been so good lately owing to the cold I caught during the past winter in the delicate state of my health so I reluctunlly obtained my consent to come to the Hospital one week ago where I have been much pleased with my change...Think I've improved wonderfully; beyond my most sanquine expectations. My bowels are checked, my digestion improving rapidly, sufer no pain, only (principal) complain is debility; feel my strength increasing everyday in fact I've never been so week as to be confined to my bed. Hope I will not be long ere I recover my former vigor & health."

George's brother was less sanguine in a letter home dated 19 June 1864:
"he is sinking slowly.  he dont seem to suffer mutch but is very weak. It seems very hard for such a boy as George to be compelled to suffer so long."

George died three days later.

Death: 22 June 1864, a prisoner of war in Camp Douglas, Illinois, United States

Buried: near the hospital, Camp Douglas, Illinois, United States

Census:
1850: Logan county, Kentucky
1860: Montgomery county, Tennessee

Sources:

George Forbes Adams

Birth: 11 October 1877, in Adams, Robertson county, Tennessee, United States

Father: Joseph Watkins Adams

Mother: Martha C. (Patrick) Adams

Married: Alline _____. Alline was born in 1889/90, in Tennessee.
1920: Maury county, Tennessee

Occupation: Bookkeeper

Death: 2 February 1952, in M&S Hospital, Del Rio, Val Verde county, Texas, United States, aged 74, of arteriosclerosis

Buried: 4 February 1952, at Westlawn cemetery, Del Rio, Texas, United States

Census & Addresses:
1880: Robertson county, Tennessee
1900: Robertson county, Tennessee
1920: Maury county, Tennessee
(moved to Del Rio in 1928/9 - death certificate)
1952: 209 East Garfield, Del Rio, Val Verde county, Texas (death certificate)

Sources:

Henderson Adams

Birth: October 1879, in Tennessee, United States

Father: Joseph Watkins Adams

Mother: Mattie C. (Patrick) Adams

Census:
1880: District 6, Robertson county, Tennessee

Sources:

Ida S. (Adams) Rosson

Birth: February 1856, in Kentucky, United States

Baptism: 3 February 1856

Father: George Forbes Adams

Mother: Matilda (Moore) Adams

Married: Willis Bobo Rosson in 1875

Children:
Death: 26 August 1925

Notes: The WorldConnect entry on Willis Rosson simply has him married to an Ida S. Adams born about 1857 in Kentucky. However, in Heritage in Quilts (Daughters of the American Revolution Tennessee Society p.37), mention is made of a coverlet owned by Sadie Mimms Rosson "passed down from the owner's father's family, Matilda Moore and George Adams who emigrated to America from Ireland".

Census:
1860: Montgomery county, Tennessee
1870: Port Royal, Montgomery county, Tennessee
1880: District 1, Montgomery county, Tennessee
1900: District 1, Montgomery county, Tennessee

Sources:

Joe W. Adams

Birth: July 1890, in Tennessee, United States

Father: Joseph Watkins Adams

Mother: Martha C. (Patrick) Adams

Census:
1900: Robertson county, Tennessee

Sources:

John Adams

John Adams
John Adams
Wartime Letters of William Henry Adams
Birth: 4 December 1838, in Ireland

Baptism: 4 December 1838, in Ireland

Father: George Forbes Adams

Mother: Matilda (Moore) Adams

Married: Mattie B. Hughes on 27 November 1872. Mattie was born on 22 June 1850, in Kentucky, the daughter of W.B. and Mary Browder Hughes.

Children:
Occupation: Merchant. John started working as a clerk in his father's store in June 1854. In 1857 he moved to a wholesale house in Nashville and the next year to Clarksville where he joined R.D. Dunning & Co. After the Civil War, John returned to Port Royal and worked in George F. Adams & son until 1870 when he moved to Allensville, Kentucky. John lists his personal property as worth $3000 in the 1970 census. In 1886 John moved back to Clarksville and organized the tobacco firm Adams, Gill & Co.
The 1895 Clarksville City Directory lists:
ADAMS, John; partner at Adams & Neblett Grocers; resides 903 Franklin St.; wife, Mattie
In 1900, John is listed as a Dry Goods Merchant in Mount Pleasant, Maury county, Tennessee.

Death: August 1923, aged 84

Notes: John was a twin brother of George Forbes Adams. John joined the Confederate Army with three of his brothers William, George and Frank. John enlisted on 15 April 1861, serving in the 1st Kentucky Infantry (Company K) along with his brother William. The brothers served under Captain Jim Childress and when their company disbanded, he re-enlisted, this time in Morgan's 2nd Kentucky Cavalry (Company B). John was promoted to Brevet Second Lieutenant. All three of his brothers were captured on 19 July 1863 at the Battle of Buffington Island. John was captured in July 1864 at the Battle of Cynthiana and imprisoned at Johnsons Island POW camp on Lake Erie. He was released in June 1865.

Census & Addresses:
1850: Logan county, Kentucky
1860: Montgomery county, Tennessee
1870: Port Royal, Montgomery county, Tennessee
1880: Allensville, Todd county, Kentucky
1895: 903 Franklin St., Clarksville, Montgomery county, Tennessee (1895 Clarksville City Directory)
1900: Mount Pleasant, Maury county, Tennessee
1920: Noxubee county, Mississippi

Sources:

Joseph Watkins Adams

Birth: 10 January 1844, in Ireland

Baptism:
Montgomery County, TN claims that Joseph was baptised at sea on 10 January 1843. The date is clearly wrong, although it has the same day and month as the actual birthdate, and it may well have been true that the baptism occurred at sea, during the emigration voyage, which was in the April-June 1844 timeframe when Joseph was just a few months old. 

Father: George Forbes Adams

Mother: Matilda (Moore) Adams

Married: Martha C. Patrick in 1876/7. Martha, known as Mattie, was born on 11 February 1853, in Tennessee, the daughter of James Henderson Patrick and Angeline McCauley. Mattie died 20 October 1936, and is buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Clarksville, Tennessee.
1920: Robertson county, Tennessee

Children:
Occupation: Farmer

Death: 12 July 1928

Buried: in Greenwood Cemetery, 984 Greenwood Avenue, Clarksville, Montgomery county, Tennessee, United States

Census:
1850: Logan county, Kentucky
1860: Montgomery county, Tennessee
1870: Port Royal, Montgomery county, Tennessee (recorded as John W. Adams)
1880: Robertson county, Tennessee
1900: Robertson county, Tennessee
1920: Robertson county, Tennessee

Sources:

Katie Adams

Birth: January 1887, in Tennessee, United States

Father: Joseph Watkins Adams

Mother: Martha C. (Patrick) Adams

Census:
1900: Robertson county, Tennessee

Sources:

Mary Jane Adams

Birth: 1845/6, in Kentucky, United States

Baptism: 4 December 1846, in the United States

Father: George Forbes Adams

Mother: Matilda (Moore) Adams

Census:
1850: Logan county, Kentucky
1860: Montgomery county, Tennessee
1870: Port Royal, Montgomery county, Tennessee

Sources:

Ruth Weldon (Adams) Potter

Birth: 5 April 1887, in Allensville, Kentucky, United States

Father: William Henry Adams

Mother: Carrie Marshall (Jenkins) Adams

Married: George M. Potter on 7 November 1911. George was born in December 1884, in Tennessee, the son of Robert S. Potter and Ova M. _____. In 1900, George's occupation was listed as farm labourer.
1900: Warren county, Tennessee
1920: Davidson county, Tennessee

Census:
1900: Allensville, Todd county, Kentucky
1920: Davidson county, Tennessee

Sources:

Susan Adams

Birth: February 1850, in Kentucky, United States

Baptism: 21 March 1850

Father: George Forbes Adams

Mother: Matilda (Moore) Adams

Census:
1850: Logan county, Kentucky
1860: Montgomery county, Tennessee
1870: Port Royal, Montgomery county, Tennessee
1880: District 5, Montgomery county, Tennessee

Sources:

William Henry Adams

William Henry Adams
William Henry Adams
photo taken at Camp Douglas prison Wartime Letters of William Henry Adams
Birth: 18 July 1840, in Ireland

Baptism: 19 June 1841, in Enniskillen, county Fermanagh, Ireland

Father: George Forbes Adams

Mother: Matilda (Moore) Adams

Married: Carrie Marshall Jenkins on 10 May 1882. Carrie was born on 25 May 1862, in Hardin county, Kentucky.
1920: Davidson county, Tennessee

Children:
Occupation: Merchant. In 1870, William lists his personal property as worth $2000.

Notes: William joined the Confederate Army with three of his brothers George, John and Frank. William enlisted on 17 June 1861, serving along with his brother John in the 1st Kentucky Infantry (Company K)  (Col. Torn Taylors 1st Kentucky Infantry, serving one year in General Joe E. Johnsons Division). The brothers served under Captain Jim Childress. William was promoted to the rank of corporal. The 1st Kentucky cavalry was merged into the command of the 3rd Kentucky Cavalry in 1862 where William was in Company G, then in the 7th Kentucky Cavalry which fought with J.H. Morgan of the 2nd Kentucky Cavalry where his three brothers were serving. Along with his brothers George and Frank, William was captured on 19 July 1863 while crossing the Ohio River at the Battle of Buffington Island, with Col. Basil Duke in command. William, George and Frank were first sent to Camp Morton, Indiana. It was here that Frank became very ill and died. George and William were later transferred to Camp Douglas, Illinois, where George fell ill and died. William wrote a series of letters home from Camp Morton and Camp Douglas that have been transcribed at Wartime Letters of William Henry Adams. He was released in 1865.

Death: 21 April 1921, in Nashville, Tennessee, United States

Buried: Belmont cemetery, Allensville, Kentucky, United States

Census:
1850: Logan county, Kentucky
1860: Montgomery county, Tennessee
1870: Port Royal, Montgomery county, Tennessee
1880: Allensville, Todd county, Kentucky
1900: Allensville, Todd county, Kentucky
1920: Davidson county, Tennessee

Sources:
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