Will of Mordicicai (Mordecai)Adams
Muskingum Co. OH Wills Vol. D Page 324

Mordicicai Adams Deceased

The State of Ohio, Muskingum County Court of Common Pleas.

Be it remembered that at a special session of the Court of Common Pleas within and for the County of Muskingum and State of Ohio, held at the Court House in the town of Zanesville, in said County, this 27th day of August 1849. Present the Honorable Horatio J. Cox, Wilkin Reed and Jacob P Springer, the associate Judges of said Court.

The last Will and testament of Mordicicai Adams, late of said County, deceased, was produced in open Court and duly proved by the oaths of Gibson Collins and George Smyth, the two attesting and subscribing witnesses thereto, whose testimony in such behalf was reduced to writing and duly filed, And it appearing to the satisfaction of the Court from the said testimony that the said testator, Mordecai Adams, deceased, was at the time of executing this said Last will and testament, of full age, of sound mind and memory and not under any restraints. It was thereupon issued that the said last will and testament be, and the same is hereby admitted to probate, and that the same, together with the testimony and this entry of Probate be recorded. Whereupon the Court ordered that the letters testamentary should issue thereon to William Tennis and Hannah Adams, the persons named in said last will and testament as the executor and executrix thereof, who being in open Court accepted the said trust and entered into and acknowledged a bond in such behalf in the final sum of Two Thousand dollars with David Richardson,(---,) and Jacob R. Rose, their securities conditioned according to the law, which said bond and securities were approved and accepted by the Court, Which said Will (-----) in the words and figures following.

Will

I, Mordecai Adams of the County of Muskingum in the State of Ohio, do make and publish the my last will and testament in manner and form following.

First. It is my will that my funeral expenses and all my just debts be fully paid. Second, I give, devise and bequeath to my beloved wife Hannah Adams my whole estate, real and personal so long as she remain my widow. And if she should marry, the property to be secured for her support provided she should need it. Thirdly) I give and devise to Mordecai Adams, my nephew, son of Jonathon Adams Fifty dollars. Fourthly) I give and devise to Mordecai Adams son of Thomas Adams Fifty dollars provided there should remain that amount after my wife's decease. Fifthly) if there should be any thing remaining after the two last portions are drawn it is my will that it shall go to the use of the deaf, dumb and blind of the State of Ohio. And lastly) I hereby constitute and appoint William Tennis and my wife Hannah Adams to be the executors for this my last will and testament voiding and annulling all former wills by me made and verifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 30th day of March A.D. 1836. Mordecai Adams (seal)

Signed, published and declared by the above named Mordecai Adams as and for his last will and testament in presence of us who at his request have signed as witnesses

Gibson Collins
George Smyth

Do you have any further information about this Mordecai and Hannah Adams of Muskingum co., Ohio. Are they from the Adamsville area or would they by chance be from the downtown Zanesville area (Ward 3 on cencus records 1850+)

I have a Hannah Adams listed 1840 Muskingum co., Ohio Ward 3 with three males under age 15

She shows up again in 1850 Muskingum co., Ohio Ward 3 page 240 age 69 born in England. Listed under her are James 21, Edward 20, John 17 all born in England.

In 1860 she is enumerated with Edward Adams, who is now listed age "40" his wife Margaret (Day), their children: Lucy, Margaret, Samuel. Margaret's siblings: William Day, Stephen Day. Margaret's mother: Mary Day and the assumed mother of Edward- Hannah Adams age 79 born England.

This Hannah Adams was listed in the Grace M.E. church reocrds as being received on trial (for membership) january 23 1837 and being received in Full on July 17 1837.

She was also listed as a sponcer (the same church) for the baptism of Edward and Margaret Adam's son Samuel in 1860 (born about 1858)

Other Adam's listed around the Marietta Street (3d ward area) area of Zanesville where this family lived were: Richard, William.

A biography in "1905 History...City of Zanesville & Muskingum co., Ohio by J. Hope Sutor" lists Willam H. Adams as son of James Adams (?the same one listed under Hannah in 1840, 1850 census) who "as a boy came to US with his parents-the family home being established in Baltimore Maryland... Afterward moved to Zanesville where he (James) is now living at above 80...wife Lucy...they were parents of 8 children"


My Hannah is probably not the same Hannah as she is listed alone in 1840 but if you see any connection, please let me know.

Mordecai Adams came to Salem Township from Pennsylvania. There is a record of a Mordecai Adams born 1764 in Bedford Co., PA to Elijah and Hannah Adams.

Mordecai Adams laid out the original plat of Adamsville and had it patented and record April 30, 1832. Adamsville was not named after himself but after John Quincy Adams, President of the United States.

Mordecai would later move his family to Shannon, Muskingum Twp, below Dresden, where he died and is buried. He is listed in the Licking Twp census records.

Salem Baptist Church in Adamsville, was organized in October, 1818 and among it's constituent members was Mordecai and Hannah Adams.

Mordecai is listed in the 1830 Census for Salem Township on page 326 with the following information:

1 - Male 5-10
1 - Male 50-60
1 - Female 40-50

Moredecai shows up in the 1840 Census in Licking Twp on page 273. Also that year a Hannah Adams is listed in Zanesville Twp page 411. This is not the same Hannah Adams that is married to Mordecai.

Mordecai left his estate to his wife but also gave specific amounts to his nephews. I don't know who the boy was living with the family listed in the 1830 census.

In the 1850 Mortality Schedule for Muskingum County: Mordecai Adams,69, married, born PA d. June of Typhus Fever,was a farmer (Muskingum County Footprints Vol 2,pg 17)

This must have been before the census as the 1850 census lists Hannah Adams in Licking Twp page 353. The other Hannah Adams is listed in Zanesville Twp, Ward 3, page 240.

Appearance Docket July 21 1852 case # 3214: Hannah Adams adm. vs heirs of Mordecai Adams, dec. Petition to sell land(Muskingum County Footprints,Vol 4,pg 4)

This family of Adams traces it's lineage from Muskingum to Bedford Co., PA to New Jersey and County Antrim, Ireland.

Mordecai's family should not be confused with the George W. Adams family of Adamsville from Loudoun Co., VA or the Littleton Adams family of Madison and Jefferson townships from Fauquier Co., VA.

Hope this helps.

Thank you for the clarification of the Adams' in Muskingum County Ohio.

I appear to be a decendant of yet another branch of Adams' located in Muskingum County. My line has not been taken any further than the Hannah Adams located in the 3rd ward of Zanesville. They seem to have come perhaps directly from an unknown location in England circa 1832-36

This is my line in case anyone else seems to tie into it.

Hannah Adams (assumed parent)
born circa 1781 England. Died between 1860-1870 probably Muskingum Co., Ohio.

Her assumed son is Edward Adams born circa 1829 England and died after 1897 probably in Muskingum Co., Ohio. He married Margaret Day in 1851 in Muskingum Co., Ohio and they had the following children: 1) Lucy 1853/54 married William M. Vanhorn; Margaret b. 1855/56; Samuel 1858; Stephen June 1862; Harrison Sept 1864 married Ella Mae Sealover; Emma 1868 married Augustus Fusner; Frederick Feb. 1870; George F. Sept 20 1872 married Louise Dearstine 1895; Ellen March 4 1876.

Edward Adams has naturilization papers at Muskingum County, Ohio...lists-about 18 months of age when came to America and is 22 years of age at date of document. September 30 1852. This puts his birth at about 1830 and coming to America circa 1832

Edward and Margarets son George F Adams is my great grandfather. He died in 1948. He married Louise G. Dearstine and they had the following children: Clarence Albert 1896; Ella L. L. 1898; Evelyn Coral (my grandmother) 1901; Gladys Pearl 1903; Sylvia May 1906; George Harrison 1909; Mildred Elizabeth 1912; Delmer Stephen 1914; and Lillian Naomi 1917. All are deceased.

My grandmother Evelyn Coral Adams married Fred Orville Brooks and had 7 children. Three are still living including my mother.

Any one with connecting information...please contact me :)

Peggy Barnhart

Descendants of Jonathan Adams:

1 Jonathan Adams b: May 03, 1784 in PA d: January 18, 1856 in Viroqua, Vernon Co., WI +Margaret b: May 21, 1784 in PA
........2 Robert Adamsb: April 12, 1806 in PA d: August 30, 1873 in WI
........... +Annis Ball b: 1801 in VA d: September 02, 1865 in WI m: January 01, 1829 in Morgan Co., OH ........*2nd Wife of Robert Adams: ...........+Mary Ann Brown b: September 10, 1820 in OH d: September 25, 1899 in WI m: October 06, 1867 in Viroqua, Vernon Co., WI
........2 Margaret Adams b: October 16, 1807 in PA d: October 06, 1858 in Viroqua, Vernon Co., WI
........2 John Adams b: August 06, 1809 in PA d: April 12, 1862 in Deerfield Twp., Morgan Co., OH
...........+Mary Jane Campbell b: August 07, 1812 d: October 31, 1858 in Deerfield Twp., Morgan Co., OH m: November 22, 1832 in Morgan Co., OH
........-2 Philip Adamsb: September 12, 1811 in PA d: November 29, 1881 in Webster Twp., Vernon Co., WI ...........+Mary Margaret Garrettb: August 19, 1818 in PA d: January 26, 1888 in Viroqua, Vernon Co., WI m: March 24, 1836 in Morgan Co., OH
........2 Elijah Adams b: August 29, 1813 in Pennsylvania d: Bet. 1842 - 1850 in Ohio
...........+Arminda Tomlinison b: 1813 in Loudoun County, Virginia d: Aft. 1869 in Viroqua, Wisconsin/McHenry Co., Ill? m: September 03, 1835 in Perry Co., OH Father: Thomas Tomlinson Mother: Acsah Iden
........2 Mary Adams b: January 18, 1816 in OH d: July 06, 1881 in Viroqua, Vernon Co., WI ...........+Robert B. Welch b: June 01, 1794 in PA d: June 24, 1873 in Viroqua, Vernon Co., WI m: 1850 in Perry Co., OH
........2 Simeon Adams b: 1819 in Ohio d: 1884 in Dexter, Dallas Co., Iowa
........... +Abi F. Doane b: March 04, 1821 in Warwick Twp, Bucks Co., PA d: July 08, 1879 in Dexter, Dallas Co., Iowa m: August 24, 1854 in Morgan Co., OH
........2 Jane Adams b: 1822
........2 Josiah W. Adams b: February 25, 1822 in PA d: August 07, 1902 in Viroqua, Vernon Co., WI ...........+Violet A. Breeze b: 1831 in OH m: June 03, 1851 in Morgan Co., OH
........2 Abigail Adams b: November 21, 1826 in OH
d: November 16, 1867 in Viroqua, Vernon Co. WI.,
...........+George Washington Brown b: July 08, 1832 in OHd: February 21, 1915 in Wisconsin m: March 01, 1856 in Viroqua, Vernon Co., WI
........2 James Mordecia Adams b: May 02, 1830 in OH d: 1914 in Vernon County, Wisconsin ...........+Abi Curry b: 1835 in OHd: 1893 Father: William Curry
Denny, your message excited me and I spent all day trying to find a link between the Mordecai you speak of and my Jonathan Adams above, who indeed had a son named James Mordecai but went by Mordecai. I found all sorts of crazy trees giving Elijah born 1722 as his father then Elijah's father as Samuel, born 1716, 6 years before he had a son! Do you know Mordecai's ancestors and do you have any documentation, other than the will, naming Jonathan as Mordecai's brother? Was Thomas also a brother? Is John Adams born 1672 in Antrim, Ireland the patriarch? I have searched for Jonathan's parents for years so I am praying you do know the above!

Lisa,

I really don't have much more information on Mordecai than the will. His line of Adams do not connect with mine that come from Loudoun Co., VA. There are many concidences between the two families after they come to Muskingum Co., OH. George W. Adams, my ancestor, and Mordecai Adams both lived in Adamsville. George first came to Monroe Twp about 1807, returned to Virginia where he served in the War of 1812, married and returned with many Loudoun families to Monroe and Salem townships about 1820.

Moredecai came to Muskingum from Massachusetts. He was a member of a large group of families from that area that came to what was then Washington Twp. It was this group that gave the name Salem to the newly formed township, named after Salem Mass. Mordecai laid out and recorded the plat of Adamsville about 1830. Later he would move his family a few miles west to Shannon where he died and is buried.

There is much speculation about his brothers that are mentioned in his will. Their connection is going to be back in Mass. where you may find record of his parents. Not much exists in those early Ohio records to show any connection between what Adams were living in Ohio.

If any of them ended up in Viroqua, WI is would be pure concidence. Viroqua was laid out and formed by my ancestor Moses Decker who was born in Orange Co, NY, moved with his family to Westmoreland Co., PA and a few years later to Highland Twp., Muskingum Co., OH. He married Mary Reasoner and moved with part of his family to western IL and then finally to WI their route west taken over water. Many families followed him to IL. Some stayed there like the Reasoners, Gaumers, Bainters and ohers while some joined him in Viroqua. I don't know how the Adams fit into this as I know the ones there were from Muskingum but I always thought I would find they were connected to my Adams line as Moses' son Dr. Henry Decker, married George Adams daughter, Susannah Adams. They stayed in Adamsville while Moses left for the new lands in the west. Some of George's descendants are unaccounted for and I thought they may have gone to IL and WI with the Deckers.

Many of the names you incuded are recognizable, especially the Tomlinsons from Loudoun and Muskingum. The name Mordecai may have been given in honor of Mordecai Adams, the founder of Adamsville but Mordecai was a fairly common name among families with New England connections. A German family would not use the name Mordecai and my Adams were German Lutheran/Reformed. Also the fact you say your Adams were from PA indicates they were not connected to the other three Adams families situated near Adamsville. (there were other Adams lines in other parts of Muskingum unconnected) Mine were from Loudoun Co., VA, Mordecai was from Mass. and the third, Littleton Adams family in Madison and Jefferson townships were from Fauquier Co., VA which neighbors Loudoun. They were of English extraction but not connected to the Mass. Adams.

There is a possibility your Adams might be connected to those in VA as some of those families moved north into Bedford and Somerset counties PA before the final move to Ohio but if you can prove they were from the eastern counties then the connection becomes more tenuous. Earlier Germanic Adams came to Frederick Co., MD from eastern PA counties like Berks and Lancaster and settled into the German communities in those places. There were some Adams in Westmoreland but I don' know where they were from. The Reasoners came to that area from VA so perhaps the Adams there were connected to the Reasoners in some way. Westmoreland, like Somerset and Bedford became staging areas for families moving into Ohio so attracted families from all over.

The biggest help in following the different Adams clans are what church affiliations they maintained. The Germanic Adams are found mostly in Lutheran and Reformed churches while the Engish are in Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist and other church records. After the move to Muskingum, they started marrying other families from different nationalities and the church affiliations changed accordingly. For example, my Deckers were Methodist and aligned with the Bethel Methodist church upon settling in Muskingum. The Adams were Lutheran and affiliated with New Hope Lutheran. When Susannah Adams married Henry Decker she eventually joined the Methodist church and is buried in the Baptist church cemetery in Adamsville which served both the Baptist and Methodist churches. Her parents are buried in New Hope Cemetery.

The earlier generations stayed closely affiliated with the churches their forefathers belonged to. Mostly because they followed the language and customs they were familiar with. The early Lutheran and Reformed church services and records were in German so few English, Scot, or Irish families would become Lutheran until that changed. The only exception were the Swedes who were mostly Lutheran but they had their own communities and church services in Swedish. Many of them lived in the Viroqua area so there might have been later connections between them. It is the early chrch records that are the most important as you follow the families back. What faith they were when living in PA was more than likely a good indication of where they came from and what path you should pursue in tracing them. If they were Lutheran, forget about connecting them to the Mass. Adams. As much as we would all like to say we are connected to John or John Quincy Adams, they were not German, at least not from the generations that came from England. Before that the possibility exists because many of the English families had German connections. Most of the English nobility were German from King George on. The Adams might have those connections as well. Since they have such notoriety, their line has been fairly well researched although I haven't looked at what is written on them. They don't connect to me and I haven't gotten my Adams back to Europe so there is no need.

Keep me informed of how you are progressing.

Denny,
You said in the will message that Mordecai may have come from Bedford Co,, PA, son of Elijah and Hannah, and you mention NJ and Antrim, Ireland. This last note you say he came from Mass. I'm confused! Can you clarify?
My Jonathan lived in Bearfield Twp., Perry County, OH, , (he appears in the 1850 census) after moving from PA, and then moved on to Vernon County, WI in the 1850's. My grandfather said his ancestors were English/Irish. I know that his Pettit ancestors were English, while his mother had Irish Parrs on her side of the family along with German Applemans.

It would appear that Mordecai did come to Ohio from PA but if he is the Mordecai Adams that was born to Elijah and Hannah Adams in Bedford is only speculation.

Here is a site that lists that family and they do not say anything about Mordecai coming to Ohio:

http://www.geocities.com/quosac/GED/1JohnAdamsScotch.htm

This family did indeed come into NJ from Ireland and then into PA but from that point on your on your own to make the connection. I found another listing that gives a Mordecai Adams about the same age in Chester Co., PA. It's too bad Mordecai died in 1849, a year before the first census that might have given us a clue to where he was born.

The early history of Mordecai is somewhat vague. References to him do not specify where he was from but in the same breath mention that the early settlers of Salem Township were mostly from New England. It does not say that they did not have children born in PA and then came to Muskingum. I know this to be true in many cases. Families moving into the western lands of PA before 1800 with the intention of settling in the military lands of Ohio had to wait and in some cases, a whole generation was born in PA before they could come to Ohio.

The Mordecai Adams in Bedford Co., PA sure looks like a good fit which would mean the family was not from New England but without more evidence I wouldn't want to bet on it.

Most of the Adams families I have seen with a Mordecai seem to be Irish or Scot. I just found reference to a woman b. ca 1719 whose father was an apothecary in Dublin named Mordecai Adams. If naming conventions mean anything, perhaps Mordecai was of Irish descent but then again, Mass. has a large Irish/Scot community.

You will just have to do some serious leg work as I can't help too much as I do not have any real interest in this line except as it pertains to Muskingum Co

My line is John Adams Mary Jane Campbell Their daug Harriet A Adams married John Wm Curry His sister Abi curry m James Mordecia Adams would like to share info Thanks Patricia

Is anyone working on the Littleton Adams line that came from Fauquier County, Virginia? I am a Brookover and my greatgrandfather, Milton Clay, married an Anna Adams in Muskingum County. The information that I have gleaned from the census, but have been unable to further verify, is that she was the daughter of Zachariah Adams and grandaughter of Littleton Adams.
Not only are there several Adams lines in Muskingum County, but those who came from Virginia seem to have a propensity for reusing names in almost every generation. Makes it difficult! My local library has copies of the Adams
Addenda and I am willing to look up information in it for anyone. Warning, I work full time and have a very pregnant daughter (and son-in-law) so my answers might not be at all quick!
Nan

Nan,

I did a lot of work on this family a while ago just to prove they were not related to my Adams family that lived in the Salem and Adams towship area and were from Loudoun Co., VA which neighbors Fauquier Co.

I made contact with another researcher, not related to the Adams, but who had compiled records from many sources for a couple of Adams descendants. from that line. I still have that data in my possession as I have tried to get in touch with her to return it without success.

Here is an inventory of what the package includes:

1) A descendancy chart called "Descendants of John Adams and Elizabeth Naylor of Charles County, Maryland" originally compiled by Robert Adams Gaebler in 1984.

2) Tax extracts from Fauquier for all Adams from 1782 to 1845.

3) a few copied pages of cemeteries in Muskingum where these Adams are buried, including Zachariah Adams cemetery located in Madison twp., George Adams cemetery, also in Madison, and Muskingum Presbyterian cemetery in Muskingum twp.

4) An Appraisment and subsequent Chancery record of land owned by William Adams, through the Licking Co., Court

5) A copy of a petition of Partion, from the Lickng county courts, 1841, Beverly Lamert, et All (Includes Leroy Lamert) vs Joseph Adams for land in Muskingum Co. part of the estate of William Adams who died intestate.

6) A copy of a petition of Partion, from the Lickng county courts, 1846?, Leroy Lamert vs Mariah Adams for land in Muskingum Co., Leroy Lamerts was administrator for the intestate affairs of William Adams, deceased.

7) Copy of will of James Adams of Muskingum county, 1818.

8) Proof of Littleton Adams will of Muskungum county, 1842.

9) A Chancery Court, 1852, petition for Littleton Adams against most of the other Adams in dispute of the land division of his grandfather's land (George Adams d. 1827).

10) a few copies of Land Indentures, 1834 for William B. And MAriah Adams. I believe these are the quivelant of today's Land Contracts.

11) Marriage recording of Wm. Adams to Maria Adams. (Same name)

12) Copied pages of Adams from the book Early Ohio Settlers, Purchasers of Lans in East Central Ohio 1800-1840.

13) Copy of section on the Adams from "The Atlas of Muskingum county, Ohio", including a section on Prospect Place.

14) a plat map of Madison township.

15) Various notes of sources lists


I am not letting any of this information out of my hands but will do lookups in them for anyone researching this family and not the other Adams families that existed in Muskingum county.
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