The American Colony in Texas.
__In 1820, Moses Austin, a Missouri bankers, was granted permission from the Spanish officials in San Antonio to establish a olonyin Texas. The Spanish government saw this colony as a buffer against the Indians in the North. __
__Moses Austin died before he could carry out his plan, but his son, Stephen F. Austin, brought 300 families to Texas in 1821. The first settlements were at Washington-on-the Brazos and Columbus in southeast Texas. By 1836, there was sum 30,000 American settlers in Texas. Mexico who had achieved independence from Spain believed these settlers, who brought their slaves and remained Protestant, had no interest in the welfare of Mexico. Santa Ana made it clear that the American settlers were no longer welcome in Texas and the rest is history.__
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Texas presently has the largest population of McAdames who's first families originally migrated from North and South Carolina. In most cases, their origin can be traced to their early American locations. Before migrating to Texas, these families had clustered mostly in Tennessee and Alabama. They all were related to three or four early McAdams families.
The first census of Texas was taken between 1829 and 1836 where the names of John and James McAdams appear. In the census of 1846, there were 13 McAdams families listed and by 1850, the list had 16 McAdams families.
Texas land grant list of 1839 and 1841 are the following McAdams:
1. William McAdams, Sr. 1839, son of James McAdams of Pendleton Dist.,S.C. 2. William McAdams, Jr. 1839, son of William, above. 3. Jeptha McAdams, 1839, son of William, Sr., above. 4. Samuel McAdams, 1841, brother of above William, Sr., and son of James McAdams of Pendleton Dist., S.C. 5. Bethany McAdams, 1839 - related to Samuel McAdams of Pendleton District, S.C. 6. James McAdams, 1839, son of John McAdams 7. William R. McAdams, 1839, son of Samuel McAdams of Orange Co., N.C.
William McAdams, a son of James McAdams of Pendleton Dist., S.C. and his sons, William, Jr. and Jeptha, went to Smith and Bowie Counties, Texas from Perry County, Alabama where they were living with other Pendleton family relatives, William W. McAdams, a nephew and son of Isaac and Martha Ann (Turner) McAdams. William W. McAdams moved to Mississippi and later in 1852 migrated to Leon County, Texas. Proof their origin is contained in the will written by Thomas McAdams in Cass County, Georgia, Samuel, William and Isaac's brother.
Samuel McAdams, a member of the above Pendleton District, S.C. family and brother of William and Thomas came to Texas from Lawrence County, Alabama. This family moved to Bowie County, Texas in about 1840 with his sons, George and John. Other family members, Andrew J. and Mortemore McAdams were in Cass County, Texas.
Bethany McAdams' name appears in the Newby family Bible records and is a a dauther-n-law of the above Samuel McAdams who married his son, John. She was the daughter of his brother, William McAdams. She transferred her land title first to Sarah McAdams and later changed it to "Heirs of William McAdams". Somewhat odd as she had children. By 1850 Bethany had married a man named Webb. She was then 35 and was born in Alabama.
William R. McAdams, the son of Samuel and Catherine Raniey McAdams, and grandson of John and Sarah (Sloss) McAdams of Orange County, N.C. came to Texas from Bond County, Ill. By 1836 he had settled in Red River County.1839 he was issued a land grant for 640 acres in Shelby County, Texas. In 1845, he and his son, Williamwere listed on the tax roll of Nacogdoches County. He was living in Harrison County in 1855 where he died.
Joseph and Samuel McAdams, sons of Joseph and grandsons of James and Rebecca (Hill) McAdams of Orange County, N.C. came from Lincoln County, Tennessee via Blount Co., Alabama to Shelby County, Texas Their brother,Hugh McAdams, who also lived in Alabama, later moved his family to Hunt County, Texas.
Green McAdams, a cousin from the above Lincoln Co.Tenn. family came to Texas in 1850 and settled around PilotPoint, Denton County. He served with the Texas Rangers and in the Civil War.
Deaton or Drayton McAdams, born in S.C. in 1815 appears to be a son of Henry, and grandson of Robert McAdams of Newberry, S.C. Caroline, his wife married him in 1845 in Rauldon Co, Ga. and they moved to Henderson Co., Texas where they lived for 56 years.
__John McAdams of Walker County, Texas went to Alabama from Bumpus Mills, Steward County, Tennessee.__
Kay Ponder has located records that confirm that John McAdams of Walker Co., Texas went to Tuscaloosa County, Alabama from Steward County, Tennessee.
SALINE CREEK BAPTIST CHURCH MINUTES
The following records are made available to Stewart County researchers through the generosity of David Ferrill Grobe , who reviewed the minute book and recorded the entries onto tape in 1977, and created the notes which you see below. The church was created on May 19, 1810, as a branch out of the Dry Creek church just across the state line in Kentucky. The 7 charter members were; Thomas Ross, Nathan Ross, Asa and Wynea Biggs, Wm. and Sally Hubbard, and John Ferrill. The 1808 meeting was held at the Bent Creek Church in Jefferson County. The 1809 meeting was held at the Lick Creek Church in Greene County. There were no delegates from Big Creek at the 1810 meeting, nor at the 1807 meeting.) John McAdams, joined from Little River church in Christian Co. Ky in May 1818, along with wife Martha. Appointed church clerk in June 1818. On Aug 27, 1823 had been excluded, now a member and preaching on the Black Warrior in Alabama. Letter received on Jan 17, 1824 from the Sardis Church in Tuscaloosa Co. Ala. about some kind of trouble there. On Aug 7, 1830 there had been a request for a list. The evidence is that John McAdams of Steward Co., Tenn. was the son of John McAdams, the first Constiable of Nashville and later a resident of Smith and Overton Co., Tenn. The John McAdams home in Overton Co., Tenn. was the location of the early meeting place (1808) of the Church of Christ co-founded by Rev. John McGee. This John McAdams probably died in Overton or Smith County, Tenn., in counties few early records remain
This family information connects to George McAdams from Maury Co., Tenn. who moved to Christian Co., Kentucky. He married Betsy McGee, daughter of Rev. John McGee by D. Williams in 1816. Other Maury Co. records have John McAdams as a land owner in 1814 - 16.
Earlier research on the Walker County family had been crossed with the John McAdams family of Abbeville, South Carolina. The information was complied based in "Good Faith"because of the similarities of the two families. Several publications, LDS,DAR records, and the others, refer this family to Abbeville, which should be discounted. However, most all researches agree it does appear that this family did spend some time in South Carolin aand that the Abbeville McAdams family were related in some way as the two families are from Ireland and use a similar naming pattern. Further, there is some reasons to suggest the Walker Co. Texas family may have been related to Joseph McAdames of Camden, S.C.
The possible search for the origin of the John McAdams family of Walker County, Texas starts in Nashville. If one is in Nashville and visits the old fort, just to the north is a momument of the signers of the "Cumberland Compact". Listed on the plaque between the names of Daniel and Sampson Williams is John McAdames. These Williams were a vigorous pioneer family. The Williams traveled with the Bucahana party from South Carolina to join the overland party under James Robertson in late 1779. John McAdams, a very early resident who was elected the first constable of Nashville in1780. He is recorded in Smith County along with a Samuel McAdams. This and other documents suggest this John McAdams was a relative to Daniel Williams and his son, Sampson. Sampson sold land to John McAdams for $1.00 and Daniel later went on his security bond. John McAdams was assignee of a military land grant granted to Thomas Williams and heirs for his 1798 R/W land warrant on the Big Barron River in Kentucky, just north of Nashville. This grant is mentioned in Warren County, Ky. deed book as adjoining George and Robert Moore and Elizabish Jones.
Researchers have traced a land warrant issued to John McAdams in Tennessee as a assignee of Henry Jolly, also a member of the SALINE CREEK BAPTIST CHURCH, from the State of North Carolina. The grant was for 228 acres, which he located on Bazzels Saline Creek in Stewart County, orignially Davidson. He sold this 228 acres in 1818 at which time he appears to have resided in Overton County. Research also matches the 1820 census records to John McAdams of Stewart County and the Walker County families. The older John McAdams in Overton County also had a family but the children in the household were probably not his due to the fact that no McAdams show up in this area after about 1830.
One approach had been to trace the Williams family. However, Williams is a common name which keeps showing up with McAdams. Sampson Williams, from Anson Co., N.C., was a famous Indian fighter and Senator from Smith Co., Tenn. Unfortunately, the Tennessee Archive had little information on him.
Pam Schultz has created a yahoo club web page for those searching for the parentage John McAdams and Martha Rogers/Tenn..so check it out at http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/searchingforjohnmcadams.
John McAdams, who married Martha Rogers is that they were in Tuscaloosa, Alabama about 1822. The family appears there in the 1830 census. In any event, by 1834, the family was listed in the census living in the Sabine district of Texas. Nearby was James McAdams' family.
John, Jr., who stated he was born in Maury County, Tennessee in 1815, served in the San Augustine Volunteers and received a land grant of 320 acres. In 1837, when border ruffians killed his brother, he was prompted him to move his family to Walker County. Shortly after the Texas Revolution, John married Hester White from Leon County, Texas. The Whites were from Anson County, N.C. and had moved to Perry Co., Tennessee before going to Texas.
A grandaughter of John McAdams, Sr. gives an early and reliable sketch of the origins of the Texas family. Margaret McAdams Thompson Barron, wrote in a letter dated Dec. 31, 1935 and preserved in ;the family: "I am sure that my father's father, John McAdams, came from Irelnd but was of Scotch descent. My grandmother, Martha Rogers McAdams came from Ireland. They met here where they married. They live in Tennessee for sometime before moving to Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The whole family moved from there to Panola County, Texas. My father's was named John and his father was John also. John was a real family name. My great grand-father fought in the Revolutionary War and Pat Allphin has his old sword I left with him when I moved here. An Uncle Hiram had the sword and gave it to my grandfather, John McAdams, Sr. when he left home. My grandfather and Uncle Hiram are the only two that I ever heard of who came over to America. I have heard my father tell about Uncle Hiram entertaining Lafayette with a banquet long ago. (Hiram McAdams and William Drakeford ran an inn, "Sign of the Bell" in Camden.) My grandfather came to America when he was four years old (1783). The Revolutionary War was actually over in 1783 and their was almost no immigration from the English Empire during the War. The Revolutionary War sword may have been from Indian Service on the Tennessee fronteer. In any event, The children of John McAdams, Sr., confirm the statement by his grandaughter that he was born in Ireland in census records.
The children of John and Martha Rogers McAdams are:
i. Joseph ii. Nancy iii. John, Jr iv. Marth v. Evaline vi. George vii. Drucilla viii. Joseph For family records go to: www.mcadams.org
ANGELINA COUNTY, TEXAS
The Tuscaloosa County, Alabama marriage records show that James McAdams married Elizabeth Levendall 29 January 1828. The Houston Telegraph & Texas Register dated 14 Oct. 1837, notes that James McAdams was killed by outlaws in Sabine Co. William DeFee, an early Church of Christ minister to Texas was the administrator of the estaste of murdered James in Shelby County. In 1850, his widow, Elizabeth Levendall, who married in had remarried and was living in Natchitoches Parish, La. with Richard Deviney. The Children of James, b. 1804 in NC and Elizabeth McAdams were:
i. William ii. Mary iii. Lucinda Shirley G. Simpson, 1735 Ridgeview Drive, Arlington, Texas 76912 is looking for the parents of John W. McAdams, cb. 1828 in Alabama. His wife was Cassandra G. Youngblood(?) and they lived in Angelia Co. near Luftin. There is a record in Fannin Co., Texas that a James E. McAdams married a Casandra C. Tucker, 28 1859. A James H.E. McAdams married Rebecca J. Tucker, 21 March 1855 and a Samuel McAdams married Ellen A. Fowler, 3 Nov. 1859.
Several researchers, including Mary Murphy and Marilyn Sibley, has spent consideratable time on this think that John W. is actually William McAdams, son of James McAdams who is listed in the first census of Texas. The known location of John W. shows that his first son, George was born in La. in 1854 and they had moved back to Texas by 1858. In the household in 1860 also was Cecelia, age 2, b. Texas and James, age 1, b. Texas. A William McAdams, b. 1828 in Alabama is listed in Natchitoches, La. in 1850. Also to support this theory, one report says, "James McAdams, Jr., b. 1830 in Alabama was killed in 1864 at Vicksburg along with his cousin, Tobie Young and his half-brother Ebb Deviney. In the 1850 census, Elizabeth Levendall McAdams, widow of James McAdams, killed in Texas in 1837 was married to Richard Devine or Deviney. Richard and Elizabeth (McAdams) Devine are listed in the 1860 Louisiana census as Devina.
In 1870 John W. and Cassie were living in the household of Marion Red. Children listed were, George 15, Celie, 14, James, 12, John 7, Elzadie 6, and Marie age 4. Martha McAdams, John's sister had married Blulford Red, 9 Aug. 1869. George W. McAdams married Sarah Red in 1874 but Sarah had died before 1880 as George and his son, Simon were listed in John W.'s household in 1880. There were 3 additional sons, W.H., b. 1871, J.G., b. 1874, and Silas, b. 1877. Sons, John M. married Manerva Loftin in 1887. James A. married Catherine Red in 1889 and daughter, Elzadie married Marion Red, Jr. in 1877.
NO ONE CAN EXPLAIN EPITAPH AT HILL COUNTY, TEXAS BATTLE SITE
D. Murphy, Killed by Indians 1856 In 1857, the Comanches raided the Kerrville area and retreat up the Guadalupe River. One story is that seven young men took out after them. They were: William Kelso, Spence Goss, Jack Heridge or Herredge, Tom Wherry, Dan Murff, Newt Price and Tom McAdams. Only Kelso, a former Texas Ranger had any Indian fighting experience.
That night they camped by the river, not knowing the Comanches were up on the bluff, watching their every move. They did a very stupid thing, stacked thei rifles and started a fire. The next morining Murff and Wherry went off to kill a deer. Shortly therafter, the Comanches attack the camp. Kelso shoots an Indian who falls by the fire but he gets hit with an arrow in the process. He jerks it out, shoots another Indian, then races into the brush. Goss gets shot in the knee and the bullet breaks his leg. He drags himself into some brush and hides. An arrow hits McAdams in his windpipe before he can slip away. Price, suprised from behind is shot in the back with his own shotgun but he is able to run off..
Herridge was sitting by the fire, with his boots off when the Indians hit the camp and he races off. Meantime, Murff and Wherry hear the shots and race back to camp, right into the attacking Comanches. Murff gets off one shot before being hit by a rifle ball in the chest. He falls dead on the spot. Wherry also gets off a single shot. Then he is hit in the chest by an arrow but makes his way to the brush.
The Indians were apparently more intent on thievery than murder, because thy did not go after the fleeing settlers. They steal their horses and guns and disappear, leaving the Texasns in bad shape. Herridge, bootless, made his way back to the settlement. The trip so cut and bruised his feet that his soles peel right off. Kelso, Wherry and McAdams get togetther and stagger toward Kerrville. Kelso, shot in the back with an arrow, can hardly walk. McAdams, hit in the windpie, keps swallowing his own blood, then throwing it up. Wherry had a deep arow wound in his chest. (Kelso's wound failed to heal. Twenty years later, an operation would determine that when he had drawn out the arrow, he had left the iron arowhead inside.) Goss and Price finally meet up in the underbrush. Both were badly wounded. They found a small cave and spent the night. The next day Price, who was shot in the back decides he would try to make it to Kerville. Two years later, they would find his bones, about 10 miles from the cave. Goss, who's leg was broken, stayed in the cave for 18 days, afraid to venture out. He finally realized he must go and was eventually found by a local judge out hunting bears. Murff was buried where he fell in a shallow grave. A slave dug his up and took his booths and clothes. He was then reburied. Later, wolves dragged him out and a hunter found his remains. They took what was left of Murff to Kerrville for burial. So who is buried there in the Pasture? Who is D. Murphy? Why is the date one year earlier? Who was this Tom McAdams? **********************************************************************
1880 TEXAS CENSUS RECORDS
ANGELINA CO.
1. John W. McAdams, b. 1829 Ala., C.C. 40 b. Ga. G.W. 23 b. La., J.A. 20. M.M. 17, Mary A. 14, W.H. 9, Silar 3, Simon 6, g/s all b. Tex.
CASS CO.
1. Hugh L. McAdams b. 1835 Ark. Francis 35 Sarah L. 8, Margtann S. 6, Charles H. 1 2. S.L. McAdams b. 1833 Ala., N.A. 37 b. Ga. C.H. 13, A.D. 9, H.J. 7, M.Y.3, B.Q. 1, all Tex.
DALLAS CO.
1. A. McAdams, b. 1848 Ark. William F., age 6, b.Tex. 2. Henry McAdams (B) b.1851 Tex. Lucy, 29 b. Tex., Willie 8, Mary 6, Fannie 5, Sallie 3, James1, Sina, a sister age 21 3. J.T. (Green) McAdams b. 1822 NC, Mary 43, b.Ga. Thomas C. 21, William 17, Edna 12, Bennie 4, all born in La. 4. Thomas McAdams b. 1855 Tex, Ravely 32 b. Mo. Mauli 2 b. Texas
DEATON CO.
1. John D. McAdams, b. 1855 Tex, Laural 19 Tex Carl L. b. 1880 Tex. 2. Samuel A. McAdams b. 1848 Tenn, Edney 25 Ark. Kirk A. 7, Lucius a. 5, Rufus L. 1 all Tex James D. age 19 b. Tex, brother
FANNIN CO.
1. James W. McAdams b. 1847 Ga. Martha L. (Watson) wife 32 b. Ga, William Rufus 9, Lara V. 5, Miles M. 2 all b. Ark
FREESTONE CO.
1. J.E. McAdams b. 1827 Ala, Martha 36 Ala. Mattie 17, Buddie 15 Tex. Dora & Leila Folk 2. William P. McAdams b. 1853 Tex, C.A. 23
GRAYSON CO.
1. James McAdams b. 1845 Ala., Hellen 35 Ala. Robert 10, William 9, Rachel 6, George 4, John 2, all b. Tex. Calvin Sellers, 68 b. NC father of Hellen lived with them
HARRIS CO.
1. Cindy McAdams, b. 1851 Ill. Mary 25 (s/l) Camilia 4, Mary 3, Ann 1 all born in Texas
HUNT CO.
1. Ann McAdams 9, John 7, Hughie 3 all b. Tex. Step children of Chuck Atterberry 2. Josiah McAdams b. 1823 Tenn., Christiana 40 Joe A. 18, Cordelia 16, Hugh 11, Juluis C. 8 3. William McAdams b. 1845 Tenn, Mary 29 Joshua 8, Alice 6, Rebecca 2 4. Isaac N. McAdams b. 1855 Tenn, M.G. 27 Tenn John D. 6, William Y. 2 b. Tenn. Yancy O. McAdams age 20 a brother 5. J.M. McAdams b. 1848 Tenn, Cynthia 26 Tenn Fannie 5, Loura 3, b. Tex.
HENDERSON CO.
1. James McAdams b. 1852 Tex, Francis 25 Tex William 9, John W. 3, b. Tex. 2. Jessie McAdams b. 1853 Tex, Mary J. 22 Ala. Josephine 3 Ala., Jessie 1 Tex 3. William McAdams, b. 1835 Mo. Maggie 30 William 9 Miss, John 7 Miss, Henry 1, Tex
JOHNSON CO.
1. Andrew J. McAdams b 1843 Tex., Mattie 32, b.Tex. Clara5, Nora 2, Child 1, sister Dora McAdams Hood 25 b. Ark, da. Molie Hood 6 b. Tex. 2. George W. McAdams 19, b. Ark. Oce B. 18, Tenn. Emma E. 25, Virgil B. 7, Richard P., Joel H. 1, all born in Tenn. 3. James McAdams 19, Otho 4, James Nix sept sons
LEON CO.
1. Dan McAdams (B) b. 1815 S.C., Ester 40 Harriett 20, Phillis 19, Caroline 16, J.F. 10, Mary 5, Thomas 3 all b. Tex. 2. Frank McAdams (B) 30 b. 1850 Miss, Mary John 7, Baily 5, Minney William Williams s/s 3. Simmon McAdams (B) b. 1818 Va, Mary Cemantha 21, emly 20, Laura 18, Tom 14, Rose 2, Ann Ross all b. Tex. 4. James H. McAdams b. 1845 Miss, Alice 28, Adair 6, Luther 2, Monroe 1879 all b. Tex. 5. William W. McAdams b. 1815 S.C., Susan 40 Charley Plumer 6, s/s
LIMSTONE CO.
1. John McAdams b. 1852 Tex, Mary 26 b. S.C. John 3, b. Tex.
MILAN CO.
1. William McAdams b. 1842 Tex., Sephonia 22 Elizabeth 7, John 12, James W. 10, Lee F. 5
William 3, Virginia E. 1, Willie 1880 Tex.
VAN ZANDT CO.
1. Deatan McAdams b. 1815 S.C., Caroline 58 Virginia E. 35, James L. 28, Jessie R. 25, Mary
TARRANT CO.
1. G.W. McAdams 31 b. Ark., Mary 23 b. Mo. Jasper K.P. 10, Mary 3. 7, Z.W. 6 , Emma A. 5, William H. 1, all born Tex.4.
SHELBY CO.
1. Mary McAdams 33 b. Tex. Callie 7, Lewis 3, Living with Bryan Jason P. 20, Joseph T. 14, Kee 12, Thomas d. 8 Tex
WALKER CO.
1. Calvin McAdams (Mu) b. 1840 Tex, Lara 38 Susan 12, Calvin 11, Davy 9, William 7, Ela 5, Elizabeth 3, all b. Tex. 2. George McAdams b. 1859 Tex., Sally 30 John McAdams 8 3. Hiram A. McAdams b. 1846 Tex. Jennie 25 Clara 5, Alice 3, Carl 1 all b. Tex. 4. John R. McAdams b. 1844 Tex., E.J. 35 Tex. B. 2, John P. b. 1880 5. John McAdams b. 1816 in Tenn. Frankey 45 E.C. 14, A.J. 12, A.E. 9, Mattie 4 all b. Tex. 6. James R. McAdams b. 1848 Tex, Rebecca 26 Robert 4, Rogers 3, Hiram all b. Tex
WASHINGTON CO.
1. Alice (Baker) McAdams 27, b. England John 6, Charlotte M. 4, James 1 all b. England Anna Baker, mother of Alice.
WEATHERFORD CO.
1. Jo McAdams b. 1846 Ark. Sally 9, Miney 3 Tex. with Jo Adams family