Misc. Notes
First wife of Sam McAdams.
Spouses
Birth1749, Yohogania, Virginia or Somerset, PA
DeathNov 6, 1824, Harrison Co., IN
Misc. Notes
**Source for Samuel McAdams "Sons of Adams, the History of the McAdams Families"
Samuel McAdams is first confirmed when he appears on the payroll records in General Clark's militia in 1775. He was living in Yohogania Co. Virginia in 1779. He sold his property to Andrew Devore. In the same year, Samuel and his wife, Sarah, gave a deposition in Yohogania Co. for James Spear in a court case for John Balkingrig.
In 1781, Samuel was awarded 400 acres of land for his Revolutionary War Service and took up residence on Pottinger's Creek in Jefferson Co., KY. He was also the assignee of several persons who held grants of land by reason of military service for the State of Virginia. He held warrants for a total of 1509 acres of land. A deed for this land was executed on June 21, 1786.
After settling in Jefferson Co., KY, Samuel continued his military service. He was on the payroll in Col. Coxes Regiment of the militia of Jefferson Co. under General Clark on an expedition against the Indians from Oct. 21 to Nov. 25 1782. He was paid as an ensign, but held the rank of Lieutenant. In 1791, he was a member of Capt. Masterson and Willett's Co. and he was fined 40 shillings. He appealed his case and he was cleared of the fine. It appears he left the military service in 1792. He was in the Lincoln Co., KY records in August of that year as a non-inhabant.
Nelson Co. was taken from Jefferson Co. and Samuel appears several times in the court and on the tax list of Nelson Co., KY and his family and a number of friends moved to Harrison Co., Indiana. The move may have been in search for a better life, but most likely the family moved over the slave issue. Samuel and his sons were slave owners and took their slaves with them and gave them their freedom.
Upon arriving in Harrison Co., Indiana, Samuel purchased lands from the Federal Government and some local residents. He plotted the town of New Amsterdam, which was recorded in the Courthouse in Corydon, dates Sept. 14, 1815. Most of his land was located on or near the Ohio River which he deeded most to his sons before his death in 1824. He wrote his will Sept. 29, 1824 and named his son, John McAdams and Isaac French as his executors. His first wife, Sarah, died at an unknown date and Samuel remarried Jemima Cravens on April 6, 1819 who is named in his will along with his children. (Jemima Cravens was married first to another ancestor of mine, James Cravens. Samuel McAdams is listed as excutor of his will. Her maiden name was Pelton).
Misc. Notes
One of the men who platted and started New Amsterdam, IN.
MarriageMar 1774, Jefferson Co., KY