Biography
Ann Catherine Chestnut Adair was born 11 April 1844 in Missouri, United States to William Albert Chestnut (1812-1852) and Johanna Nancy (1816-1852) and died 27 March 1863 Washington, Washington County, Utah, United States of unspecified causes. She married George Washington Adair (1837-1909) 8 November 1858 in Washington, Washington County, Utah, United States.
Benjamin Gardner 1852 Pioneer Company
1861 Wagon train in Echo Canyon
Benjamin Gardner led a pioneer company of 185 individuals that consisted primarily of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who were seeking refuge from religion persecution. Departed from Kanesville, Iowa on 2-10 June 1852 and reached the Salt Lake Valley on 24-27 Sept 1852. Samuel Jefferson Adair (1806-1889) (who was recently widowed) and his family was part of this group, including 3-4 children adopted in Iowa.
Before they left Iowa, Samuel took David L. Sechrist, an orphaned child, to raise. While on the plains he adopted two more children that apparently had lost their parents. These children were Alfred and Ann Catherine Chestnut (Kerry Petersen’s note: actually he found three including Sarah and raised Alfred and Ann). When they arrived in Salt Lake City, Alfred recognized his real father's team of horses, but the supposed owner told Samuel to shut the boy up or he would shut him up himself. Some real skullduggery had to have taken place in Iowa. Samuel Adair raised these children as his own. The Adairs and Mangums, after arriving in Utah, first settled in the Payson-Nephi area.
Six years later Ann married her step-brother, George, soon after participating in the settlement of Washington, Utah, where both he and her adopted father, Samuel are listed on the Adair Spring Monument of 1857.
Adopted Children
The three Chestnut children were found in 1852 by Samuel while on his wagon train passing thru Echo Canyon. Ann was adopted by Samuel and then married here step-brother George Washington Adair (1837-1909) by 1860. See Household #1290 on the Washington County, Utah/1860 U.S. Census.
- Ann Catherine Chestnut (1844-1863) - orphaned adopted by Samuel, she married her step brother George.
- Sarah Mary Chestnut (1845-1886) - sister of Ann, adopted by Erastus Bingham (1798-1882). On 1860 Census she is living with her married sister.
- William Alfred Chestnut (1847-1877) -
Children
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| George Washington Adair (1861-1934) | 26 January 1861 Santa Clara, Washington County, Utah, United States | 10 January 1934 Bloomfield, San Juan County, New Mexico, United States | Almira Hamblin (1860-1940) |
| Jemima Ann Adair (1863-1919) | 27 March 1863 Washington, Washington County, Utah, United States | 2 January 1919 Junction, Piute County, Utah, United States | Charles Henry Hales (1848-1907) |
Siblings
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Ann Catherine Chestnut (1844-1863) | 11 April 1844 Missouri, United States | 27 March 1863 Washington, Washington County, Utah, United States | George Washington Adair (1837-1909) |
| Sarah Mary Chestnut (1845-1886) | 20 September 1845 Missouri, United States | 4 July 1886 Ogden, Weber County, Utah, United States | Jefferson Slade (1836-1916) John Moroni Foy (1835-1900) Aquilla Trulock (1822-1869) Stephen Malan (1835-1926) |
| William Alfred Chestnut (1847-1877) | 1847 Missouri, United States | 1877 Utah, United States | |
Vital Records
1860 US Census
- Washington County, Utah/1860 U.S. Census - Ann lists her birthplace as Missouri.
Location: Household #1290: Washington, Utah,
- Geo W Adair - 23-M-Farmer
- Ann - 16-F
- Sarah Chestnut - 14-F
See Also
- Ann Chestnut
- Chestnut Family
- Chestnut in Missouri
- Chestnut in Washington County, Utah
Residences
Footnotes (including sources)