Eleanor Adair was born circa 1726 in United States (Chickasaw Nation) and died 1803 Duncan's Creek, Laurens County, South Carolina, United States of unspecified causes. She married James Adair (1714-1796) 1744 in South Carolina, United States.
"James Adair was born probably in Ireland about 1714. He immigrated to America before 1735. James married Eleanor of the Chickasaw Nation in about 1744. Eleanor was born in the Chickasaw Nation about 1726. She was a member of the Panther clan. James died probably in Laurens County, South Carolina, after 25 Feb 1784 and before 12 Feb 1796. Eleanor died probably in Laurens County after 3 Jan 1803.[1]
Biographical timeline
Indian tribes of Southeastern U.S. visited by James Adair. (1735-1775)
The preface of his book James declares he lived forty years with the indians of various tribes (from 1735 to 1775) including relocating in 1744 to more closely associate with the Chickasaw Nation.
- 1744 : James Adair Move to Chickasaw Nation in northern Mississippi at the headwaters of the Yazoo River. There marries a maiden (later identified as Eleanor in subsequent deeds) and has children. Frequent trips downstream to Mobile and Florida panhandle. (per his book)
- 1751 : Moves to the Ninety-Six District (upstate South Carolina) to trade again with Cherokee. His brothers come join him.
- 1775 : Book is published in London.
- 1784-1796: Death of James is sometime between 24-Feb-1784 (date of deed to John Jones, blacksmith) and 12-Feb-1796 (date of deed of "Eleanor, widow of James Adair", releasing her dower).
- 1803-After: Last Document of Eleanor - Eleanor dies sometime after 07-Jan-1803, when a release of dower document is recorded in her name.
Marriage and family
James Adair was a Scotch-Irish immigrant to America that settled in the Chickasaw Indian Territory of upstate Mississippi near the headwaters of the Yazoo River in 1744. Some time after that he married Eleanor of the Chickasaw Nation. Eleanor was born in the Chickasaw Nation about 1726. She was a member of the Panther clan. James died probably in Laurens County, South Carolina, after 25 Feb 1784 and before 12 Feb 1796. Eleanor died probably in Laurens County after 3 Jan 1803.
In his book, James Adair writes at great length about the warrior skills and customs of the Chickasaw. These men were important allies of the British in the ongoing French and Indian Wars of early America. Eleanor's brothers, uncles, cousins, etc, were most like part of this group (and may even have played a key role in arranging his marriage?)
From the accounts of Adair and other traders who were able to reach the consolidated villages inside the embattled settlement of Chokkilissa', we see that women did most of the work connected with running the household. Archaeological evidence shows us what they used and when (within a range of years) in some cases. Even before the mid-eighteenth century, women had an assortment of European tools that made the work less burdensome and time-consuming. Purdue University historian Wendy St. Jean wrote that some Chickasaw women married traders in part or in whole to obtain these convenience items for themselves and their kin.
With metals pots, they did not have to spend so much time fashioning pottery for cooking. With cloth, they did not have to spend hours processing and brain-tanning deerskin for clothes. With horses and plows, they could work a field or garden in a fraction of the time that they formerly spent breaking up the soil with hand tools.
Children
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Joseph Adair (1745-1820) | 1750 Chickasaw Nation | 5 February 1804 Duncan Creek, Laurens County, South Carolina | Sarah Lowe (1750-1844) |
| James Adair (1748-1818) | 1750 Chickasaw Nation | 18 August 1818 Laurens County, South Carolina | Hannah Unknown (1750-1826) |
| John Adair (1754-1815) | 1754 Chickasaw Nation | November 1815 Oconee County, South Carolina | Nancy Ga-Ho-Ga Lightfoot (1760-1789) Jane Kilgore (1773-1815) |
| Edward Adair (1756-1800) | 1756 Chickasaw Nation | November 1800 Oconee County, South Carolina | Elizabeth Martin (c1760-1816) |
| Hannah Adair (1759-1810) | 1759 Chickasaw Nation | 1810 Oconee County, South Carolina | John Jones (c1755-) |
| Laferty Adair (c1760-) | 1760 Chickasaw Nation | 1810 Oconee County, South Carolina | |
Siblings
Residences
Footnotes (including sources)
References
- ^ Chickasaw Wife and Family of James Adair, Author of the History of the American Indians. - unpublished work by Shawn Potter Aug 2015.
See also
- Chickasaw Wife and Family of James Adair, Author of the History of the American Indians. - unpublished work by Shawn Potter Aug 2015. Shawn and his wife Lois are the authors of a book to be published sometime in the future entitiled. The book uses extensive historical documentation and modern DNA analysis to assemble his family history.