- 1730 Scotch-Irish Immigrant
Biography
William Adair was born circa 1718 in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom to Thomas Adair (c1680-c1740) and Margaret Marie Henart (c1680-c1750) and died 1812 Mercer County, Kentucky, United States of unspecified causes. He married Mary Moore (1729-1797) 1754 in South Carolina.
Early Life: Pennsylvania
Came to the Pennsylvania colonies about 1730 with his family at age 11. The WAXHAW Penn. Colony in about 1750 settled on lands in the (later named) Chester Co, SC and adjoining counties, and the ADAIR Colony had lands in Laurens County, South Carolina adjoining the WAXAW on the west, but the two colonies were practically one, established about the same time and both were composed of Scotch Irish settlers from Pennsylvania and elsewhere.
Move to Fishing Creek
William Adair married in 1754, secured land (100 acres of free land) on Fishing Creek in Chester County, South Carolina, cleared land for a farm; built a house, locating it near the water, as did the other Pioneer settlers for the better protection against the Wild Indians.
Home Raided During American Revolutionary War
William was too old for service in the Revolutionary War, but he had 3 sons to serve and a foster son also Edward Lacey, who he and wife had raised as their own. Some battles of the pending war were fought on Fishing Creek in Adair's neighborhood: Hauck's party stopped at Adair's on their way to Williamson's. After having taken the silver buckles from Mrs. Adair's shoes, the rings from her fingers, and the handkerchief from her neck, they took her husband out and put a rope around his neck and were about to hang him because his sons were out with the rebels, when some of the Tories pleaded on his behalf that the old man was not so much to blame, it was the mother who had encouraged her sons, and urged them to their rebellious course.
The officer then drew Mrs. Adair apart; and remarking that he had understood that her sons were fine young men, and that her influence over them was such that she could persuade them to anything she pleased, promised if she would swing them over to the King's service, he would obtain for each of them a commission in the British army. The matron replied her sons had minds of their own, thought and acted for themselves. The call made by the Whigs before daylight next morning, July 12, has been noticed. After they were gone, Mr and Mrs Adair left the house quietly, leaving the two officers in bed, who quartered themselves upon them, for they knew in a short time there would be warm work at their neighbors.
They had scarcely reached the shelter of a thicket when they heard the first gun fire, and for more than an hour remained in agitating suspense, At length, venturing in sight of the road, they saw the red coats and Tories flying, and soon afterwards the gallant McClure in pursuit, no longer in fear they returned to the house. When they went to the battle ground, Mrs Adair helped dress the wounds of Captain Anderson, who had insisted that she send sons to him, and reminded him of the order.
Move to Kentucky
The sons removed their aged parents to Virginia in the latter part of the War, and then went back to their camps.
In the middle of the year 1788 William and Mary sold their home and moved to Mercer County, Kentucky living with their son John Adair (1757-1840) at his estate called White Hall, and were buried there. [1]
Timeline
- 1730: Migration from County Antrim to Chester County, Pennsylvania
- 1750: received 150 acres in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
- 1754: Move to Chester County, South Carolina, eventually family settles at Fishing Creek
Marriage & Family
- Mary Adair (1754-1807) - first husband was patriot of the American Revolutionary War but killed by Tories in 1780. Remarried another Revolutionary War patriot.
- Elizabeth Anne Adair (1756-1830) - husband fought in the American Revolutionary War.
- John Adair (1757-1840) - 8th Governor of Kentucky, Veteran of American Revolutionary War and several other conflicts.
- William Adair (1757-1785)
- James Adair (1761-1790)
- Alexander Adair (1765-1781) - died young and unmarried.
- Edward Lacey - foster son of the Adair's
Children
Siblings
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| James Adair (1714-1796) | 1714 County Antrim, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom (Ulster) | 1788 Laurens County, South Carolina, United States | Eleanor Adair (1726-1803) |
| Joseph Adair (1711-1788) | 1711 County Antrim, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom | 1788 Laurens County, South Carolina, United States | Sarah Laferty (1715-1767) Susanna Murdough (1723-1800) |
| William Adair (c1718-1812) | 1718 County Antrim, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom | 1812 Mercer County, Kentucky, United States | Mary Moore (1729-1797) |
Residences
Ancestry
The Adair Family is of ancient roots in Ireland, Scotland and Italy. Her grandfather, Thomas Adair (c1680-c1740) and father William Adair (c1718-1812) immigrated to America in the early 1730s. One uncle, James Adair (1714-1796), became a noted indian trader and historian.
- See Also : Adair Family.
Vital Records
Research Notes
References
- ^ See Elizabeth Ellet's 'The Women of the American Revolution' Vol 111, pgs 270-273
See Also
- William Adair - disambiguation
- James Adair in the Ninety-Six District - Research Notes for this family
- Adair in Chester County, Pennsylvania
- Adair in Chester County, South Carolina
- Adair in County Antrim
- William Adair Sr - GENI
- Fishing Creek History - GenealogyTrails.com