Return to Hyde County

Feb. 8, 1870 - James Adams, Jr. states that James Adams, Sr., late of Hyde County, is dead without any will or testament and that he is the proper person entitled to Letters of Administration on the estate.  He further states that the estate is worth about $500.00 and that James Adams, Jr., Charles Adams, Mary Adams, Edward Adams, Bettie Swindell, Kate Adams & Frances Adams are entitled as heirs.  /s/ James Adams, Jr.

Feb. 8, 1870 - Letters of Administration - James Adams, Jr. along with W.H. Lucas & I.B. Watson as his securities, signed a bond in the amount of $1000.00.  /s/ James Adams, Jr., adm'r., Wilson H. Lucas, I.B. Watson

Dec. 5, 1874 - Account Sales of the perishable property of James Adams, Sr., dec'd., sold by James Adams, Jr., adm'r., for cash.  There were 3 pages of items which Kate Adams bought every single item which amounted to $47.60.

1870-1874 - Account current with the estate of Jas. Adams, dec'd.  Balance due the estate $5.41.  /s/ Jas. Adams

March 28, 1876 - Citation to James Adams, Jr., adm'r., of the estate of James Adams, Sr., to render an annual account into Court.  /s/ Gep. I. Watson, Probate Judge

April 22, 1876 - James Adams, Jr., adm'r., in account current with the estate of James Adams, Sr., dec'd.  Jan. 1870-Apr. 22, 1876.  Mentions burial expense of $24.41.

August 20, 1891 - Application for Letters of Administration debonis non - Edward Adams swears that James Adams, Jr., adm'r. of the estate of James Adams, Sr. late of Hyde County, is dead and that the estate is worth about $37.89 and that Hettie Adams, Lucy Adams, Edward Adams, Charles Adams, Kate Styron & J.D. Swindell are entitled as heirs.  [This list of heirs differs somewhat from the 1870 list above.]

[debonis non administratis, Latin for "of goods not administered," is a legal term for assets remaining in an estate after the death or removal of the estate administrator. The second administrator is called the administrator de bonis non and distributes the remaining assets.  Source: Wikipedia]

August 20, 1891 - Edward Adams being duly sworn states that he will faithfully administer on the estate of James Adams, Sr.  /s/ Edward Adams.  He posted a bond of $75.78 with T.H. Jennette and W.W Midyette as his securities.

NOTES:
James Adams, Sr., son of Charles Adams & Mary C. Sampson, was born Aug. 6, 1806 [tombstone date] in Massachusetts & died Jan. 20, 1870.  According to the Kingston, Plymouth Co., MA birth records, James Adams, Sr. was born on Aug. 13, 1806.  He married Martha Ann Murray (1818-1855).  James Sr. & Martha Adams are buried in the Farrow-Saunderson Cemetery in Hyde County.  The 1840 Hyde census shows James with no females in the household so he may have been married prior to Martha Ann.  He must have married Martha between 1840-1850.  By 1850 the children listed with James & Martha A. Adams were James [Jr.] age 11, Mary age 9, Charles age 7, Elizabeth age 6, Catherine age 3 and Edward age 8 months.  In the 1860 Hyde census James is a widower but the same children are listed as well as 9 year old Frances.  In the 1870 Hyde census James Jr. is the head of household and appears to be unmarried.  Four of his siblings are living with him as well as 5 blacks also listed with the surname "Adams".

James Adams, Jr., son of James Adams, Sr. was born Nov. 14, 1838 & died Nov. 28 [or 25], 1888. [Washington Progress Weekly newspaper stated that he died at his residence near Sladesville of hemorrhagic fever on Sunday morning, November 25, aged about 51.] He married Mrs. Mahettable (Jennett) "Hettie" Fortiscue (1844-1904), widow of Zacheus Fortiscue, on January 14, 1875.  James & Hettie are found in the 1880 census.  James is buried in the W.H. Fortiscue, Sr. Cemetery and Hettie is buried in Epworth Methodist Church Cemetery.

Mary Adams, daughter of James Adams, Sr. & Martha Ann Murray, was born circa 1841.  Nothing else known.

Charles Adams, son of James Adams, Sr. & Martha Ann Murray, was born Nov. 7, 1842.  Nothing else known.

Elizabeth "Bettie" Adams, daughter of James Adams, Sr. & Martha Ann Murray, was born Sept. 13, 1844 & died May 8, 1888.  She married James Dixon Swindell on Nov. 16, 1869.  Both are buried at Amity Church Cemetery.

Catherine "Kate" Adams, daughter of James Adams, Sr. & Martha Ann Murray, was born Feb. 4, 1847 & died Dec. 11, 1918.  She was first married to George W. Gibbs (1845-1880) on Nov. 23, 1875 and then to Lewis H. Styron (1828-1904) on Nov. 5, 1884.  The are buried at St. George's Episcopal Church Cemetery.

Edward A. Adams, son of James Adams, Sr. & Martha Ann Murray, was born Nov. 12, 1849 & died Aug. 27, 1914.  He married Eleanor Ella Swindell (1849-1889) on Nov. 29, 1876.  They are buried at Amity Church Cemetery.

Frances "Fannie" Adams, daughter of James Adams, Sr. & Martha Ann Murray, was born Nov. 16, 1851 & died Mar. 13, 1884.  She married George Henry Weston, Sr. (1849-1911) on May 24, 1882.  Fannie is buried in St. George's Episcopal Church Cemetery and George is buried in Soule Cemetery.

© 2016 Kay Midgett Sheppard