Family XXX (Clevenger)

This family is represented by Sarah Clevenger (member of group 033C).

Sarah Clevenger’s yDNA sample was provided by a male Adams descendant and is kit number 581938.

Confirmed Closes DNA Relations – Adams Family 33B:

  • Becky Carson – Adams Family A328
    • Kit 218879 – only one mutation at 67 markers on DYS449 (fast mutator) – sample is from James Edwin Adams – Becky’s Dad descendant from William Green Adams -> John Craig Adams -> Edwin Victor Adams)
    • Kit 265208 – exact match at 37 markers – sample is from Robert Stanley Adams – Becky’s Uncle
    • Kit 338690 – only one mutation at 67 markers on marker DYS557 (fast mutator) – sample is from Joseph Daniel Adams descendant from William Green Adams -> William W Adams -> Alva Daniel Adams
  • Gerry Adams – Adams Family A152
    • Kit N47848 – only two mutations at 67 markers
      • one step at marker DYS456
      • one step at marker CDY

Note from DS relative to the yDNA match – Given that two of Becky’s kits each are one mutation or step removed and the fact that the marker that shifted in kit 218879 did not shift in 338690 and vice versa, both independent mutations happened within the timeframe of her known descendants (the last 5 generations). Given this, I believe that there is about a 80% chance William Greene Adams (Family A328) is a currently undocumented son of John Adams (Generation 1) below. 95% chance he is a 1st cousin if he isn’t a sibling. However the 1830 US Federal Census for Green Tennessee only has 1 person between 10-14. That would have been David B Adams. It had 5 children and two adults in 1830. And the 1840 US Federal Census for Brown County, Indian also does not support an additional Male either. 

Generation 1

John Adams (b. abt 1784 – Jun 1841) – perhaps Jr?

Born: abt 1784-1788 in xxxx (Pennsylvania is suspected as birth location but could be the Carolina’s)
Died: ???? (prob Brown County, Indiana) – might be Jun 25, 1841, in Brown County, Indiana.
Married: Sarah Sally Davis Apri 12th 1809 in Greene, Tennessee

Know Children:

  • Thomas Martin Adams (1810-1888) – born Greene Tennessee, lived in Washington, Brown County, Indiana and died in Montezuma, Poweshiek County, Iowa. Married Elizabeth Rose High on 23 Oct 1832 in Johnson, Indiana.
  • Nancy Adams (1815-) – listed on 1850 (35 years old) census for sister Sarah Jane Adams Huntington in Washington Brown County, Indiana.
  • David Brewster Adams (1817-1894) – born Greene, Tennessee and died in Jackson Township, Brown, Indiana on 2 May 1894. Married Desdamona Ortto on 16th of Oct 1838 in Greene, Tennessee. – Note: Sarah Clevenger believes her yDNA sample came from a descendant of this line.
  • Charles Gess Adams (1825-1881) – born Greene Tennessee and died in Montezuma, Poweshiek County, Iowa. Married Sarah Jane Fusselman in 22 Feb 1841 in Brown County, Indiana
  • Sarah Jane Adams (1826-1904) – born in Greene Tennessee and died in Cowlitz County Washington on 15 Dec 1904. Married William O. Huntington on 19 Feb 1846 in Brown County Indiana.
  • John Walker (Davis) Adams (1833-1898) – born Indiana in 1833 and died in Cowlitz County Washington on April 15th 1898. Married xxx.

1800s

John Adams father could possibly be the John Adams Senior Listed on 1805 Greene County, Tennessee Tax List – It lists John Adams Sr and John Adams on Page 1. If this is the same John Adams, he would have been 21 years old at a minimum placing his date of birth on or before 1784. And John Adams Senior would have been born on or before 1759.  

1809

According to Sarah Clevenger, the marriage certificate of John Adams and Sarah Sally Davis was signed by a David Adams in Greene County Tennessee in 1809.

DS Note: I believe this is most likely his uncle David Adams Sr. the father of David Adams Jr killed in 1827 who married Anna Gray. Would love to have a copy of this to see who else is listed, maybe Sarah Davis father? I believe it is possible David Adams Sr. may be a brother to John Adams Sr. born abt 1759.

1820

In the text of “History of Bartholomew County, Indiana : From the earliest time to the present, with biographical sketches, notes, etc. : Together with a short history of the Northwest, the Indiana Territory, and the state of Indiana.” it lists John Adams on Page 373, they list John Adams as one of the first issued landholders in 1820.

DS NOTE: Is it possible this is John Adams Sr. from Greene County Tennessee?

1821 -1836 – Brown County was yet to be created and it resided half in Monroe County and half in Bartholomew County.

1828

In the text of “History of Bartholomew County, Indiana : From the earliest time to the present, with biographical sketches, notes, etc. : Together with a short history of the Northwest, the Indiana Territory, and the state of Indiana.” it lists John Adams on Page 355 in the Salt Creek Township.

1830

In the 1830 Federal Census for Greene County, Tennessee, John Adams (40-50 years old – born 1780-1890 and wife 30-40 born between 1790-1800) is listed next to Anna Adams. Anna (Gray) Adams (30-40 years old – born 1790-1800 ) is the Widow of David Adams Jr. (murdered in 1927). David’s father was David Adams Senior.

1830 Federal Census for Thomas Martin Adams in Washington County Indiana age 30-40 (born from 1791-1800). Who is this Thomas Adams? 

1831-1833

John Walker (Davis) Adams death certificate, in 1898 in Cowlitz, Washington lists him as born in Indiana (in 1833) so that means that John Adams and Sarah (Sally) Davis were living in Indiana prior to 1833. Assuming the 1830 census for Greene, Tennessee is the same John Adams, then it appears they moved to Indiana between 1830 and 1833. Given that son Thomas Martin Adams gets married in Johnson, Indiana in 1832, John was probably there by then as well.

1836

In the book, “Counties of Morgan, Monroe and Brown, Indiana: Historical and Biographical”  lists both a John (in section 26) and a Thomas M Adams (in Section 36) as early settlers in Brown County Indiana in 1836. Thomas would have been 26. This is pretty good circumstantial evidence to connect Thomas and John but you have no idea if this is a brother or father.

1838

Someone wrote of two parcels of land purchased buy John Adams on Aug 20, 1838, Total of 120 acres in Brown County, Indiana. Have not been able to confirm this yet. 

1840

THe 1840 Federal census has Thomas in Washington Township and John in Jackson Township  – adjoining townships in Brown County Indiana. Their ages are right to be father and son. Perhaps these are the two parcels listed above?

Below is John Adams (age 50-60 and wife age 40-50) in 1840 United States Federal Census for John Adams in Jackson, Brown County, Indiana. That makes him born 1780-1790 same as the 1830 Federal Census.

June 25th 1841 in Brown County, Indiana

According to a note I saw online, John Adams estate was administered: Jun 25, 1841, By Sarah Adams, Brown County, Indiana. Do you have a copy of that record? I only found someone mention it but no record. Would like see all the administrators and if he had a will. Or mention of any of the children, specifically Thomas Martin.

David S – Notes & Questions: 

  • There appears to be both a John Adams Sr. and John Adams Jr in 1805 as well as a David Adams Sr and David Adams Jr both in Greene County, Tennessee. David Adams Junior is Murdered in 1827 and leaves wife Anna Gray above. 
  • I know there is a John Adams in Jackson, Brown County Indiana in the 1840 Census with a male 50-59 (b. 1781-1790) and female (b 1791-1800) but how do we know he is the same person as the John Adams in Greene Tennessee?  I realize the evidence is probably circumstantial which is totally fine but I have not yet seen any actual records that give confidence this is the same John Adams.
  • When and where did John Adams  (1784-1788 – d?)  die? Is it in Jackson or Washington in Brown County, Indiana? Death certificate or listing? Do you have a cemetery listing?
  • When and where did Sarah Davis Adams die? I can’t find her in the 1840 or 1850 census listings in Washington or Jackson Indiana.
  • What’s up with the Adams borthers middle names?
    • Why is Thomas’ middle name Martin?
    • Why is John D Adams middle name Walker?

Generation 2

Thomas Martin Adams (b. 1810 – d. 1888)

Wife: Elizabeth Rose High (1812-1884)
Married: 23rd Oct 1832 in  Johnson, Indiana

Children:

  • Samuel Adams (1834-) m Mary Hillman – he died in same place as uncle John Walker (Davis) Adams – Owl Creek, Kelso, Cowlitz, Washington
  • Susan Adams (1839-1912) m Griffith
  • Elizabeth J Adams (1841-1902) m Albert Franklin Sipes
  • Thomas G (or J) Adams (1843-) m
  • James Watts Adams (1846-1868)
  • John W Adams (1849-)
  • Joseph W Adams (1852-)
  • Sarah Ann Adams (1853-1924) m Barnes
  • David M Adams (1856-)
  • Nancy M Adams (1858-)

1832- Married in Johnson, Indiana on Oct 23rd

1840

1840 US Federal Census for Washington, Brown County Indiana lists Thomas M Adams age 20-30 born 1810-1820 plus his wife age 20 to 30.

1850

The 1850 Federal Census for Thomas Martin Adams lists him as being from Tennessee.

1860 – Jackson, Brown County Indiana

1870 – Jackson, Poweshiek, Iowa

1880 – Montezuma, Poweshiek, Iowa – Died there on Sept 18th 1885

Sarah Jane Adams (b. 1826 – d. Apr 15th 1898)

Born: 13 Dec 1826 in Green County, Tennessee
Died: 15 Dec 1904 Kelso, Cowlitz, Washington, USA
Married: William O Huntington (1824-1915) married 19 Feb 1846 in Brown County, Indiana

Children:

  • John D. Huntington (1846-)
  • James Walter Huntington (1849 – 1920)
  • Laura M. Huntington (1859 – )
  • Nancy Jane Huntington (1861-1930) – m Bodine
  • Samuel B Huntington (1864-1892)
  • Carrie Belle Huntington (1869-1968)

John Walker (Davis) Adams (b. 1833 – d. Apr 15th 1898)

Born: 19 Feb 1833 in Brown, Indiana
Died: 15 Feb 1888 Kelso, Cowlitz, Washington, USA
Married: ????

Children:

  • Thomas Hays Adams (1867-1940)
  • Mary Adams (1869-)