Persistence and Diligence Pay Off!

I have written several times in this blog about my ongoing search for the Allen and Elizabeth Saunders Adamson family. As a reminder, this is the family who had twelve children and lived in Texas County, Missouri. Around 1858, the mother, Elizabeth, died and the children were parceled out to her relatives. The father, Allen, went to live with his father in Kentucky, leaving the children in Missouri, and apparently never returning. 

I have spent quite a few years trying to track down what became of all of the children. Something about this family grabbed my heart and I continue to research them. They are not my direct line. Allen Adamson was a brother to my great-great-grandfather, Aaron W. Adamson. 

 One of Allen and Elizabeth's sons was Elijah Adamson, born about 1851 in Missouri. After his mother's death, Elijah and his sister Catherine went to sent to live with one of Elizabeth's sisters and her family, and they are listed with the family in the 1860 Pulaski County, Missouri Census. Elijah is then listed in the 1870 Phelps County Missouri Census as a boarder and laborer. In 1876, Elijah married Martha Elliott, and they were listed in the 1876 Texas County Missouri Census. That was the last record I had found of Elijah or Martha. What became of them? Did they ever have children? Did Elijah die before the 1880 census?

 I just could never find any information on Elijah after 1876. Then one day a couple of weeks ago while I was on Ancestry.com, I noticed that someone had copied my marriage record for Martha Elliott. However, they had her marriage listed as being to Elijah's brother Edward.

 I contacted the submitter and together we worked to determine that Martha had married Elijah. It turned out that by 1880, Martha was widowed and living with two small boys, James and William Adamson! (The tricky part was that they were listed as "Adams", not "Adamson" in the 1880 census). The family was listed in Yell County, Arkansas. So did Elijah and Martha move there before Elijah died? The youngest son was born in 1878 in Missouri. As I learned from the submitter, shortly after the 1880 census, Martha remarried and went on to have seven more children. It is really because one of her descendants knew that Martha had a son, James Adamson, that the whole mystery came together! 

 It continues to surprise me how some genealogy questions can be answered by showing diligence and patience! And it surprises me even more how satisfying it is to me to learn that Elijah had children and that he had descendants! I am sad that Elijah died so young. To my knowledge, only two of the twelve children born to Allen and Elizabeth Adamson were alive after 1880. It appears that five of the boys died in the Civil War, and two more sons died of accidents at ages 33 and 22. I still have not learned what became of two of his daughters. The other two daughters lived until 80 and 83 years of age. I am always saddened to think of how the children's mother would feel to know that 10 of her 12 children did not live long, happy lives. As far as I know right now, Elizabeth had 21 grandchildren, that were born long after she passed on. Knowing that, however, gives me hope that sometime I may locate some of her descendants and perhaps learn even more about what became of the family! Never give up!

Update and past genealogical Christmas projects

It has been a while since I have posted anything on this blog, but not because I have not been working on my genealogy! I just devoted about 2 weeks to going through all of the hints on ancestry.com, so that now I can keep up with them as they arrive!

I learned and found many new discoveries about family members as I went through all of the hints, and the best part was finding some family pictures that are posted on other people's trees! I posted numerous pictures on my tree over the past summer. I have also been in contact with new to me researchers and that is always a blessing! 

 I have decided on what my genealogical project for Christmas will be this year, but am not sharing here until after the holidays! In the past, I have done a couple of different stories of family, one from my Dad's side (the Adamson family) and another from my Mom's side (the Seg/Seeber family). Last year I did a recipe card that had a picture of my great-grandmother with her original recipe for Swedish bread that I sent out to family members. It was really fun to do. I would love to hear about ideas that others have done for projects. I don't know if my family appreciates the projects as much as I do, but it is fun!

Trying to Solve Family Mysteries

Some of the biggest brick-wall-type difficulties I have run into in my fifteen years of genealogical searching are those of children either adopted or informally placed with families. 

 The first case that I ran into was that of my grandfather’s “sister”. The family story was that she was adopted by Moses and Lydia Bullard Adamson, my great-grandparents. What I found odd, however, was that Moses and Lydia were in their late 60s when they “adopted” Edna. They had already had twelve children. And the Civil War had effectively comprised Moses’ ability to earn a living. He was incapacitated both physically and mentally ever since he returned from his War service. He never worked upon his return. Why would this family adopt an infant given these circumstances? 

 Edna was born in 1897 and was living with Moses and Lydia’s family in the 1900 census. She was listed as age two. Edna lived until 1982 and died at the age of eighty-five. She had married and had one child. Edna was always considered to be one of my grandfather’s sisters and the family was very close to her She even seemed to look and act like the other family members. Upon Edna’s death, it was found that she had not been adopted formally and her son found some documentation that indicated that her real name had been Edna Norris. This meant nothing to the family and it wasn’t until ten years later, when I became interested (a nice word for obsessed) with genealogy that the mystery was possibly resolved. 

By that time, all of Edna’s adopted family had died, leaving no siblings to answer the question of who Edna really was. But almost one hundred years after Edna’s birth, I may have found the answer. What I learned was that Mary Etta Bullard, one of Lydia’s first cousins, had been married to Oliver Norris. Mary and Oliver had a daughter, Elmira Norris, born in 1879. My speculation is that Elmira became pregnant, had the baby, and Lydia Bullard Adamson agreed to take the infant in. In the 1900 census, Elmira Norris is listed, as age twenty, with her mother and step-father in the same area as Moses and Lydia. It appears that perhaps Lydia raised her first cousin’s granddaughter. 

 Shortly after I had first posted this blog post I received a response that the person who responded knew who Edna’s mother was. I was quite excited and responded back, but sadly I never heard from the person again. 

 Two other cases involve people who are (probably) still living and who would be around sixty years old. But people aren’t talking. And some of the involved persons are not living. One involves a child given up for adoption; the other appears to be a case of the child not being raised by the mother. All of these types of cases take extreme patience. In my experience, nothing is ever a secret. There are always people who have information and someday I hope to solve the last two cases that have plagued me!

Is there confidentiality if it's not your family?

I have researched a family that is not related to me at all. It happened when I came across a newspaper article in 1888 while researching my family. I became intrigued with the story and wondered about the outcome. It was a story of a young nine-year-old girl who was "outraged" by her father and when she was convinced that she was safe from him, reported that he had killed her mother several months earlier. 

I could not get that little girl out of my head and wanted to know what became of her. I subsequently learned quite a bit about the family as I researched it, and have written an article on the research. Here's the dilemma...I am a little bit hesitant to do anything with the article (although I may put it up on this blog) because it is not my family. Am I just being too conscientious and hung up on confidentiality, which, of course, I have no legal obligation to be...it just feels strange to me. I'm sure that if the subject matter wasn't so horrendous, I wouldn't feel these qualms. Surely authors write about different issues/people without permission, especially if the events occurred over a hundred years ago. So help me out...is there any reason that I can't write and publish an article about a family not related to me?

Using Ancestry.com Hints

I hope that everyone is using Ancestry.com family trees. I know that some people are not fans of ancestry.com, but I have had such good luck with contacts made there. I am a huge fan of the ancestry hints that are given. I have located so many missing census records through their "hints". If you haven't tried it yet, when you are on the home page of Ancestry.com look about halfway down the page to where it says "About this tree", then "View People with Hints". It lists all the people in your database that they have located records for. It is incredibly helpful!  Of course, it is necessary to research the hints to be sure they are accurate and are about your ancestors! Good luck!

How Do You Walk Away From 12 Children? (Allen Adamson)

After writing my blog yesterday regarding tracking mental health in families, I kept thinking about another of my great great grandfather’s brothers. 

 Allen Adamson was born about 1810 in Tennessee. In 1835, both he and my great great grandfather, Aaron Adamson, married girls in Edwards County IllinoisAllen married Elizabeth Saunders, daughter of Thomas and Sarah Saunders. In the 1840 Edwards County Illinois Census, Allen and his wife and 3 children are listed. However, by 1845, one of his children was born in Missouri, and by 1850, Allen and his family (now with 8 children) were listed in Crawford County Missouri (under A. Adsun). 

 Records were located from December of 1858: Texas County MO Court Records (Volume 2):"Friday Dec. 10, 1858:Estate of Elizabeth Adamson Dec.The Bond of Peter Sanders as Adms of said Estate is approved and Letters to be issued to said Peter Sanders upon said Estate. Guardian: It is ordered by the Court that Peter Sanders be appointed Guardian of the person of Josiah, Isaac, Elijah, John Wesley, Catherine, Mary Ann and Edward E. Adamson, miner (sp) heirs of Allen and Elizabeth Adamson, Deceased." "Tuesday Nov. 8, 1859 Apprentices:It is ordered by the Court that Alen Adamson aged 17 years and John Wesley Adamson aged 15 years and Josiah Adamson aged 11 years they be bound unto Peter Sanders as apprentices and that the said Sanders enter into articles of agreement for the same. Peter Sanders administrator of Elizabeth Adamson decsd. Now at this day comes the administrator and files his inventory and Sale bill for $45.00 and by the Court ordered to be charged. 

 Texas County Missouri Court Records (Volume 2): Thursday Feb. 7, 1861 Estate Annual Settlement of the Admr of Elizabeth Adamson continued. In 1860, all of the children were living with relatives of Elizabeth's, indicating that she must have died between 1857 and 1858. Her husband, Allen, is listed in the Crittenden County Kentucky Census with his father. In 1860. Allen’s wife, Elizabeth, had died. Her brother Peter Saunders was named guardian of the seven youngest children. Two of the other boys (along with one of the boys under Peter Sander’s guardianship) were made apprentices. However, by 1860, the twelve children were scattered among six different families (all were with Elizabeth’s siblings, except one who was working on a farm). 

 So where is Allen? He is listed as living in Crittenden County Kentucky in 1860 with his father. That is about 300 miles from Texas County Missouri where his children all were, which would take a week to travel by horseback, give or take. What is he doing so far away from the children???? 

 William Adamson, Allen’s father, was listed as blind in the 1850 census. His wife, Polly had died by 1860. Apparently, Allen went to care for his father. Crittenden County Deeds show that in August of 1863, William deeded two tracts of land to Allen. "Witnessed that the said Wm. Adamson hath this day for and in consideration of the fact that the said Allen Adamson has taken care of and provided for the said Wm. and has agreed to take care of and provide for the said William Adamson Sr. in a Manner Suitable to his situation in life during the Remainder of his lifetime and the further consideration of his peculiar Kindness to One for the last three years or more and one Dollar(?) by himself." 

 Okay, so that is all well and good and nice of Allen to care for his father. However, there are three of William’s children living with their families in Kentucky, and two of his children living in Illinois with their families. Wouldn’t you think that they would have helped take care of their father? Why would Allen feel compelled to take care of his father, but not his children? Added to this, of course, is the War of the Rebellion. 

By mid-1862, Allen’s five oldest sons had enlisted to serve in the Confederacy. Did Allen know, or come to see them? It’s unknown. What is known is that only one (Isaac) of the five survived and returned to Texas County Missouri after the war. Again, I wonder if Allen ever saw him upon his return.

I have located only a couple more records regarding Allen. It appears that he remained in Crittenden County Kentucky for the remainder of his life. Five of his remaining children married between 1868-1876. Did he attend any weddings? See any grandchildren? Allen is listed in the Crittenden County Kentucky Tax Records from 1861-1866. He has not been found on any 1870 census, so it seems that he may have died between 1866 and 1870. A deed was found from 1877 where his property was sold. From Crittenden County KY Deed Book N. p 263 FHL 558381:14 March 1877 J.W. Adamson sells his entire interest in the lands belonging to Allen Adamson known as the homestead of William Adamson, on Adamson Branch.

JW Adamson was Allen’s youngest brother. What became of Allen’s twelve children? Most of it is pretty tragic. They were all raised in homes with their aunts and uncles. As reported above, four never returned from the War. The son, who did survive the War married, had three children, and was killed in a mining accident in 1880. Allen’s youngest child, Edward, married in 1875 and reportedly killed himself in 1879. Two other children married and that is the last that I have been able to find of them. Another two of Allen’s children have not been located after the 1860 census. Two of his daughters married and had children, and lived to ages 80 and 83. Did they ever know what became of their father? 

 All this leads me to wonder, how did Allen walk away from his children and seemingly, never return? Nothing has been found to indicate that any of the children ever went to see him. He could not read or write, so it is doubtful that there was any mail communication. I have found researching this family fascinating and disturbing. The events that happened to this family are so tragic, and yet, probably pretty typical for the times. Does walking away from children indicate a mental illness? Not necessarily, but it does lead one to wonder. Of course, it is impossible to know all of the circumstances involved.

Tracking Mental Illness in a Family

With a Masters in Clinical Psychology, I am always fascinated when noting mental illness in old records. I have found clues in census readings, family stories, pension records, old letters, and sometimes, just by viewing pictures of a person. I have an interest in tracing back when possible, different diagnoses. 

 For instance, there seems to be a fairly strong thread of dementia and/or Alzheimer’s in my Murphy family. I haven't begun to actually trace it back, however. I have probably done the most genealogical research on my Adamson family. From the beginning, I noticed that an 1850 census for William Adamson in Crittenden County KY included his twenty-year-old son, James Adamson, as "Idiotic” and living with him. Years later in my research, I found that William's son, Aaron Adamson was listed in the 1850 Harrison County IN census as living with his aunt. He was listed as "Insane". I found it quite striking that two of William Adamson's sons are labeled with mental illness in census readings. Aaron Adamson's son, Moses Thompson Adamson, was my great-grandfather. He was described by my grandfather as lazy, never working a day in his life, etc. Apparently after his service in the War of the Rebellion, he never held a job. He lived to age 79. One of his obituaries ended with this line: "His experiences in prison affected his health throughout his life.". Another obit read: "On December 31, 1862, he was taken prisoner at Stone River, and months of confinement in prison affected his health from which he suffered throughout his life.". It seems that the family felt compelled to try to explain him and his behaviors. 

 When I got his pension papers from the National Archives, I began going through them very carefully. He clearly had times when his mental difficulties were exacerbated. As I kept studying his life, I noticed that whenever a child of his died, his symptoms appeared to worsen. Looking over the extent of his life, Moses' father died around 1850 when Moses was 12 years old. It appears that shortly around that time, two of Moses' younger sisters also died. I haven't found any trace of Moses from 1850 until he enlisted in the War at age 23 in 1861. In December of 1862, he was taken prisoner and spent time in a POW prison. Upon release from prison, he began to complain of severe head pain and was diagnosed with disease of the brain. While he was home on furlough in April of 1863, he married Lydia Ann Bullard and then returned to his unit. In September of 1863, he was wounded in his hand at the Battle of Chickamauga. One of his cousins, William Adamson, was killed there the same day. One can only imagine what that whole battle scene must have been like. It appears that Moses was hospitalized from Sept. 1863 until he was discharged in October 1864. It seems unlikely that he would have been hospitalized for over a year for a hand-wound, so I wonder if his stay was related to his mental health. Just speculation. 

 After his discharge from the Army, Moses returned home to Olney, Illinois, and remained there until he died in 1917. His first child, a son, Robert Aaron Adamson, was born in August 1864, just 2 months before Moses was discharged from the service. Moses and Lydia Adamson went on to have a total of 12 children. Shortly after Moses and Lydia's youngest child died, they took in a toddler and raised her also. By this time, Moses and Lydia were close to sixty years old. 

Sadly, eight of their twelve children died young. 1865-son Robert Aaron died at 8 months old 1878-son Riley C. died at 4 months old 1881-daughter Lydia Maud died at 12 months old 1884-daughter Bertha L. died at age 14 1884-son John died at about 20 months old 1888-daughter Mary Ann died at age 20 1893-daughter Margaret died at age 18 1896-son Homer died at age 9 It seems that Moses had great difficulty dealing with each death. Certainly the War would have made that struggle worse, but millions of men were able to come through the War experiences and go on to live productive lives. Moses just didn't seem to have it in him. 

Pension records indicate that the family was never able to leave Moses home alone. After I learned that Moses' father, Aaron Adamson, had been listed as "Insane" it certainly led me to consider a genetic factor playing out in Moses. Of the four surviving children of Moses and Lydia Adamson, I have not learned of any instances of mental illness, so the gene may have played out or perhaps was given to some of the eight children who did not survive. Of course, I only really know of my grandfather (son of Moses and Lydia) and his children. I need to try to connect with descendants of my grandfather's siblings to further this research. So far no madness has presented! 

 Interestingly, from my research on the Adamson family, I have found some other instances closely related to Aaron Adamson's family of origin. As I said earlier, two of William Adamson's sons were listed in census readings with mental illness. Another of his sons, Robert Adamson, had a son (Robert Ellsworth Adamson) who was declared Insane and was committed to the Illinois State Hospital for the Insane in 1894. Robert had another son, Andrew Jackson Adamson, who also appeared to be quite unstable. It would be so interesting to be able to learn more about the children of William Adamson. He had 11 children (that I know of), but not a lot is known about most of them. Who knows what madness lurked among the family all those years ago?

Goals for 2010

Wow, just realized that I never did define my genealogy goals for this year. And if I don't define them, I know myself, and I will be floundering all over the place! I searched the web for some ideas that sounded realistic for me and here is what I have come up with:

1) Take an on-line genealogy class-which I have never done. I just read about one in Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter that is being offered. I can take it for free (with no credits earned, of course). I think that would be the perfect start for me! It is an Archival Research Basics class. I'm excited!

2) Continue to work on problem areas in my RootsMagic database. As I wrote earlier, I have been working on the Problem List and want to get that completed. Then I think that I will begin to work on the Sources list and get it cleaned up somehow!

3) Blog more often about my genealogy efforts!

4) I want to focus more on pictures...I have begun putting some up on Picassa Web Albums for the family. I want to get more pictures scanned and organized this year.

5) Another tip for goals that I read was to choose one family to focus on this year. I am not sure who I want to choose for that, so will need to do some more thinking on that one. It is a good idea, however!

Please share what goals you have set for yourself for 2010 in your Genealogy endeavors...we can all help each other with ideas!