Adams, Salathiel

Salathiel/Salathel/Salathael ADAMS was born about 1797 to 1800, in NC, probably Anson County. He married Sarah HARRIS, daughter of Joseph HARRIS and Elizabeth CRIBBS. Sarah HARRIS was born 27 Sep 1800, in Jackson County, GA. We know all this from the pension application of Joseph HARRIS. See the HARRIS page. Salathiel and Sarah were in Jackson County in 1820, and moved to De Kalb County, GA before 1840.

It's not clear how or when Salathiel ADAMS came to GA. Sarah's parents had come to the Jackson County area between 1790 and 1794. Salathiel and Sarah were probably married in Jackson county, and if Jesse HARRIS was their son, born 12 Oct 1816 in GA, then Sarah was barely 16.

Salathiel and Sarah had 10 children, including my 3g-grandmother, Almeda "Millie" ADAMS, who married James Thomas SPRUILL.

The gravestone of Sarah (HARRIS) ADAMS is inscribed as follows:

The dates for Salathel are more in doubt, since his gravestone is illegible. In the 1850 US Census (shown below) he was 53, thus born about 1797, in NC. The 1860 US Census (shown below) has him at age 60, thus born about 1800, in NC. So let's say 1797-1800, in NC. This agrees with the wider margins given by the 1820 and 1840 censuses.

The will of Salathael ADAMS was proved on 1 Sep 1862, in DeKalb County, GA. It doesn't name his wife and children, but the executor was James SPRUILL, with Willson E. SPRUILL and Stephen MARTIN as witnesses.

The ADAMS, HARRIS and MEDCALF extended families all seem to have moved from North Carolina to Georgia around 1790 to 1820. They generally settled first in Jackson County, and went to DeKalb County when it was opened for settlement.

I have not found the family in the 1830 US Census, or in any records between 1820 and 1840. They were in DeKalb County by 1840, and specifically in Cross Keys, DeKalb County, in 1850. See my page on DeKalb County for maps and information.

The family appears in the 1840 Census for De Kalb County. They appear to have 4 sons and 3 daughters. My guesses are in square brackets.

The one boy who was under 10 in the 1820 Census is not present in the 1840 Census. Many researchers have this eldest child as Jesse Harris ADAMS, born 1816. There are records for Jesse H. ADAMS, but nothing to connect him to Salathiel and family. I will tentatively include him as the eldest child, but I'm looking for some proof.

In 1850, Salathiel and Sarah have 5 children in their household. The 3 oldest would also have been in the 1840 Census. I have identified them above, in square brackets. The girl under 5 in 1840 would be 10-15 in 1850, and she is not present. Also the boy 5-9 in 1840 would be 15-19, and he is missing. The boy may be old enough to be living on his own, but the girl has probably died between 1840 and 1850. All children present in 1850 were born in Georgia, so the move to Georgia was no later than 1828. Sarah's birthplace is Georgia.

Family #92 in the 1850 US Census is headed by John ADAMS Sr, age 60, presumably a brother of Salathiel.

In 1860 there are 5 ADAMS families listed consecutively in the census for Cross Keys, DeKalb County. This is probably Salathiel and his grown sons' families, all living on or near the family farm.

All the sons and sons-in-law of Salathiel ADAMS and Sarah HARRIS took part in the American Civil War, on the side of the Confederacy. Salathiel himself died during the war, and Salathiel Jr was killed at Vicksburg. Sherman's infamous March to the Sea began nearby, and the Battle of Peach Tree Creek was only a few miles from the ADAMS farm. See my Civil War page for more information.

Sarah (HARRIS) ADAMS was born on 27 Sep 1800, and died on 13 Sep 1895. These dates are on her gravestone (see below) and the birth date is confirmed in her father's military record (see the HARRIS page).

Carved in Stone

Names and dates on gravestones are among the most reliable sources of genealogical information. The tables below give data from local cemeteries, which can be compared with the census data and other data. Information about relationships can sometimes be inferred from inscriptions, or on shared gravestones. The "who" column tells how the person fits into this family, based on analysis in the sections below.

Descendants

1 Salathiel ADAMS b: 1797-1800 in Anson, NC, d: 1862 in DeKalb, GA (will proved 1 Sep 1862)
+ Sarah HARRIS b: 27 Sep 1800 in Jackson, GA, m: 1815 in Jackson, GA, d: 13 Sep 1895 in DeKalb, GA
......2 Jesse Harris ADAMS b: 12 Oct 1816 in Jackson, GA, d: 19 Jan 1896 in DeKalb, GA
...... + Anna C. "Annie" MITCHELL b: abt. 1815 in SC, m: 1840 in DeKalb, GA, d: 07 Jan 1902 in DeKalb, GA
......2 Almeda Jane Millie Mollie ADAMS b: 02 Nov 1821 in Jackson, GA, d: 05 Sep 1896 in DeKalb, GA
...... + James Thomas SPRUILL b: 18 Aug 1819 in Jackson, GA, m: 17 Mar 1842 in DeKalb, GA, d: 12 Jan 1899 in DeKalb, GA
......2 Walton D ADAMS b: 17 Jun 1825 in DeKalb, GA, d: 29 Sep 1898 in DeKalb, GA
...... + Catherine Louisa WEIR b: 02 Apr 1841 in GA, m: 24 Sep 1865 in DeKalb, GA, d: 04 Mar 1907 in Butler, Taylor, GA
...... + Elizabeth "Betsy" HARRIS b: 20 Sep 1822 in GA, m: 28 Jul 1846 in DeKalb, GA
......2 Thomas C ADAMS b: 14 Oct 1827 in GA, d: 20 Jul 1912 in DeKalb, GA
...... + Mahala Jane BALL b: 10 Mar 1834 in AL, m: 30 Dec 1852 in DeKalb, GA, d: 1907 in GA
......2 Lavinia ADAMS b: 1829 in Cross Keys, De Kalb, GA, d: bef. 1840 in Cross Keys, De Kalb, GA
......2 Elizabeth A ADAMS b: 1832 in De Kalb, GA
...... + Jason H WILSON b: Abt. 1830 in GA, m: 17 Jan 1854 in DeKalb, GA
......2 Salathiel L ADAMS b: 1838 in DeKalb, GA, d: 15 Jun 1863 in Vicksburg, Warren, MS
...... + Anna Catherine BALL b: Nov 1838 in DeKalb, GA, m: 18 Aug 1859 in DeKalb, GA, d: 01 Aug 1915 in DeKalb, GA
......2 Martha Amanda ADAMS b: 26 Dec 1842 in Dunwoody, DeKalb, GA, d: 02 Jun 1921 in DeKalb, GA
...... + William Robert WARNOCK b: 09 Oct 1840 in DeKalb, GA, m: 1867 in DeKalb, GA, d: 16 Dec 1909 in Dunwoody, DeKalb, GA
......2 Margaret S ADAMS b: 03 Apr 1845 in Cross Keys, DeKalb, GA, d: 14 Nov 1909 in Dunwoody, DeKalb, GA
...... + John W. BALL b: 24 Nov 1840 in Dunwoody, DeKalb, GA, m: 28 Dec 1865 in DeKalb, GA, d: 05 Aug 1920 in Decatur, DeKalb
......2 Armanda ADAMS b: 1848

Jesse Harris ADAMS (1816 - 1896) and Annie C. MITCHELL (1815 - 1902)

Jesse H. ADAMS was born on 12 Oct 1816, and died 19 Jan 1896. His wife was Annie C. ADAMS, who died 7 Jan 1902 at age 87, so she was born about 1815. These dates are on their gravestones (above). Later censuses suggest birthdates from 1818 to 1824, but I think the date on the gravestone is most reliable. The later censuses are useful because they all tell us that he was born in GA, so the family had moved to GA by the time of his birth.

As mentioned above, there is no direct evidence that Jesse H. ADAMS was the son of Salathiel ADAMS and Sarah HARRIS. His family was one of the 5 ADAMS families listed consecutively in the 1860 Census (above), so they were probably all living near each other. The censuses for 1850, 1870 and 1880 also have the families in close proximity. The grave of Jesse H. ADAMS (above) is also in the same cemetery as other family members. And we know that Salathiel and Sarah had a boy under 10 in the 1820 Census. This is a lot of circumstantial evidence. On the other hand, we have firm birth dates for both Jesse H. ADAMS (12 Oct 1816) and Sarah (HARRIS) ADAMS (27 Sep 1800). If Sarah was Jesse's mother, then she had just turned 16 when he was born, and Salathiel ADAMS was about 17. This is possible, but it's also possible that Jesse was a nephew, not a son of Salathiel ADAMS. Also, consider that Salathiel and Sarah do not seem to have had another child until at least 1821.

In 1850 the couple has 5 children, all less that 10 years of age. All were born in Georgia. Jesse's wife Anna was born in South Carolina. Their ages are 4 or 5 years too young, but I think this is the right couple, because it is a good match with all the other censuses. I hope the children's ages are more accurate.

The 1860 Census, in previous section, has them living near the Salathiel ADAMS farm. They have 8 children, and the first 5 are consistent with the 5 children in the 1850 Census. The main difference is that the 1850 Census says Anna was born in South Carolina, and the 1860 Census says Georgia.

In 1870 they again have 8 children. The 2 oldest, Milly A and James F have left home. Mary E has become Elizabeth, Thos F is Thomas M, and JC is John C.

The 1880 Census shows that all but 2 of the children have left home. Jessie H is Jessie N, and Georgia R is now Georgia A.

Based only on census data, Jesse ADAMS was born in 1818, 1820, 1821, or 1824, in Georgia. The 1880 Census says that Jesse's parents were both born in North Carolina. This agrees with the record for Sarah in 1860, but not 1850.

Anna "Annie" ADAMS was born in 1817, 1820, 1821 or 1825, in Georgia (although the 1850 Census says South Carolina). Her gravestone says she was born about 1815. It seems that Jesse and Annie both tended to under-report their ages. Her maiden name was MITCHELL (from the death certificate of her son, Thomas).

The death certificate of Thomas W. ADAMS does not give a birth date, but it says he died on 27 Feb 1929, at the approximate age of 82. His wife's name was Low CASH. His parents were Jesse H. ADAMS and Annie MITCHELL.

The 10 children of Jesse H. ADAMS and Annie MITCHELL, according to census data, were: Milly A (1841), James F (1843), Mary Elizabeth (1845), Thomas W or F (1847-8), Francis M (1850), Sarah J (1852-3), John C (1855), Laura A (1858-9), Georgia R or A (1861-3), and Jesse S (1864). The gravestone data (above) gives more precise dates for Jesse S (15 Feb 1865), Laura (5 Nov 1858) and Georgia (13 Apr 1861).

The death certificate of Nancy ADAMS says her husband was F. M. ADAMS. She died on 4 Jul 1925, at the age of 74, in Shallow Ford, DeKalb, GA. Her parents were Stephen MARTIN (born in SC), and Sarah CROWLEY (born in GA). This is important in establishing the maiden name of Stephen MARTIN's wife. See the Stephen MARTIN Sr page.

James F. ADAMS (1843-1882) served in the 36th Georgia Infantry, Company F, along with his father and 3 uncles. His gravestone gives his birth and death years.

Family information seems to indicate that Martha Adeline ADAMS was called "Milly," and that she married William James DONALDSON, a veteran of Company F, 36th Georgia Regiment, who was captured at Vicksburg, along with some of her brothers. William was born on 12 Oct 1826, and died 1 Nov 1900, as we see on his gravestone, in the Donaldson Family Cemetery, Dunwoody, DeKalb, Georgia. Her stone is beside his, and it reads

MARTHA ADAMS DONALDSON

DIED - FEB. 5, 1931

William's gravestone says he was a Private, but records indicate that he entered service as a 2nd Sergeant.

Name: William J Donaldson

Residence: Georgia

Enlistment Date: 10 Apr 1862

Rank at enlistment: 2nd Sergeant

State Served: Georgia

Service Record: Enlisted in Company F, Georgia 36th Infantry Regiment on 10 Apr 1862.

Sources: Roster of Confederate Soldiers of Georgia 1861-1865

Milly ADAMS (1821 - )

Milly ADAMS was born about 1821, in Georgia, She married James SPRUILL/SPRUELL on 17 Mar 1842, in DeKalb County, Georgia.

By 1850, James and Milly had 4 children. They lived in the same township as Milly's parents and siblings.

This record is impossible to read. The transcription must have been done from another copy.

This family is covered in more detail on the SPRUILL page.

Walton D. ADAMS (1825 - 1898) and

Elizabeth (HARRIS) ADAMS (1823 - ?) and Catherine (WIER) (TANKERSLEY) ADAMS (1841 - 1907)

Walton D. ADAMS was born about 1825-8, in Georgia. He was married twice. His first wife was Elizabeth HARRIS, probably related to his mother, Sarah (HARRIS) ADAMS. Walton and Elizabeth were married on 27 Jul 1846, in DeKalb County.

Elizabeth Harris

in the Georgia Marriages to 1850

Name: Elizabeth Harris

Spouse: Walton D. Adams

Marriage Date: 27 Jul 1846

Marriage County: Dekalb

Marriage State: Georgia

In 1850, Walter [Walton] ADAMS is with his first wife, Elizabeth, and they have 1 child. They are still in DeKalb County, but not living on or near the Salathiel ADAMS farm.

Walton appears as W.D. ADAMS in the 1860 Census, in the top section of this page. Walton and Elizabeth have 3 children: J[oseph] J (1847), Nancy (1853), and G T (Sep 1859).

Walton D. ADAMS enlisted in the Confederate Army on 1 May 1863. He was a Private in the 36th Georgia Regiment, Company F. He was taken prisoner at Vicksburg on 4 Jul 1863, the last day of the Siege of Vicksburg, and was released on 9 Jul 1863, after signing an oath swearing that he would not resume fighting. I don't know if he went back into battle, or kept his oath. However his younger brother, Salathiel L. ADAMS Jr, was killed at Vicksburg, and I'm sure he was grief-stricken.

Secondly, Walton D. ADAMS married Catherine L. WIER. Catherine was previously married to John M. TANKERSLE

Walton D Adams

in the Georgia, Marriage Records From Select Counties, 1828-1978

Name: Walton D Adams

Gender: Male

Marriage Date: 24 Sep 1865

Marriage Place: DeKalb, Georgia, USA

Spouse: Catherine L Tankersly

Spouse Gender: Female

Georgia Marriages, 1699-1944

Name Catherine L. Weir

Spouse John M. Tankersley

Marriage Date 27 Apr 1858

County Newton

State Georgia

In 1870, all of Walton's children from his 1st marriage must be grown. He is with his 2nd wife, and 2 of her children from her 1st marriage. Walton and Catherine have 2 children of their own.

In 1880, Martha TANKERSLEY is still with the family, but she is listed as a Boarder, and Servant. Such is the life of a stepdaughter!

Catherine (WIER) (TANKERSLEY) ADAMS was born 2 Apr 1841 and died 21 Mar 1907. These dates appear on her gravestone in Prospect Methodist Cemetery, Chamblee, DeKalb County, GA.

Thomas C. ADAMS (1827 - 1912) and Mahaley J. BALL ( 1834 - 1907)

Thomas C. ADAMS was born on 14 Oct 1827, in Georgia, and died 20 Jul 1912. He appears as T.C. ADAMS in the 1860 Census, above, with wife Mahala J. ADAMS and 3 children. They were married on 30 Dec 1852, in DeKalb County, and her maiden name was Mahaley J. BALL.

Mahaley Jane BALL was born 10 Mar 1834 in Alabama, and died 1 Mar 1907, in DeKalb, Georgia. Her parents were James BALL and Dicy C. MITCHELL.

The 1870 Census says that Mahala [Mahaley] was born in Alabama, but the 1860 Census said Georgia. Thomas has real estate valued at $500, and peosonal estate $500, in 1870. They have a 4th child, Lula J. ADAMS.

In 1880 Thomas and Mahala ADAMS are found alongside their 2 grown sons and their families.

Thomas and Mahaley ADAMS' daughter Margaret C. ADAMS married Moses Y. ROBINSON on 17 Oct 1872, in DeKalb County.

James S. ADAMS' wife Elizabeth's maiden name was KIRKLAND. She was born in 1860 and died in 1937. This information is on her gravestone, in Bentley Cemetery, Norcross, Gwinnett County, GA.

Elizabeth A. ADAMS (1831 - )

Elizabeth ADAMS was married 17 Jan 1854, in DeKalb County, GA.

Various transcribers have her husband's first name as Jesse, Jason or Isom. I think they are all working from this source:

The first name of Elizabeth's spouse is written twice. The first letter of the first name is like the many other occurrences of J. The name appears to be something like J som H. Wilson.

The couple appears in the 1860 Census, with 2 children, and a farm hand.

Salathiel L. ADAMS Jr (1838 - 1863) and Anna Catherine BALL (1838 - 1915)

Salathiel ADAMS Jr appeared in the 1850 Census (above) at age 11. In the 1860 Census he was 22 and had a wife, Ana C, age 21, and they lived near his parents and brothers, in Cross Keys, DeKalb, GA. On 10 April, 1862 he enlisted in the Confederate Army, and served in the 36th Georgia Infantry, Company F. He was killed at the battle of Vicksburg, on 15 Jun 1863, at age 25. Salathiel died on his daughter Carrie's second birthday. His wife, Anna Catherine BALL (1838-1915), was already pregnant with their first son, William. See the Civil War page for more information.

If Catherine is the mother of Rosa, Sarah and John, was she married in Virginia? Catherine had some illness in 1880, but I can't make out what it was,

Caroline "Carrie" ADAMS married Robert Bruce CHEEK. They had 7 children, and lived in Magnum, Greer, Oklahoma. Their son, Robert Luther CREEK (1894-1918) was killed in France, WWI. So Carrie lost her father in the Civil War and her son in WWI.

William Salathiel ADAMS was born 23 Aug 1864 and died 8 Feb 1949. These dates appear on his gravestone in Trinity Cemetery, Walker County, Georgia. He shares a gravestone with his wife, Merilla CAGLE, born 18 Feb 1866, and died 12 Mar 1960.

Margaret S. ADAMS (1845 - ) and John W. BALL (1840 - 1920)

Margaret S. ADAMS first appears in the 1850 Census, at age 5, with the Salathiel ADAMS family. She is M. S. ADAMS in the 1860 Census, at age 14. These records are shown in the first section, above.

Family trees on Ancestry have John W. BALL as Margaret's husband. The only evidence I can find is an obituary of John W. BALL, which names his wife as Margaret ADAMS. There is no date on the article, and I have sent an email to the person who posted it, asking for the reference. Assuming for the moment that it is correct, I will continue.

John BALL and Margaret S. (ADAMS) BALL and family

John W. BALL was a veteran of the Civil War. See the Civil War page. The book Sandy Springs/Images of America (2010) by Kimberly M. Brigance and Morris V. Moore, pp 17-19, has several pictures of John W. BALL and his family. It also tells us that John W. BALL married Margaret ADAMS, and that he died on 5 Aug 1920.

U.S., Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865

Name John W Ball

Residence Decatur, Georgia

Age at enlistment 20

Enlistment Date 26 Sep 1861

Rank at enlistment Private

Enlistment Place Decatur, Georgia

State Served Georgia

Survived the War? Yes

Service Record Enlisted in Company A, Georgia 38th Infantry Regiment on 26 Sep 1861.Promoted to Full 4th Corporal on 01 Apr 1862. Promoted to Full Corporal on 01 Aug 1863.Mustered out on 09 Apr 1865 at Appomattox Court House, VA.

Birth Date 24 Nov 1840

Death Date 5 Aug 1920

Death Place Decatur, Georgia

Sources Roster of Confederate Soldiers of Georgia 1861-1865Southern Historical Society Papers: Appomattox Paroles ANVConfederate Veteran Magazine

John W. BALL mustered out in Apr 1865 at Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia. See [SS], p. 18. See this biography.

In 1870 we find John and Margaret BALL in Fulton County, living with or next to John's parents, Peter and Margaret BALL.

John and Margaret BALL had 8 children in 1880, ranging in age from 14 to 3 months. Margaret has the middle initial S, and the age that matches what we would expect for the Margaret S. ADAMS referred to above.

Several members of this family can be found in the John W. Ball Cemetery, in Sandy Springs, Fulton, GA.

Sources

[BPT] Summary of the Battle of Peach Tree Creek

[H38] History of the 38th Regiment of Georgia Volunteer Infantry

[PT] Skirmishes on Peach Tree Creek

[SS] Sandy Springs/Images of America (2010) by Kimberly M. Brigance and Morris V. Moore

Updated 4 Nov 2020 by William Haloupek. Contact haloupek at gmail dot com.