| Husband: Thomas Jefferson Adair | |
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11 Children: Margaret Ann Adair (1804-1852) Samuel Jefferson Adair (1806-1889) Pherreba (Fairby) Adair ~1808-1836) Eliza Jane Adair (1811-1892) Sophia Adair (~1812-1877) Thomas Jefferson Adair (1814-1890) Sarah Ada Adair (1815-1852) George Washington Adair (1818-1897) John Wesley Adair (1820-1903) Mary Ann Adair (1822-1892) Laney Ann Adair (1824-1881) | |
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Father: Roger Brown Mother: Molly 
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[The following was written be me, JPP, by combining the history by Miriam Covington with that of Mary Adams found on FamilySearch.org.]
Rebecca Brown was born 3 Nov 1784 (or 3 Nov 1776) in Laurens County, South Carolina (or Nashville, Tennessee). She was the daughter Roger and Molly Brown. Molly is an Irish nickname usually for Mary, but one source says her real name was Nancy. Her father was also born in Ireland, similarly emigrated to America, and married her mother in North Carolina; hence Irish Rebecca was born in Laurens County, South Carolina.
In the year 1803 (or 1795), nineteen year-old Rebecca Brown married Thomas Jefferson Adair (Sr.), Thomas Jefferson Sr. and Rebecca were blessed with eleven children. Judging from the birth years of their children, their marriage was more likely in 1803, and if she was married at 19, then her birth year was more likely in 1784. Other evidence that their marriage was in 1803 is that on 3 Feb 1803 Thomas's father Joseph Adair gifted him 40 acres of land, most likely for a wedding present.
Thomas and Rebecca moved their family frequently and they resided in the states of Tennessee, Alabama, South Carolina, and Indiana; never living more than about two years in any one place. In 1802 we find him with his brother-in-law George Brown and William Brown and John Brown in Georgia and Mississippi. We find Thomas and Joseph Adair in Anderson County Tennessee as early as 1802 and as late as 1809 where he was overseer of roads, and acted on the Jury on a number of Sessions from 1802 - 1804.
On the 23 Mar. 1804, he received a gift deed from his father Joseph Adair of 40 acres of land on Duncan Creek Laurens District, witnessed by Roger Brown and Jane Adair. This Roger was Rebecca's brother. Jane Adair was the daughter of Thomas Erskin Adair (Another family clue!). In this gift Joseph says, "In consideration for the love and good will I bear to my eldest son, Thomas Adair, etc.", giving the clue that Thomas is his eldest son.
From the year of 1804 to 1808 many of the citizens of District 96 were becoming restless desiring to move farther west. Evidently there were many inducements for obtaining land for farms with squatters rights. There were many members of the Adair Family who left. We find Thomas in Anderson County Tennessee in 1810. Among others who were in this company of scouts was John Brown, Reuben Brown, Thomas Hart and Isaac Lowe. [My family history said Thomas's mother was Sarah Lowe. JPP] We next find the family in Nashville Tennessee where their fourth child was born Eliza Jane born 11 November 1810. [My family records show she was born in 1811, JPP.] The family kept on the move and later children were born in Indiana, Tennessee and Alabama. [Click or hover on the list of children's names above to see where each was born. JPP]
All of this moving was very hard on Rebecca but she was fortunate to be able to rear all her children to adulthood. In 1831 while living in Pickens County, Alabama, Rebecca and Thomas separated. Rebecca was left with six children to care for alone. The oldest child still at home was seventeen year-old Thomas Jefferson Jr. who was a great help in providing for his five other siblings at home ages sixteen to seven years-old.
By 1835 however, the United States Army needed enlisted men to fight the Seminole Indians and Thomas Jefferson Jr. went to Florida to join in the conflict. He had a very hard time while there and came very near to loosing his life many times; but was gone only three months, returning home to assist in the care of his mother and siblings. Rebecca never heard from her husband again after their separation, but did received word about his wellbeing occasionally from relatives.
Missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints came to Rebecca's home in November 1843 bringing the good news of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Rebecca, as well as all of her children gladly received personal witnesses from the Holy Ghost that the missionaries' message was indeed the word of God and were baptized. Thomas Sr. himself did not join because he was not with the his family, but was in Mississippi.
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With persecutions mounting, the entire family, including extended relatives, soon departed their homes bound for Nauvoo, Illinois with at great desire to gather with the Saints there. Rebecca and her children were not allowed to settle in Nauvoo however; as they arrived just as mobs were forcing the poor Saints and those desperately unprepared for traveling, out of their homes! Rebecca, Thomas Jefferson Jr., and some of her other family crossed the Mississippi River and were in the company of Saints who were fed by flocks of quail-a miracle which saved many of them from starvation. Rebecca and her family traveled on to Mount Pisgah, Iowa with Thomas Jefferson Jr. and his family. Not long after arriving many of the family became critically ill due to exposure and lack of essential food and shelter. Thomas Jefferson Jr.'s wife and two of his children died within a short time. Rebecca's hardships began to tell on her as well, and she too became terribly sick. She died 20 December 1846 and was buried in the Mount Pisgah Cemetery beside those loved ones. The illustration shows a monument at Mt. Pisgah with the names of those who died there, including Rebecca, her daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren.
Others of the Adair family died while crossing the plains en route to the Rocky Mountain refuge. Others settled in Brigham City and then were called to colonize in Washington, Utah. From time to time they received word from relatives living in the southern region of the United Stated about their father's whereabouts and conditions. In 1856 relatives living near Thomas Jefferson Sr. in Mississippi sent word to his children in Utah that he had gone insane and had died there in 1856.
