Individual Details

I have seen at least one database where Simon and Wells Adamson was treated as one son as Simon Wells Adamson. I believe this is an error. These were two different men.

There are hints of two Simons, Jefferson and Wilson Co TN, yet Jesse is the only one of the brothers known to have named a son for his father Simon Adamson - I would suspect there should be other Simons. [Later research suggests that Enos also had a son Simon who married Susannah Hopkins and went to IN} There is a marriage for a "S." Adamson to a Susannah Hopkins and this does not seem to be the Simon who was a son of Jesse since he married Sarah Cox and is with a Sarah in 1850 and 1860 in Wilson Co. The marriage to Sarah Cox is three months after the marriage to Susannah Hopkins, both said to be in Lebanon in one database - however, the Tennessee State Marriages online at Ancestry, shows that "S." Adamson married Susannah Hopkins in Wilson Co, while Simon Adamson married Sarah Cox in Jefferson Co. These counties were all the way across the state of Tennessee from each other, yet the Simon who married a Sarah Cox apparently ends up living in Wilson Co. There are other possible explanations - sometimes "intentions" to marry are just that and the marriage doesn't take place. It isn't impossible that the TN Archives, or Ancestry, has confused some of the papers and only the backs have been digitized so the details cannot be read. Some had tried to make these two marriages of the same man, but it's fairly obvious that is not the case. However, it would seem that descendants believe a Susannah Adamson found in Harrison Co IN, is the widow of a Simon so this definitely indicates two Simons. It would seem that we have two Simons living in Wilson Co, circa 1800-1810 - both said born in North Carolina and about the same age. Both Simons are shown as sons of Jesse - one cannot be.

Here is a Simon Adamson known to be living in Jefferson Co in 1824. Abraham is known to have been a son of John N. Adamson, brother to Jesse. So this Simon could have been a 1st cousin to Abraham and close to the same age - or is it possible he his an unrecognized son of John N.? Others have placed the Simon who married Susanna Hopkins as a son of Jesse - I think it more likely he was a son of Enos.
Jefferson Co TN WB 2, p.448 [451]
Sale of estate of Smallwood Middleton on 26 Jun 1824
Simon Adamson bought a pitcher and “boles” $1.18
Abraham Adamson bought a skillet & smoothing iron $1.51

1830 Census, Wilson Co TN:
Simon "Addenson": 1m -5 [Simeon], 1m 5-10, 1m 10-15 [William], 1m age 40-50 [Simon - he was 61 in 1850, born ca 1789]. 1f under 5, 1f 10-15, 1f 30-40. [Suggests five children born before 1830]
I found these other Simon Adamsons in 1850:
One in Wayne Co IN, living next to a John Adamson. 1m -5, 1m 5-10, 1m 1-15, 1m 15-20, 1m 20-30, 2m 40-50, 1m 50-60; 2f -5, 1f 5-10, 1f 10-15, 2f 15-20, 1f 20-30, 1f 40-50 [apparently a multi-generational household - the lady is the right age to be Susannah, later in Harrison Co.
Another Simon Adamson lived next to a William Hopkins, in Bond Co, Illinois, 1830: 2m -5, 2m 10-15, 2m 20-30 or 30-40; 1f -5, 2f 5-10, 1f 10-15, 1f 15-20, 1f 40-50 [again she is the right age to be Susannah - but since she was a Hopkins....]

1840 Census, Wilson Co. TN
Simeon Adamson: 1m -5, 1m 15-20 [Simeon], 1m 50-60; 2f 5-10, 1f 15-20, 1f 40-50 [three more children too young to have been in the 1830 census]
William Adamson: 1m 5-10, 1m 20-30; 1f -5, 1f 20-30 [Simeon's son]

1840 Census, Harrison Co IN
Susanah Adamson: 1m 5-10, 1m 10-15, 1m 15-20, 1m 20-30, 1m 30-40; 2f 10-15, 1f 50-60 [she was age 64 in 1850, born ca 1786]

This is Simon who married Sarah "Sally" Cox in Wilson Co in 1850 where presumably he has been since 1830.
p.433b, Household 1677. Simon Adamson age 61, Farmer, b. NC. With Sally also age 61 and b. NC. Sarah Mabry and Elizabeth Hathaway, both 14, and both b. TN live with the older couple - possible granddaughters? Son William married Sarah Hathaway, 1834, did he have a sister that also married a Hathaway?
In Household 1679 is Simon Adamson age 25, probably his son. The younger Simon's family is Avadree A. J. age 25, William 9, Sarah 7, Nancy 5, and Elizabeth 4 months.
In Household 1680 is William Adamson age 35, probably another son, Mary age 32, Simon 13, Sarah J. 9, Susana 7, Eliza 5, Caroline 4, and Jacob 2.

Meanwhile in Harrison Co IN, District 45, 1850, Hh 260, is Susannah Adamson, age 64, b. NC. Aaron, age 42, marked as insane. If he was truly age 42, born circa 1808, that was a year before the marriage of Simon Adamson to Susannah Hopkins. Solomon, age 23. Both men born in Tennessee. William B. Adamson, thought to be another son of Susannah was born 17 Feb 1810. So there were not only two Simons, but both named a son William - just to keep things thoroughly confused.

1860 Census. Wilson Co TN; P.O. Round Top Hh 1727
Simeon Adamson, age 74, b. NC. Sarah, age 73, b. VA
Sarah Watson, age 15, b. TN
In 1850, between Simeon & Sarah and young Simon & family was a Watson family - Henry J. Watson, age 27, Sarah age 23, with two little girls, Sarah, age 5, and Mary, age 2. I think there is a strong possibility that Sarah Watson, age 15 in 1860, is a grandchild. There is a Wilson Co marriage - Sarah Adamson to Henry J. Watson, license dated 11 May 1844. (Sarah was counted twice - also with her family in DeKalb Co - she had a new stepmother - Penelope Williams.)
Hh 1728
S.P. Adamson, age 24, b. TN [probably Simon, son of William - see 1850]
Louisa, 23. Joel age 3 and William age 1.
Hh 1419 [Round Top P.O.]
Simeon Adamson, age 36. Jane age 35. All their family born in TN.
William 18. Sarah 16. Nancy 14. Elizabeth 10. George 7. Mary 5. Matilda 3.

Simon is said to have had a son named Simon, b. about 1820, who married Avaona Jane Measles, 5 Nov 1840, which does somewhat agree with other records.

1870 Census, District 13, Wilson Co TN, Alexandria P.O.
Hh 28. Simeon Adamson, age 84, b. NC. Mary, age 52, b. NC, keeping house.
Carline Celtars, age 16.
(he would seem to have a new wife at this point)

Simon is said to have died before 25 Jul 1870 when his will was recorded in Wilson Co.

I found the following Will recorded in DeKalb County, WB B, p.140 (I suspect this is the will of Simon's widow and he must have been at least her 3rd husband]
I Mary C. Adamson of the County of Wilson and State of Tennessee: Widow of Simon Adamson dec'd do make and publish this my last will and Testament her by revoking all other wills by me made at any time.
1st. It is my will and desire that after the expences of a decent burial is paid, that ll my just debts be paid out of any estate and money that I may died seized or possessed of as may first come into the hands of my Executor or Administrator after my death.
2nd. I will and bequeath unto my step son George W. Smith my Waggon and bed and bed furnature, The household and Kitchen furnature that I have here, and the land that he is cultivating rent free, and two thirds of all my moneys and property that I may die possessed with, after paying off all Just debts and the other third of which I die possessed with I will & bequeath and give to my son Henry S. Sellars.
3rd. I hereby nominate Joseph Clark my Executor to this my last will and testament. I hereby direct that he proceed as early after my death as practicable to the full execution of this my last will and testament this June 12th 1871. Signed and sealed and Published.
Mary C. (X) Adamson
Test: A. S. Redman, J. C. Fentch, Wm Measle.


The Ken Bacon webpage list Sarah Cox as the wife of Simon - and has a marriage date three months after the above marriage of a Simon to Susannah Hopkins. The listing of wife as Sally and sons William and Simon/Simeon would agree with the Adamsons found in Wilson Co TN in 1850. However the early census records suggest there were more than four children.
spouse: Cox, Sarah (*1789 - )
- m. 10 MAY 1809 in Jefferson County, Tennessee
----------child: Adamson, William (1816 - )
----------child: Adamson, Lavina (*1821 - )
----------child: Adamson, Polly (*1821 - )
----------child: Adamson, Simeon (1824 - )

I would add to this list the Sarah Adamson who married Henry J. Watson, 11 May 1844, and had a daughter Sarah, b. 1845, who appears to be living with Simon and Sarah Cox Adamson in 1860. The Watson household was next door to Simon & Sarah in 1850.
Also a John Adamson, married Rebecah Neighbours, 22 Oct 1829, Wilson Co. might be a son. Since Simon and Sarah married 1809, and William was not born until 1816 - it seems quite likely they had children older than William.

Birth	1786 - 1789	North Carolina
Marriage	10 May 1809	Jefferson County, Tennessee - Sarah Cox
Death	Jul 1870	Wilson County, Tennessee

Spouse	Sarah Cox (1787 - )
Child	Polly ADAMSON ( - )
Child	Lavina ADAMSON ( - )
Child	Hannah ADAMSON (1815 - 1900)
Child	William ADAMSON (1815 - 1878)
Child	Simeon P. ADAMSON (1825 - 1861)
Child	Sarah ADAMSON (1827 - 1852)

Father	Jesse T. ADAMSON (1759 - 1825)
Mother	Mary Wells (1757 - 1825)
Sibling	Charity ADAMSON (1778 - 1828)
Sibling	John ADAMSON (1780 - 1806)
Sibling	Margaret ADAMSON (1782 - )
Sibling	Joseph ADAMSON (1785 - 1854)
Sibling	William ADAMSON (1787 - )
Sibling	Jesse ADAMSON (1788 - )
Sibling	Mary "Polly" Adamson (1790 - )
Sibling	Wells ADAMSON (1793 - 1838)
Sibling	Elizabeth Adamson (1797 - )
Sibling	Elijah ADAMSON (1799 - 1826)