Surname Saturday~Adair

Epps Rivers Brown, my 1st cousin 5 times removed, married Dorinda Adair  in Lauderdale County, Mississippi. Epps was the son of John H. Brown and Sarah Rivers Brown. He served as Justice of the Peace for Lauderdale County in 1841, the year prior to his marriage to Dorinda Adair.

For many years the parents of Dorinda Adair were not known; but, a land deed in Lauderdale County shows that she was the daughter of Zadock Adair.

Zadock Adair was born about 1766 in Laurens County, South Carolina. It’s accepted that he had multiple wives, all named Sarah, and that Sarah Kelly was his first wife. I’m not totally certain that anyone researching this family knows how many times Zadock was married, the dates of marriage or the names of all of his children.   

Regardless, Zadock and his family left South Carolina, moving to Kentucky about 1807. Records show that Zadock Adair and Sarah Wood were married in Kentucky on 13 December 1808.¹ The family then migrated from Caldwell County, Kentucky to Alabama, There Zadock signed a Petition in 1817. ²

Dorinda, his daughter, most likely by Sarah Wood married Epps Rivers Brown about 1842. Epps Rivers parents, John & Sarah had migrated from Chesterfield County, South Carolina arriving in Alabama about 1817/1818. It’s very probable that Epps and Dorinda grew up knowing each other from her birth till they were married in 1842. Epps was age 31 in 1841 and Dorinda was age 21.  

Parentage Proof ³
Transcription of Lauderdale County, Mississippi Deed Book “D” pages 17 & 18, Deed of Gift – Zadock Adair to his Daughter Dorinda Brown, LDS FHL Film # 899134.
This indenture made the second day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty four between Zadock Adair of the county of Kemper and state of Mississippi the one part and Dorinda Brown of the County of Lauderdale and State aforesaid of the other part- have for and in consideration of the natural love and affection for which I have and bear unto my Daughter Dorinda aforesaid Brown wife of E. R. Brown of the second part and also for and in consideration of the sum of one Dollar to me in hand paid by my said Daughter Dorinda Brown as aforesaid [illegible] and before the Sealing and delivery hereof the Receipt whereof is hereto acknowledge have given Granted Alined enfer offer bequeathed and Confirmed unto the Said Dorinda Brown a certain Negro Woman [illegible] A Slave for life aged about Twenty three also her two children Mariah aged about three years and Dempsey about Sixteen months to have and to hold as her own right and Property during her natural life and at her death to be equally divided amongst the heirs of her Body Begotten or may hereafter be begotten by her Said Husband E. R. Brown and in case then be name such heirs at the death of My Daughter Dorinda Brown then and in that case the aforesaid Negroes Shall vest and ensure to the aforesaid E. R. Brown his heirs and assigns in Witness whereof I hereunto Set my hand and seal do Sign Seal and deliver the above deed of gift as my valid act and deed.
Entered [illegible] in the place before
Signed Witness James Ray}                                                Zadock Adair {seal}
The State Of Mississippi}
Lauderdale County} Personally appeared before me James Ray Clerk of the Probate Court of said County the within named Zaddock Adair who acknowledged that he Signed Signed <sic> Sealed and delivered the foregoing Deed on the day and year therein mentioned as his act and Deed---given under my hand and seal of the Probate Court at office on the 2nd day of March AD 1844
                                                                                              James Ray Clerk
Filed 2 March}
1844 James Ray Clerk}

Epps Rivers Brown and Dorinda Adair had 9 children; 3 sons and 6 daughters. Sometime between Feb 1845 and April 1847, Epps R. and Dorinda moved to Union County, Arkansas.

There Epps Rivers Brown died in 1882 and Dorinda passed away sometime after 1880 Census were enumerated. Her exact death date has not yet been been discovered in the research process.

















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[1] Ancestry.com - http://goo.gl/EmaUdk
[2] http://www.trackingyourroots.com/data/alpet.htm
[3] Lauderdale County, Mississippi, Deed Book "D": pages 17 & 18, Deed of Gift – Zadock Adair to his Daughter Dorinda Brown; 2 March 1844, Chancery Court, Meridian, Lauderdale County, Mississippi. LDS FHL Film # 899134.