It's Family Time: The Two Marriages of Dorinda Adair

Dorinda Adair was the daughter of Zadock Adair and Sarah Kelly. I am not an “Adair” surname researcher but my limited research shows she had 8 siblings; 3 sisters and 5 brothers.

The purpose of this articles is to document the  two marriages of Dorinda Adair. Her marriage to Epps Rivers Brown (2nd marriage ) is well documented both in Census and in Land Deeds.

In Lauderdale County, Mississippi Deed Book “D” pages 17 & 18, we have a “Deed of Gift” – Zadock Adair to his Daughter Dorinda Brown, LDS FHL Film # 899134.

Partial Transcription of text

Zadock ADAIR, Kemp Co, MS "natural love and affection...unto my daughter Dorinda BROWN, wife of ER BROWN, for $1: negro woman, Jane a slave age 23, also her 2 children, Mariah age 3 and Dempsey age 16 months... Signed Zadock ADAIR. Witness: James Ray, Clerk.
[ Deed Book "D" Page 17 and 18, Dated 2 Mar 1844]

By this Land Deed we know that Dorinda Adair was married to Epps Rivers Brown before 2 March 1844. Dorinda and Epps Rivers’ first born child was a daughter, Sarah O. Brown born  19 April 1843. This birth suggest a possible 1842 Marriage year for Dorinda and Epps Rivers Brown. 

Epps and Dorinda eventually moved from Lauderdale County, Mississippi to Union County, Arkansas. When his dad, John H. Brown died in 1855 his Mother Sarah Rivers Brown moved in with Epps and Dorinda in Union County, Arkansas.

All of this is well documented and easy to find. What is not well documented and easy to find is the first (1st) marriage that occurred on 17 December 1836 in Lauderdale County, Mississippi.

MARRIED--
----------In Lauderdale County (MS) on 17th ult [December 17 1836]
Mr. John R LEATH, Merchant of Daleville to Miss Dorinda ADAIR.

Voice of Sumter, January 3, 1837, Third page: First column: 7th paragraph.

It is not known if Dorinda and Mr. John Leath were divorced or if something suddenly happened to Mr. Leath and he passed away. Regardless sometime in 1842, Dorinda married Epps Rivers Brown and became the mother of a child in April 1843 through this union.

Dorinda Adair Brown died in Union County, Arkansas sometime after the 1880 Census was enumerated. The burial place of Epps Rivers Brown, His Mother Sarah Rivers Brown and wife Dorinda Adair Brown is not known but they all passed away in Union County, Arkansas.

Dorinda Adair was the wife of my 1st Cousin 5 times removed, Epps Rivers Brown. .


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My thanks to Paula Carter Davis for obtaining a copy of this marriage notice from the old bound version of this newspaper from the Sumter Co, AL courthouse back in July 2013. 
[1] Lauderdale County, Mississippi Deed Book D Page 17 & 18, Dated 2 Mar 1844
[2] Voice of Sumter, January 3, 1837, Third page: First column: 7th paragraph.