John and Eli Adams of Greene County PA were active in the Underground
Railroad. While this mention in the history book by Waychoff is for John
there are other references to both John and Eli Adams. Bill Davison has
done some research and I will go back through his emails.
1) The history states John Adams, Hargus Creek is in Center Township and
2) census confirms they were there in 1850, 1860, 1870 & John in 1880,
3) cemetery transcription by the Hennen's state Adams Cemetery where Eli &
children of John's are buried is on Hargus Creek,
4) another history states John left Greene County about 1883,
5) and lastly the obituary of Eli Adams states he was "not a white man" and
that he lost the right to vote but regained it to vote one last time before
he died.
According to estate papers for their father Abraham Adams they were in
Greene County by 1832 (by name) - some census records indicate they were
born in PA one indicates John was born in Maryland. Their father Abraham
Adams appears in Greene County as early as 1820. John Adams was born about
1814 Eli Adams was born about 1811.
1) From Local History of Greene County and Southwestern Pennsylvania by
Andrew J. Waychoff
Page 85 "The younger Henry Taylor while hunting one morning on the ridge
toward Pursley Creek was suddenly confronted by a haggard looking colored
woman. He directed her to the home of John Adams on Hargus Creek. There was
nearby in the woods a family of colored people in hiding. John Adams kept
them about a week. John Remley of Rogersville placed baskets of food near
some springs in the woods thinking that hunger would force them out and he
could find and catch, them. John Adams getting fearful, sent then to a
family named Redmond above Holbrook. After about three days he sent them to
Rev. Mr. William Leonard."
2) Census - living next door to each other - their mother is in first one
then the other household
1850 Center Township Greene County PA John Adams and Eli Adams
1860 Center Township Greene County PA John Adams and Eli Adams
1870 Center Township Greene County PA John Adams and Eli Adams
1880 Center Township Greene County PA John Adams
3)
ADAMS Cemetery
Located on Hargus Creek, Center Township, Greene County, Pennsylvania.
Compiled Fall 1975 by Dorthy & James Hennen.
Adams, Archibald d: 1-7-1873 age 17y
Adams, Eli d: 3-5-1871, age 61y
Adams, Christina d: 1-21-1866 age 46y
Wife of Eli Adams
Adams, Franklin d: 3-12-1862 age 4y 5m 4d
Son of John & Elizabeth Adams
Adams, Louisa d: 3-12-1862 age 6y 8m 10d
Daughter of John & Elizabeth Adams
Adams, Maria d: 4-2-1862 age 11y 2m 23d
Daughter of John & Elizabeth Adams
*********************************
4)
From "HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY," Vol. I, page 667.
Brant & Fuller, 1890.
ELIJAH ADAMS
"Elijah Adams, one of the worthy and responsible farmers of
Loudenville, was one of thirteen children born to John and Elizabeth
Adams, both natives of Greene county, Penn."
"John and Elizabeth Adams were old and highly respected inhabitants of
Greene county, where they lived for over sixty years. Seven years
ago they went to live with their youngest daughter, in Wirt county,
W.Va."
5)
Obituary of Eli Adams tells of losing the right to vote and then regaining
it to vote one more time before he died
Wednesday, March 15, 1871 edition of the
Waynesburg Republican:
Eli Adams an old citizen of Centre township, this county, died week before
last after a lingering illness, Mr. Adams although not a white man, in color
was white in principles and a man of property and influence in his
neighborhood. He had lived to see several changes in the Constitution of his
state; having been a voter before that right was taken from the colored men
in 1837. But he hailed its restoration again in 1870; casting one more
ballot. He was then called to pass in his last ballot, and give up his life.
These men were related to my ADAMS ancestors of Greene County as my Jacob
ADAMS was the executor of the estate of their father Abraham Adams.
I am also researching "Tar" ADAMS of Washington Co. but I don't know of a
connection to him yet. I believe his name was Tower Adams and that he was
the same person married in Washington County record as Adam Tower. In
various census years he is listed as "Tour", "Four" and Tower Adams. One
year the census taker has noted that he is a "convict". Now how as a black
man you got to be a gunsmith if you were a convict in that day and age I
will never know. "Tar" ADAMS is also a character in the book "Brady" by
Jean Fritz which is historical fiction about slavery in Washington County.
I wrote to Jean Fritz month ago hoping to obtain more information about
"Tar" Adams from any research she did years ago but never heard back from
her. Of course at age 91 she might be slow to answer.
Hope this is of interest. Thank you for all of the information you are
posting on your pages!
Jan Slater