James Adair has always been the cornerstone of many of the family lore and legends. During the years of my research, the jury has been out on our connection to James. My first exposure to our family history was with Mrs. Esther Pitts Adair/Holland booklet. Mrs. Pitts had always listed James, Joseph and William as brothers. James Adair, author of The History of the American Indians, has long been an enigma. Untangling all the contemporary James Adairs has befuddled many – myself included.
In 2003, a group of researchers corresponded about the Adairs, and a nice gentleman named Shawn Potter shared some information with me on both Hollands and Adairs. All of our ancestors were in the same general area of Duncan Creek, in upstate South Carolina. Shawn’s ancestor Thomas Potter is coincidentally in the Holland Cemetery we are working to restore. (Please, donate here!)
We are all connected.
New Research and Research Parallels
Last week I got an email from Shawn and Lois Potter regarding their new book, The Family of Indian Trader and Author. We picked up where we left off, twenty years ago. I immediately purchased and downloaded the Kindle edition, and read with intense interest.
The book is well-researched, well documented, explains how and why and where and when, and backs up theories with data. An intense DNA study is detailed.
Independently – these items, part of my research, line up with and are further confirmed by the additional research done by Shawn and Lois Potter for the book.
The importance, and validity of Mildred Brownlee‘s research.
The Williams Petition – there is a brilliant use of information contained in the Williams Petition in confirming James Adair’s identity connection. I’m not going to give it away, you’ll have to read the book.
As I shared with Shawn, I cannot believe there hasn’t been a movie made about the life of James Adair, Indian Trader and Author. Adair’s History of the American Indians was originally published in 1775. The Family of Indian Trader and Author James Adair is not only a documentation of research – it is a fitting tribute to a larger-than-life character, one who helped establish and settle the South Carolina backcountry.
As far as Adair ancestors goes – we really are all connected. For any researchers of the South Carolina Adair families, this new book is a must read.