Often times a researcher collects data for years and years, and then suddenly has a harvest season. Recently, I have been harvesting like a madwoman.
Here’s one of the finds!
This is from the South Carolina Accounts Audited from the Revolutionary War.
Joseph Adair, Deputy Commissary, Little River Regiment – Joseph was my 6th great grandfather.
Feeding the widows and distressed families of Col Casey’s Regiment…
South Carolina December 2 D.o of James Gambel
Supply.d Col.o Washington Reg.t of Dragoons with 350 Weight
of Bacon @ £12 . 10ʃ p.r hundred ————————— £43 . 15 – 0
Personaly James Gambel maketh oath that he Never Receiv.d
any Satisfaction for the Seom [same] Provisions — sworn
to before me this 21 [—] 1783
S/ [J or L] Shinden
ept.r 16th 1781 — State of South Carolina
Recieved of M.r James Gamwell 200 [lb] Flower and
5½ Bushels of Wheat for the Use [of] Widows and
Distressed families in Col. Casey’s Regiment
£20
P.r Joseph Adair D. Com.’sy
He was my 6th great-grandfather, as well!
Note: South Carolina currency of 673 pounds 19 shillings and 9 pence or about 97 British pounds sterling in 1786 would have value of $20,274 in 2026. The following account states that Joseph Adair, Commissary, personally carried $20,274 from 1781 until reimbursed in 1786.
Commissary’s Pay Bill of Joseph Adair Commissary Commencing 20th August 1781 and ending the 2nd [?] of March 1782 both Days Inclusive:
1781 Augt. 20 To 100 Days Service as Commissary at p Day 3 2/6 £162.10
To Sundrys of Flour 700 at 2.71 per Cart [?] £51.9
To Indian Corn 100 @ 2/ £100
To Do for Mr. Davis 50 @ 2/ £50
To [illegible] @ Sundrys for the Publick 1500 at 2/ pr Day or £15
To Rations and Necessarys for 2 Wounded Men belonging to Genl. Green [Nathanael Greene’s] Army 42 Days at 10/ pr Day Each £49
To Gun & Accoutrements lost at Savannah £12.10
To Corn & Fodder for Colonel Jones of Georgia 4 Fodder 200 £4
1781 Dec.r 7th To Rations for 9 Horses of Capt. [?] Mac bee [McBee’s ?] Company £4
To Oats for Colonel Washington [William Washington’s] men 10 bushels @ 10/ £05
To Rations for 20 Men @ 3/ 9 each £3.15
To Do for 300 Men@ 3/9 each £56.5
To 9 Days Work of Waggon and Team @ 4.1.3 per Day £36.11.3
£550.00.3
Joseph Adair being duly Sworn maketh Oath and Saith that the said Account is Just & True According to the best of his knowledge and that he hath received no pay or satisfaction for the same.
Sworn before me this 20th May 1783
/s/ Robert Anderson, JP
Little River Regmt. [Regiment] – I do certify that Joseph Adair performed Services as Commissary & furnished the provisions, Forages, waggon & Team &c for the use of the Militia as mentioned in the within Account.
Given under my hand this 6th Day of January 1786
/s/ Levi Casey, Colo. [Colonel]
Received 22nd March 1786 full satisfaction for the within in an Indent No. 1955 – Book X
/s/ John Hunter
Messrs. Baquet & Mitchell Esqrs Com. [Commissioners] of the Treasury
Pleas to Deliver to John Hunter Esqr. my Indents & his Recipt Shall be your Discharg as witness my hand this 1 of Jan. 1786
/s/ Charles Saxon, JP /s/ Joseph Adair