I want to continue with the genealogical history of Maple Hill’s Adams Family. I again stress, that when we are talking about people and events of 200 years ago, there is room for error. After spending considerable time researching the Adams Family, I am providing what I believe to be the accurate family lineage, however, I’m not aware of genealogist who would state that their information is without question.

Our next descendant is Capt. Robert Adams, son of Elijah and Hannah (Blair) Adams.

Robert Adams, the son of Elijah and Hannah (Blair Adams, was born in Somerset County, New Jersey about 1722. I say about, because no records of his birth date have been found. His enlistment in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War says that he was 54, which would agree with the 1722 birth.

The Treaty of Stanwix with the Iroquois, Delaware and Shawnee Tribes occurred in 1768. After that time, land in western Pennsylvania was open to settlement and could be owned by citizens of the United States. It should be noted that the Delaware and the Shawnee Tribe did not attend this treaty signing and were the most numerous in southern Pennsylvania. Therefore, for more than a decade after the Treat of Stanwix, there were active skirmishes again settlers.

The History of Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania by Koontz was published in 1906 and has the following short account of Robert Adams, provided by his grandson, Solomon Adams:
Robert Adams participated in the American Revolution as a member of the Bedford County Militia, 4th Company, 3rd Battalion, under the command of his brother, Captain Solomon Adams. It is not known whether or not he saw any action.

Elijah and Hanna (Blair) Adams moved to Bedford county sometime during the late 1760s or early 1770s where we have already found that he farmed as well as operating a tavern and inn. His son is thought to have moved to Bedford County, Pennsylvania at the same time as his father.
Robert Adams married Mary Terrell in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, although no record of their marriage survives. Some genealogists believe that Robert was married to Miss Jane Armitage, but there are no legal records of that marriage. He was married to Mary Terrell, was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, in about 1757 who removed to Bedford County, Pennsylvania with her parents prior to 1770. Robert Adams died an old man around August 1824 in St. Clair Township. His personal effects were divided up among his widow and a number of other family members and friends. Mary was still living in April 1826, when Robert’s estate was finally settled. It is not known when Mary died, nor is it known where in Bedford County Robert or Mary are buried. There is no grave maker nor any record of their burials.

Robert and his family settled in Bedford County, Pennsylvania in the late 1760s or early 1770s. In 1772 Robert was taxed as a resident of Bedford Township for 50 acres of land, two horses, and two cows. In 1785, Robert stilled owned 50 acres. In 1790, he was living in the newly formed St. Clair Township, which was taken from the original Bedford Township.

Robert and Mary (Terrell) Adams were the parents of at least four children (although there may have been other children since legal records are incomplete):
Rev. James Adams 1766 to 1826
Elizabeth Betsey Adams 1776 to 1824
William Adams 1783 to 1855
Rev. John Alexander Adams 1785 to 1859

It is interesting to note that there were two circuit riding pastors among Robert Adams children, James and John. It is also interesting to note that they were of different denominations. James remained Presbyterian as did most of the Adams Family, however Rev. John Adams became a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and established many churches in western Pennsylvania.

It will be Rev. James Adams 1766 to 1826, who will be the next Adams ancestory in a direct lineage to Alexander Adams, whose family lived in Maple Hill, Kansas.

Photograph One is of an Adams Family Crest. In looking through the work of other Adams Family genealogists, this seems to be the crest most often associated with the family. However, I’m eager to state that there are many other Adams Family Crests.

Photograph Two is of the Bedford Presbyterian Church, which was established in 1749. There are two denominations of the Presbyterian Church in Bedford, the other established in 1755, however, it is likely this is the church that Elijah and Robert Adams and their family attended.

This covered bridge is in St. Clair Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania near where the Adams Family had their farms. Bedford County is quite “hilly” and there were many covered bridges in the county.