Contributed by: Louie Adams

James Adams, born in South Carolina on or around the year 1790, was the son of William and Joannah Adams. When William died in South Carolina in 1803, Joannah moved the family, at the urging of Methodist Missionaries, to Southern Mississippi near Auburn. There the family started Adams Methodist Church. It was officially inducted into the Methodist Organization in 1811.

James married Lois between 1811 and 1825 or so, living in Madison County, Mississippi near Canton, MS.

In 1834 James received a land grant from Texas for a league and a labor of land, 4705 acres. James had 2600 acres surveyed in Harrison County on the banks of Lake Caddo and the remaining parcel was surveyed in the Eight Mile Creek area southeast of Marshall, some 1900 or so acres.

James died in 1845 and Lois died in 1847. Their names appear on the Harrison County Tax roles in 1840 up to around 1845. The sons John L and William also appear. There were four minor children, William being one. The names of all the children known are John L., Elizabeth, William, Sarah, Mary, and James. The courthouse records indicate, at James' and Lois' death, some considerable land holdings and many slaves. Since the kids were mostly minors, guardians were established. The estate got so corrupt the oldest sister filed suit, Elizabeth and Richard Jones, asking the court to intervene. The court annulled one land sale for less than market value, sold by guardian to a friend. For the most part the kids received little of their parents wealth. Benjamin Long purchased one tract of land from James and Lois. A Mr. Thomas D. Wilson also sold and purchased property from the Adams family. The slaves were parcelled into equivalent cash value and sold for the children. The money was administered by the individual guardians.

Sarah and Elizabeth were married to brothers E.B and Richard Jones respectively. James M. Adams married Lucy Jane Marr, in Marshall. William married Mary J. Johnson in Marshall in 1852 in Marshall.

William would settle in Upshur County, fight in the Civil War and be captured at Vicksburg. James M. and Lucy Jane Marr had children. I know very little about Sarah and E.B. Jones or Richard and Elizabeth Jones. Nothing is know of John L. Adams.