The first I heard of her was from this mention in the 1824 Fayetteville Observer, from Fayetteville, Cumberland, North Carolina.
October 14, 1824
Died on Tuesday last, at the summer residence of Dr. William Maffet near this town, Mrs. Janet Mumford
It seemed natural that she would just have been a patient that Dr. Mumford was treating, but could not save. However, her name came up again.
In an inquiry to an out-of-town resource and the reply of a very kind librarian:
I was only able to find a William Maffet and James Maffet as executor and witness (respectively) to a will for Janet
Mumford in 1824 in Cumberland County.
I have this document on order, wherein both Maffets are seen together again, as witness and executor, for this ladies will.
She was evidently an important person in their lives. In an effort to definitely establish the relationship between both Dr William H. Moffett/Maffett and Dr. James Moffett/Maffet, whom I believe were brothers, due to the closeness of relationship and age, but of which relationship, I have no exact proof, I've decided to find out a little bit about Janet Mumford. Was she just a friend of these two gentlemen? Or was she something more?
NAME: Polly Mumford EdwardsSPOUSE: William BurtOTHER: Mumford RobinsoOTHER: 7 Dec 1819 - Cumberland, North Carolina, USA
From the 1815 Taxable List of Fayetteville, Cumberland County:
Mumford, Jannett see Adam, John R.
Mumford, Robinson 12 slaves, 12 slaves in town, 1 dwelling house - 1000
about 120 acres of land within the city limits of town - 300
1 lot Mumford Street occupied by George the Barter - 40
1 Person Street tobacco warehouse - 300
for Robinson Mumford Sr. 1 lot Mumford Street - 800
Mumford, Robinson, Sr. see Mumford, Robinson
In the deeds of Cumberland County, North Carolina, a paper trail has been left to trace the origins of Mrs. Jannett Mumford. Book 23, p 129
James Mumford and Jannet Adam
Know all men by these presents that whereas a marriage is intended to be shortly had and solemnized between Jannette Adams, widow and relict of the late Robert Adams of the town of Fayetteville, Merchant and James Mumford, now of the same.
The document continues and is a marriage contract between James Mumford, son of Robinson Mumford, a prominent counsel in Fayetteville, and Jannett, a widow of considerable property by this point.
So who was Robert Adams, the deceased husband of Jannett Adams Mumford?
Robert Adam(s) was born in Greenock, Scotland and is buried at Cross Creek Cemetery Number One in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
Stone reads:
Robert Adam
a native of Greenock in Scotland
for many years a merchant of Fayetteville and Wilmington, N.C. who departed this life 11th of June 1801, aged 42
"kind husband and affectionate parent"
(died at Wrightsville Beach,NC)
From:
| James Mumford | |
| Gender: | Male |
|---|---|
| Spouse: | Jannett Adam |
| Spouse Gender: | Female |
| Bond Date: | 23 Jul 1807 |
| Bond #: | 000034322 |
| Level Info: | North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868 |
| ImageNum: | 000055 |
| County: | Cumberland |
| Record #: | 02 223 |
| Bondsman: | Robinson Mumfor; Stephen Gilmore |
| Name: | Robinson Mumford Jr |
|---|---|
| Gender: | Male |
| Spouse: | Susanah Wingate |
| Spouse Gender: | Female |
| Bond Date: | 14 Jun 1816 |
| Bond #: | 000034323 |
| Level Info: | North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868 |
| ImageNum: | 008820 |
| County: | Cumberland |
| Record #: | 02 223 |
| Bondsman: | Jas. Mumford |
| Name: | Jannett Mumford |
|---|---|
| Home in 1820 (City, County, State): | Fayetteville, Cumberland, North Carolina |
| Enumeration Date: | August 7, 1820 |
| Free White Persons - Males - Under 10: | 1 |
| Free White Persons - Males - 16 thru 18: | 1 |
| Free White Persons - Males - 16 thru 25: | 1 |
| Free White Persons - Males - 26 thru 44: | 2 |
| Free White Persons - Males - 45 and over: | 1 |
| Free White Persons - Females - 16 thru 25: | 1 |
| Free White Persons - Females - 26 thru 44: | 1 |
| Free White Persons - Females - 45 and over : | 1 |
| Free Colored Persons - Males - Under 14: | 1 |
| Slaves - Males - Under 14: | 1 |
| Slaves - Males - 14 thru 25: | 5 |
| Slaves - Males - 45 and over: | 3 |
| Slaves - Females - Under 14: | 2 |
| Slaves - Females - 14 thru 25: | 2 |
| Slaves - Females - 26 thru 44: | 1 |
| Slaves - Females - 45 and over: | 3 |
| Number of Persons - Engaged in Agriculture: | 6 |
| Number of Persons - Engaged in Manufactures: | 1 |
| Free White Persons - Under 16: | 1 |
| Free White Persons - Over 25: | 5 |
| Total Free White Persons: | 8 |
| Total Slaves: | 17 |
| Total Free Colored Persons: | 1 |
| Total All Persons - White, Slaves, Colored, Other: | 26 |
| Name: | Robeson Mumford [Roberon Mumford] |
|---|---|
| Home in 1790 (City, County, State): | Fayetteville, Cumberland, North Carolina |
| Free White Persons - Males - Under 16: | 1 |
| Free White Persons - Males - 16 and over: | 1 |
| Free White Persons - Females: | 4 |
| Number of Slaves : | 6 |
| Number of Household Members: | 12 |
From the 1815 Taxable List of Fayetteville, Cumberland County:
Adam, John R. 1 free poll; 6 slaves, 1 unimproved 1/4 acre lot; 1 same on Maiden Lane - 40
for Mumford, Jannett 12 slaves, 1 dwelling house - 1200
7 acres on Maiden lane Coopers Shop - 400
7 acres on Maiden lane Coopers Shop - 400
Adam, Robert estate 1 lot corner of Green & Old Street - 1500
store warehouse & barber shop
1 lot Hay Street occupied by N. Branson - 1200
1 same by P.J. Tillinghast - 1700
1 same by Hugh McGuire - 2000
1 same by James Coleman - 1000
1 same by Edmund Blake - 1000
1 same by Compting House - 400
store warehouse & barber shop
1 lot Hay Street occupied by N. Branson - 1200
1 same by P.J. Tillinghast - 1700
1 same by Hugh McGuire - 2000
1 same by James Coleman - 1000
1 same by Edmund Blake - 1000
1 same by Compting House - 400
Mumford, Robinson 12 slaves, 12 slaves in town, 1 dwelling house - 1000
about 120 acres of land within the city limits of town - 300
1 lot Mumford Street occupied by George the Barter - 40
1 Person Street tobacco warehouse - 300
for Robinson Mumford Sr. 1 lot Mumford Street - 800
Mumford, Robinson, Sr. see Mumford, Robinson
In the deeds of Cumberland County, North Carolina, a paper trail has been left to trace the origins of Mrs. Jannett Mumford. Book 23, p 129
James Mumford and Jannet Adam
Know all men by these presents that whereas a marriage is intended to be shortly had and solemnized between Jannette Adams, widow and relict of the late Robert Adams of the town of Fayetteville, Merchant and James Mumford, now of the same.
The document continues and is a marriage contract between James Mumford, son of Robinson Mumford, a prominent counsel in Fayetteville, and Jannett, a widow of considerable property by this point.
| Jannett Adams | |
| Spouse: | James Mumford |
|---|---|
| Marriage Date: | 23 Jul 1807 |
| Marriage County: | Cumberland |
| Marriage State: | North Carolina |
| Source: | County Court Records at Fayetteville, NC & Family |
So who was Robert Adams, the deceased husband of Jannett Adams Mumford?
- Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry Company
- Organized August 23, 1793
There was soon talk of war with England and the Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry was organized as the European was situation threatened to involve the United States. It was organized on August 23, 1793 and Robert Adam was elected Captain, John Winslow was elected Lieutenant and Robert Cochran was elected Ensign. Throughout its' history the F.I.L.I. has always remained a "corps of gentlemen."
In this area, there was a strong, successful merchant class consisting of prominent figures such as Andrew Broadfoot, Robert Adam, James Hogg and Robert Donaldson.
from the Fayetteville Visitors Center site.
Recorded: August 6, 1801
EXECUTOR'S NOTICE
Notice is hereby given, that the Subscribers, at the July term of
Cumberland County Court, qualified as Executors, of the Estate of ROBERT
ADAM, ESQ,deceased, merchant of Fayetteville and Wilmington, those indebted
to said estate are requested to make payment immediately, and those having
claims against said estate are notified to present them duly authenticated
within the time prescribed by law or this notice will be plead in bar of their
recovery.
Fayetteville, DUNCAN M'LERAN
July 17 JOHN WINSLOW
SAM GOODWIN
JOHN ECCLES
JOHN HOGG, Executors
From UNC Libraries Collections:
 |
| Tombstone of Robert Adam |
| John Hogg (1765-1826) was a merchant of Hillsborough and Wilmington, N.C. The collection consists of account books of mercantile businesses in Hillsborough, Raleigh, Fayetteville, and Wilmington, N.C., in which John Hogg was associated at various times with Andrew Adie, Robert Adam, William Meng, Robert Halliday, and his brother James Hogg. These volumes give only a partial record of Hogg's operations, but from them it appears that Hogg and Company was the chief exporter and importer of the group, with the other firms primarily engaged in local business in general merchandise. There are two letter books: one for Hogg and Company, 1799-1803, and another for Hogg and Meng, 1803-1806. | |
| Creator | Hogg, John, 1765-1826. |
Robert Adam(s) was born in Greenock, Scotland and is buried at Cross Creek Cemetery Number One in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
Stone reads:
Robert Adam
a native of Greenock in Scotland
for many years a merchant of Fayetteville and Wilmington, N.C. who departed this life 11th of June 1801, aged 42
"kind husband and affectionate parent"
(died at Wrightsville Beach,NC)
From:
Biographical History of North Carolina from Colonial Times to the ..., Volume 4
By Samuel A'Court Ashe
"Robert Adam was the first captain of the Fayetteville Light Infantry, which was organized on the 23rd of August, 1793. He was a Fayetteville merchant, characterized by the thrift and steadfastness of his nationality; but the old records represent him as a man of liberal views and public spirit, and especially devoted to his command,never begrudging his time or the contents of his purse in the promotion of its interests on imposing occasions - parades, celebrations, etc.
It sounds like Jannett married well. Robert was a successful merchant in Fayetteville for sometime, but shortly before his death, he moved to Wilmington and set up shop there, enjoying a country home on Wrightsville Beach. He died in the prime of his life, at age 42, on June 11, 1801. Originally, he was buried at Wilmington, but eventually, his remains were exhumed and he was replanted in the famed Cross Creek Cemetery of Fayetteville.
Robert Adam and Jannett had 3 young children: John R Adam, Eliza Ann Adam and Margaret Jane Adam. And therein is the connection to Dr. William H Maffett. Margaret Jane was his wife.
The old book tells the poetic, original epitah of Robert Adam:
"Beneath this stone are deposited the mortal remains of Robert Adam, a native of Greenock, Scotland, and for many years a merchant of Fayetteville and Wilmington, who departed this life June 11, 1801, aged 42 years. He was universally beloved and regretted. In his conduct and deportment through life was combined all that should adorn the Christian character and constitute the honorable man, the kind husband and affectionate parent.
"Stranger welcome to the scene
The last in Natures Course
The first in Wisdoms' thought"
Further deeds tell the story:
Robert Adams Dec, A Divison to John R Adam + Others
Book 39 page 24
to Partion the real estate of Robert Adam, decsd among his heirs at law...John R Adam...intersection of Burges and Old Street...running with Hay St.....to William H Moffitt in right of his wife Margaret....Lot of Land situated on Hay Street in the said town of Fayetteville, now occupied by Charles and P Mallet, Joshua W Cochran and P + S W Tillinghast (there's that Tillinghast name again..see posts on Jordan Howell). ....to John A Cameron + Mary, his daughter.
Note: Eliza Ann Adam had married the much older John A Cameron to her dismay. Records of her attempted suicide by taking an overdose of landulum, exist in her school records at Mordecai Female Academy in Warrenton, North Carolina. She survived, and the marriage took place, followed by the arrival of daughter Mary Elizabeth Cameron in 1815. The birth of the child did not lift her spirits, she died during a visit to Greenock, Scotland at the home of a relative, still only 19 years old.
But, what was Janet's maiden name? When she married James Mumford, she was a widow.
There also exists a deed from John R Adams trustees to Margaret Adams Guardians. Duncan McLeran and John Winslow were appointed guardians of the minor Margaret Jane Adams when her father died. Jannett was not guardian of her own child.
There is a deed from 1807 where the property of Jannett Adams is assigned an Inventory, this deed was signed by John Hay, Robinson Mumford and Samuel Goodwin, all important people in the life of Jannett.
In the July term of court, 1790, is another marriage contract. This one between Robert Adam and Jannet Burgis:
"Know all men by these presents that whereas a marriage is intended to be shortly had and solemnized between Jannet Burges, relict of James Burgess, Esquire, deceased and Robert Adam, merchant, both of Fayetteville in the County of Cumberland and the state of North Carolina"
Wait a minute, ...relict...deceased...so Jannett was a widow, also when she married Robert Adam? So, what was her maiden name? How many times was this chick, the mother-in-law of Dr. William H Moffitt, married?
There are many deeds and sells of land involving the deceased James Burges(s). Several of the later ones involve a young lady named Jane. Sometimes her name is seen as Janet or Jessie . The deeds proclaim her as the daughter of James Burges and Jannett.
Cumberland NC Deed Book 26-336
16 Jan 1811 Samuel Goodwin of Raliegh, Wake co. to JOHN SMITH, mcht of
Fayetteville, land in Fayetteville. s/ S Goodwin. w/ R Raeford, John
McLenan, James Boyle.
Cumberland NC Deed Book 26-337
16 Jan 1811 Samuel Goodwin of Raliegh, Wake co. to JOHN SMITH, mcht of
Fayetteville, land in Fayetteville. s/ S Goodwin. w/ R Raeford, John
McLenan, James Boyle.
The 1801 will of Robert Adam mentions his step-daughter, Jessi Goodwin, wife of
Samuel Goodwin.
The 1824 will of Jannett Mumford mentions Grandsons Robert Goodwin and William
Goodwin.
This explains the connection to the Goodwins. There were several instances wherein Goodwins are involved in the deeds and witnesses to marriages of the rest of the family.
And then, it took me a while, but I found several deeds of a James Hogg to Janet Burgis.
In the book
Directory of Scots in the Carolinas
By David Dobson
James Burges Born in Scotland. Married Janet Hogg. Father of Jane.
Merchant in Cumberland County, North Carolina.
Further research revealed that James was also a merchant in Edinburgh, Scotland and emigrated from Greenock, Renfrewshire to North Carolina aboard the Ulysess. His first wife was a Margaret Hogg. Probably a sister to Jannett.
| John Hogg, Merchant of Fayetteville |
Which brings us to another member of the Merchant class of Cumberland County, John Hogg, another Scott and father of Jannett.
So who was Jannett Mumford?
Daughter of John Hogg, Merchant
Wife of James Burgess, Merchant and mother of Jane Jessie Burgess Goodwin.
Wife of Robert Adam, Merchant and Patriot and mother of John R Adam, Eliza Ann Adam Cameron and Margaret Jane Adam Maffett.
Wife of James Mumford, son of Robinson Mumford.
And mother-in-law of Dr. William H. Maffett.
Hi, I'm from Greenock and have just started researching Robert Adam - looks like you've done most of the work! Fascinating story.
ReplyDeleteLiz
Robert Adam was the first commander of the Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry in 1793. Now the organization is 227 years old.
ReplyDelete