The following analysis of the wives of John Smith Adair was carried out by Jim Webb:
828Although the marriage records for Paulding County, Georgia show a marriage between John Adair and Mary A Heslep on November 13, 1841, we question whether this is the John Smith Adair who is the son of James T Adair and brother of Andrew J Adair.
REASONS:
The 1850 census for Tennessee finds John S Adair living with his father. His brother is also living with the family which identifies them as "our" Adair family. John is age 27 and there is Elzira, age 25, living with them (listed next to John). Also in the family are young children ages 7 yrs. down to one year...too young to be James Adair's and Ann's children (ages 60 and 61). These are very probably John's and Elzira's children. Andrew J Adair is not yet married. The 1860 census for Marshall County, Mississippi shows John S Adair, age 38 as family #371 living next to Andrew J Adair, wife Frances and daughter Laura (fam. #372) which identifies this as "our" John S Adair. John's wife is listed as "Mrs H" born in Kentucky (in 1850 Elzira is listed as born in Tennessee). Still living with the family are Nancy June and Frances (ages 17 and 15). Added to the family are Maria, Rufus H, and Emily, ages 8, 5 and 3. Missing is Mary who would have been 13, and William who would have been 11. The 1870 census for DeSoto County, Mississippi has John Adair, age 48, born in Georgia, with "Mary Ann" listed next to him as "Keeping House" and age 23, born in Mississippi . We have children: Maria, age 18, Rufus H, age 16, and Emily age 13. We also have Sarah, age 10, and James, age 5. But "Mrs H" is missing. Did she die when Sarah was born? Note the 5 year gap in the children's ages. Is Mary Ann the same as the 3 yr old shown in 1850? Or is she a new wife who bore James, now age 5? The 1880 census for Tate County, Mississippi has John S Adair, age 58, with Mary A who is definitely listed as "wife". She is age 33 which matches the 1870 Mary Ann. The children are: Maria, age 26, Rufus, age 24, Sarah, age 20, James W, age 15, Susan E, age 9 and Eva L age 7. All are designated as sons or daughters. This information points to several marriages for John Smith Adair.