The 1732 records of a John and Mary Adams are NOT "our" John and Mary "Margaret" Adams. The following data has been subsequently unearthed by Harald Reksten, confirming that this is NOT the same Margaret:

Wes,

Here are the abstracts for Mary Adams of Dorchester that I could not find before. They were in a new book just published by Skinner on the Testamentary Proceedings of the Prerogative Court of Maryland.

29-226. 15 September 1732 Testamentary Proceedings 20 July 1732 Bond of Mary Adams administratrix of John Adams. Sureties Obadiah Dawson, Henry Wheeler.

29-275. 11 April 1733 Testamentary Proceedings 14 March 1732 Bond of Joseph Ennalls administrator of John Adams. Sureties: John Anderton, Richard Smart. Also renunciation of Richard White. Mentions former administratrix Mary Addams (now dec'd). Date 9 March 1732. Witness Thomas Stinson.

Harald

So, this shows that this Margaret Adams of Dorchester died soon thereafter, whereas "our" Margaret Adams lived until 1769/1770.

The following data represents current research that is ongoing regarding Margaret Addams and her family in DE (MD) in the 1720s and 1730s. Some of the data is from extracts obtained by Harald Reksten, while others are from researchers at the Spalding and Dawson families website. Yet other research is from Sussex Co DE library, etc. We are attempting to identify the Mary and John Adams of 1732 by establishing the relationships between them and other related families. I believe there is a very good chance this is "our" Margaret Addams. We know her name was Mary Margaret, and that she was first married to William Patterson, and then later married to John Addams. She was sometimes listed as Margaret Adams, and at other times as Mary Adams. IF this was the same person, then the evidence indicates that John Adams did not die until 1732 (or 1731 perhaps). That could also indicate that their children were born just a little later in the 1720s, perhaps 1722-1726 roughly.

This information also points out the fact that the region where the Adams and Pattersons lived was in the border region of Sussex Co DE and the Maryland counties of Somerset and Dorchester... a border that was very much in flux during the early and mid 1700s. See this map for a better idea of the boundaries during that time.

The names and places of interest are highlighted in the following records.

Source: Vernon L. Skinner Jr., Brookeville, Maryland
http://www.spaldinggenealogy.com/rdawson.htm

Richard Dawson I

Richard Dawson I immigrated from Virginia (to Maryland) in 1670. He was in St. Mary's County in 1670, in Calvert County in 1673, and in Dorchester County in 1675. He (was) Quaker. On 1 March 1680 (OS), Richard Dawson had a survey made of "Dawson's Lott" (1000 a.) in Sussex County, Delaware, on the main branch of Broad Creek. In 1682, a suit was entered against the estate of Richard Dawson for surveying fees. Testamentary Proceedings were entered in the Maryland Probate Records for Richard Dawson of Dorchester County in 1684; the administrator of the estate was Richard Willis. The testamentary proceedings state that there were children. On 27 December 1684, an inventory of his estate was made. The inventory can be found on Folio 416, Liber 8, Inventories and Accounts, Prerogative Court. On 28 February 1686 (OS), administration accounts for his estate were filed, the amount of the inventory is cited as 42 pounds, 17 shillings, 0 pence; the amount of the accounts is cited as 1926 pounds of tobacco. The accounts can be found on Folio 248, Liber 9, Inventories and Accounts, Prerogative Court.

Richard Dawson may be related to Anthony Dawson of Dorchester County, who married Rebecca Osbourne. There are administration accounts for Anthony Dawson of Dorchester County filed by Richard Dawson dated 11 June 1713.

Issue by Frances (N). She married second Richard Willis prior to 12 December, 1684. (Richard Willis died in 1689). On 1 December 1693, William Clark sold land in Sussex County, Delaware, to Obediah Dawson (planter) and Frances Willis (widow). She married third Edward Fisher on 8 January 1699 (OS) at Tred Avon Meeting House. (Edward Fisher died in 1701). On 20 September 1706, she patented "Fisher's Landing Addition" (53 a.) in Dorchester County. On 29 February 1723, Frances Fisher made her will. On 7 May 1729, her will was entered for probate in Dorchester County. The will can be found on Folio 679, Liber 19, Wills. On 26 February 1729 (OS), an inventory for her estate was filed, the amount of the inventory is cited as 330 pounds, 6 shillings, 10 pence. The inventory can be found on Folio 376, Liber 15, Inventories, Prerogative Court. The next-of-kin are: Obediah Dawson and Edward Newton Jr.

Child No. 6: He may be the Anthony Dawson who is cited in the deposition of Thomas Brown in 1745. That Anthony Dawson is cited as the uncle of Anthony Cox (b.1718?)

Richard Dawson II

Richard Dawson II was born on 13 May 1674 at Tred Avon, Talbot County. He was a Quaker by religion. He is cited as a planter in 1698. He lived in Dorchester County. In 1709 and 1711, he is the administrator for the estate of Anthony Dawson of Dorchester County. He died prior to 1721, when his wife Susanna entered Testamentary proceedings for his estate. His children were cited in the will of Frances Fisher, dated 1723.

Issue by Susanna Foster. They were married on 23 August 1698 at the meeting house near the head of the Transquaking River.

Obediah Dawson

Obediah Dawson was probably born about 1698. He lived in Dorchester County. On 26 February 1729 (OS), Obediah Dawson and Edward Newton Jr. are cited as next-of-kin to Frances Fisher. In 1732, Obediah Dawson and Henry Wheeler were sureties for Mary Adams, administratrix of John Adams; they were also sureties for Thomas Taylor, administrator for Anthony Taylor. (Henry wheeler married the daughter of Anthony Taylor). In 1734, Obediah Dawson and Henry Wheeler are cited as next-of-kin to Anthony Taylor. In 1740, Obediah Dawson and Henry Hayward were sureties for James Sheppard and James Phillips, administrators for the estate of James Sheppard. In 1749, he was a surety for John Hooper, administrator for the estate of Henry Hooper. In 1750, he was a surety for Rebecca Andrew, administratrix for the estate of Marcus Andrew. In 1751, he was a surety for Robert Harvey, administrator for the estate of Sarah Stinson. In 1756, he was a surety for Elisabeth Foster, administratrix for the estate of Thomas Foster. From 1737 to 1770, Obediah Dawson appears in the Dorchester County Debt Books as paying rent on (not necessarily for all years): "Gift," "Hayward's Lott," "Dawson's Lott," "Dawson's Meadow." From 1756 to 1767, Obediah Dawson Jr. appears in the Dorchester County Debt Books as paying rent on: "Hayward's Lott," "John's Choice," "Howard's Lott." He is also known as Obediah Dawson Sr. Obediah Dawson appears as the appraiser of an estate in 1762. Obediah Dawson died prior to 1768 in Dorchester County. In 1774, the Testamentary Proceedings cite his administrator as John Dawson (his son), with sureties as James Smith and Obediah Wheeler. The inventory was filed in 1773, with relations cited: Anthony Dawson and John Hooper.

Issue by (N). She may be daughter of Henry Hooper, d. 1749; she may also be daughter of John Brown, d. 1757. She is most probably the daughter of Anthony Taylor, d. 1733.

Child No. 7: He is known as John Dawson Sr. of Kent County Delaware. He owned "Red Oak Pond, "No Name," and "Pleasant." "No Name" was patented by John Dawson, son of Jonas Dawson of Del. He may be the John Dawson living in Mispillion Hundred, Kent County, Delaware in 1790. Issue by Ann Hayward. They were married between 1741and 1756. She is the daughter of Henry Hayward (d. 1756/1762). She married first John Noell.

Richard Dawson

Obediah Dawson owned the following tracts of land per the Debt Books: "Gift," "Hayward's Lott," "Dawson's Lott," and "Dawson's meadow." Since Obediah died intestate, all of the lands would have gone to his eldest son Richard Dawson. He may be the same Richard Dawson who is a surety (with Bartholomew Adams) for Mark Nicols administrator de bonis non of the estate of John Nicols the elder, for which a distribution of the estate was filed on 12 February 1760. There is no Richard Dawson on the 1783 Tax List; thus, Richard Dawson died prior to 1783.

Richard Dawson lived Dorchester County. He is probably the Richard Dawson who (with Benjamin/Bartholomew Addams) is a surety to Mark Nicolls administrator de bonis non to John Nicolls (d. 1758) in 1760. He is cited in the list of debts for Dr. William Murray (d. 1764). He is cited in the administration accounts of his father. (Obediah Dawson cites his four daughters by given name only. There is no indication that any of them married. However, the suit cites that Sarah Hignutt, et. al., are children of the brothers and sisters of John Dawson, d. 1798). He died between 1770 and 1783. (He probably died after 1777 since there is no entry in the Testamentary proceedings for him.)

Issue by Sarah (N). (Richard may have married twice, first to Mary, the daughter of John Brown, and second to Sarah (N).) [There is a Richard Dawson who d. 1775 in DO. Adminstratrix is Mary. No children cited]

Child No. 2: Sarah Dawson was born c1745/1750, probably in DO. In the court proceedings for the settlement of the estate of John Dawson in 1802, Sarah Hignutt is cited as the niece of John Dawson. (She is not the daughter of William Dawson, d. 1795. In the 1790 Census, she is cited as the head of her household; there are no others in the household. Of the Hignutts, John married Mary (N), Thomas apparently never married, and there is no information that James ever married. Thus the deduction is that this Sarah Hignutt is the wife of Daniel Hignutt.) She married Daniel Hignutt prior to 1774. She was named as executor for the estate of her husband; her sureties were William Potter & William Summers. She made her will on 28 April 1809. It was entered for probate on 4 May 1809 in Caroline County. The will can be found on Folio 152, Liber JR#C, Wills, Caroline County. As administration account for her estate was filed on 1 August 1810. Her clothes were to be distributed between her daughters.

References:

To have a record in 1732 mentioning Mary Adams as the administratrix of John Adams is a big find. The death of John Adams, associated with the name of Mary or Margaret Adams is most important. Secondly, we needed to find such a record in the vicinity of 1730 give or take a few years. 1732 certainly fits within that time frame. Oddly enough, that is the same year we find Margaret's son, Robert Patterson, buying his first tract of land, in Sussex Co DE. Next, we need to find more information about these Dawsons to determine if we're dealing with the same general location, the same general sets of families, neighbors, associates. The following information will help establish evidence in that regard.

Sources: 1) Harald Reksten,
2) Sussex Co., Delaware Public Library,
3) Chronology of John Dawson (http://www.spaldinggenealogy.com/chronology_of_john.htm)

[27] Nov 7, 1704: Sussex Co Del. Before a court of Common Pleas held in Lewes for the County of Sussex before Wm Clark, John Hill, Thos Fisher, Thos Fenwick, James Walker, Philip Russell & John Walton, Esqs. Justices of said Court: Thomas Fisher appeared in court by virtue of a Power of Attorney in the deed inserted from Edward & Frances Fisher did ackn. and make over unto Wm. Clark, his heirs, 1000 a. of land in the County of Sussex, lying and being on the s. side of Broad Creek, and delivered in open court the said deed bearing date 24th of May 1700. [Sus Co Deed Bk A-I:309]

[41] Sept 1, 1746. Sussex Co Del. Deed. Henry Osbourne, yeoman of Sussex Co, Del., to John Gum, yeoman, same place, 100 a. of land, part of tract "Milford" of 1000 a. formerly surveyed to James Gray by patent 29 Nov 1686 and directed by James Gray's attorney Joshua Barkstead, who executed deed 6 Dec 1687 to William Clark, who afterward conveyed on 1 Dec 1693 to Obadiah Dawson & Francis Willis, jointly. Obediah Dawson died without paying the consideration money to Wm Clark. Edward Fisher, who married Frances Willis, jointly with Frances Fisher, his wife, sold back to & conveyed tract on 24 May 1700 to Wm Clark. Thomas Bedwell & his wife Honor Bedwell, exectrx of Wm Clark, on 1 Aug 1710 conveyed 500 a. to Matthew Osbourne who beq. by his will dated 10 Dec 1733, 100 a. to his son, Henry Osbourne, which land was resurveyed 15 Mar 1742. Land located on s.e. of Long Bridge Branch in Broadkill Hundred, boundaries in Deed Book HN-7:122. Land surveyed & divided 17 Jan 1745 by Wm Shankland. Henry Osbourne signed and witness by Peter Hall, Wm Shankland and Wm Reid. [Sus. Deed Bk H-8 pp. 62 & 129]

F6-053. 22 June 1721 Lease Henry Loyd, gentleman, of Queen's Village in Queen's County in island Nassau, New York to Isiah Harrison, blacksmith, of Smith Town in Suffolk County on the island, New York for 100 pounds, 907 acres situated 8 miles from the town of Lewes in Sussex County, PA (Delaware) and called by the name of Maiden Plantation bounded by James Fisher, Bright's Beaver Dam, formerly laid out for William Darval of Kent County by warrant from Sussex for 1000 acres … Witnesses: Thomas Everet, Samuel Pecton. Acknowledged: 23 June 1721 in Suffolk John Wickes. Acknowledged: 6 August 1722 in Sussex.

A-264. February 1722 John Fisher and Elizabeth his wife to Gideon Harrison, 75 acres on branch of Broad Creek part of 1000 acres called Millford purch by the said John Fisher from Thomas Bedwell and Honour, his wife executrix of the will of William Clark, late of Lewes Town, Sussex County, gentleman, deceased.

F6-049. 5 February 1722/3 John Fisher, yeoman, of Sussex to Gideon Harrison, yeoman, of same for 30 pounds, 75 acres on a branch of Broad Creek bounded by Kings Road at the Round Pole Branch. … Witnesses: William Seltheridge, Phil. Russel. Acknowledged: February 1722/3.

G7-233. 4 November 1737 Edward Evans of Philadelphia and attorney for Rebecka Evans and Eliz. Clark, heirs of Willm. Clark, deceased, sometime of Sussex to John Steward, miller of Sussex for 15 pounds 5 shillings, 125 acres on North side of Mill Creek proceeding out of Broadkill Creek bounded by Wiltbank and Mill Branch. Witnesses: John Clowes, Enoch Cumings. Acknowledged: November 1737.

Sussex Co DE Library: "William Clark, of whom so much has been said in the history of Colonial times, and in Lewes, was also the owner of considerable land in Broadkiln. On March 6, 1684, there was granted to him, by William Penn, a tract of five hundred acres, lying between Cool Spring Branch and the main branch of Mill Creek (Beaver Dam Branch). This tract, known as "Penn's Manor of Worminghurst," was confirmed to him April 2, 1686, by Thomas Lloyd, James Claypoole and Robert Turner. On November 21, 1717, it came into the possession of Preserved Coggeshall. On the day of the confirmation of "Penn's Manor of Worminghurst," there was patented to Clark, "Mill Plantation," a tract containing eight hundred acres. Of this he sold two hundred acres to Mathew Osborne, who also had surveyed for himself on April 25, 1722, a tract of land, warranted to Robert Lodges on December 18, 1718, and now owned by Mrs. Theodore Carey [WP note: this land was sold in 1732 to Robert Patterson and Thomas Black... the land from Robert Lodges]. "Mill Plantation" is now in the possession of George A. Bryan, the heirs of Nathaniel Veasey and the heirs of Mrs. Eliza A. Fisher."

Sussex Co DE Library: "On September 7, 1698, overseers of highways were appointed as follows: John Miers, for town district; Richard Himon, for Rehoboth to the Inlett; John Barker, from the Inlett to the Indian River; Thomas Ffisher and Mathew Osbourne, for the Broad Creek; Luke Watson, Jr., for Prime Hook, and Justice Booth for Cedar Creek."