Revolutionary War Soldiers Series: Remembering Samuel Adkins (Atkins)

By Betty F. Crum and Pat Young
Waw-wil-a-way Chapter Daughters 
of the American Revolution, 250 Project

Note: This year, the United States of America will celebrate its semiquincentennial, its 250th anniversary. The semiquincentennial marks the first nationwide celebration of America's birth since the bicentennial in 1976. Of course, America's independence cannot be celebrated without also honoring the efforts of the Revolutionary War soldiers that led to independence. The Waw-wil-a-way Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, along with the Southern Ohio Genealogical Society, is presenting a series of articles featuring Revolutionary War soldiers who lived and died within the borders of Highland County.

Samuel Adkins (or Atkins) was born Jan. 23, 1741 in Granville, Mass. He died in 1821 in Highland County and is buried in Highland County (grave unknown).

From U.S. Rev. War Rolls, 1775-1783, he is listed on the plaque on the Highland County, Ohio Courthouse. He is not listed in the NSDAR Database.

From "Common Pleas Court Records of Highland County, Ohio" 1805-60 by David and Jane McBride, Page 6: On this 26th day of July 1820, personally appeared in open court of Common Pleas, being a Court of Record for the County of Highland in the State of Ohio, Samuel Adkins, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath declare that he served in the Revolutionary War as follows to wit.

1st in the Company commanded by Capt. Kings, in Col. Wards Regt. in the Massachusetts line, one year, then in the Company commanded by Capt. Isaac Warren in Col. Bayleys Regt. in the line aforesaid and served in said company about one year and was transferred to Capt. George Dunhams Company in the Regt. and line aforesaid and served in said company till the expiration of his second enlistment being three years and was discharged from said Service at West Point in the year 1780, the date of my original declaration was the eighth day of February one thousand eight hundred and nineteen.  And I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March 1818, and that I have not since that time by gift, sale or in any other manner disposed of my property or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it, as to bring myself with the provisions of an Act of Congress entitled an act to provide for certain persons  entitled an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval Service of the United States in the Revolutionary War passed on the 18th day of March 1818, and that I have not, now has any person in trust for me any property or security contracts or debts due to me, nor have I any income that what is contained in the Schedule hereunto annexed and by me subscribed.  

Schedule no real nor personal property whatever owned by declarant except one silver watch worth ten dollars, his age seventy-nine years, his occupation a farmer but unable to pursue said business, has no children or family residing with him. – Samuel (his mark) Adkin.

Proven at July Term 1820 to the satisfaction of the Court that the property mentioned is worth ten dollars and that is all the property claimant possesses which is ordered to be certified.

The Court (Original paper) In Order Book 1816-1820, page 389, July 27, 1820, is a notation of this affidavit being filed.  Name: Samuel Adkins Rank - Induction: Private Roll Box: 100  Roll State: VA 
1777 15 May, Age: 18 Military Great Barrington, Berkshire, Massachusetts  In: 1) Captain Warren's Company in 2d Massachusetts Regiment. 2) Captain G. Dunham's Company in Col. Bailey's Regiment.
1780 Age: 21 Military West Point in New York Honorably Discharged from the military.
1790 Age: 31 Residence Saratoga, Albany, New York, United States  
All Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in the War of the Revolution, 17 Vols. results for Samuel Adkins 

Volume 1 page 88 

Adkins, Samuel, Great Barrington.  Return of men enlisted into Continental Army from Capt. Goodrich's co., Col. Ashley's regt.; mustered between Jan. 20, 1777, and June 1, 1778; joined Capt. Warren's co., Col. Bailey's regt.; enlistment, 3 years; also, return of men in camp at Valley Forge, Jan. 24, 1778.
Samuel Adkins-[75] was born Jan 23 1741 or 42 in Granville, Mass. and died in Highland County, Ohio.  

Wife thought to be Elizabeth Roberts.          
                                                                                                                                                          Residence: 1761, Granville, Mass.  A house is built by a Samuel Adkins. Census: 1790, Saratoga Town.  A  Samuel Atkins on Federal census. Pension: 1819, Highland County, Ohio. Samuel Adkins claims pension as a veteran of the Revolution.  Erastus Adkins helps him.                        

Children: (1) Hannah Adkins B1793 NY – D1896 Perry Co., Indiana; married William Curry 1815 Clermont Co., Ohio. (2) Erastus Adkins  born about 1799; married Ruth Denham 1815 Clermont Co., Ohio; Living in Noble Co., Indiana 1840.