Elder Joshua Adams, Notley Adams, and others
By Beverly Belcher Woody
We have been tackling some pretty sad stories lately, so it is time for some heartwarming and humorous anecdotes.
This first story was told by Mr. Sam Dobyns about Elder Joshua Adams. Elder Adams was born in Patrick County in 1791 to John and Mary Martin Adams. He served as the pastor of four churches for forty-five years and as Moderator of the Smith River District Baptist Association for almost that long. According to Elder Adams 1865 obituary, “he was loved by people of all denominations and preached more funerals and weddings than any other preacher in the county.” It was at one of those weddings, that our story unfolds.
Elder Adams lived on a farm in Patrick Springs near the headwaters of the Mayo River. He officiated at many weddings of the Critz, Penn, Redd, and Reynolds families in that area. Many of these weddings were grand affairs and this wedding was no different. Celebrants had come from far and wide to attend this magnificent ceremony. After the wedding, the groom’s father slipped a bill in Elder Adams pocket and the tired preacher headed on home.
When Elder Adams arrived home, he looked in his pocket and to his horror, saw the father had slipped him a fifty-dollar bill! This had to be a mistake because everyone knew that his fee was no more than five dollars. Elder Adams decided that first thing in the morning, he must get back on his horse and return the money to the father.
He arrived at the celebrant’s home bright and early the next day and asked to speak to the paterfamilias. Elder Adams began by telling him that there was a mistake made, but before he could fully explain, the father said, “What is the matter? Did I only pay you five dollars? I meant to give you fifty dollars!”
Notley Price Adams was born in 1809 in the Elamsville section of Patrick County to Isaac and Exony Ingram Adams. Although his name was Notley, he preferred to be called “Not.” You will see why this is important in a minute. One day, Notley had to appear in court. When the judge asked him to state his name, he replied, “Not Adams.” The judge asked him again, and again he replied, “Not Adams.” The judge had grown exasperated by now and shouted, “Well, if you are not Adams, then who are you?”
If you would like to read more about the very interesting Notley “Not” Adams, my friend and fellow historian, Tom Perry, is compiling a book about Notley that will be published soon.
Today, we think of Lover’s Leap wayside as a place to pull over and admire the gorgeous views of Brammer’s Spur, Lone Ivy, Winding Stair, and Woolwine. In the mid-twentieth century, Lover’s Leap was quite different. Sure, the beautiful views were there, but hanging off the side of the cliff, was a store building. All kinds of shenanigans went on, near the wayside, in the days when there was not as much automobile traffic.
Three brothers were traveling along there one day when two of them decided to stop and have a fistfight. The two combatants got out of their pickup and began exchanging blows while the third brother wandered into the woods. The two brothers were so focused on defending their honor, they did not see the county deputy pull up and park. The deputy broke up the fight and arrested the two brothers. Meanwhile, the third brother emerged from the woods just in time to see his two brothers being placed into the police car. He shouted, “Hey fellows! Wait for me!”
The land that we know and love as Patrick County has, at one time, been a part of seven other counties. So, logistically, several generations of a family could live on the same farm for one hundred years yet have lived in eight different counties. Patrick land was first part of Charles City County, then Prince George County, then Brunswick County from 1720-1746. It became a part of Lunenburg County in 1746 and part of Halifax when it was formed in 1753. Pittsylvania broke off from Halifax in 1764 and included the lands we know as present Pittsylvania, Henry, and Patrick. Henry County was born in 1776 and included present Henry and Patrick Counties. Finally, in 1791, the county of Patrick was formed from the western part of Henry County.
Daisy Pendleton told a story about a lady that had lived on the same family farm through the changes to six different counties. When told that she was now a resident of Patrick County instead of Henry, she stated, “I sure hope the water is better in Patrick than it has been in Henry.”
(Woody may be reached at rockcastlecreek1@gmail.com Copyright 2021 Beverly Belcher Woody)