Early Life
Jane Adair was born on the 20
th of December 1737 and baptised on the 24
th at
St James' in Westminster, London. Her parents (as stated on the baptismal record) were
William Adair and
Jane ___. The fact that both of Jane's parents were named on the baptismal record lends support to the possibility that she was a legitimate child, but any evidence of marriage between William Adair and Jane's mother is elusive, for the time being. Jane (the daughter) was, however, named in her father's will, which would suggest that she was legitimate or at the least, recognised. On the other hand, in at least one pedigree she is referred to as a natural daughter suggesting that her parents never married, though she was recognised by her father.
I'm not entirely sure why I have her middle name as "Smith" as I can't find any primary records that mention this name. There are a few references to Jane on the internet, all of whom include the Smith middle name, but none of which provide a source. So for the time being I'll keep it, but mark it as suspect.
Family Life
Jane married
Edward Brice (this was his second marriage) on the 4
th of December 1758 in
Belfast, Ireland. See his entry for more details on their family.
Death
Jane died on the 5
th of February 1825 and was buried at
St Swithins Walcott in Bath on the 12
th. In her will, Jane set up trusts for her daughter
Maria Isabella (Lady Anstruther), her son
Archibald Adair and her grandchildren (through
Robert Brice, by then already deceased) Edward, Maria and Sarah. She also made a gift of £50 to
Charlotte Ogilvie, of South Street, Grosvenor Square, London. The Executors of her will were
Sir Samuel Shepherd,
Sir Coutts Trotter and her son Archibald. Note that all these executors, and others, were named in various legal suits (see the entry for Edward Brice for more).
Jane's will has a couple of interesting codicils:
[2nd Codicil dated 19th July 1821]
My dear Archibald as I may not be alive when the decision of my son John Raders [sic] affairs are settled I have ever found you attentive to my comfort and peace of mind. I therefore as an acknowledgement leave everything for your own comfort which I might be entitled to under such decision for your private comfort while you will consider for your own use. I ever pray you may be under the protection of the [?] and wise disposer of all events.
This mysterious son (John Rider, probably) might be
this person.
[8th Codicil dated 28th August 1824]
I Jane Brice of the City of Bath widow do make this codicil to be taken as part of my last will. I have received a letter from Mrs Robert Brice stating that my granddaughter Maria Isabella Brice is married to Captain Arthur Haultain2 of the Madras Army. Now I think that such should not have been promoted by Mrs Robert Brice without her first consulting the near relations of my granddaughter especially as she was so young and has been residing in England for several years under the protection of such relations. It is my intention therefore that any share or proportion of money that I have bequeathed to her in my will or in any codicil shall not take effect and I hereby leave the same to my Executors in trust during the joint lives of Captain Arthur Haultain and my granddaughter. 28th August 1824 [Maria married Arthur Haultain on the 15 March 1824]
Because of the large number of codicils the end of the probate records has the following remarks:
Appeared personally the Reverend Archibald Brice Clerk one of the Executors named in the first Codicil to the last will and testament with eight codicils of Jane Brice late of the city of Bath, widow, deceased, Charlotte Ogilvie of South Street Grosvenor Square in the county of Middlesex widow and Marian Anstruther of Conduit Street in the same county spinster and made oath as follows:
And first the said Charlotte Ogilvie and Marian Anstruther made oath that they knew and were well acquainted with the said deceased and with her manner and character of handwriting and subscription having often seen her write and subscribe her name. And having now carefully viewed and inspected the paper writings hereto annexed purporting to be and contain the last will and testament and eight codicils of the said deceased the first of the said codicils beginning thus: “Revoking the Codicil I made in London” ending thus “And I leave the sum of £1000 the power of which I have under the Mr Adair’s Will to my son Archibald Brice” and thus subscribed “Jane Brice”, the second of the said codicils beginning thus “My dear Archibald as I may not be alive” and ending thus “I ever pray you may be under the protection of the most and wise disposer of all events July 19 1821” and thus subscribed “Jane Brice”. [Goes on to mention the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th codicils] the deponents say they do verily and in their conscience believe all the said subscriptions to the said codicils and the whole body series and contents of the said second codicil to be of the proper handwriting of the said deceased. And the said Archibald Brice for himself said that he wrote and prepared the aforesaid fifth codicil to the Will of the said deceased and he further said that the words “Mrs Morris ten guineas” appearing interlined therein were inserted by the deponent by direction of the deceased previous to the execution of the said Codicil by her and that the said Codicil was made prior to 13th January 1823 the date of the codicil to the said will by which such legacy is revoked.
The 'Adair' Surname
The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names
1 has the following:
Scottish, N. Irish relationship name from the personal name Adair, also spelled Edyear, a form of 'Edgar'. Main locations are SW Scotland, and Ulster in Ireland, mainly counties Down and Antrim.
See the entry on
Robert Adair at the top of the Adair tree for a little more on the name's origins. Note also that the alternative theory put there is that Adair came from Ath-dara (the Oak ford), a place in County Limerick, Ireland, from whence Robert fled following a duel where he killed a relative. This origin story of someone fleeing either Scotland (to go to Ireland) or viceversa seems to be relatively common for Ulster Scot families - a similar tale is attached to
Edward Bryce.
Footnotes
[1] See
https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780199677764.001.0001/acref-9780199677764
[2] Note that a marriage between Haultains and Brices is seen elsewhere in this same family tree: Jane's son
Archibald Adair Brice married
Martha Porter, whose mother was
Mary Haultain. Mary Haultain, in turn, was Arthur Haultain's aunt.
1737 - 1825 (87 years)
[1] 
