Edward Hamlin Adams settled at Middleton Hall after returning from the West Indies. He had a family vault built at St David’s Church, Llanarthne (Llanarthney), Carmarthenshire (photo above), where at least 11 members of the Abadam family are buried. The details are given by the Reverend J. Jenkins in his book Llanarthney: the Parish, its People and Places, published in 1939:

Chapter X. The Abadam family

This very old and distinguished family settled at Middleton Hall in the year 1825, during the lifetime of Edward Hamlin Adams, who a few years earlier was appointed High Sheriff for the County of Carmarthenshire, afterwards representing the county in Parliament. His son Edward assumed or adopted the surname Abadam, by affixing to his family name the Welsh patronymic ab (Abadam), meaning, literally, son of Adams. [Edward made this change in October 1851, according to his will: “I Edward Abadam of Middleton Hall in the county of Carmarthen Esq, who formally was known as Edward Adams, but who have for some years resumed the ancient surname of Abadam, formerly borne by my ancestors, which assumption or resumption of such surname of Abadam by me is particularly evidenced and publicly notified by a certain deed poll under my hand and seal bearing date the ninth day of October one thousand eight hundred and fifty one and enrolled in Her Majesty’s High Court of Chancery at Westminster.”]

Edward Hamlin Adams was born at Kingstown, Jamaica, on April 30th, 1777, where the family had a large residence, a picture of which illustrated an article appearing the The Times in 1871. This article gave an account of the family, and also a description of the mansion and a picture of the slave quarters on the estate. There is also quite a lot about the Adams’s of Jamaica in a book names “West Indian Tales,” which was obtainable some time ago at most circulating libraries.

Previous to this period the family had, however, a distinguished record in the country extending over several centuries, and the following interesting particulars are taken from an article which appeared in the Western Mail some time ago. Edward Abadam traced his descent from Johanes ab Adam, who died in 1310, Lord of Beverstone and Tidenham, who was called to Parliament as Baron of the Realm, from 1296 to 1307. He was buried at Tidenham Church, near Chepstown, where an old Gothic window still shows his name, date, and armorial bearings.

Mr. Abadam’s mother was Amelia Sophia Macpherson of Cluny, and his great-grandmother was Margaret, daughter of the Hon. Thomas Maxwell, of the family of the earls of Nithsdale. During the Civil Wars Mr. Abadam’s family were devoted Cavaliers and made substantial sacrifices in the Royal cause, Beverstone Castle being sold. Subsequently they received grants of estates in the West Indies (as did many other adherents of the Stuarts), and at the Restoration Charles 2nd granted them as a recompense the addition of a ducal coronet to their arms. In later years a Miss Adams married into the Cuffes, another distinguished English family, this branch becoming known as Cuff-Adams. Further information relating to the family is to be found in Burke’s Royal Descents, published in 1870.

The Edward Hamlin Adams, who settled at Middleton Hall in 1825, was the second son of William Adams by his second marriage with Elizabeth Ann Coxeter, both of Barbadoes, West Indies. On January 5th, 1796, at Philadelphia, U.S.A., he married Amelia Sophia Macpherson, who died in 1831. He died in 1842, at the age of 65, and was buried in a vault which he had directed his oldest son to build under the large yew tree, on the north side of Llanarthney Parish Church.

We may be pardoned if we mention here the name of the distinguished authoress, Miss Violet Paget, who died a few years ago, and who was known the world over under the pen-name “Vernon Lee.” She was the only daughter of Mr. Paget and his wife Matilda, who was the daughter of Edward Hamlin Adams of Middleton Hall. She was also a first cousin of Miss Alice Abadam, well-known feminist lecturer, now residing in London.

The writer thinks that it might be of importance to record, at this point, the names of those buried in Abadams’ Family Vault at Llanarthney. These were copied before the steps were replaced after the burial of Evodie Constance Hughes, some time ago. The eleven names, as inscribed on their respective coffins, are as follows:

1. Edward Hamlin Adams. Died June, 1842. Aged 65 years.
2. Edward Abadam (son of above). Died November , 1875. Aged 66 years.
3. Caroline, widow of Captain Charles Augustus Brooks [Brooke] (daughter of Edward Hamlin Adams). Died April, 1874. Aged 62 years.
4. Conrade Maxwell Macpherson Middleton Abadam (second son of No. 2 above). Born at Clifton, March, 1845. Married in August, 1868, Susanna Marcy, eldest daughter of Francis David Saunders, of Tymawr, Cardiganshire, and Glanrhydw, Carmarthenshire. He died near Jefferson, Green County, Iowa, U.S.A., on September 3rd, 1875, from the effects of an accidental gunshot wound, aged 28 years. He left two daughters, Elma Alice Maude, born May 14th, 1869, and Geraldine Mabel, born December 7th, 1872. His remains were brought home and buried here by his father, on Saturday, Oct. 25th, 1873. “He cometh up and is cut down like a flower.”
5. Edward Hamlin Middleton, eldest son of Edward Abadam. Born April 3rd, 1843, and died March 21st, 1866. Aged 23 years.
6. Edward H. M. Abadam, son of Conrade M. M. M. Abadam. Died September 16th, 1871. Aged 5 months.
7. Lucy C. A. Lawrence, daughter of Edward Abadam, and wife of Rev. R. G. Laurence. Died June 3rd, 1902. Aged 62 years.
8. Louise Abadam, wife of Edward Abadam. Died June 16th, 1866. Aged 66 years.
9. Adah Constance Hughes, daughter of Edward Abadam, and wife of Captain J. W. Hughes. Died May 16th, 1914. Aged 72 years.
10. Rev. Richard Gwynne Lawrence. Born March 9th, 1835. Died February,  1923.
11. Evodie Constance Vernon Hughes. Died June 14th, 1925. Aged 43 years.

There is a tablet in the Parish Church, erected in 1843, by the children of Edward Abadam. The Altar Cross is the gift of Elma, in memory of her father, Conrade Maxwell Macpherson Middleton Abadam, and was given in 1909.

More information about the Abadam family is given here.

Nancy Jennings