Located:
Eleanor Steele, Daughter of Alexander Adams (ca. 1719–1805)
Jean M. Hoffman, CG
In his will Alexander Adams named a
daughter, Eleanor Steele. While I found deeds of his other heirs selling their
shares in his property, I did not find hers. Steele is a common name in Fayette
County, Kentucky, where Alexander lived, and I didn’t know the first name of Eleanor’s
husband. Now with the Full Text Search at FamilySearch Labs, the deed was
easily found by searching on Eleanor’s name.[1]
William and Eleanor Steele of Butler County, Ohio, sold their
interest in the estate of her late father Alexander Adams to John W. Hunt in
Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky, on 01 Dec 1815 for $500. The deed
specified that Alexander Adams was a citizen of the town of Lexington when he
wrote his will on 23 December 1799. In the will he left his house, furniture,
two cows, two out lots, the Meadow and one adjoining it, and 5 pounds yearly to
his widow, Ann Adams, until her marriage or death. He later died and the widow
was noted to be still living. After her death or marriage, the estate was to go
to his several children among whom was “Eleanor Steele, late Eleanor Adams,”
who had married her current husband, William Steele, before her father's death.
Both William and Eleanor signed and sealed the deed.[2]
 |
| Deed of 1815, Steele to Hunt (the beginning) |
Only one William Steele appears in Butler County records at this time. He purchased a quarter section in Milford Township from the General Land Office in Cincinnati, his patent dated 3 May 1815. The land was the southwest quarter of Section 26, Township 5 North, Range 2 East.[3] Prior to the patent, a William Steele was in the Butler County tax rolls in 1807.[4] In 1820 William Steel was head of household in Milford Township. The household members were a man over 45 years old, a man 26 but under 45, a woman 15 but under 26, and a girl under age 10. Two were engaged in agriculture. There was no older woman, so Eleanor might have died between 1815 and 1820.[5]
William sold 53 acres in the northern part of his land to
a Joseph Steele on 19 April 1820. No wife is party to the deed, further
evidence that Eleanor had died by 1820.[6]
William died about 1824 when his executor, Richard Scott, sold the remainder of
the land on 27 August 1824.[7]
Most likely the executor was the Richard Scott who married Ann Steele 28
December 1814 in Butler County.[8]
Another probable child of William and Eleanor was Alexander Steele who married
Maria Reed on 5 September 1811.[9]
Eleanor’s father was Alexander and his wife (possibly Eleanor’s mother) was
named Ann making those likely names for her children.
[1] See previous articles on Eason Heirs and Alexander Adams.
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