The strange story of Jefferson Jeptha Adams and Melvina (nee Bean) Whitney. We have the facts but sadly we don't have the emotions or the motives. Jefferson enlisted in the Union Army. Four days after he mustered into his unit he married Melvina.
Just a little over two years later Jefferson died of disease in a field hospital in New Orleans. He did not leave a will. Melvina ended up getting just twenty dollars from the estate. Melvina applied for and was receiving pension payments as Jefferson's widow.
Early in 1865 she abandoned Jefferson's children and left the state with a man named Benjamin Hatch. Hatch was married but Melvina was living with him as Mrs. Hatch. In 1874 he left her.
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 | Levi H Dakin Administrator.
Levi H. Dakin was appointed the administrator of Jefferson J. Adams estate. |
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 | Jefferson J. Adams Real Estate.
Jefferson J. Adams Real Estate as described to the probate court. |
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 | J.J. Adams Notification of Probate.
On 2 February 1864 Levi H. Dakin spelled out how public notification of the probate of J.J. Adam's estate would take place. |
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 | Probate Judge $300.
On 2 February 1864 the probate judge was paid $300 from the estate. |
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 | Probate Judge $300 2.
On 2 February 1864 the probate judge was paid $300 from the estate. |
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 | Inventory of Adams Estate.
On 25 February 1864 Rufus Taylor and D.G. Bean were appointed to inventory Jefferson's estate. |
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 | Jefferson J Adams Estate 1.
27 February 1864. The inventory of J.J. Adam's estate stimated value $898.03. |
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 | Jefferson J Adams Estate 2.
Page 2 of 2. |
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 | J.J. Adams Amount Recived From Sale.
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 | J.J. Adams Estate Money paid out 1.
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 | J.J. Adams Estate Money paid out 2.
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| 12 |
 | Widow's Claim For Pension J J Adams.
On 1 March 1864 Melvina (Bean) (Whitney) Adams applied to receive a pension in her husband's name. At this time she is claiming Jefferson's children. Levi H. Dakin who was the administrator of Jefferson's estate signed this document as a witness verifying the facts stated. |
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 | Court Paid $1600.
By 3 May 1864 all of Jefferson's property and belongings had been sold and the proceeds turned over to the court. |
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 | Melvina Granted $20.
On 15 June 1864 Melvina was granted a Widow's Allowance of twenty dollars from the estate of Jefferson J. Adams. |
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 | J.J. Adams Zero Balance.
On 7 February 1865 Levi H Dakin reported to the court that the estate of J.J. Adams has been liquidated. |
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| 16 |
 | Lorin Adams Minors Pension Claim.
!0 September 1866, Melvina (Bean) (Whitney) Adams abandoned Herbert and Edward Adams the minor children of Jefferson Jeptha and Rosilla (Powers) Adams. |
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 | J J Adams Children Guardianship.
Major Lorin Adams was appointed the guardian of Herbert and Edward on 1 March 1866. |
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| 18 |
 | Major Lorin Adams Name Change.
Major Lorin Adams is of no known relationship. In 1844 he legally changed his name from Adlay to Adams.
Changes in name by special acts of the Legislature of Maine, 1820-1895. Compiled by Marquis Fayette King. Self published in 1901 by M.F. King. Page one. |
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 | Lorin Adams Claim for Children's Pension.
Upon examining the evidence Melvina's pension was suspended on 6 June 1866. The children were awarded a pension of eight dollars a month starting 6 June 1866 and ending in 1872 after both had reached the age of 16. As guardian this money was payable to Major Lorin Adams. |
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| 20 |
 | Orphan Children's (Adams) Pension Claim 1.
On 1 April 1867 as legal guardian Lorin Adams petitioned for pension rights for the minor children of Jefferson J Adams. They had been abandoned by Jefferson's second wife who was already claiming a widow's pension. |
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 | Orphan Children's (Adams) Pension Claim 2.
Orphan Children's (Adams) Pension Claim Page 2 of 2. |
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| 22 |
 | Lorin Adams Request for Pension Increase.
on 5 April 1869 Lorin Adams filed for an increase of pension on behalf of Herbert and Edward Adams. |
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| 23 |
 | Lorin Adams Request for Pension Increase 2.
Continuation page 2 of 3. |
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 | Lorin Adams Request for Pension Increase 3.
Continuation page 3 of 3. |
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| 25 |
 | JJ Adams Proof Exhibited.
10 July 1869. List of proofs exhibited in Lorin Adam's case for the pension of Jefferson J. Adam's minor children. |
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| 26 |
 | Melvina Hatch Restoration of Pension.
In 1877 after the kids reached the age of 16 they were no longer eligible to receive pension payments. At this time Melvina now using the name Hatch applied for restoration of pension. It was rejected on 1 June 1877 for "widow remarried in 1865 by cohabitation". It appears though it was approved on 7 March 1878. |
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 | Melvina Adams Statement.
On 21 March 1877 Melvina wrote this statement as part of her request to reinstate her pension. She stated that she had not remarried since the death of Jefferson J. Adams. |
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 | Melvina Hatch Restoration of Pension Rejection Notes.
While Melvina claimed to have never remarried after Jefferson's death her pension claim was rejected because she lived with Benjamin Hatch as his wife and, was so recognized in the community. She bore his last name from the spring of 1865 to sometime in 1874 of 1875. |
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| 29 |
 | Lawrence MA Postmaster RE Melvina Hatch.
Melvina moved from Maine to Lawrence Massachusetts with Benjamin Hatch. On 6 May 1872 the Lawrence post master wrote a letter to give testimony as part of the investigation that resulted from her request for pension reinstatement. He said she was known by several names, one of them being Adams but, she said it was Hatch now. |
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| 30 |
 | Exhibit A Melvina Hatch RE Benjamin Hatch.
On 20 February 1878 Melvins testified about Benjamin Hatch. In the summer of 1865 she went with Hatch to Lawrence, Massachusetts. She was supported by Hatch and he said he would marry her but, after moving in with him she learned he was already married and his wife was still living. She lived with him until the fall of 1874 using his last name. After he left she was supported by her children. |
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 | Exhibit A Melvina Hatch RE Benjamin Hatch 2.
Continuation page 2 of 2. |
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| 32 |
 | George C Whitney Statement RE Melvina Hatch.
George C. Whitney was Melvina's son from her first marriage. on 5 June 1877 he gave a disposition about his mother. He said she lived with Hatch until April 1875. |
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 | George C. Whitney Statement RE Melvina Hatch 2.
Charles Whitney Statement RE Melvina Hatch continuation, page 2 of 2. |
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| 34 |
 | George Whitney RE Melvina Hatch.
George Whitney son of Melvina talked to the pension investigator on 15 February 1878. He said that she lived with Benjamin Hatch but, they were never married. |
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| 35 |
 | Eliza Whitney RE Melvina Hatch.
Eliza Whitney was the wife of Sumner Whitney. Sumner was Melvina's son from her first marriage. On 20 February 1878 she said she had only known Melvina as Mrs. Hatch and she lived with Benjamin until About four years ago (1874) when Hatch left. Mevlina was now being supported by her children. |
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| 36 |
 | Annie Newell-Whitney Statement on Melvina Hatch.
On 15 February 1878 Annie Newell (nee Whitney) daughter of Melvina from her first marriage made a statement about her mother. She lived with Benjamin hatch starting in the summer of 1865. While she was known as Mrs. Hatch she never married him. He left her three or four years ago (1874-1875) and hasn't supported her since. |
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| 37 |
 | Annie Newell-Whitney Statement on Melvina Hatch 2.
Annie Newell-Whitney Statement on Melvina Hatch page two of 2. |
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| 38 |
 | Lucy A Harris Statement.
On 21 February 1878 Lucy A Harris a resident of Lewiston, Maine testified that she had known Melvina for thirty years. In 1865 Melvina left Lewiston in the company of Benjamin Hatch who was reported to have a wife living. |
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 | Mrs Calvin Yeaton Statement.
On 27 February 1878 Mrs. Calvin Yeaton testified that Benjamin Hatch and a woman known as Melvina Hatch boarded in her Lawrence Massachusetts home from 1865 through 1867. She was under the impression that they were man and wife. |
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