Records illustrate that the birth year of Adam Cunningham is approximate, as are most of this era. Please do not combine this Adam Cunningham with the one that married Sarah Sinnett in 1817, who was the son of Adam Cunningham Sr. and Rachel Morgan. That was a completely different family.

1840 Wood County, Virginia, USA
HofH Adam Cunningham
1 x male: 30 thru 39
1 x female: 30 thru 39
..2 x males: 10 thru 14
..2 x males: 5 thru 9
..1 x male: under 5
..1 x female: 5 thru 9

*Eldest son Jacob Eli, born 1827, married Mary Mariah Barker on February 10, 1848, so he appears on his own 1850 census.

1850 Western District, Ritchie, Virginia, USA
Adam Cunningham..58..VA (closer to 48?)
Mary Cunningham..55..PA
Eliz Cunningham..19..VA
Geo Cunningham..21..VA
Purviance Cunningham..20..VA
Stephen Cunningham..16..VA
Benjn S Cunningham..10..VA
Mary C Cunningham..9..VA
Rachel Cunningham..4..VA

*The name Purviance is a common surname and is spelled exactly this way.

1860 Ritchie Court House P.O., Ritchie, VA
Adam Cunningham ..63..VA
Mary Cunningham ..59..PA
Purviance Cunningham ..31..VA
Stephen Cunningham ..26..VA
Benj S Cunningham ..20..VA
Mary C Cunningham ..17..VA
Rachel Cunningham ..15..VA
Eliza J Cunningham ..5..VA

1870 Grant, Ritchie, West Virginia
Adam Cunningham ..72..VA
Mary Cunningham ..68..PA
P M Cunningham ..40..VA
Stephen R Cunningham ..35..VA
Mary C Cunningham ..27..VA
Eliza J Cunningham ..14..VA
Robert E Cunningham ..3..VA

1880 pre-census Mortality Schedule
Surname: Adam Cunningham
Roll Taken: abt Mar 1880
County: Pleasants CO.
State: WV
Age at death: 81
Gender: M
Month of Death: Jun (1879 - June 1880 hadn't happened yet)
State of Birth: Not given
ID# 197_ 74383
Occupation: FARMER
Cause of Death: PALSY

*FOR THOSE CONFUSED BY APPARENT CONFLICTS IN LOCATION FOR THESE RESIDENTS:

West Virginia did not become a state until June 20, 1863. Early records stated Virginia - later transcriptions of records have been modified or software won't let us put Virginia for the town names.

Pleasants County was established on March 29, 1851 from parts of Wood, Ritchie, and Tyler counties. Many District names and numbers came and went. These name changes did not necessarily mean your ancestor changed locations of where they lived.

Many records/probate/etc. took place at the nearest larger town or land office. Again, see above.

by Lila Cole