Mary Adams was interviewed on South Liberty St., Spartanburg SC in 1937 by F S DuPre as part of the Federal Writers Project. The interview was edited by J J Murphy.
Mary Adams stated in her interview that she had been told that she was 90 years of age but that she herself did not believe that she was quite that old. Based on this information, I searched the 1930 US Federal Census for a Mary Adams born 1850-1860 living in Spartanburg SC. One record came up for a Mary Adams aged 76, a widow and owner of a house valued at $2000 living on South Liberty St.. number 363 which exactly matches the address supplied by DuPre in 1937.
www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9RZC-5H?i=32&cc=1810731
In 1920 Mary Adams is recorded living in South Liberty St. her age is recorded as 70 and her occupation as laundress. This might well be the reason she describes herself as being unable to work in 1937 because her fingers weren't straight.
www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9RX8-HDF?i=26&cc=1488411
In 1900, Mary Adams is recorded again living in Liberty St. with her SC born husband Alfred Adams, age 50, occ. Blacksmith, and children, Alice (27), Thomas (24), Agnes (22), Willie (21), Robert (19), James (15), Samuel (13), Zelia (11), Marie (8) and boarder Corrie Ruth (26). Alfred and Mary's marriage year is given as 1873. Mary is recorded as the mother of 9 children all of whom are living.
www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6SQS-ZW4?i=10&cc=1325221
In 1880, Alfred was a farmer in Spartanburg County, living with wife Mary, a washerwoman and daughters Alice & Agnes and sons Thomas & William. Alfred is described as Mullato with parents born in Virginia which differs from the information supplied in later Census.
www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYBJ-3PY?i=18&cc=1417683
In the 1937 interview Mary Adams names the slaveholder of herself and her mother as Dr C E Fleming, of Glenn Springs, Spartanburg County. Glenn Springs was named for John B Glenn who established an inn there in 1825 so that wealthy people could partake of the healing waters of the spring. In 1835 stock was sold so that an elegant hotel could be built there and the railroad ran from Becka (now known as Roebuck) to the inn in the early 1900's.
Charles E Fleming served as Assistant Surgeon in the Confederate Army, in the 22nd Regiment, South Carolina Infantry.
www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F9VC-9WL
Dr Charles Edwin Fleming died 23 Jun 1894 in Spartanburg. His wife Elizabeth Dean survived him.
www.findagrave.com/memorial/53016539
His home in 1880 was in Dean St., Spartanburg a walk of 8 minutes from Mary Adams' home in Liberty St.
www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YBJ-Q17?i=15&cc=1417683
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