Amy Pettis Wing Relinquishes her Custody
of Adelia Wing

The old family story goes something like this: There came a time that Joseph Smith Wing took Sarah Wright Strang with him to Illinois under the pretense of visiting his mother. It just so happened that while they were visiting around Adams County, Clay County & Pike County, Illinois that Joseph Smith Wing went by a house and picked up a 9 year old girl. Sarah Wright Strang thought that the little girl was an aquaintance or relative of Joseph Smith Wing that he was just taking for a ride. Imagine her shock when (according to the old family story), Joseph Smith Wing never intended to return the little girl to her home and that the little girl was none other than his daughter, Adelia Wing. Right here is some evidence that Joseph Smith Wing did in fact take his daughter, Adelia Wing, to live with him in the spring of 1859. The question is...did Adelia's mother know that he was going to write the court and relieve his mother of her responsibility as guardian of the little girl? The answer is, probably not. In fact, there is evidence to indicate that Amy Pettis Wing couldn't write. The letter that she "wrote," to Joseph Smith Wing in February of 1862 was actually written by her son, Stephen Wing. If Amy didn't write the following letter, who did? Joseph Smith Wing of course. Perhaps Amy didn't even know what Joseph Smith Wing was up to on that Wednesday in early spring. By now Amy was living with her oldest son, Stephen Wing and his family. Byron Wing, Joseph Smith Wing's son by Rebecca Pierce Davis was indentured to his Uncle Stephen and presumably lived there with his Uncle and grandmother. Therefore, I don't believe that Joseph Smith Wing couldn't find Byron, I think that Stephen Wing would not let Joseph Smith Wing have him.

Newburgh April the 6th 1859 To the Judge of Pike Co. Ills.. Dear Sirs I wish to resign my Guar- dianship of Adelia Wing the infant daughter of Joseph & Rebecca Wing. I have moved to Adams Co., and consequently it will not Be convienent for me to attend to it. Besides I am getting to Be Old and farther her father has come to claim her and to take care of her. he is the Bearer of this. if it is consistent with the usage of Business I wish you to send me my Bond By the Bearer and you will very much Oblige yours & Amy Wing N. B. All of the income of her Property has bin used for her personly Benefit or for repairs of the said property Besides some Seventy dollars Paid By her father for her Board & schooling years etc. Amy Wing