Famous People we are related to
Signer of the Decloration of Independence
and 2^nd Pesident of the
United States of America
John ADAMS

The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans:
Volume I A page 22

ADAMS, John, second President of the United States, was born at Braintree (Quincy), Mass., Oct. 19 (O. S.) 1735, son of John and Susanna (Boylston) Adams. His first American ancestor, Henry Adams. Puritan, emigrated from Devonshire, Eng., in 1636, he having been granted a tract of land embracing forty acres at Braintree in the province of Massachusetts. He brought over with him eight sons and was one of the original proprietors of the town of Braintree. It was the custom of the Adams family to educate the eldest son of each generation for some profession, and John was carefully prepared for Harvard college, which he entered in 1751, graduating thence a bachelor of arts, in 1755. While at college a great future was predicted for him, the acuteness and originality of his mind, and the frankness and independence of his character, being fully recognized even at that early date. Immediately after his graduation he received and accepted an invitation to take charge of the grammar school at Worcester, Mass. The occupation of teaching did not prove at all congenial to the high-spirited and ambitious youth. In a letter dated at Worcester, Sept. 2, 1755, he thus facetiously describes, for the edification of his friend Robert Crunch, "the situation" of his "mind": "When the nimble hours have tackled Apollo's courses, and the gay deity mounts the eastern sky, the gloomy pedagogue arises, frowning and lowering like a black cloud begrimed with uncommon wrath, to blast a devoted land. When the destined time arrives he enters upon action, and, as a haughty monarch ascends his throne, the pedagogue mounts his awful great chair and dispenses right and justice through his empire. His obsequious subjects execute the imperial mandates with cheerfulness, and think it their high happiness to be employed in the service of the emperor. Sometimes paper, sometimes penknife, now birch, now arithmetic, now a ferule, then A, B, C, then scolding, then flattering, then thwacking, calls for the pedagogue's attention. At length, his spirits all exhausted, down comes pedagogue from his throne and walks out in awful solemnity through a cringing multitude. In the afternoon he passes through the same dreadful [p.23] scenes, smokes his pipe, and goes to bed. The situation of the town is quite pleasant…but the school is indeed a school of affliction. A large number of little runtlings just capable of lisping A, B, C, and troubling the master. But Dr. Savil tells me for my comfort, by cultivating and pruning these tender plants in the garden of Worcester, I shall make some of them plants of renown and cedars of Lebanon. However this be, I am certain that keeping this school any length of time would make a base weed and ignoble shrub of me." It was his father's wish that he should enter the ministry, and in various letters written to friends are found recorded his strong predilection for preaching. But, after long and careful deliberation, in which he weighed the advantages and disadvantages of a career as lawyer, doctor, clergyman, soldier, farmer and merchant, he finally decided to adopt the legal profession. His great objection to entering the ministry was the frigidity of Calvinism, and his father, respecting his views, though not coinciding with them, permitted him to follow his inclination in the matter. He was peculiarly adapted for the profession he had chosen; for, in addition to his superior mental endowment, he was possessed of a sound constitution, a clear, resonant voice, a lively sensibility, high moral sense, great self-confidence and oratorical gifts of a high order

In 1773 Mr. Adams came into direct conflict with Governor Hutchinson, The latter had been foiled in his attempts to tax the colonies without their consent, and this largely through the influence of Mr. Adams, who had drafted a paper on the whole matter and defended it. Hutchinson's letters to the British government had been mysteriously obtained and sent to Boston by Franklin. These letters implicated Hutchinson and Lieutenant-Governor Oliver, in a conspiracy against the liberties of the colonies. John Adams, who had been elected a member of the General Court on May 25 of that year, was present when the letters were read and commented upon. He was influential in carrying the vote to publish them, and in inspiring the address to the king asking for the removal of Hutchinson and Oliver. Mr. Adams is known as the "Father of the American Navy." His earliest efforts in behalf of this important arm of the public service were directed to fitting out vessels of war to protect the seaport towns of New England against English depredations early in the war for independence. Afterwards, when a delegate in Congress, he secured appropriations for the aid of the navy, and as President, on the outbreak of trouble with France, he organized the navy department to take the place of the former board of admiralty. Six frigates, eighteen sloops of war, and ten galleys [p.24] were ordered to be built or purchased and put in commission. Then followed actual hostilities at sea. Several French vessels were captured. Other vessels of considerable armament were authorized. Three well-known frigates, "The United States," "The Constitution," and "The Constellation," were by his recommendation manned and employed by Act of Congress, July 1st, 1797. When the controversy with France was settled, March 3, 1801, the President was instructed to dispose of the ships belonging to the navy, excepting thirteen frigates—seven to be laid up in ordinary and six held ready for service.

Mr. Adams largely influenced the action of the general assembly in bringing about the impeachment of Chief Justice Oliver, and in consequence the court was not re-opened until after April 19, 1775, when the provincial government was in authority. The time had now arrived when more decisive measures were necessary, and the era of physical force was inaugurated. "Reason was exhausted and nothing was left but arms." The first Continental Congress was called by the assembly convened June 17, 1774, at Salem and holding its session with closed doors. Mr. Adams was chosen one of the five delegates from Massachusetts. The matters to be considered: The five acts of Parliament, the Boston Port Bill, and the Regulating Act, were introductory to the measures looking to final independence. Munitions of war were gathered and stored away in readiness for any emergency. The second Continental Congress was brought face to face with the necessity for an army well officered and equipped. New England had enlisted 16,000 men for the siege of Boston, and in view of the existing state of affairs, and the need for the colonies to present a united front, John Adams on June 15, 1775, nominated Washington as commander of the Colonial army. This has been regarded as the second masterly act in his life. In May, 1776, Mr. Adams introduced in the Colonial Congress a resolution giving the separate colonies independent government, and at last was able to carry it, despite the opposition of the delegates representing the Middle states. This, Mr. Adams declared, cut the "Gordian knot," and in the next month Richard Henry Lee, of Virginia, moved the resolution of independence, which Mr. Adams seconded in a speech so able, unanswerable, and convincing that Jefferson declared him to be the "Colossus of that debate." This was the third conspicuous event in his career. The further consideration of Mr. Lee's resolution was postponed to the 1st of July, a committee being formed who should put into fitting language a declaration to accompany the resolution. The committee was chosen by ballot and consisted of Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston. Mr. Lee's resolution was debated July 1st and 2d; on the latter day it was adopted; then the act of Congress setting forth the Declaration of Independence, after being debated on the 2d, 3d, and 4th days of July, was passed on the 4th. On the 19th the act was ordered to be engrossed and signed by every member of the Congress. This was done August 2d by those present; afterwards by those absent or who were elected and took their seats in that year. The day after the adoption of Mr. Lee's resolution, Mr. Adams wrote to his wife: "Yesterday the greatest question was decided which ever was debated in America, and a greater never was, nor will be decided among them. A resolution was passed without one dissenting colony, that these united colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states. The day just passed, the Fourth of July, 1776, will be a memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations—from one end of the continent to the other—from this time forward, forevermore." In 1777 he was sent as commissioner to France, and returned in 1779, leaving Franklin minister plenipotentiary. He was chosen delegate to the convention charged with the duty of framing a new constitution for Massachusetts, but was unable to serve, as he was sent to Great Britain as commissioner to treat for peace. Despite some trouble with Minister Vergennes in Paris, he was able to secure concessions which bore fruit in the treaty of 1783. The fourth conspicuous event in Mr. Adams's life was the negotiation of the Dutch loan in October, 1782, Holland having formally recognized the independence of the United States in April preceding. Holland had good cause for complaint against England. Her people were stirred to indignation because of the plunder of St. Eustatius. They were predisposed, therefore, to extend sympathy and help to any country contending against England. Just at this time, moreover, came the news of Lord Cornwallis's surrender at Yorktown, Oct. 19, 1781. Mr. Adams before this had made use of every opportunity to introduce, as it were, America to Holland. He invited the liberty-loving people of the Hague to clasp hands with the liberty-loving people of America. It was done; a treaty of commerce was concluded; a loan of $2,000,000 effected, and Adams held his success to be so considerable, that he wrote with exultation: "One thing, thank God! is certain, I have planted the [p.25] American standard at the Hague. There let it wave and fly in triumph over Sir Joseph Yorke and British pride. I shall look down upon the flagstaff with pleasure from the other world." Following this event came the series of complications in Paris connected with the treaty of peace with England in 1783. Matters were so dexterously managed by Mr. Adams and Mr. Jay that Vergennes was outgeneralled and a brilliant success achieved. This triumph of diplomacy may be called the fifth distinguished event in his public life. In May, 1785, while still engaged in negotiating a treaty with Prussia, and in securing recognition commercial and otherwise, by foreign powers, he was appointed minister to the court of St. James. His stay in England was by no means agreeable to him. His brusque manners, with his undoubted skill in diplomacy, appealed to the bluff Englishman's respect for fearless sincerity in speech and conduct, but the time had not come for cordial, pacific measures—the result of the war was too recent, and British pride too sensitive. The king grew frigid, and the courtiers froze. No satisfactory solution could be agreed upon as to the surrender of western ports on or near the Great Lakes, consequent largely upon the inability of the United States to meet its pecuniary obligations to the full. It was more than hoped, it was expected, that the republican experiment would fail, that the states would fall apart like a rope of sand, and the people disheartened turn back to the "leeks and garlic" of Great Britain. Mr. Adams finding his mission abroad to some extent fruitless, and believing that some other person than himself would be more agreeable to the court, and, under existing circumstances, more efficient, asked to be re-called in 1788. His request was granted. He received the thanks of Congress for his "patriotism, perseverance, integrity and diligence."

The Biographical Cyclopaedia of American Women:
Volume I page 1

ADAMS, ABIGAIL SMITH (Mrs. John Adams), was born at Weymouth, Massachusetts, November 11, 1744, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Quincy) Smith. Her father, who was Pastor of the First (Congregational) Church, maintained his family on a small income, but in an environment of learning and quiet culture, which emphasized the fact that in Colonial New England the clergy and their families represented the gentry of the period. Her mother was a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Morton) Quincy.

However, the life of the beautiful young girl was not all devoted to lessons and household tasks. Her childhood was normal and happy, and she took part in many joyous social gatherings, especially at her grandmother Quincy's hospitable mansion. On October 25, 1764, she was married to the young lawyer, John Adams, Junior, of [p.2] Braintree (now Quincy). He was the eldest son of John Adams, a farmer, and was born October 30, 1735, in his father's house at Braintree. He died in his own house, July 4, 1826. Both these quaint old houses which stand side by side, are now (1924) in the care of the Quincy chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

On July 11, 1767, was born the son who was destined to be the Sixth President of the United States—the second from Massachusetts. In accordance with the request of Mrs. William Smith the child was named for her father and his great-grandfather, the aged John Quincy, who then was dying at his home at Mt. Wollaston. During his boyhood his mother superintended all his studies, inculcating in him lessons of a lofty, moral character. In John Quincy Adams' diary are numerous references to his mother's care and devotion—"She has been to me more than a mother. She has been a spirit from above watching over me for good, and contributing by my mere consciousness of her existence to the comfort of my life." These early years of association with and care of her family were undoubtedly among her happiest. The serene, lovely woman rose to each emergency that came in the daily domestic round as housewife, teacher of her children, or overseer, in his absence, of her husband's estate.

In the autumn of 1777 John Adams was appointed Minister to France. This further separation came as a cruel blow to his wife, and was augmented by the decision that the ten year old son should accompany his father, as his private secretary. But on her part there was no thought of dissuasion, and in loneliness, but with courage, she passed the eighteen months which followed the departure of father and son from the beach at Mount Wollaston Farm. On August 2, 1779 she welcomed the travelers home, but after only one week with his devoted wife, at their peaceful farm, John Adams was sent to draw up the Constitution of Massachusetts. Soon after this he was appointed to the Court of St. James. His errand of diplomacy was an adventure that, for success, has not a parallel in history, for he settled the questions which established the liberties of the British free colonies.

Mrs. Adams joined her husband in England, where she was the first American woman to be presented at court. Charming in her matronly beauty, she now appears in a [p.3] background wholly new. From her life of retirement in a quiet New England town she was suddenly obliged to take her position in the ceremonious environment of a large European city, and to assume the requirements of court life. She was perfectly adapted in all ways to share, indeed to augment, her husband's high position, and made for herself a reputation for charm and grace. This was true of her also, when, following their return to America, and the election of John Adams as second president of the United States, she occupied the position of "first lady of the land."

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