John Adams Sr.

British colonial farmer, minister, father of U.S. President John Adams (1691-1762)

This article is about the father and grandfather of two U.S. presidents. For the presidents, see John Adams and John Quincy Adams. For other uses, see John Adams (disambiguation).

The Reverend

John Adams Sr.

Born|

John Adams

(1691-02-08)February 8, 1691[1]

Braintree, Massachusetts Bay

Died| May 25, 1761(1761-05-25) (aged 70)

Quincy, Massachusetts Bay

Occupation(s)| Farmer and minister
Spouse| Susanna Boylston
Children| 3, including John Adams Jr.
Relatives| Adams political family

John Adams Sr. (February 8, 1691 – May 25, 1761), also known as Deacon John, was an American colonial farmer and minister. Adams was the father of the second U.S. president, John Adams Jr.,[2][3] and paternal grandfather of the sixth president, John Quincy Adams.[4] Adams worked as a farmer and cobbler (also called a cord-wainer or shoemaker) for most of his life.[3][5] Adams' descendants include many prominent persons in American history, and his home is a National Park, the Adams National Historical Park.[6]

## Family

[edit]

He was the son of Joseph Adams Jr., the grandson of Joseph Adams, and the great-grandson of Henry Adams, who emigrated from Braintree, Essex, in England to Massachusetts Bay Colony in about 1638.[7] His other ancestors include John and Priscilla Alden.[7][8] He also was a first cousin, once removed, of Samuel Adams.

## Career

[edit]

John Adams Birthplace, owned by John Adams Sr. from 1720 until his death

In 1720, Adams purchased a farm in what is now Quincy, Massachusetts (then called the "north precinct" of Braintree, Massachusetts).[9][10] The location of his farm, and where his children were born, is now part of Adams National Historical Park.[6] This saltbox house, a simple and common dwelling characterized by its sloping roof,[11] is operated by the National Park Service as the John Adams Birthplace (named after his son), and is open to the public. On December 19, 1960, the birthplace was designated a National Historic Landmark.[12][13] The future President lived here with his parents on the farm until 1764, when he married Abigail Smith. It is a few feet from the John Quincy Adams Birthplace (named after his grandson). His house lay at an angle to the road.[11]

Adams was primarily a farmer during the growing season, and also worked as a shoemaker,[3][14] for which he earned "hard money" as a trade during the winters.[5] He was a freeholder, who owned rather than rented his land.[5] He was proud of being a landowner and felt that land was a good investment,[15] only once selling land: ten acres to pay for his son John Adams' Harvard education.[16]

Adams was also a deacon in his church, a lieutenant in the Massachusetts colonial militia, a tax collector, and a selectman of the Town of Braintree (for 20 years).[17][8][18][19] He was a Congregationalist (that is, Puritan) deacon.[8] The younger John Adams wrote of the religion his father was so passionate for, "[they are] bearers of freedom, a cause that still had holy urgency."[20] The future president was first known by reputation as the "dutiful son of Deacon John".[21]

As a selectman or town councilman, for 20 years, he supervised the poor house, schools, and roads.[4][22] His wife forced him to resign as selectman after a "family row" over his taking in a destitute young female.[23] A leading local man, other men would stop by "Deacon John's house" to discuss business or religion.[24] He even received a visit from Punkapaug and Neponset Indian chiefs.[25]

Adams attended Harvard College, and sent his eldest son there as well.[26] He did not want his son to be a farmer, but rather, a minister.[27]

Although he was a simple man who "never set foot outside of New England,"[28] his son John Adams was proud of his father, praising him in private correspondence to Benjamin Rush as well as in his public obituary, which he wrote on the back of his father's will.[29] The president praised his father and paternal ancestors as "independent country gentlemen," who had not gone bankrupt, did not gamble, and had never committed fraud.[30]

## Marriage and family

[edit]

Adams married well, to Susanna Boylston, from a prominent family of scientists and medical doctors, in October 1734.[3][5] His bride came from the wealthy and respected line of Boylstons of Brookline.[5][31][32] Susanna had a "higher social standing" than him.[5] When their first son went to Harvard, his class rank was determined primarily by his mother's socio-economic status.[33] Since it is known that he and his sons read out letters to her, Susanna might have been illiterate, as were many women of her class and day.[5]

The Adams family "lived plainly."[24] Together they raised a family of three sons, of which John Adams was the oldest;[34] their other sons were Peter and Elihu.[35] Peter Boylston Adams was a farmer and militia captain of Braintree, Massachusetts. Elihu Adams was a company commander in the militia during the American Revolution, who died from dysentery early in the war in 1775.[36]

Adams bequeathed his son the "humble notions of equality and fairness."[3] He was a strict father who appears to have believed in patriarchy.[18] He raised his sons to join the militia, and would rap out reveille on his kitchen table.[8] Like many families of the day, he homeschooled his sons.[26] He later sent his son John to a private school run by Joseph Marsh.[37]

The senior John pressed upon his son to live up to his high Puritan origins, which young John continued to strive towards for the rest of his life. When his eldest son went to Harvard College, aged sixteen, his father expected him to become a minister, as the elder had done.[26][27][38] Adams was concerned that his son would become a mere farmer as he also had been, and had known how difficult a life it had been.[27][39] However, younger John became a schoolteacher in Worcester in 1756 and, later, decided to study law in the office of James Putnam.

Adams died of influenza on May 25, 1761, at the age of 70,[40] and he was buried in Braintree.[10] His widow Susanna later married John Hall.[41] His son purchased his house and 53 acres (21 ha) after his death.[42]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "John Adams' Roots: The Parents Who Shaped a President – John Adams Historical Society". John Adams Historical Society. 4 October 2023. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
2. ^ Harold I. Gullan, First fathers: the men who inspired our Presidents, pp. 1, 7 (John Wiley & Sons, 2004) ISBN 978-0-471-46597-3.
3. ^ a b c d e John Adams and John P. Diggins, The Portable John Adams, (Editor John P. Diggins), (Penguin, 2004) ISBN 978-0-14-243778-0. Found online at Google Books. Accessed February 28, 2011.
4. ^ a b Doug Wead, The raising of a president: the mothers and fathers of our nation's leaders, pp. 1, 6–7, 40–56 (Simon and Schuster, 2005). ISBN 978-0-7434-9726-8. Found online at Google Books. Accessed February 28, 2011.
5. ^ a b c d e f g McCullough, p. 30.
6. ^ a b Zachary Kent, John Adams: Creating a Nation: America's founding fathers, p. 13 (Enslow Publishers, 2004) ISBN 978-0-7660-2183-9. Found online at Google books. Accessed February 28, 2011.
7. ^ a b McCullough, pp. 29–30.
8. ^ a b c d Thomas Fleming, The Intimate Lives of the Founding Fathers, pp. 126–127. (HarperCollins, 2010) ISBN 978-0-06-113913-0. Found online at Google Books. Accessed February 28, 2011.
9. ^ Chambers Biographical Dictionary, ISBN 0-550-18022-2, page 8.
10. ^ a b McCullough, p. 29.
11. ^ a b McCullough, pp. 31-32.
12. ^ "John Adams Birthplace". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on 2008-05-02. Retrieved 2007-11-16.
13. ^ Polly M. Rettig and Charles E. Shedd Jr. (March 5, 1975) National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: John Adams birthplace, National Park Service and Accompanying 2 photos, exterior, from 1974.
14. ^ McCullough, pp. 29, 30, 414, 460.
15. ^ McCullough, p. 63.
16. ^ McCullough, p. 35.
17. ^ McCullough, pp. 30, 52, 73.
18. ^ a b Edith Gelles, Abigail and John: Portrait of a Marriage, pp. 6-8 (HarperCollins, 2010) ISBN 978-0-06-135412-0. Found online at Google books. Accessed February 28, 2011.
19. ^ McCullough, pp. 52-53, citing John Adams' obituary of his father.
20. ^ John Adams, 1st Vice President (1789–1797)". From United States Senate website. Retrieved 2007-08-01.
21. ^ McCullough, p. 36.
22. ^ McCullough, pp. 46, 52-53, 73.
23. ^ McCullough, p. 46.
24. ^ a b McCullough, p. 32.
25. ^ McCullough, p. 72.
26. ^ a b c Martin Kelly and Melissa Kelly, The Everything American Presidents Book: All You Need to Know about the Leaders Who Shaped U.S. History, p. 24. (Everything Books, 2007) ISBN 978-1-59869-258-7. Found online at Google Books. Accessed February 28, 2011.
27. ^ a b c McCullough, pp. 34, 36, 37.
28. ^ McCullough, p. 23.
29. ^ McCullough, pp. 30, 33, 52-53.
30. ^ McCullough, pp. 36, 414, 453.
31. ^ "Lycos.com website". Archived from the original on 2009-04-18. Retrieved 2010-03-19.
32. ^ "John Adams autobiography, part 1, "John Adams," through 1776, sheet 2 of 53 [electronic edition]". Adams Family Papers: An Electronic Archive. Massachusetts Historical Society. Archived from the original on 2012-07-16. Retrieved 2011-03-01.
33. ^ McCullough, p. 37.
34. ^ "John Adams Biography: The Adams Family of Braintree".
35. ^ "USA: Biography John Adams I". www.let.rug.nl. Archived from the original on 2006-07-20.
36. ^ McCullough, p. 25.
37. ^ McCullough, p. 34.
38. ^ John Adams Library website Archived 2012-05-26 at archive.today.
39. ^ David Hornfischer and Elsa Hornfischer, Father Knew Best: Wit and Wisdom from the Dads of Celebrities, p. (David and Elsa Hornfischer, 1997) ISBN 978-0-452-27772-4. Found online at Google Books. Accessed February 28, 2011.
40. ^ McCullough, pp. 52-53.
41. ^ Bud Hannings, American Revolutionary War leaders: a biographical dictionary, p. 6 (?) (McFarland, 2009) ISBN 978-0-7864-4379-6.
42. ^ McCullough, p. 64.

## Sources

[edit]

* David McCullough, John Adams (New York: Simon & Schuster 2001) ISBN 0-684-81363-7.

* v
* t
* e

John Adams

* 2nd President of the United States (1797–1801)
* 1st Vice President of the United States (1789–1797)
* U.S. Minister to the United Kingdom (1785–1788)
* U.S. Minister to the Netherlands (1782–1788)
* Delegate to the Second Continental Congress (1775–1778)
* Delegate to the First Continental Congress (1774)

Founding of the
United States|

* Braintree Instructions (1765)
* Boston Massacre defense
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* Petition to the King
* United Colonies
* Thoughts on Government (1776)
* Lee Resolution (seconded)
* Declaration of Independence
* May 15 preamble
* Committee of Five
* Model Treaty
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* Treaty of Alliance
* Board of War
* Chairman of the Marine Committee, 1775–1779
* Continental Navy
* Staten Island Peace Conference
* Conference House
* Constitution of Massachusetts (1780)
* Treaty of Paris, 1783
* Diplomacy

Elections|

* United States presidential election 1788–1789
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Presidency
(timeline)|

* Inauguration
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* United States Department of the Navy
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* United States Marine Corps
* Convention of 1800
* Mississippi Organic Act
* Alien and Sedition Acts
* Naturalization Act of 1798
* Sick and Disabled Seamen Relief Act
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* Bankruptcy Act of 1800
* Indiana Organic Act
* Slave Trade Act of 1800
* District of Columbia Organic Act of 1801
* Navy Department Library
* Treaty of Tellico
* Treaty of Tripoli
* Midnight Judges Act
* Marbury v. Madison
* State of the Union Address (1797
* 1798
* 1799
* 1800)
* Presidential transition of Thomas Jefferson
* Cabinet
* Federal judiciary appointments

Other writings|

* Massachusetts Historical Society holdings
* Adams Papers Editorial Project
* A Defence of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America
* Letters of Mrs. Adams, the Wife of John Adams
* Founders Online
* Gray v. Pitts

Life and
homes|

* Early life and education
* Adams National Historical Park
* John Adams Birthplace
* Family home and John Quincy Adams birthplace
* Peacefield
* Stone Library
* Massachusetts Hall, Harvard University
* Presidents House, Philadelphia
* Co-founder and second president, American Academy of Arts and Sciences
* United First Parish Church and gravesite

Legacy|

* Bibliography
* List of memorials
* Adams Memorial (proposed)
* John Adams Building
* John Adams Courthouse
* Jefferson Memorial pediment
* U.S. Postage stamps
* Treaty of Paris (1783 painting)
* USS Adams (1799)
* USS John Adams (1799)
* USS Adams (1874)
* USS President Adams (1941)
* USS John Adams (1963)
* Adams House at Harvard University
* John Adams tree
* Mount Adams (New Hampshire, Washington)
* Memorial to the 56 Signers of the Declaration of Independence

Popular culture|

* Declaration of Independence (1938 film)
* Profiles in Courage (1964 series)
* American Primitive (1969 play)
* 1776 (1969 musical
* 1972 film)
* The Adams Chronicles (1976 miniseries)
* Liberty! (1997 documentary series)
* Liberty's Kids (2002 animated series)
* John Adams (2001 book
* 2008 miniseries)
* John and Abigail Adams (2006 documentary film)
* Sons of Liberty (2015 miniseries)
* Franklin (2024 miniseries)

Related|

* "Adams and Liberty" campaign song
* Adams' personal library
* American Enlightenment
* Congress Hall
* Federalist Party
* Federalist Era
* First Party System
* republicanism
* American Philosophical Society
* Gazette of the United States
* The American Museum
* American Revolution
* patriots
* Founding Fathers

Adams political family|

* Abigail Adams
* wife
* Quincy political family
* Abigail Adams Smith (daughter)
* John Quincy Adams
* son
* presidency
* Charles Adams (son)
* Thomas Boylston Adams (son)
* George Washington Adams (grandson)
* Charles Francis Adams Sr. (grandson)
* John Adams II (grandson)
* John Quincy Adams II (great-grandson)
* Henry Adams (great-grandson)
* Brooks Adams (great-grandson)
* John Adams Sr. (father)
* Susanna Boylston (mother)
* Samuel Adams (second cousin)
* Louisa Adams (daughter-in-law, first lady)

* ← George Washington
* Thomas Jefferson →

* Thomas Jefferson →

* Category

* v
* t
* e

John Quincy Adams

* U.S. Representative for MA–8 (1843–1848)
* U.S. Representative for MA–12 (1833–1843)
* U.S. Representative for MA–11 (1831–1833)
* 6th President of the United States (1825–1829)
* 8th United States Secretary of State (1817–1825)
* U.S. Minister to the United Kingdom (1814–1817)
* U.S. Minister to Russia (1809–1814)
* U.S. Senator from Massachusetts (1803–1808)
* U.S. Minister to Prussia (1797–1801)
* U.S. Minister to the Netherlands (1794–1797)

Presidency|

* Inauguration
* American System
* Internal improvements
* Tariff of 1828
* First Treaty of Prairie du Chien
* Treaty of Fond du Lac
* Treaty of Limits
* United States Naval Observatory
* State of the Union Address, 1825
* 1827
* 1828
* Federal judiciary appointments

Other
events|

* Monroe Doctrine, author
* Treaty of Ghent
* Adams–Onís Treaty
* Treaty of 1818
* Tariff of 1832
* Smithsonian Institution
* United States v. The Amistad
* Mendi Bible
* President, American Academy of Arts and Sciences
* President, Columbian Institute for the Promotion of Arts and Sciences

Writings|

* Lifelong diary
* Massachusetts Historical Society holdings
* Adams Papers Editorial Project

Life and
homes|

* Early life
* Abigail Adams Cairn
* John Quincy Adams and abolitionism
* Adams National Historical Park
* Birthplace and family home
* Peacefield
* Stone Library
* United First Parish Church and gravesite

Electoral history|

* Senate
* 1803
* 1808
* Presidential runs
* 1824
* Corrupt Bargain
* 1828

Legacy|

* Bibliography
* Adams Memorial
* Adams House at Harvard University
* U.S. Postage stamps
* Monroe Doctrine Centennial half dollar
* Mount Quincy Adams
* USS President Adams (1941)
* USS John Adams (1963)
* Oyster-Adams Bilingual School

Popular
culture|

* Profiles in Courage (1957 book)
* 1965 television series)
* The Adams Chronicles (1976 miniseries)
* Mutiny on the Amistad (1987 book)
* Amistad (1997 film)
* John Adams (2001 book
* 2008 miniseries)

Adams political family
Quincy family|

* Louisa Adams (wife)
* George Washington Adams (son)
* Charles Francis Adams Sr. (son)
* John Adams II (son)
* Henry Adams (grandson)
* Brooks Adams (grandson)
* John Quincy Adams II (grandson)
* John Adams
* father
* presidency
* Abigail Adams
* mother
* First Lady
* Quincy political family
* Abigail Adams Smith (sister)
* Charles Adams (brother)
* Thomas Boylston Adams (brother)
* John Adams Sr. (grandfather)
* Susanna Boylston (grandmother)
* John Quincy (great-grandfather)

Related|

* National Republican Party
* Republicanism
* Quincy Patriot
* John Quincy Adams (Bingham)

* ← James Monroe
* Andrew Jackson →

* Category

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
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National|

* Netherlands

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