HENRY ADAMS (1583 - 1646) of Braintree

Ancestry of Henry Adams: Unknown.

Henry Adams was born on 21 Jan 1583 in the parish of Barton St. David, Somersetshire. [Ref] He died on 8 (8) 1646 in Braintree (now Quincy). [Ref][Ref says that he was buried on 8 (8) 1646] He married Edith Squire on 19 Oct 1609 in Charlton Mackrell, Somersetshire. [Ref] Edith was baptised on 29 May 1587 in Charlton Mackrell. [Ref] She died on 21 Jan 1672/3 in Medfield. [Ref] She married John Fussell about 1651. [Ref]

Henry was a malster and a yeoman. [Ref] He received a grant of 40 acres in Braintree in Feb 1641. [Ref]

In his 1646 will, Henry mentions his wife; his sons Peter, John, Joseph, Samuel and Edward; his daughter Ursula. Inventory on his estate amounted to about £75. [Ref] His will was proved 8 (4) 1647. [Ref]

Henry's great-great-grandson, President John Adams, erected a granite column in his memory with the following inscription:

In memory of Henry Adams who took flight from the dragon persecution in Devonshire in England, and who alighted with eight sons, near Mount Wollaston. One of the sons returned to England, and after taking time to explore the country, four removed to Medfield and the neighboring towns; two to Chelmsford. One only, Joseph, who lies here at his left hand, remained here, who was an original proprietor of the township of Braintree, incorporated in 1639. [Ref]

President John Quincy Adams disagreed with his father, believing that Henry Adams came from Braintree, co. Essex, England. [Ref]

Children of Henry Adams:

1. Lieut. Henry Adams was born in 1604. [Ref] He died on 21 Feb 1675/6 in Medfield. [Ref] He married Elizabeth Paine on 17 (8) 1643 in Braintree. [Ref gives only the year][Ref] Elizabeth was the daughter of Moses Paine. [Ref] She died on 22 Feb 1675 in Medfield. [Ref] Henry and Elizabeth had seven children. [Ref]
   Henry was killed by Indians during King Philip's War; he was shot while standing in the doorway of his house. [Ref][Ref] Elizabeth was "accidentally slaine by a bullet" the next day; while ill and staying at Rev. Wilson's house, a gun was accidentally discharged in the room below hers. [Ref][Ref]
   Henry was granted 148 acres in the East Section in Medfield in 1659. [Ref] He was the first town clerk of Braintree and of Medfield. [Ref] He was Representative to the General Court in 1659, 1665, 1674 and 1675. [Ref] He was Lieutenant of the Medfield military company. [Ref]
2. Lieut. Thomas Adams was born in 1612. He died on 20 Jul 1688. He married Mary Unknown.
3. Capt. Samuel Adams was born in 1617. He died on 24 Jan 1688/9 in Chelmsford. [Ref][Ref] He married first Rebecca, the daughter of Thomas Graves. [Ref] He married second Esther, the daughter of Nathaniel Sparhawk of Cambridge, on 7 May 1668 in Chelmsford. [Ref][Ref] She died on 4 Nov 1745. [Ref]
   Samuel moved to Concord, and then to Chelmsford in 1653/4. [Ref] He was granted 450 acres on 3 Jul 1656 and an exclusive right to build a sawmill, providing that he sell boards for 3 shillings per 100. [Ref] He received another 100 acres and the right to build a grist or corn mill. [Ref] Samuel Adams of Chelmsford was authorised to solemnise marriages there in 1664. [Ref] He was Commissioner of the Court in 1667. [Ref]
   some descendants of Capt. Samuel Adams
4. Dea. Jonathan Adams was born in 1619. [Ref] He died on 28 Jul 1690 in Medfield. [Ref] He married first Elizabeth, the daughter of John Fussell. [Ref] He married second Mary Unknown. [Ref]
   Jonathan was granted 84 acres in the West Section in Medfield in 1659. [Ref] His house in Medfield was burned by the Indians during King Philip's War in 1676. [Ref]
5. Peter Adams was born about 1622. [Ref] He died in 1690. [Ref] He married Rachel Unknown. [Ref] He settled in Medfield in 1652. [Ref] He was granted 101 acres in the East Section in Medfield in 1659. [Ref] He is on a 22 May 1650 list of freemen. He settled in Braintree. [Ref] His house was burned by Indians in 1675. [Ref]
   some descendants of Peter Adams
6. John Adams was born about 1624. [Ref] He married Anne Unknown early in 1650. [Ref]
7. Joseph Adams was born about 1626. [Ref] He died 6 Dec 1694 in Braintree. [Ref] He married Abigail Baxter on 26 (9) 1650 in Braintree. [Ref][Ref][Ref says 2 (9) 1650] Abigail, the daughter of Gregory and Margaret (Paddy) Baxter of Boston died on 27 Aug 1692 at age 58. [Ref] Joseph was the great-grandfatherof President John Adams and the great-uncle of Gov. Samuel Adams. [Ref]
   Joseph was a malster. [Ref] He was a freeman in 1653. [Ref] He was a Selectman in 1673. [Ref]
8. Ens. Edward Adams was born in 1630. [Ref] He was baptised on 19 Apr 1629 in Kingweston, Somersetshire, England. [Ref] He died on 12 Nov 1716 in Medfield. [Ref] He married first Lydia, the daughter of Richard and Agnes (Bicknell) Rockwood, in 1652. [Ref] She died on 3 Mar 1675/6 in Medfield, days after the death of their fourteenth child. [Ref] Alternatively, he married first Lydia Penniman. [Ref] Lydia was the daughter of James and Lydia (Eliot) Penniman. [Ref] She was baptised on 22 Feb 1634/5 in Boston. [Ref] Edward married second the widow Abigail (Crafts) (Ruggles) Dey of Roxbury [Ref] on 7 Dec 1678 in Dedham. [Ref] Abigail was the daughter of Lieut. Griffen Crafts. [Ref][Ref] She was born on 28 Mar 1634 in Roxbury. [Ref] She died on 19 Jan 1706/7 in Medfield. [Ref][Ref] She married first John Ruggles. [Ref] He died before 1659. [Ref] She married second Ralph Day. [Ref] He died in 1677. [Ref] Edward married third Sarah Taylor on 6 Jan 1709/10 [Ref, 1709][Ref] in Mefield. [Ref]
   Edward was granted 102 acres in the West Section in Medfield in 1659. [Ref] He was an Ensign, Selectman and Representative to the General Court from Medfield in 1689, 1692 and 1702. [Ref]
   some descendants of Edward Adams, including Leka I, King (Claimant) of Albania
9. Ursula Adams died 20 February 1679. [Ref] She married first Samuel Streeter. [Ref] She married second Samuel Hosier on 13 October 1657 in Charlestown. [Ref] He died on 29 July 1665 in Watertown. [Ref] She married third William Robinson. [Ref] She married fourth Lieut. Griffen Crafts. [Ref]

Generation 2

LIEUT. THOMAS ADAMS (1612-1688) of Concord and Chelmsford

Parents: Henry Adams and Edith Squire

Lieut. Thomas Adams was born in 1612. [Ref] He died on 20 Jul 1688, at age 76, in Chelmsford. [Ref] He married Mary Unknown in 1642 in Braintree. [Ref] Mary was born about 1613 and died on 23 Mar 1694/5 in Charlestown. [Ref]

Thomas was a freeman on 10 May 1643. [Ref] He moved to Concord by 1646, when his twin sons were born there.

The origin of Chelmsford was a 1652 petition signed by citizens of Concord and Woburn requesting the right to look at land on the other side of the Concord River. In May 1653, 29 men, including Isaac Learned, James and Joseph Parker, John Sternes, Edmund and Wiliam Chamberlain, Thomas Adams, William Fletcher, Robert Proctor and Richard Hildreth requested a grant of six square miles. [Ref]

The first problem for the new community at Chelmsford was to locate a minister. In the fall of 1654, Rev. John Fiske and his small congregation at Wenham were invited to move to Chelmsford. John Fiske wrote, "Vpon 4 of 7th, 1654 was dated a Lr. vnder the hands of Robt. Fletcher, Tho: Adams, Wm. Fletcher, Wm. Buttereck in the na of the rest, engaged in the N. plantation at Chelmsford, whrin the pastor with the rest of this church at Wenham were Invited." They accepted and on 13 Nov 1655 the church of Chelmsford was organised. [Ref]

Thomas was one of a committee of seven chosen then to "officiate in Ordering the Public affairs" for the following year at the first town meeting in Chelmsford on 22 (9) 1654. [Ref]

In 1655 Thomas Adams and Joseph Parker of Chelmsford were charged with building a bridge over the Bilerica River. [Ref]

On 11 (4) 1656, after a public fast, several church members in Chelmsford owned the covenant or professed their willingness to do so. These members included William Fletcher; Brother [Thomas] Adams; Mary, the wife of Thomas Chamberlain; Mary, the wife of Isaac Learned; Rose, the wife of Abraham Parker; Mary, the wife of Edmund Parker. [Ref]

On 2 Mar 1657/8, Thomas, James Blood and James Parker were chosen Chelmsford commissioners. [Ref] In 1660 a petition asked for Thomas Adams, Jacob Parker and Samuel Foster to be established as military officers. [Ref] On 19 (1) 1666/7 Thomas Adams, Samuel Adams and John Webb were chosen commissioners for Chelmsford. [Ref] In 1668 Capt. Samuel Adams, Sgt. Thomas Adams and Sgt. William Fletcher, commoners of Chelmsford, were appointed commissioners to end small causes. [Ref] On 20 Jan 1671 Thomas was appointed a co-negotiator of the Chelmsford highway. [Ref]

On 27 (2) 1656, Thomas and his wife were among the first join the Chelmsford church. [Ref]

Thomas was chosent Sargent of the militia company in 1659, but the company refused to confirm him because of his religious views. [Ref] He was confirmed in Apr 1660 upon agreeing not to disseminate his contrary views. [Ref]

On 3 (1) 1662-3, Thomas Adams and Josiah Richardson were chosen to join with a Groton committee to lay out a road between the two towns. [Ref] In 1678 the town chose “For a Comite to order the seating in metting house Capt thom hinchman, Capt Samell Adams, en[sign] Thom Adams william vnderwod, Josiah Richardson” [Ref]

Thomas was chosen Ensign in 1678 and in 1682 he was chosen Lieutenant of the company of which his brother Samuel was Captain. [Ref]

Thomas's will is dated 28 Mar 1688; it was proved on 7 Oct 1690 and inventory was taken on 11 Aug 1688. He left his widow Mary the use of his house and orchard and asked his sons Pelatiah, Timothy and Samuel to provide for her. He gave his son Jonathan 16 acres on the east end of his home lot and divided the rest of his land among his sons. He asked his son Samuel to pay his daughter Mary Cooper £16. [Ref]

Children of Thomas Adams and Mary Unknown.

1. Mary Adams was born on 24 Jul 1643 in Braintree. [Ref][Ref does not give the location] She was baptised on 1 (12) 1656 in Chelmsford. [Ref] The Braintree records say that she died soon after her birth. [Ref]
2. Jonathan Adams (twin) was born on 6 Mar 1646 in Concord. [Ref][Ref] He was baptised on 1 (12) 1656 in Chelmsford. [Ref] He died on 25 Nov 1712 in Chelmsford. [Ref] He married Leah Gould on 29 Aug 1681 in Chelmsford. [Ref] Leah, the daughter of Francis and Rose Gould of Chelmsford, died in 1718. [Ref]
   Jonathan was a farmer in or near Littleton. [Ref]
3. Pelatiah Adams (twin) was born on 6 Mar 1646 in Concord. He was baptised on 1 (12) 1656 in Chelmsford. He married Ruth Unknown.
4. Timothy Adams was born on 2 Apr 1648 in Concord. [Ref][Ref] He was baptised on 1 (12) 1656 in Chelmsford. [Ref] He died on 1 Jul 1708 in Chelmsford. [Ref] He married Mary Unknown. [Ref]
   He was in the Chelmsford garrison on 16 Mar 1691/2. [Ref]
5. George Adams was born on 29 May 1650 in Concord. [Ref][Ref] He was living in Chelmsford in 1692. [Ref]
6. Samuel Adams was born in Concord. [Ref][Ref] He was baptised on 1 (12) 1656 in Chelmsford. [Ref] He died on 20 Mar 1718 in Canterbury. [Ref] He married Mary Unknown. [Ref] She died on 28 Mar 1718 in Canterbury, Windham, CT. [Ref]
   Samuel was a millwright. [Ref] He moved to Charlestown and then to Canterbury. [Ref] He was one of the first Selectman of Canterbury, chosen on 31 May 1699. [Ref] He signed his will on 7 Aug 1727; it was proved on 4 Dec 1727 in Plainfield, Windham, CT. [Ref]
   some descendants of Samuel Adams
   
7. Edith Adams was born on 21 Feb 1655 in Chelmsford. [Ref] She probably died unmarried. [Ref]
8. Rebecca Adams was born on 18 Sep 1657 in Chelmsford. [Ref] She died young. [Ref]
9. Elizabeth Adams was born on 21 Oct 1659 in Chelmsford. [Ref] She died young. [Ref]
10. Thomas Adams was on 22 Jul 1660 in Chelmsford. [Ref] He died on 30 Nov 1660. [Ref]
11. Mary Adams was born on 29 Oct 1664 in Chelmsford. [Ref] She was baptised on 1 (12) 1656 in Chelmsford. [Ref] She married Unknown Cooper.

Generation 3

PELATIAH ADAMS (1646-1725) of Chelmsford

Parents: Lieut. Thomas Adams and Mary Unknown

Pelatiah Adams was born on 6 Mar 1646 in Concord. [Ref][Ref] He was baptised on 1 (12) 1656 in Chelmsford. [Ref] He died there on 29 Apr 1725. [Ref] He married Ruth Unknown, sometimes said to be Ruth Parker. Ruth died on 18 Sep 1719 in Chelmsford. [Ref]

Pelatiah was in the Chelmsford garrison on 16 Mar 1691/2. [Ref]

Pelatiah's father Thomas received land from Chelmsford and in 1683 he conveyed the land to Pelatiah. In 1702 Pelatiah deeded the land and a house to his sons Thomas and Pelatiah. The house, called the Old Chelmsford Garrison house, still stands and is now owned by the Garrison House Association in Chelmsford.

Children of Pelatiah Adams and Ruth Unknown:

1. Thomas Adams was born in Chelmsford. [Ref] He probably died unmarried. [Ref]
   On 16 Apr 1702 Pelatiah and Ruth Adams deeded land to their sons Thomas and Pelatiah, Jr. [Ref]
2. Ruth Adams was born on 8 Mar 1673 in Chelmsford. [Ref] She married, as his second wife, Thomas Blanchard on 4 Oct 1698 in Dunstable. [Ref][Ref] Thomas was the son of John Blanchard and Hannah Brackett. [Ref] Adams [Ref] asserts that Thomas's first wife was an older sister of Ruth named Tabitha. But this appears to be incorrect; his first wife was instead Tabitha Leppingwell. [Ref]
   Thomas and Ruth lived in Dunstable, now Nashua, NH. [Ref]
3. Elizabeth Adams was born on 26 Apr 1680 in Chelmsford. She died on 30 Apr 1759. She married Dea. John Cummings.
4. Pelatiah Adams was born on 17 Nov 1682 in Chelmsford. [Ref] He died on 15 Jul 1746 in Chelmsford. [Ref] He married Lydia Fletcher on 8 Jun 1711 in Charlestown. [Ref, recorded at Chelmsford] She may be the daughter of William and Sarah Fletcher and granddaughter of William Fletcher.
   some descendants of Pelatiah Adams
5. Samuel Adams was born on 28 Mar 1685 in Chelmsford. [Ref] He died there on 29 Jun 1689. [Ref]
6. Edith Adams was born on 25 June 1688 in Chelmsford. [Ref] She died before 7 Dec 1724, when her husband remarried. [Ref, p. 99] She is married James Bradford. [Ref, p. 16]
   Edith owned the covenant at the Canterbury church on 12 Jul 1714. [Ref, p. 102] She was admitted as a member on 4 Dec 1715. [Ref, p. 16]
   
7. Sarah Adams was born on 12 Jul 1691. She died on 24 Apr 1761. She married Capt. Joseph Fletcher.
8. Abigail Adams was born on 7 Jun 1697 in Chelmsford. She married Aaron Parker.

Generation 4

ELIZABETH ADAMS (1680 - 1759)

Parents: Pelatiah Adams and Ruth Unknown

Elizabeth Adams was born on 26 Apr 1680 in Chelmsford. [Ref][Ref] She died on 30 Apr 1759. [Ref][Ref] She married Dea. John Cummings on 3 Oct 1705 in Charlestown. [Ref, recorded at Chelmsford][Ref]

SARAH ADAMS (1691 - 1761)

Parents: Pelatiah Adams and Ruth Unknown

Sarah Adams was born on 12 Jul 1691 in Chelmsford. [Ref][Ref] She died on 24 Apr 1761 [Ref][Ref] in Westford. [Ref] She is buried in the Fairview Cemetery in Westford. [Ref] She married Capt. Joseph Fletcher on 8 Jun 1711 in Charlestown. [Ref recorded at Chelmsford][Ref][Ref says 17 Nov 1712 in Concord]

ABIGAIL ADAMS (b. 1697)

Parents: Pelatiah Adams and Ruth Unknown

Abigail Adams was born on 7 Jun 1697 in Chelmsford. [Ref][Ref] She married Aaron Parker in 1712. [Ref][Ref says "probably"]

MARY ADAMS (d. 1754)

Parents: Mary is probably a member of this Adams family. She might be a daugher of Samuel, the son of Thomas.

Mary Adams died on 20 Sep 1754 in Canterbury. [Ref] She married Edward Spaulding. [Ref]

References

Court Records

Index to the Court Files of Middlesex County, MA, New England Historic and Genealogical Society.

Encyclopedias

Anderson, Robert Charles. The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England, 1620-1633, Vol. 1-3, Boston, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1995. Entry for Griffen Crafts.

Savage, James, A Genealogical Dictionary of The First Settlers of New England, Before 1692, Genealogical Publishing Co.. Baltimore, 1990.

Family Genealogies

Bruce, William Downing, "Pedigree of the Adams Family, Originally Located at Braintree, Mass." New England Historical and Genealogical Register 7, 1853, p. 39.

Coffin, Joshua, "Descendants of Robert Adams," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 11, 1857, p. 53.

Hall, Ruth Gardiner, Descendants of Governor William Bradford (through the first seven generations), United States, unknown, 1951.

Hartman, J. Crawford, "Joseph Blanchard of Boston, Mass., and some of his Descendants," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 93, 1939, 162-170.

Leavitt, Emily Wilder, "Rev. William Adams of Madison Square Church, New York City, with his Adams and Bradford lines of descent," New England Genealogical and Historical Register 48, 1894, p. 191.

Proctor, Mr. and Mrs. William Lawrence, Genealogy of Descendants of Robert Proctor of Concord and Chelmsford, Mass., Republican & Journal Print, Ogdensburg, NY, 1898.

Ullman, Helen Schatvet, "Notes on a Line from Henry Adams," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 153, 1999, 213-219.

Local Histories

Waters, Wilson, History of Chelmsford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Courier-Citizen co., Lowell, MA, 1917.

Memoirs

Ackerman, Arthur Wilmot, "Mrs. Laura (Fletcher) Hodges," Memoirs section, New England Historical and Genealogical Register 79, 1925, 319-320.

Personal Records

Dumas, David W., "Bacon - Adams - Whitney - Kingsbury Family Record," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 138, 1984, 32-38.

Public Records

Bates, Samuel, A., "Braintree Records," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 36, 1882, 46-51.

Donovan, Francis D., "Early Medway Settlers and Land Records," Medway Public Library Website: History Section, c. 1996.

Editors, "List of Names Found Among the First Settlers of New England," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 1, 1847, 137.

Paige, Lucius, R., "List of Freemen, " New England Historical and Genealogical Register, 3, 1849, 192.

Vital Records

Massachusetts Vital Records to 1850. Online Database: NewEnglandAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2007.

Pulsifer, David, trans., "Records of Boston," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 9, 155, 167; 12, 1858, 349.

Wills

Trask, William, "Abstracts of the Wills of the Early Settlers of New England," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 7, 1853, 35