John and Abigail Adams | Letters

John Adams

- Born at Quincy, then part of the ancient town of Braintree, on the 19th day of October, old style, 1735.

- He was a descendant of the Puritans, his ancestors having early emigrated from England, and settled in Massachusetts

- Graduates Harvard in 1755

- Trains to become a lawyer at Worcester

- Turns to politics there in Worcester; said whole town was immersed in it

- In 1755, he writes a letter from Worcester: "Soon after the reformation, a few people came over into this new world for conscience sake: perhaps this apparently trivial incident may transfer the great seat of empire into America. It looks likely

to me; for, if we can remove the turbulent Gallicks, our people…will in another century become more numerous than England itself. Should this be the case, since we have, I may say, all the naval shores of the nation in our hands, it will be easy to obtain a mastery of the seas; and the united force of all Europe will not be able to subdue us. The only way to keep us from setting up for ourselves is to disunite us.”

- Admitted to bar in 1758 and began practicing in Braintree

- In 1765, he writes in defense of religious liberty and against civil and political slavery – said truth, liberty, and justice are universal principles that underlie British law

- In 1766, Mr. Adams removed his residence to Boston, still continuing his attendance on the neighboring circuits as a judge, and was often called to remote parts of the province (such as Maine)

- 1770: The Boston Massacre: defends British

- Also 1770, elected State Rep. – first real commitment to politics

- 1771 – moves back to Braintree after suffering some sort of physical breakdown

- Develops reputation as a great public speaker – clients like John Hancock

- Moves back to Boston in 1773 – exuberant over Boston Tea Party and flabbergasted at closing of port of Boston in 1774

- 1774: member of CC from MA (one of five) and Abagail and family go to Braintree, where they remain

- Prior to that period he had, upon all occasions, stood forth openly in defense of the rights of his country, and in opposition to the injustice and encroachments of Great Britain.

- 1774: wondered whether Br. Gov’t would accept reconciliation (with Patrick Henry), but others thought the Brits would reconcile (Richard Henry Lee – June 10, 1776)

- 1775: nominates Washington for c-in-chief of Am. Armies

- 1776: speaks in defense of D of I

Abigail Adams

- born 1744 in Weymouth, MA

- From old NE family

- Abigail often went with her mother to visit the sick and to take food, clothing, and fuel to needy families. She learned that it was the duty of the fortunate to help those who were less fortunate--a lesson she remembered all of her life.

- One of most well-read women of her day (self-educated)

- Reading created a bond between "Abby" and young John Adams, a Harvard graduate launched on a career in law.

- She was a lovely young lady, but rather frail.

- They read and talked together.

- Then one evening in the middle of a thunderstorm, John proposed and she accepted.

- They were married in 1764. Abigail was 19.

- In 10 years she bore 3 sons and 2 daughters. 4 of them were named Abigail, John Quincy, Charles, and Thomas.

- She looked after their family and home when John went traveling as a circuit judge.

- Supports the American cause