John Adams Sr.

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(1691-02-08)February 8, 1691[1]
Braintree, Massachusetts Bay
DiedMay 25, 1761(1761-05-25) (aged 70)
Quincy, Massachusetts Bay
Occupation(s)Farmer and minister
SpouseSusanna Boylston
Children
Parents
  • Joseph Adams Jr.
  • Hannah Adams
RelativesAdams political family
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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] He was the son of Joseph Adams Jr. (1654–1737), the grandson of Joseph Adams (1626–1694), and the great-grandson of Henry Adams, who emigrated from Braintree, Essex, in England to Massachusetts Bay Colony in about 1638.[5] His other ancestors include John and Priscilla Alden.[5][6] Adams worked as a farmer and cobbler (also called a cord-wainer or shoemaker) for most of his life.[3][7]

Adams' descendants include many prominent persons in American history, and his home is a National Park, the Adams National Historical Park.[8] Not only was he the father and grandfather of presidents; he also was a first cousin, once removed, of Samuel Adams. He died six years before his grandson John Quincy Adams was born. [9]

  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 Cite error: The named reference Portable was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ 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 McCullough, pp. 29–30.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ McCullough, p. 30.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ Bud Hannings, American Revolutionary War leaders: a biographical dictionary, pp. 5–6. (McFarland, 2009) ISBN 978-0-7864-4379-6.