Samuel Adams I (1689 - 1748)

Born 6 May 1689 in Braintree, Norfolk, Massachusetts

Ancestors

Husband of Mary (Fifield) Adams — married 21 Apr 1713 in Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts

Descendants

Died 8 Mar 1748 at age 58 in Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Al Adams [send private message]

Biography

Samuel Adams I was born on 6 May 1689 in Braintree, Massachusetts to John Adams and Hannah Webb. He married Mary Fifield on 21 Apr 1713 in Boston. Children: Aaron, Richard, Mary, Hannah, Samuel II (Signer of Dec of Indep and cousin to Pres. John Adams), John, John, Thomas, Sarah, Abigail, Mehitable. He died on 8 Mar 1747 in Boston.

"The Adams family was well respected in the Massachusetts Colony and was among the first settlers in New England. Samuel Adams Sr. was born May 16, 1689 in Boston and Mary Fifield, was born May 7, 1694 in the same city. They married in 1713 and had twelve children.

Mary Adams came from a respected Massachusetts family and was a devout and pious woman who passed her Puritan believes on to her children. She dressed modestly and stressed religious values and virtue on everyday life.

Samuel Adams Sr., was as deacon of the Old South Church in Boston, ran a brewery and occupied a political post in the colony’s governing body. Samuel Sr. was a leader by nature. He became involved in politics through the Boston Caucus which is an organization that promoted candidates who supported popular causes and nominated them for offices. Later on he became a justice of the peace and a Boston representative to the Massachusetts House of Representatives. He was one of the founders of the Country Party and had frequent meetings at his house. This exposed his son Samuel to politics and politicians since childhood.

In 1740 Samuel Adams Sr. and other investors attempted to establish a Land Bank in Massachusetts. They would lend money backed by land to foster investment and economic development in the colony. The Land Bank was popular and supported by the citizens as it would bring stability to the volatile currency. However, the British Parliament was opposed; they wanted the colony to remain economically dependent on the Kingdom and ruled the bank illegal in 1741. Those involved in the business became liable for the loans bringing the Adam’s family close to financial ruin. This situation affected Samuel profoundly; maybe it was the cause of his hostility and opposition to British law in the colony. It was a turning point in his life. He was forced to work while in university to support himself and his resistance to British rule became stronger, therefore his involvement in politics. Samuel Adams Sr. built the ground for future generations of successful Adams that would shape politics in America."

Sources

• Boston Births 1700-1800

• Porter, Joseph W. "An Account of Part of the Family of Abraham Perkins of Hampton, NH, who Lived in Plymouth Co., MA," published in the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Boston, MA: NEHGS. (Online database: American Ancestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2018). Jan 1896, Vol. 50, page 35.

• American Genealogical Biographical Index

• Massachusetts Marriages 1633-1850

• Andrew N Adams, "A Genealogical History of Henry Adams of Braintree and his descendants"

• W. V. Wells, "Life and Public Services of Samuel Adams" (3 vols., Boston, 1865), and by J. K. Hosmer, "Samuel Adams" (Boston, 1885).

• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/154241538/samuel-adams: accessed 03 August 2023), memorial page for Samuel Adams I (6 May 1689–8 Mar 1748), Find a Grave Memorial ID 154241538, citing Granary Burying Ground, Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, USA; Maintained by Mary Elmore (contributor 48085129).

Acknowledgements

• Entered by Al Adams, September 24, 2013