Lt. Thomas Adams

1612 - 1688  (~ 76 years)

• Name	Thomas Adams
  Relationship	with Robert Alan Roy
  Christening	25 Mar 1612	Barton St David, Somersetshire, England   [1, 2, 4, 8, 11, 20]
  Immigration	say 1635
  He came to New England say 1635.
  Proprietor	1639	Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts   [13]
  In 1639 he was a proprietor of Cambridge, Massachusetts.
  Residence	1642	Braintree, Norfolk County, Massachusetts   [6]
  In 1642 he lived in Braintree, Massachusetts.
  Freeman	10 May 1643  [2, 12, 15]
  On 10 May 1643 he was admitted as a freeman.
  Military	1644  [2, 15]
  In 1644 he was a member of Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company.
  Residence	From 1646 to 1650	Concord, Middlesex County, Massachusetts   [1, 2]
  From 1646 to 1650 he lived in Concord, Massachusetts.
  Offices Held	say 1652	Chelmsford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts   [2, 6, 15, 19]
  He was the first town clerk of Chelmsford.
  Proprietor	19 May 1653	Chelmsford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts   [20]
  On 19 May 1653 he signed he petition to set aside the Town of Chelmsford: To the honourd John Endicot Esqr. Gouvnr: with the reste: of the honord Magistrats and deputies at the General! Courte now at Boston Assembled: humbly Sheweth: That whereas we your humble petitioners: who made bould the last Court Assembled to present a petition: to the Vew of this honoured Courte which was eccepted and Granted to Vs : for which we giue the Courte hmbl thankes and beinge jncoraged by this Courte to Vew the Land that Lyeth yet Vndisposed of and Vnimprooued on the other side Concord Riuer acordingly we haue by a Comity taken care and paynes to doe, with seuerall others: that by the prouidenc of god : are now joyned petitioners : with us : who Vpon our Vewinge the lands as abousaid doe find a tracke of land: which bordereth Vpon the Riuer Merimake: nere to paatooket, which we doe find: a Very Comfortable place to acomidate A company of gods people Vpon: that may with gods blessinge and Asistance Liue Comfortably Vpon : and doe good in or places for church and Comon wealth, which many of Vs your petitioners are throw our nesisitys for wante of acomidationes some neuer haueing any and some others: but Very Litle a Comidation soe yt we canot subsiste excepte we doo take some care to Looke out in away or god for our Comfortable Subsistance, and now we yr humble petitioners doe intreate this honoured Courte for our Comfortable Suply: would please to grante to Vs soe much land: as may be Comfortable for a plantatione: which we conceiue may there be Layed out to the quantity of six myles Square of Vpland and medow: which parcell of land: we doe intreate may be gin at merimacke Riuer at a necke of land nere to Concord riuer: and soe run Vp by Concord: riuer. South and west into the Contrie, to make Vp that sircomferenc or quantity of land as is aboue expresed: and for as much as many of yr petitioners are in greate nesesity haueinge no .setled place to abide in and we all in Generall beinge desirous to proseed as one man together to cary on that worke the lord shall call Vs t6 and this honered Courte shall in ther cristian wisdom Directe Vs in Tharefore we humbly entreate this honord" Courte to Gratifie yr humble petitioners with a speedy and expresed anser so shall you euer bind Vs to Seme you wherein you shall comand
  Moved To	1654	Chelmsford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts   [1, 2, 9, 10, 13, 16, 19, 20]
  He moved with his brother, Samuel to Chelmsford, Massachusetts in 1654..
  Miscellaneous	1655	Chelmsford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts   [20]
  There appears to be a tradition that Samuel and Thomas Adams were at the principal expense of erecting the first meeting house in Chelmsford. But the town records contain no information relative to it.
  Occupation	1656	Chelmsford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts   [2, 19, 20]
  In 1656 he and his brother, Samuel, built mills on the present site of the City of Lowell.
  Religion	11 Jun 1656	Chelmsford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts   [20]
  On 11 Jun 1656 Thomas and Mary were received into covenant in the Chelmsford Church.
  Miscellaneous	17 May 1658	Chelmsford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts   [20]
  On 17 May 1658 he was one of the signers of the partition to the General Court asking for the privilege of trading with the Indians: Chelmsford May: 17: 58 To the honered Coart Assembled at Boston the humble petistion the in habetants of the towne off Chelmsford Sheweth: that we have as god by his Providenc haveing despoased off us with our famelies into this Remoat Corner of the wildernes: whare not with Standing the improvement of all Lawfull Liberties and Advantages put into our hands wee have and doe find as the State of things now standeth Muchdificalte to: nay imposebile [ ] of procuering such nesesarie suplye as boath Church and familie ocations doe call for to the great hasard boath of uss and owrs as wee dout not but yr wisdoms are sensable off which difecalltie is much increased to uss by beeing prohibeted from tradeing with the indiens which we doe Conseive to bee our Lawfull Liberte : owr humble Requeste tharfore is that yr honers would bee pleased to take this Case into yr Consideration: and grant your petiscioners thare Lawfull Liberte which wee Conceive ought not to bee Menopolised in as much as it is no nue inuention and that the Lord would kepe boath you and yours in his feare and truth wee your petiscioners shall for ever praye wee doe further in [ ] your honer Leter to bee our townes brand or Leter of marke as Law injoyneth
  Military	1659 to 1682  [1, 20]
  His militia company elected him chief Sergeant in 1659, but he was refused the office owning to his religious views. In April 1660, he was confirmed upon his agreement not to speak of his views. In 1678, he was made an Ensign, and in 1682, a Lieutenant.
  Offices Held	1 Mar 1662/63	Chelmsford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts   [20]
  On 3 March 1663 he was chosen for a committee to lay out a road over which the Groton people passed in going to Boston: 3d 1 month 1662-3. Thomas Adams and Josiah Richardson being chosen a committee to Joyn with Groton committee to Lay out a Highway from Town to Town the work is performed by them and the way is Laid out from Beaver Brook Bridge over the North side of Robbins-hill and thence through Richard Hildreth's yard and so to the west end of Hart pond over the swamp and so to Thomas Chamberlins meadow and so on towards Groton, on the east side of Tadmuck great meadow"
  Offices Held	1667	Chelmsford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts   [2, 3, 9, 10]
  "To the honored Court assembled at Cambridge, these may inform that Capt. Samuell Adams, Thomas Adams, and Mr. John Webb, are choase Commissioners for the Court of Chelmsford for this yeare 67."
  Offices Held	1673	Chelmsford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts   [1, 2, 4, 6, 15, 19]
  In 1673 he was a Representative to the Massachusetts General Court for Chelmsford.
  Offices Held	say 1675	Chelmsford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts   [2]
  He was a Justice of the Peace.
  Offices Held	1678	Chelmsford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts   [20]
  In 1678 the Town of Chelmsford chose him "For a Comite to order the seating in metting house Capt thom hinchman, Capt Samell Adams,."
  Will	28 Mar 1688	Chelmsford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts   [1, 13, 21]
  On 28 March 1688 he made his will. To his wife Mary he gave the use of his house and orchard; his sons Pelatiah, Timothy and Samuel to provide for her. To Jonathan he gave 10 acres on the east end of his home lot, and other lands, and divided lands among the other sons, Samuel to pay £16 to his dau. Mary Cooper.
  Death	20 Jul 1688	Chelmsford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts   [1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 20]
  Inventory	11 Aug 1688	Chelmsford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts   [1, 13]
  His estate was inventoried on 11 August 1688 in Chelmsford, Massachusetts.
  Probate/Proved	7 Oct 1690	Chelmsford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts   [1]
  On 7 October 1690 his will was proved.
  Siblings	10 Siblings
  1. Lt. Henry Adams,   b. 1604, Barton St David, Somersetshire, England d. 21 Feb 1676, Medfield, Norfolk County, Massachusetts  (Age 72 years)   2. Lt. Thomas Adams,   c. 25 Mar 1612, Barton St David, Somersetshire, England d. 20 Jul 1688, Chelmsford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts  (Age ~ 76 years) ▻ Mary   3. Capt. Samuel Adams,   b. 1617, Barton St David, Somersetshire, England d. 24 Jan 1688/89, Chelmsford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts  (Age 72 years)   4. Deacon Jonathan Adams,   b. 1619, Barton St David, Somersetshire, England d. 28 Jul 1690, Medfield, Norfolk County, Massachusetts  (Age 71 years) ▻ Elizabeth Fussell;   Mary Ellice,  m. 20 Mar 1677/78   5. Ursula Adams,   c. 19 Jul 1619, Barton St David, Somersetshire, England d. 20 Feb 1679  (Age ~ 59 years) ▻ Stephen Streeter,  m. 21 Mar 1652 ;   Samuel Hosier,  m. 13 Oct 1657 ;   William Robinson;   Lt. Griffin Crafts,  m. 15 Jul 1673   6. Peter Adams,   b. 1622, Barton St David, Somersetshire, England d. 23 Oct 1690, Medfield, Norfolk County, Massachusetts  (Age 68 years) + 7. John Adams,   c. 4 Dec 1622, Kingwestern, Somersetshire, England (not found) d. 1706, Menotomy (now Arlington), Middlesex County, Massachusetts  (Age ~ 83 years) ▻ Anne   8. Joseph Adams,   c. 9 Feb 1626, Kingweston, Somersetshire, England d. 6 Dec 1694, Braintree, Norfolk County, Massachusetts  (Age ~ 68 years) + 9. Mary Adams,   b. 1628, England d. 11 Oct 1711, Mendon, Worcester County, Massachusetts  (Age 83 years) ▻ Capt. George Fairbanks,  m. 26 Oct 1646 + 10. Ensign Edward Adams,   c. 19 Apr 1629, Kingweston, Somersetshire, England d. 12 Nov 1716, Medfield, Norfolk County, Massachusetts  (Age ~ 87 years) ▻ Lydia Rockwood,  m. Mar 1652 ;   Abigail Craft,  m. 7 Oct 1678 ;   Sarah Taylor,  m. 6 Jan 1709/10   11. Christopher Adams
  Person ID	I11200
  Last Modified	17 Aug 2021

  
  

  Father	Henry Adams,   c. 21 Jan 1583, Barton St David, Somersetshire, England d. 06 Oct 1646, Braintree, Norfolk County, Massachusetts (Age ~ 63 years)
  Mother	Edith Squire,   c. 29 May 1587, Charlton, Mackrell, Somersetshire, England d. 21 Jan 1672, Medfield, Norfolk County, Massachusetts (Age ~ 84 years)
  Marriage	19 Oct 1609	Charlton, Mackrell, Somersetshire, England
  Age at Marriage	He : 26 years and 9 months - She : 22 years and 5 months.
  Family ID	F28	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Mary   d. 23 Mar 1694, Charlestown, Suffolk County, Massachusetts
  Marriage	Yes, date unknown  [2, 4, 8, 13, 15, 18, 19, 20, 21]
  		Proof that Mary is not Marie Blackmore Marriage Record of Marie Blackmore and Thomas Adams
  Children	From 1643 to 1664  [1, 2, 5, 6, 13, 14, 19]
  1. Mary Adams (1643-soon after) 2. Jonathan Adams (1646-_1712) 3. Pelatiah Adams (1646-1725) 4. Timothy Adams (1648-1708) 5. George Adams (1650-young) 6. Samuel Adams (c1652-1718) 7. Edith Adams (1655-____) 8. Rebecca Adams (1657-young) 9. Elizabeth Adams (1659-young) 10. Thomas Adams (1660-1660) 11. Mary Adams (1664-____)
  Family ID	F8448	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	16 Aug 2021

  
  

• Event Map		Christening - 25 Mar 1612 - Barton St David, Somersetshire, England Proprietor - 1639 - Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts Residence - 1642 - Braintree, Norfolk County, Massachusetts Residence - From 1646 to 1650 - Concord, Middlesex County, Massachusetts Offices Held - say 1652 - Chelmsford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts Proprietor - 19 May 1653 - Chelmsford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts Moved To - 1654 - Chelmsford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts Miscellaneous - 1655 - Chelmsford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts Occupation - 1656 - Chelmsford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts Religion - 11 Jun 1656 - Chelmsford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts Miscellaneous - 17 May 1658 - Chelmsford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts Offices Held - 1 Mar 1662/63 - Chelmsford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts Offices Held - 1667 - Chelmsford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts Offices Held - 1673 - Chelmsford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts Offices Held - say 1675 - Chelmsford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts Offices Held - 1678 - Chelmsford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts Will - 28 Mar 1688 - Chelmsford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts Death - 20 Jul 1688 - Chelmsford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts Inventory - 11 Aug 1688 - Chelmsford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts Probate/Proved - 7 Oct 1690 - Chelmsford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• Sources

  [S76] Adams, Andrew N. A Genealogical History of Henry Adams of Braintree, Mass., and his Descendants also John Adams of Cambridge, Mass., 1632-1897, (Rutland, Vermont: Tuttle Company, 1898). [S1900] Adams, John Hamilton. History of Our Branch of the Adams Family, (unknown location: John Hamilton Adams, 1886). [S75] Bruce, William Downing. Pedigree of the Adams Family, Originally Located at Braintree, Mass., (Boston: The New England Historical and Genealogical Register volume VII, 1853), Warning, much of this pedigree in incorrect. Use only for Henry Adams and his sons. [S74] Crane, Ellery Bicknell. Historic Homes and Institutions and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs of Worcester County, Massachusetts, (New York: The Lewis Publishing Co., 1907). [S1902] The Essex Institute. Vital Records of Chelmsford, Massachusetts to the end of the Year 1849, (Salem, Massachusetts: The Essex Institute, 1914). [S1571] Farmer, John. Genealogical Register of First Settlers of New England, (Lancaster, Massachusetts: Carter, Andrews, & Company, 1829). [S70] Hurst, Anthony. Email: 1994-05-03 "Adams", (National Genealogical Echo message to Tom Stevens, 3 May 1994). [S71] Johnson, Hugh Albert. Norris, Hackett, Prescott and Allied Families Our Ancestors and Their Descendants, (Annandale, Virginia: Charles Baptie Studios, 1975). [S78] Morse, Abner. Genealogical Register of the Descendants of The Early Planters of Sherborn, Holliston, and Medway, Massachusetts, (Boston: Damrell & Moore, 1855). [S81] Morse, Abner. A Genealogical Register of the Descendants of Several Ancient Puritans volume I, (Boston: Abner Morse, 1857). [S1901] Ohler, Clara May Paine. Ancestors and Descendants of David Paine and Abigail Shepard of Ludlow, Mass., 1463-1913, (Lima, Ohio: Clara May Paine Ohler, 1913). [S1685] Paige, Lucius R. "List of Freeman", (Boston: The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Volume III, 1849). [S72] Pope, Charles Henry. The Pioneers of Massachusetts , (Boston: Charles H. Pope, 1900). [S1325] Pulsifer, David. "Records of Boston", (Boston: The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, volume III, 1849). [S1026] Savage, James. A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England Showing Three Generations of Those Who Came Before May 1692 on the Basis of Farmer's Register, volume I, (Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1860). [S1899] Shattuck, Lemuel. A History of the Town of Concord, Middlesex County, Massachusetts : From its Earliest Settlement to 1832, (Boston: Russell, Odiorne, and Company, 1835). [S77] Thayer, Elisha. Family Memorial Genealogy of Fourteen Families of Early Settlers of New England , (Hingham, Massachusetts: J. Farmer, 1835). [S91] Torrey, Clarence Almon. New England Marriage Prior to 1700, (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1985). [S1670] Vinton, John Adams. The Vinton Memorial, Comprising a Genealogy of the Descendants of John Vinton of Lynn, 1648, (Boston: S. K. Whipple and Company, 1858). [S1903] Waters, Wilson. History of Chelmsford, Massachusetts, (Lowell, Massachusetts: Currier-Citizen Company, 1917). [S84] Wyman, Thomas Bellows. The Genealogies and Estates of Charlestown, Massachusetts 1629-1818 , (Boston: David Clapp & Son, 1879).