| 4. | Christopher ADAMS was born before 1630; died before 21 Sep 1687 in Kittery, York, Maine; was buried in Old Kittery Burying Ground, Kittery, Maine. Other Events:
- Occupation: Mariner of Portsmouth, sea captain, and landwoner
Notes:
Following are all items found in the source historical records which reference Christopher Adams.
"Christopher Adams, the earliest of his name to appear in New England, "mariner" of Portsmouth. In 1668 buying his Kittery homestead, which fell to Hon Mark Dennett, who wrote "by tradition from Wales."] Will 13 June1685, 21 Sept 1687, names four children, cousin Isaac Goodridge, wife Margaret. She was daughter of Mark Hunking and died 9 December 1722 leaving will. Goodridge called her "my aunt Mrs. Margaret Adams." Children Anne m 1st Joseph Couch Jr, 2nd David Hill, 3rd Nicholas Weeks. Son John 1674, shipwright. John's Will 2-15 June 1737, names wife Amy (Dennett) and 6 children. Mary married 1st Alexander Shapleigh, 2nd John Dennett. Mark Dennett d 1706-1722 s.p."
"Sheres and wife Susanna sold, 14 Nov. 1664, their one hundred acres which had been granted by the town, 3 March 1651, and moved to Cape Neddick in York, where he was living in 1680. The purchaser was Nathaniel Fryer of Portsmouth, who sold it to Christopher Adams, 1 March 1668. It was twenty-four rods in breadth by the water side and lay "between the Lands of Robert Mendum on the wester side and William Palmeron the Nother side."
"GOODRICH: Isaac Goodrich, "lately from England," bought land of William Palmer in 1685. He was nephew of Margaret (Hunking), wife of Christopher Adams. York Deeds, IV. 147. I find no mention of him after 1696. Jeremiah Goodrich lived in Kittery a short time after 1670." (This man, Isaac Goodrich, is mentioned in other family documents as a "cousin" of Christopher's.)
"A David Hill married, 25 Oct. 1710, Anne, widow of Joseph Couch and dau. of Christopher Adams. He died about March 1717, leaving children, one aged 4 years 8 months, the other 2 years. The first was Anne Hill born 31 July 1712, m. Enoch Staples 24 Sept. 1728, d. 23 April1742. The other was perhaps Elizabeth Hill, who m. John Cole 24 Oct. 1728. Cf. York Deeds IX. 92."
"Coffin says that William Palmer came to Newbury, Mass., about 1637 and removed to Piscataqua. He was born about 1613 and was living in Kittery in 1642. He sold his farm to Christopher Adams and removed to Cape Porpus in 1675."
"JOHN HODG, 1675 March 1, witnessed a deed of land in Kittery, Me., from William Palmer of Kittery to Christopher Adams. [York Deeds. ii,184.]"
"In 1675 Samuel Adams sold ho. and 40 a. at Palmer's Point to Christopher Adams and bot half of Batson's Neck at Cape Porpus and, of York 1683, sold this to Isaac Goodridge." (Isaac Goodrich said to be a cousin of Christopher Adams.)
One record notes the "enjoined marriage" of a John Crassy, to Patience Jeffrey, whom "he got with child." Mr. Crassy was noted to be a servant of Christopher Adams. Mr. Crassy was indeed forced to "make the marriage, but decamped and was deported back to England" by court order for his irresponsibility.
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THE BRAINTREE ADAMS CONNECTION:
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Items in reference to connections between Christopher Adams of Kittery,Maine, and the Henry Adams family of Braintree, Massachusetts, which werefound in the genealogical historical records are:
Early Families of Old Kittery states that Christopher Adams was one ofthe sons of Henry Adams of Braintree.
Christopher Adams signed a petition in Braintree, Massachusetts in1645 and is thought to have been a brother of Henry Adams, ancestor ofthe Presidents Adams. He was a mariner of Portsmouth at the time when hebought this place. His will made 13 June 1686 and probated 21 Sept. 1687,is recorded in Boston. The inventory included one hundred and twentyacres in his "plantation" and seventy acres bought of William Palmer andPeter Glanfield. A plot of his farm is on the town records, comprisingall between Mendum's Creek and Mast Cove, 44 by 360 rods."
From: History of the Adams Family: "CHRISTOPHER ADAMS, OF BRAINTREE,MASS: In 1645, joined in a petition with others for a plantation on the lands of Punham. He removed E. and had fine estate at Kittery, where inhis will in Suff. Reg. X 105, of 13th June, 1686, probated 21st Sep.1687, more than eight months after his death, by Gov. Andros, he namedwife Margaret and four children--John, Mark, Ann and Mary, besides cousinIsaac Goodwright, to which are given two cows."
From: Ancestral Heads of New England Families, "Christopher Adams wasat Braintree Mass 1645, removed to Kittery."
The LDS genealogy website states that the parents of Christopher Adams(born 1625) were Henry Adams and Edith Squire. Another record stated thatHenry Adams (the immigrant and founder of the line that produced the two American Presidents) was "of Welsh origin" which coincides with what wassaid of Christopher Adams by his son-in-law, Mark Dennett, following Christopher's death...that he was "of Welsh tradition."
Another record states that Christopher and his wife Margaret Hunkingwere married in Braintree, Massachusetts.
From: The First Settlers of New England, "Christopher was a petitionerwith Henry Adams Sr and Jr with Thomas and Samuel Adams for Land inMassachusetts in 1644." "The Sachems, Sacanonoco,of Pawtuxet, and Pumbom,of Shawomock (now Warwick, R. I.), having on the 22nd (4 mo) 1643,formally placed themselves and country under jurisdiction of Mass.,Nicholas Wood, with Henry Adams Sr., of Braintree, Henry Adams Jr., andThomas, Samuel, John and Christopher Adams, and above twenty others, wereinduced to petition the General Court, who October 1, 1645, granted them10,000 acres West of Narragansett Bay, to be "set out for their town",and resolved that the number of 7 actual settlers should have power toadmit or keep out whom they should think good; that the General Courtshould write letters to Benedict Arnold to compound with Pumbom at theeasiest rate he could, for his right in any improved ground; and that thepetitioners should dispose of the houses built upon said ground (by thepersecuted Gortonites), and pay to such as built them what the Courtshall hereafter appoint, adding for their encouragement, "if they shallsee cause to so do".
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HENRY ADAMS OF WALES AND BRAINTREE:
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The events involved in this early family history were well beforeenumerations (census-taking) were performed, and before there was arequirement for civil registration of marriages and births. Thehistorical and genealogical histories appear to be based on survivingcourt and land records, well as documents regarding civil appointments,and oral tradition. The information about Henry Adams, the immigrant andfounder of the Presidential line, itself is sketchy and based mostly onoral tradition, with only his surviving Last Will and Testament and avery few other court documents of the times to support it.
"From the "Descendants of Henry Adams", (born in 1472 in England and theancestor of the Henry Adams who established the Adams family in America)in the fifth generation of descent, is Henry Adams, born January 21, 1582to 1588 in Barton St. David, Somerset, England and died October 6, 1646in Braintree, Norfolk County, Massachusetts. His wife was Edith Squire,born in Charlton Mackrell, Somersetshire, England, daughter of HenrySquire. Edith had been baptized at Charlton Mackrell, Somersetshire,England. Edith came to Boston with her husband Henry and children16333. She is mentioned in Henry's will, 1647."
"Henry Adams emigrated from England to Braintree, Massachusetts in 1638.Occupation: Maltster and farmer. Buried October 8, 1646, Braintree,Norfolk, Massachusetts. Record says "8 day 8 mo 1646")."
"Henry (who emigrated) married Edith Squire in Charleton Mackrell,Somersetshire, England October 19, 1609. Henry Adams was born in BartonSt. Davids, Parish, Somersetshire, England where his family had livedfor several generations. He was a maltster and, presumably, a husbandmanlike his father and grandfather before him. The earliest record of himis in 1604 when he was executor of his father's estate and the next in1609 when he married Edith Squire. Only two other records have beenfound in which his name is mentioned: in 1609, when he was co-executor ofthe will of his brother John and an original parchment bond found in theDiocesan Registry showing that in 1614 he was living in Barton St.David. It contains the only known signature of Henry. At some timebetween 1614 and 1622 he moved to the adjacent parish of Kingweston wherehis youngest children were baptized, the last in 1629, and where heprobably lived until his emigration in 1638. Henry arrived in America onthe ship "Mary & John" with his wife, 7 sons and 1 daughter, only sonJonathan did not make the voyage; he came later. At the same time asthis Henry Adams immigrated, Henry's wife's sister, Margaret (Squire)Shepherd and her husband Thomas and their children also immigrated,joining a third Squire sister, Anne (Squire) (Purchase) Oliver, who hadimmigrated in 1633 with her then husband, Aquila Purchase."
From Savage, Vol 1, Dictionary of First Settlers of New England, "Adams,Henry, Braintree, came early to our country, and tradition says Braintreewas part, i.e. the portion for ten heads. Perhaps he wasn't first clerkof the town, after separating from Boston, though more likely it is thathis s/o the same name, Henry Adams, had that honor; and he died 8October 1646, leaving by tradition eight sons, yet only five are named inhis will, 1646, proved 8 June 1647, where appear Peter, John, Joseph,Edward, Samuel, and daughter Ursula. Of this daughter, as tradition tonotice, it may be that the number eight applied to sons, means in truthchildren, seven sons and one daughter, but names enough for the sons maybe seen, and certainly one son good, if not two, beyond the devices inthe will as Henry, Thomas, Jonathan, in some reports called William. Theinscription on the monument erected by his descendant, John Adams, secondPresident of the United States reads "Memor of Henry Adams who tookflight from the Dragon persecution, Devonshire, England, and alighted with eight sons, near Mt. Wollaston." One of the sons returned to England and, after taking some time to explore the country, four removed to Medfield, and to the neighboring towns, two to Chelmsford. One only, Joseph, who lies here at his left hand, remained, who was an original proprietor in the township of Braintree incorporated 1639."
"Henry was one of the earliest settlers of Mt. Wollaston, incorporated in 1640 as Braintree, MA and included what is now Quincy, Braintree and Randolph, MA. He received a land grant of 40 acres for 10 people at "The Mount" 24 Feb 1641 in a vote at Boston, of which Braintree was then apart. He settled on that land which became a part of Quincy in 1792. In October, 1645 thirty-two residents of Braintree petitioned the General Court regarding a grant of land and among the names were Henry Adams, Sr. and Jr., Thomas, Samuel, John and Christopher. This accounts for all the sons except Jonathan, still in England, and Joseph and Edward who were still minors."
"Henry died 6 Oct. 1646 and was buried 8 October. The Last Will andTestament was dated 1646 and was proved 8 June 1647. A copy of the will is printed in the NEHGS "Register," Vol 7, page 35. The estate inventory, dated 8 June 1647 totaled 75 pounds, 13."
The children of Henry Adams and Edith Squire mentioned in his will, are Peter, John, Ursula, Joseph, Samuel, and Edward. Those children not mentioned in his will, but names which by tradition are said to be the names of his other children, include the names Thomas, Henry, Christopher, and William. There is documentation in historical records to support all four names, despite there being only three children not listed in Henry's Last Will and Testament.
If Christopher was a s/o that family, then he would have been a great-great-grand-uncle of President John Adams, the second President ofthe United States.
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CHRISTOPHER ADAMS -- THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT:
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"Item- I give to my well beloved grand children Margaret King, MaryAdams, Sarah Adams, Mary Dennet, Sarah Dennet, John Dennet, ThomasDennet, and Eleonor Dennet, to each of them five pounds in money.
Item- I Give to my well beloved grandson Thomas Adams, his heirs andAssignees forever, all the Land that belongs to my homesteed or house lotbounded on the west by the Land which I formerly gave to my Daughter Anneon the North and South by two Creeks or Coves of Salt water and on theEast with the high way together with my Dwelling house, barns, out housesand orchards that are thereon Excepting what fruit trees I have in thesepresents given to my daughter Weeks during her natural life and after herDecease to be the Said Thomas, his heirs and assignees forever I alsogive to my Said Grandson his Heirs and assignees forever all that mypasture land called the lime kiln butted and bounded on the western sideby the land which I have in these presents given to Willm and Anne Hillon the Northern Side by the brook of water that leads to Nathll Furnaldhis Land and then by the Said Nathll Furnald his Land and into ye woodsSo far as my land is fenced including that percel of Land called MarksSwamp on the other Side it is bounded by the Land that was formerlyRobert Mendams Deced or however the Said Land is otherways butted andbounded all which Land is Scituate and being in Kittery aforeSd. The SaidThomas Adams shall be posest thereof when he Shall come to the age ofTwenty one years. I also give to the Said Thomas free Liberty to Cut andCarry of from my Land that Joyns to the above Said pasture what fire woodhe Shall need for his own burning during his Natural life if ye woodlasts so long.
Item-I give to my well beloved Son John Adams and the Male Heirs Lawfullybegotten by his body and their Heirs and Assignees for ever all theremainder of my lands Wheresoever and whatsoever not heretofore nor inthese Presents by me Disposed of with the free liberty of a way throughthe above."
Christopher married Margaret HUNKING before 1668 in Braintree, Massachusetts, or Kittery, York, Maine. Margaret (daughter of Mark HUNKING and Ann MNU) was born before 1655; died before 9 Dec 1722 in Kittery, York, Maine. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
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Old Dead Relatives
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