Presidents' Children: The Other Adams Children
John Adams' most famous child was his son John Quincy, who followed in his famous father's footsteps into the White House. He and his wife Abigail had five other children: their oldest daughter and oldest child Abigail (whom they called Nabby), their third child second daughter Susanna (who died at the age of two), their fourth child and second son Charles, and their fifth child and youngest son Thomas, and their sixth child, a daughter Elizabeth, who died at birth.
Some of the other children didn't measure up to the same lofty standards expected by their parents. Alcoholism was a problem both in the immediate family and in the extended Adams family as well. It robbed John Quincy's brothers of their potential, and brought misery into the life of their sister.
Abigail Adams, the oldest child, was born on July 14, 1765. When she was eighteen, she accompanied her mother on a voyage to London and it was there that she met her husband, Colonel William Stephens Smith of New York, who was serving as secretary to the U.S. Legation in London. Smith had served in the Continental Army during the Revolution and had been an aide to George Washington. The couple were married on June 12, 1786. While she loved in London, she recorded her observations of European life and customs, and of many of the distinguished statesmen of the day. These were later published.
Although he had served with distinction during the war, Colonel Smith exhibited poor judgment in business matters, especially when it came to land speculation. The couple lived in London for two years before returning to New York in 1788. Smith's poor business acumen placed their household under severe financial hardship. The couple had four children: three sons (William Steuben Smith, John Adams Smith and Thomas Hollis Smith) and a daughter (Caroline Amelia Smith).
In 1810, Nabby was diagnosed with breast cancer. On October 8, 1811 she had a mastectomy performed by Dr. John Warren, reputed to be a skilled Boston surgeon. The operation was performed without any anesthia in an upstairs room of the Adams home in Boston. Dr. Warren reported that she was very brave and stoic despite the extreme amounts of pain she endured during the surgery.
It took about seven months for Nabby to recover from the surgery. In 1812 she returned home to New York. She began feeling pain in her abdomen and spine, and experienced painful headaches. At first a local doctor in New York diagnosed the problem as rheumatism, but in 1813 new tumors began to appear. In the spring of 1813 her doctor diagnosed that her cancer had returned. She decided to return to her parents' house to die there. On August 9, 1813 "Nabby" Adams Smith died at the age of 48.
Charles Adams was born on May 29, 1770. At the age of nine he traveled with his father and older brother John Quincy to Europe on his father’s second trip to France. He studied briefly in Passy, Amsterdam, and Leyden. But he soon became homesick and in December of 1781, Charles returned home to America. He was not accompanied by any other family members on the journey home.
Charles entered Harvard College in August 1785. His years there were difficult ones for him and for his parents. He was involved with a campus disturbance, and he began to drink heavily. As his graduation from Harvard neared in 1789, John Adams arranged for Charles to study law in New York. He establish his practice under the supervision of his father, who was then serving as Vice President in the newly formed federal government. At first things went well for Charles. He passed the bar in 1792, and began a legal career that looked promising in an office in Hanover Square in New York.
Charles Adams began a courtship with his sister-in-law, Sarah (Sally) Smith, the sister of Nabby’s husband, William Stephens Smith. His parents did not approve of the marriage and reluctantly acquiesced, and twenty-five-year old Charles married Sally in New York City on August 29, 1795. He and Sally moved to 91 Front Street in November. Things seemed to be going well, and in their letters, his parents spoke approvingly of his prospects and of his choice of a wife. The couple had two daughters, Susanna Boylston and Abigail Louisa Smith Adams, born in 1796 and 1798 respectively.
Unfortunately, the troubles Charles had experienced during his college years returned. He squandered four thousand dollars his brother, John Quincy, had entrusted to him in land speculation. He dodged numerous letters from John Quincy who was serving as a diplomat in Europe at the time. In the spring of 1800, Charles and Sally moved to 30 Broad Street. His drinking worsened and his health failed as a result. Charles Adams died on November 30, 1800.
Thomas Boylston Adams was the third son of John and Abigail Adams. He was born on September 15, 1772, and was baptized in the First (Congregational) or North Precinct Church in Quincy five days later. He was named for his great-great-grandfather. As a child he impressed his parents for early talent for Latin. His aunt Elizabeth Smith Shaw wrote to Abigail on March 18, 1786, saying that Thomas showed “a love for business, and an excellent faculty in dispatching it. Indefatigable in everything that shall render him a useful member of Society, and independent of the World”. Another aunt, Mary Smith Cranch, said that Thomas had a talent for satire.
Thomas graduated from Harvard in 1790, and studied law with Jared Ingersoll in Philadelphia. He accompanied his brother John Quincy on his first diplomatic mission to Europe as secretary in 1794. The two brothers worked well together, but Thomas experienced health problems overseas, often suffering from bouts of acute rheumatism. Despite this, he liked to go ice-skating, and was very social during his brief diplomatic career. When Thomas left to return home in 1798, his brother John Quincy wrote of Thomas, “He has ever been a faithful friend, and kind companion, as well as an industrious and valuable assistant to me.” Thomas Boylston faithfully kept a record of his experiences abroad.
He returned home to Philadelphia, where he continued to practice law. In his letters, he exchanged views on the profession with his father and eldest brother. He was often very concerned about his prospects for success, complaining in his letters about the lack of patronage and the “oppressing” expense of living in Philadelphia.
From 1802 and 1803, Thomas teamed with Joseph Dennie to edit the national magazine Port Folio. He recruited his brother John Quincy as the publication's main contributor. On May 16, 1805, he married Ann (Nancy) Treat Harrod of Haverhill. They settled in Quincy, which he served in the Massachusetts legislature from 1805 to 1806. They had four sons and three daughters. Thomas also served as member of the Quincy town and school visiting committees, town treasurer, supervisor of schools, director of the Boylston Market Association, and trustee of Derby Academy in Hingham. In 1811 he was appointed chief justice of the circuit court of common pleas for the southern circuit of Massachusetts.
Although he was able to accomplish much, Thomas continued to suffer from frequent illness and had his own struggles with alcoholism. He left Quincy with his family in the spring of 1829, but he remained involved a number of family activities. From 1827 to 1830, he served as clerk, secretary, and chairman of the Adams Temple and School Fund Supervisors.
Thomas Boylston Adams died on March 13, 1832, in Quincy. He died deeply in debt.
Some of the other children didn't measure up to the same lofty standards expected by their parents. Alcoholism was a problem both in the immediate family and in the extended Adams family as well. It robbed John Quincy's brothers of their potential, and brought misery into the life of their sister.
Abigail Adams, the oldest child, was born on July 14, 1765. When she was eighteen, she accompanied her mother on a voyage to London and it was there that she met her husband, Colonel William Stephens Smith of New York, who was serving as secretary to the U.S. Legation in London. Smith had served in the Continental Army during the Revolution and had been an aide to George Washington. The couple were married on June 12, 1786. While she loved in London, she recorded her observations of European life and customs, and of many of the distinguished statesmen of the day. These were later published.
Although he had served with distinction during the war, Colonel Smith exhibited poor judgment in business matters, especially when it came to land speculation. The couple lived in London for two years before returning to New York in 1788. Smith's poor business acumen placed their household under severe financial hardship. The couple had four children: three sons (William Steuben Smith, John Adams Smith and Thomas Hollis Smith) and a daughter (Caroline Amelia Smith).
In 1810, Nabby was diagnosed with breast cancer. On October 8, 1811 she had a mastectomy performed by Dr. John Warren, reputed to be a skilled Boston surgeon. The operation was performed without any anesthia in an upstairs room of the Adams home in Boston. Dr. Warren reported that she was very brave and stoic despite the extreme amounts of pain she endured during the surgery.
It took about seven months for Nabby to recover from the surgery. In 1812 she returned home to New York. She began feeling pain in her abdomen and spine, and experienced painful headaches. At first a local doctor in New York diagnosed the problem as rheumatism, but in 1813 new tumors began to appear. In the spring of 1813 her doctor diagnosed that her cancer had returned. She decided to return to her parents' house to die there. On August 9, 1813 "Nabby" Adams Smith died at the age of 48.
Charles Adams was born on May 29, 1770. At the age of nine he traveled with his father and older brother John Quincy to Europe on his father’s second trip to France. He studied briefly in Passy, Amsterdam, and Leyden. But he soon became homesick and in December of 1781, Charles returned home to America. He was not accompanied by any other family members on the journey home.
Charles entered Harvard College in August 1785. His years there were difficult ones for him and for his parents. He was involved with a campus disturbance, and he began to drink heavily. As his graduation from Harvard neared in 1789, John Adams arranged for Charles to study law in New York. He establish his practice under the supervision of his father, who was then serving as Vice President in the newly formed federal government. At first things went well for Charles. He passed the bar in 1792, and began a legal career that looked promising in an office in Hanover Square in New York.
Charles Adams began a courtship with his sister-in-law, Sarah (Sally) Smith, the sister of Nabby’s husband, William Stephens Smith. His parents did not approve of the marriage and reluctantly acquiesced, and twenty-five-year old Charles married Sally in New York City on August 29, 1795. He and Sally moved to 91 Front Street in November. Things seemed to be going well, and in their letters, his parents spoke approvingly of his prospects and of his choice of a wife. The couple had two daughters, Susanna Boylston and Abigail Louisa Smith Adams, born in 1796 and 1798 respectively.
Unfortunately, the troubles Charles had experienced during his college years returned. He squandered four thousand dollars his brother, John Quincy, had entrusted to him in land speculation. He dodged numerous letters from John Quincy who was serving as a diplomat in Europe at the time. In the spring of 1800, Charles and Sally moved to 30 Broad Street. His drinking worsened and his health failed as a result. Charles Adams died on November 30, 1800.
Thomas Boylston Adams was the third son of John and Abigail Adams. He was born on September 15, 1772, and was baptized in the First (Congregational) or North Precinct Church in Quincy five days later. He was named for his great-great-grandfather. As a child he impressed his parents for early talent for Latin. His aunt Elizabeth Smith Shaw wrote to Abigail on March 18, 1786, saying that Thomas showed “a love for business, and an excellent faculty in dispatching it. Indefatigable in everything that shall render him a useful member of Society, and independent of the World”. Another aunt, Mary Smith Cranch, said that Thomas had a talent for satire.
Thomas graduated from Harvard in 1790, and studied law with Jared Ingersoll in Philadelphia. He accompanied his brother John Quincy on his first diplomatic mission to Europe as secretary in 1794. The two brothers worked well together, but Thomas experienced health problems overseas, often suffering from bouts of acute rheumatism. Despite this, he liked to go ice-skating, and was very social during his brief diplomatic career. When Thomas left to return home in 1798, his brother John Quincy wrote of Thomas, “He has ever been a faithful friend, and kind companion, as well as an industrious and valuable assistant to me.” Thomas Boylston faithfully kept a record of his experiences abroad.
He returned home to Philadelphia, where he continued to practice law. In his letters, he exchanged views on the profession with his father and eldest brother. He was often very concerned about his prospects for success, complaining in his letters about the lack of patronage and the “oppressing” expense of living in Philadelphia.
From 1802 and 1803, Thomas teamed with Joseph Dennie to edit the national magazine Port Folio. He recruited his brother John Quincy as the publication's main contributor. On May 16, 1805, he married Ann (Nancy) Treat Harrod of Haverhill. They settled in Quincy, which he served in the Massachusetts legislature from 1805 to 1806. They had four sons and three daughters. Thomas also served as member of the Quincy town and school visiting committees, town treasurer, supervisor of schools, director of the Boylston Market Association, and trustee of Derby Academy in Hingham. In 1811 he was appointed chief justice of the circuit court of common pleas for the southern circuit of Massachusetts.
Although he was able to accomplish much, Thomas continued to suffer from frequent illness and had his own struggles with alcoholism. He left Quincy with his family in the spring of 1829, but he remained involved a number of family activities. From 1827 to 1830, he served as clerk, secretary, and chairman of the Adams Temple and School Fund Supervisors.
Thomas Boylston Adams died on March 13, 1832, in Quincy. He died deeply in debt.