I was engage all the morning in examining the papers left by my father and completed the lists of the
Vouchers and Securities of personal Estate— I also assorted and filed
most of the obsolete and useless papers. This led me to an attentive
reperusal, of the Wills of my Grandfather
John Adams Senior, proved 10 July 1761. with the probate
annexed, and an Inventory of the Estate— Of my Great-grandfather,
Joseph Adams junr. dated 23. July 1731—the copy of which,
without probate, and unexecuted is in the hand-writing of his Son, my
Grandfather— And of my Great-grandfather Joseph Adams Senior;—an Office Copy, attested by William Cooper Register of Probate—
This Will is dated 18. July 1694— On each of these three Wills, is an
endorsement in my fathers hand-writing, subscribed with his name, dated
Boston April 29. 1774. giving short notices of the Testators, and
marking where they lived in Braintree— Under which, upon each are the
following Lines
On the Will of Joseph Adams Senior, is another endorsement; without date
but evidently written at the same time with the others, tracing from
this Joseph Adams the descent of Samuel
Adams, then a Representative from Boston, and Clerk of the
House in the Colonial Legislature; with a high eulogy upon him as a
writer, politician and patriot— These papers awaken again an ardent
curiosity to know more of those forefathers who lived, and died in
obscure and humble life; but every one of whom from the first Settlement
of the Country, raised numerous families of children, and had something
to leave by Will— There could indeed be nothing found of them but the
short and simple annals of the Poor— Mr John Marston, Mr Phineas
Foster and his
wife, a Sister of my
brother’s wife and Ann
Harrod a daughter of one of her brother’s dined with us.
General H. A. S. Dearborn
came and passed the afternoon with me— I had received a Letter from him
this morning soliciting some appointment for Joseph Wingate, his Sister’s husband; with Letters from
both of them— I answered verbally that I should be glad to serve General
Wingate, if an opportunity should occur— My
Son John and T. B. Adams
junr went this afternoon
to Boston, and returned— The latter part of the Evening, I spent at
Mr
Quincy’s, where we were to have met Mr. Gardner
Greene and his family— His Son Benjamin having recently married
Mr Quincy’s fourth daughter, Margaret— But we arrived so late
that Mr Greene and family had already gone,
before we came.