The political and intellectual contributions of in his community, in politics, and the Adams family to the Nation remain as yet in the affairs of Harvard College. Next was a unmatched by those of any other family. Presi­ second Charles Francis, who made his mark as dent John F. Kennedy said in 1961 that the suc­ an officer in the Union Army during the Civil s cessive Adamses' "vitality" and "devotion to War, as a railroad reformer and administrator, i the public interest" run like a "scarlet thread and as a biographer and historian. The third, | throughout the entire tapestry" of American his­ Henry, wrote three of the undisputed classics in £ C3 tory, and the record of their achievements "in­ American literature. The writings of Brooks, the timidates us all." Mr. Kennedy was simply ex­ youngest of the brothers, blended economic pressing in his own apt words what many have theory, world history, and philosophical tried to say before, and what many, many more speculation. have felt. A good claim can thus be made that the house We owe our knowledge of this remarkable rec­ continuously occupied by four generations of ord to the care and foresight of the Adamses Adamses from 1788 to 1927 is the most historic themselves, who were well aware of the hand house in the . Unlike Mount Vernon of history on their shoulders. "Whatever you or Monticello, it never passed out of family write, preserve," instructed two hands and its furnishings have not had to be grandsons who were sailing in 1815 to join their sought out or replaced. To be sure, the building father, Adams, the new American itself has been greatly altered and added to minister to . The advice could have over the decades, but in large part just to ac­ served as a family motto. Toward the end of the commodate the family's acquisitions during 19th century a visitor reported, after surveying their missions and travels to all parts of the the crowded shelves of Adams archives running world. And so, again unlike Washington's and around three sides of the family library, that he Jefferson's homes, neither the architecture nor had seen "the manuscript history of America in the contents of the house represent any single the diaries and correspondence of two Presi­ period of time. But by the same token the house dents and of that Minister to England [Charles tells more history. Its mixture of styles and its Francis Adams] who spoke the decisive word agreeable clutter of furniture, china, rugs, pic­ which saved England and America from a third tures, books, kitchen equipment, and memora­ war." bilia, acquired at different times in many places, show the evolution of taste and manners over After the Civil War, New England became simply nearly a century and a half as nothing else one corner of the United States, and the elec­ could do. Adams National Historic Site may be torate and the family agreed—somewhat reluc­ compared to an archeologist's "dig," with all tantly on both sides, perhaps—that Adamses the strata of successive cultures laid bare to were not to return to national office. But the enable the student to reconstruct the domestic family was by no means through with either life of one of the few dynastic families America making history or writing it. The four sons of has produced. For those who are attentive, it is President Abraham Lincoln's minister to Eng­ a speaking witness to the Adamses' aspirations land constituted a galaxy of talent astonishing and achievements, and, of course, to their frus­ in its range and influence. The eldest was a trations and failures, too. as they moved with or second John Quincy, for many years a leader against the tides of history. National Park Service National Historic Site, Massachusetts U.S. Department of the Interior "I long for rural and About Your Visit This did not preclude little tiffs and teasings, as signing of the treaty with Great Britain in 1783, Adams National Historic Site Rapid Transit, take the Red . . waking or sleeping I am ever with you' domestic scenes, for the is on the corner of Adams Line from to Quincy Abigail to John Adams, 1782 under the terms of which, as he characteristi­ when Abigail thought her husband neglected warbling of birds and Street and Newport Avenue, Center. The site is open daily cally said, his children would have, if nothing writing her and threatened to "foment" a female prattle of my children-" Quincy, Mass., about 8 miles from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., April For more than a century the Adams family in insurrection if the new American government more, "their liberty and the right to catch fish south of Boston. By automo­ 19 to November 10. on the Banks of Newfoundland." bile the site can be reached America, beginning with the immi­ did not provide equal rights for women. Or via Exit 24 (Furnace Brook grant (ca 1583-1646), who "took his flight from when John Adams, absent in , dampened Parkway) of the Southeast the Dragon persecution" in Somerset, Eng­ his wife's enthusiasm about a suitor for their It was who maintained the ties Expressway (Mass. 93) or via land, and "alighted with eight sons, near Mount daughter's hand by saying that he did not like of the family by sending news to the children Hancock Street to Newport Wollaston," lived out their lives with respect­ "this method of courting mothers." But essen­ and the increasing number of grandchildren, Avenue. To reach the site via ability but below the level of historical scrutiny tially they thought alike on domestic, national, and extracting news in return. Her death in 1818 on the South Shore of Massachusetts Bay. and international issues, even when separated stirred the Rev. William Bentley to recall in his Deacon John Adams (1691-1761) did make by many leagues of land or a whole ocean. Mrs. diary his last sight of her. As he had ridden by something of a mark for himself as an officer Adams willingly shouldered the tasks of tending the Adams home in Quincy, Mrs. Adams was in of the town, the parish, and the county militia; the family and farm while John Adams repre­ her garden "shelling beans for a family dinner but no one could have foretold that the eldest sented Massachusetts in the Continental Con­ to which without any ceremony or apology she of his three sons would become the second gress and the United States in Europe. He con­ invited me." She possessed, Bentley went on, President of the United States, or for that matter sidered her at least as good a "farmeress" as a good knowledge of the "history of our country that there would be a United States to become he was a statesman, and it is probable that the [and] of our public men and measures," which president of. This eldest son, also named John, family stayed solvent largely through her re­ "she was free to disclose but not eager to de­ was sent, a little against his will, to Harvard sourceful management during trying times. She fend in public circles. . . . Mr. Adams always College (class of 1755) and chose the law as continued these responsibilities during his vice- appeared in full confidence, but that of an equal his profession. He had a quenchless curiosity presidency and presidency, freeing him for what and friend who had lived himself into one with about the world, the people in it, and its history he considered his chief accomplishment as the wife of his bosom." and political institutions. He also had a desire president—ending the Quasi-War with France to be heard on these subjects and a peculiarly in 1800. This courageous move lost him the John Adams made his last official appearance pungent and forceful literary style. These traits support of the and his re-elec­ in 1820 at the convention to amend the State and gifts brought him quickly to the fore as the tion to the presidency, but it brought peace to Constitution he had written 40 years earlier. He contest between Great Britain and her colonies the country and confirmed the earliest name he proposed an amendment extending the equal on the North American mainland developed in gave his home in Quincy—"." protection of the laws to "all men of all reli­ the mid-1760's. gions." But this was premature and failed of The Adamses' years of retirement at "Peace- adoption. On the Fourth of July, 1826, just 50 Meanwhile, he had met a parson's daughter field" were comparatively serene. John Adams' years to the day after he had voted for the Dec­ from neighboring Weymouth whose qualities of bruised feelings were healed by time, the in­ laration of Independence, John Adams died in character and abilities complemented and creasing promise of John Quincy's public ca­ the upstairs study of the Old House while his equaled his own. Abigail Smith descended from reer, the company of his books, and his never- fellow townsmen celebrated the anniversary a families which had long been members of the ending correspondence, much of it devoted to few hundred yards away. In his last words he religious, political, landholding, and mercantile reminiscences of his earlier life. In long letters spoke of Jefferson, who had been his colleague, "establishment" of the Bay Colony. But she her­ and autobiographical sketches, he fought the then his rival and opponent, and, before the self was altogether an individual, like the young Revolution over again, recalling his successful end, the warmest of friends. Unknown to Adams, Administration Adams Mansion was consisting of 3.68 acres on lawyer she married in 1764. No one can take up defense of the British soldiers in the Boston however, Jefferson had died at Monticello just "All my desire and ambition is to be a few hours earlier. As the news spread north, designated a national historic the west boundary, was pur­ a letter that either one of them wrote—and they "massacre" trials of 1770; his impatience with esteemed and loved by my partner, to site on December 9, 1946, chased and added to the equivocal colleagues when the choice between south, and west from Virginia and Massachu­ made possible by the gift of original donated property. wrote many hundreds to each other—and not join with him in the education and instruc­ recognize the independent mind as well as the independence or continued subjection to Great setts, this conjunction of events took on for the property to the Federal The Beale House is occupied tion of our little ones, to sit under our own Americans an almost mystical significance. Government by the Adams and is not open to the public. distinctive style infusing it. It is a cheering para­ Britain was squarely before the Continental Memorial Society. On Novem­ dox that the record shows how heavily depen­ Congress; his drafting of the Constitution of vines in peace, liberty, and safety." Surely, they said, the deaths of the two patri­ ber 26, 1952, the name was The site is administered by dent each of them was on the other over their Massachusetts; his tussles with known foes and archs on the great anniversary day were not changed to Adams National the National Park Service, 54 years of married life, and how, at the same supposed friends in European courts; his lonely something to mourn but, rather, a manifestation Historic Site. It contains U.S. Department of the of divine favor to Adams and Jefferson and the 4.77 acres and includes the Interior. A superintendent, time, their partnership existed and flourished but eventually triumphant campaign in the house, library, garden, and whose address is 135 Adams on the basis of almost perfect equality. Netherlands to win recognition and desperately Nation they had helped bring forth. stables. On December 8, 1972, Street, P.O. Box 531, Quincy, needed loans for the United States; and the the adjoining Beale property, MA 02269, is in charge. Abigail Adams From a painting variously attributed to John Adams From the painting by Mather Brown, 1788 Mather Brown and Ralph Earl, t 785 Boston Atheneum New York State Historical Association, Cooperstown "It is but the farm of a patriot" except occasionally during the next 12 years. To this tranquil and commodious homestead in mense distinction for a full 8 years. But his second-story passageway at the back of the John Adams, 1788 So it fell to Abigail, as so often before, to man­ Quincy the Adamses returned in 1801 after John single term as a "minority" president was house, but for years on end he left the constant age the farm and supply the deficiencies of the Adams' defeat for a second presidential term. wrecked by a coalition of powerful adversaries, and demanding tasks of upkeep to his son "The Old House"—that is what the Adamses be­ homestead. This she did with vigor, proceeding The Old House had by now entered fully into its and when he returned from Washington in 1829, Charles Francis. Charles often gloomily thought gan to call it early in the 19th century, and still first to make the most necessary repairs in the role as permanent family headquarters and the his father and mother were dead, the house the burden and expense so great that it would call it. This was natural, because it was already house and then enlarging the "farm building" point of incessant departures and returns. Later and farm were in a state close to ruin, and the be better to demolish the house and build anew. an old house when John and Abigail moved in the rear to accommodate, among other in 1801 came home from ex-president concluded that he must content Just as often, he drew back from such desecra­ into it in 1788. It had been built as a country things, her husband's library, which he had Berlin after his round of diplomatic assignments. himself with "the slender portion of [his coun­ tion, and in the end, thanks to both his marrying villa soon after 1730 by Leonard Vassall, a greatly enlarged while living abroad. Her chief His wife, the former Louisa Catherine Johnson, trymen's] regard which may be yielded to well and his businesslike habits, he converted sugar-planter from Jamaica, who also had a contribution, carried out in the closing years British-born, partly reared in France, and ac­ barren good intentions, and aspirations beyond John Adams' working farm into a Victorian house in Boston. Vassall's daughter Anna in­ of John Adams' presidency, was virtually doub­ customed to court life, found the climate and the temper of the age." This did not prove alto­ country gentleman's seat. He tore down unsight­ herited the house and married John Borland; ling the capacity of the house by constructing ways of rural New England bleak; but not many gether true. By returning to the national House ly outbuildings, greatly extended and improved but Borland sided with the crown, Anna left the the spacious east wing, with a new entry, wide years were to pass before she set off again, this of Representatives for a whole "second career" the kitchen facilities, and, hiring the best archi­ country, and the property fell into dubious legal hallway, and the Long Room on the ground time to accompany her husband as the first in 1831, Adams became a hero, almost a folk tects that Boston afforded, built the Stone Li­ status and physical neglect during the Revolu­ floor, a similar arrangement above it, bedrooms American minister accredited to the Court of figure, in his old age because of his bulldog brary on the edge of the garden and the tionary War. At the end of the war, Anna Bor­ on the third floor, and extensive alterations in St. Petersburg in Russia. Then it was on to Lon­ tenacity and eventual success in defending the carriage-house complex backing up on the rail­ road and new street (present Newport Avenue) land, whose husband was now dead, managed the western or kitchen ell. Much of this was don after he had signed the constitutional right of the people—men and that had cut through the eastern boundary of to recover the estate and sold it to her son, done without her husband's knowledge, some that ended the War of 1812, our "second war women, blacks and whites—to petition Con­ of it in fact to surprise him, for, as she confided the homestead property. All this was done in Leonard Vassall Borland, from whom John of independence." gress on any matter whatsoever, including slav­ to one of her accomplices, "the sound of the ery and the slave trade. the intervals of his own public career as a mem­ Adams bought it in 1787 while he was still at hammer and the clutter &c. will not be half as ber of Congress (1859-61), minister to England his diplomatic post in London. In 1817 the older and younger generations were acceptable as stone wall and sea weed to the (1861-68), and member of the Arbitra­ briefly reunited in Quincy, when John Quincy John Quincy Adams loved the Old House as the President"—that is, such farm improvements as tion Tribunal to settle the Alabama claims Adams, who remembered his father saying he Adams was recalled from England to serve as home of his revered parents, but he was too enclosing his pastures and enlarging his com­ (1871-72). had never known a piece of land to "run away post heaps. President 's secretary of state. engrossed in politics to give it much attention. or break," had had his eye on "the Borland He discharged the duties of this post with im­ He planted trees on the grounds and added the place" for a long time, coveting in particular There came a day when Charles Francis Adams the rich arable land, "covered with corn and knew he had completed his services to both his fruits," south of the road (present Adams This 1798 rendering by E. Malcom shows "The Old House" much as it looked when John Adams purchased it in September 1787. Abigail was "sadly disappointed" in its size, perhaps be­ family and his country. He had built the Stone Street) on the eminence now known as Presi­ cause ot the contrast it offered to the French and English houses with which she had become familiar during her sojourn abroad. The diagram (inset) shows house and grounds today. Library to house the family's most precious pos­ dents Hill. By the late 1780's, after a decade of sessions—their books and their papers docu­ European missions, Adams was ready—or menting their personal and public lives. For 40 persuaded himself he was ready—to forget years and more, Charles Francis had arranged kings, courts, and congresses and settle down and studied the papers and quarried from them to farming his acres with his family around successive blocks of material to present to him. Abigail wholly approved. From London, readers and scholars. Now, on an August day just before sailing home, she wrote Thomas in 1877, the twelfth and final volume of John Jefferson in Paris that farming and gardening Quincy Adams' Memoirs lay on the baize-cov­ would have more charms for her "than re­ ered table in the library, where the editor could siding at the Court of St. James where I sel­ look out on the rosebushes planted by Abigail dom meet with characters so inoffensive as Adams when she returned from London in 1788. my hens and chickings, or minds so well im­ After examining the book, Charles Francis proved as my garden." wrote: "I am perfectly willing to go myself. My mission is over, and I may rest." The property John and Abigail acquired, ac­ cording to a newspaper description, consisted Still, Adamses continued to come and go at the of "A very Genteel Dwelling House, and Coach Old House. After his father's death in 1886, House, with a Garden, planted with a great Va­ Henry Adams spent several summers there in riety of Fruit Trees, an Orchard, and about 40 order to look after his mother, and he finished Acres of Land. . . . This agreeable Seat is his 9-volume History of the United States at the pleasantly Situated . . . about ten Miles from same table his father had used. When Abigail Boston, on the Great Road to Plymouth." Yet, (Brooks) Adams died in 1889, her four sons surprisingly, this "agreeable Seat" did not quite placed the whole estate in a trust, and Brooks, match their memories and expectations. Doubt­ the youngest, agreed to look after the house less their years abroad and familiarity with and live in it during the summers. He gave it countryseats in Europe had altered their scale. loving care, making no drastic changes but pro­ The Vassall-Borland house consisted of only viding some of the most attractive features it the present paneled room, west entry, and din­ retains (such as the ornamental front gates), ing room on the ground floor, two bedrooms on and planning for its continued care. This was the second floor, and several small rooms in the arranged for early in 1927, within weeks of attic. At the back was the kitchen, originally Brooks' death, by the organization of the Adams detached (as commonly found in southern cli­ Memorial Society to take possession and cus­ mates) but probably joined by 1788, with serv­ tody of the homestead. ants' and tenants' quarters in a separate utility building close behind. The rooms seemed so The ultimate arrangement was made, however, small and the ceilings so low in the main house in 1946, when all the descendants of the Adams that Abigail wrote her daughter that "it feels like statesmen, acting jointly, gave outright to the a wren's house" and warned her to "wear no American people the Old House, with its con­ feathers" when she came to visit. tents, dependencies, and grounds. In the long list of the family's tangible and intangible bene­ Public duties, first as vice-president and then factions to their country over two centuries, this as president in succession to Washington, pre­ was one of the most generous, durable, and vented John Adams from becoming a farmer significant. L. H. Butterfield

Four Generations of the Adams Family

Abigail Adams, 1765-1813, Adams, Louisa Catherine Adams, married 1786 William Stephens 1801-1829, lawyer in Boston, 1831-1870, married 1854 Smith of New York and had Mass. Charles Kuhn of Philadelphia, four children. Pa. John Adams II, 1803-1834, John Quincy Adams, 1767-1848, private secretary to his father John Adams, 1735-1826, John Quincy Adams II, 6th President of the United when president. Married and fifth in descent from Henry 1833-1894, politician and had two children. Adams, who came from States. gentleman farmer in Quincy, Somerset, England, to Brain- Married 1797 Mass. Married and had six tree, Mass.; 2d President of Louisa Catherine Johnson. Charles Francis Adams, children. the United States. 1775-1852, daughter of Joshua 1807-1886, U.S. Minister at Johnson, first American consul London, 1861-1868. Charles Francis Adams, Jr., Married 1764 to Great Britain. Married 1829 1835-1915, railroad executive and historian in Quincy and Abigail Smith. 1744-1818, Abigail Brooks, 1808-1889, John Quincy Adams Charles Francis Adam Lincoln, Mass. Married and daughter of the Rev. William Charles Adams, 1770-1800, daughter of Peter Chardon Charles Francis Adams, Jr. had five children. Henry Adams Smith of Weymouth, Mass. lawyer in . Brooks, Boston merchant and Married and had two children. insurance broker. Henry Adams, 1838-1918, Thomas Boylston Adams, Louisa Catherine Adams writer and professor of history 1772-1832, lawyer and judge in in Boston, Washington, and Philadelphia, Pa., and Quincy, elsewhere. Married. "I knew the Old House as a Mass. Married and had seven wonderful playground. The garden children. Mary Adams, 1845-1928, Brooks Adams married 1877 Dr. Henry Quincy ... was always a mass of bloom in "The charm which has always made this of Boston, Mass., and had season and the carefully tended house to me an abode of enchantment is Abigail Brooks Adams two children. paths were simply an invitation John Quincy Adams II dissolved; and yet my attachment to it, and Brooks Adams, 1848-1927, fOr raCing." —Abigail Adams Homans. daughter writer in Boston and Quincy, of John Quincy Adams II. 1966. to the whole region round, is stronger than Mass. Married. I ever felt it before." J°ta °uinc» Ad'ms °"°«n<> his father's death in 1826