“Welcome back to another segment of my show – Hail to the Chief!”
“In this post, I proudly present to you, our Second President…”
“…Mr. John Adams.”
JOHN ADAMS BIRTHPLACE – Built in 1681, this 2 ½ story wood-frame salt box house, located in Quincy, Massachusetts, was purchased by Deacon John Adams in 1720. The Deacon’s oldest son, John Adams, was born in the home’s upper east room on October 30, 1735. “Even though most of the original wooden clapboards have likely been replaced over the past 342 years since the home was constructed, it was still an amazing experience to stand on the windowsill at John Adams’ birthplace.“
“When John Adams was born, the town was not known as Quincy; but instead, was the city of Braintree, Massachusetts.”
“The second-story bedroom where John Adams was born was located behind this window above me. Unfortunately, visitors are not allowed access to the second level of the home.“
“During my first visit to the birthplace in 2017, photography was prohibited. Thankfully, that rule had changed before my second visit on June 8, 2023. Let’s take a look inside, shall we?”
“The first room I visited was used as a kitchen and living area for Deacon John Adams’ family.”
“The future second President once noted of his childhood: “As a child I enjoyed perhaps the greatest of blessings that can be bestowed upon men – that of a mother who was anxious and capable to form the characters of her children.”
“After Deacon John purchased the home in 1720, he added this room, called The Long Room, which he utilized for a meeting and gathering space.It was likely in this room where young John acquired a taste for politics.”
“When the elder Adams owned this house, he farmed throughout the summer. His crops yielded corn, rye, wheat, and barley. In the winter months, Adams made shoes in this side room of the home.”
“The fireplace mantel I’m standing on was located in a front room used by John Adams as a law office. I imagined the young lawyer as he paced back and forth in that room as he prepared defenses for his clients.”
“After I finished my tour of John Adams’ birthplace home, I was carried across the grounds for a tour of the other Adams home, seen in the distance behind me.”
ABIGAIL SMITH – At 19 years old, Abigail Smith married 28-year-old John Adams on October 25, 1764 in the home of her parents in Weymouth, Massachusetts. John and Abigail remained married for 54 years. Abigail’s father, William Smith, conducted the ceremony. Abigail’s father, William Smith, conducted the ceremony. Following the wedding, the newlyweds mounted a single horse and rode off to John’s farm and small cottage in Braintree.
ABIGAIL ADAMS BIRTHPLACE – Built in 1685 in Weymouth, Massachusetts, this was the home where Abigail Smith was born on November 22, 1744. Abigail’s parents, William and Elizabeth Smith, were slave owners.
“A slave named Phoebe played a caretaking role to Abigail and other children; later on, she worked as a paid servant for Abigail after she became free.”
JOHN QUINCY ADAMS BIRTHPLACE – Built in 1663 and located just 75 feet from John Adams’ birthplace home, Deacon John Adams bought this house from his neighbor in 1744. The Deacon bequeathed this home to his son John in 1761.
“Following John’s marriage to Abigail Smith on October 25, 1764, the 28-year-old Adams brought his 19-year-old bride back to this home where they resided until the Revolutionary War had concluded.”
“All six of John and Abigail’s children were born in the home, including the future sixth President, John Quincy Adams, on July 11, 1767.”
“Let’s take a look inside, where I found a very special guest waiting for me.”
“When John was away in Philadelphia, Abigail sat by this fireplace and molded lead musket balls for soldiers in the Continental Army to use. A mold, similar to the one used by Abigail, was on display on the fireplace mantel to my left.”
“This was the living room of the Adams’ farmhouse in Braintree. Portraits of John and Abigail graced the walls above me.”
“As I stood on the living room floor where John and Abigail Adams once walked, I saw an 18th century cradle to my left. That cradle represented the one used by all six of the Adams’ children who were born in this home, including John Quincy.”
“Now I’m standing in the most famous room in either house – the law office of John Adams. It was in this room, in October 1779, where John and Samuel Adams, along with James Bowdoin, discussed and drafted the Constitution of Massachusetts.And much to my surprise, John Adams was in the historic room to talk about the home’s famous occupants. Adams was portrayed by historical interpreter Michael Lepage, who remained in character the entire time.”
INDEPENDENCE HALL – Built in 1753 in Philadelphia and originally called the Pennsylvania State House, Independence Hall was where the Declaration of Independence was debated, adopted, and signed in July 1776.
“John Adams was a Massachusetts delegate in the Second Continental Congress from 1774 to 1777 and he served on the Committee of Five that drafted the original Declaration of Independence.”
“In this painting, Benjamin Franklin and John Adams examine the document for American independence written by Thomas Jefferson.”
“On August 2, 1776, John Adams signed the Declaration of Independence in the Assembly Room of Independence Hall.”
“The Committee of Five presents their draft of the Declaration of Independence to the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia. The Committee of Five included John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman.”
“I’m standing on the northern side of the Assembly Room where John Adams and the other northern delegates of the Second Continental Congress sat.”
“It was an honor for me to stand close to one of the most historically significant artifacts in the world – the original Syng inkstand from Independence Hall. On August 2, 1776, John Adams dipped his quill pen into this ink stand and signed the Declaration of Independence.”
“This copy of the Declaration of Independence on display at Henry Ford Museum was one of only 30 known copies to exist. John Quincy Adams had the document engraved on July 4, 1823.”
CONGRESS HALL – Built in 1789 in Philadelphia and located near the west wing of Independence Hall, Congress Hall served as the United States Capitol from 1790 to 1800.
“As Vice President, John Adams presided over the Senate, which was located on the second floor of the building.”
“I’m standing in the House Chamber near the exact spot where John Adams took the Oath of Office as our second President on March 4, 1797.”
“When Adams was sworn-in as President, he became the first head of state to peacefully and legally succeed to office from a living predecessor since Luis I of Spain in 1724.”
“History was made in this House Chamber at Congress Hall; America’s “Great Experiment” had worked and has continued to work since that day.”
“Vice President Adams presided over the Senate, whose chambers were on the second floor of Congress Hall.”
THE PRESIDENT’S HOUSE SITE – Built in Philadelphia in 1767, this three-story house was used or owned by Benedict Arnold and Robert Morris before it became the third Presidential mansion in history. It became John Adams’ residence after he became our 2nd President on March 4, 1797.
“John Adams lived in the President’s House in Philadelphia from March 4, 1797 until he departed for Washington D.C. on May 30, 1800. When John Adams left the President’s House on May 30, 1800, the building was converted into the Francis’s Union Hotel.”
ABIGAIL ADAMS – When her husband John was inaugurated, Abigail was not present for the ceremony as she was home attending to his 89-year-old dying mother. Once in office, Abigail hosted a large dinner each week; made frequent public appearances; and provided for entertainment for the city of Philadelphia each Fourth of July.
THE WHITE HOUSE – The cornerstone of the White House was laid on October 13, 1792. John Adams became the first President to live there when he took up residence on November 1, 1800 when only six of the rooms were finished.
“On John Adams’ second day in the house, he wrote to his wife Abigail: “I pray Heaven to bestow the best of blessings on this House and all that shall hereafter inhabit it. May none but honest and wise men ever rule under this roof.”
PEACEFIELD – Built in 1731, John and Abigail Adams bought this house in 1787 while they lived in London. They moved into the home in 1788. The ‘Old House’ remained in the Adams’ family until it was given to the United States in 1946.
“The original home had 40 acres of farmland and orchards, but after living in England in finer dwellings, Abigail wrote of the farm: “It feels like a wren’s nest.”
“This pen and ink artwork depicts Peacefield shortly after John Adams had purchased the farm.”
“As I stood on the stone fence near what’s known as Adams Street today, I had the same view as the artist who made the previous pen and ink drawing of Peacefield.”
“Abigail Adams is my favorite First Lady and I was honored to stand in her garden on the west side of Peacefield. While the same gravel paths Abigail and John once walked are still there, long gone are the fruit trees.”
“Most visitors never take the time to venture to the back side of Peacefield, but I’m glad I had the opportunity to pose there.”
“During the time when John was in Philadelphia as VP and President, Abigail had renovations made to the house; making it larger.”
“While I stood on one of the front porch chairs, I envisioned Abigail and John Adams walking through the front gate after they left the White House in 1801.”
“Photography was prohibited inside Peacefield during my first visit on July 14, 2017, but my photographer had special permission to take images in two rooms.Let’s go inside, shall we, and see the home of the Adams Family.”
“I’m in John Adams’ study, located inside Peacefield, where the President spent much of his time in retirement. It was also in this room where he wrote many of his letters to Thomas Jefferson.”
“The 90-year-old Adams was sitting in his favorite armchair in the corner when he was stricken with a heart problem.”
“A few days after falling ill, John Adams died in this bed on July 4, 1826 – the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. His last words were: “Jefferson still survives.”The former second President had no way of knowing that his colleague, Thomas Jefferson, had died five hours earlier on the Fourth of July.”
“This temporary vault, located in Hancock Cemetery, was the original burial site of John and Abigail Adams. In 1828, John Quincy had his parents re-interred in the family crypt beneath the church across the street.”
UNITED FIRST PARISH CHURCH – Located in Quincy, Massachusetts, this is the church John Adams helped finance and where he and Abigail were interred shortly after the place of worship was constructed in 1828.
“I was carried down a set of stairs and into the basement crypt of the church where the Adams family were interred for eternity.”
“I posed for this image as I stood on the gated door to the tomb. Behind me, inside the crypt, was the sarcophagus where John Adams rests in peace.”
“I’m standing on the tomb of John Adams. With four huge sarcophagi in this crypt, there wasn’t a ton of room to move around.”
“The American flag behind me represented the flag at the time of John Adams’ death in 1826– it had 15 stripes and 15 stars.”
“While standing on the sarcophagus of John Adams, I saw Abigail’s tomb a few feet away. On the other side of the crypt is the final resting places of John Quincy Adams and his wife Catherine.”
“The grave of John Adams was the 25th Presidential gravesite my photographer, Thomas Watson, and I had visited since our quest began on July 10, 2013.”
“My first visit to the tomb of John Adams came on July 14, 2017.”
“My second visit inside the crypt where John Adams was entombed came on June 8, 2023.”
“Please do me a favor and leave a comment. Have you visited any of the same sites? Did you enjoy this tribute to President John Adams?”
My name is Thomas Watson and I've been a U.S. history fanatic since I was 9 years old. In 2013, I decided to take my passion to the next level when I purchased a Thomas Jefferson bobble head with the sole intention of photographing that bobble head at Presidential sites. From that first day on July 10, 2013 at Spiegel Grove in Fremont, Ohio, this journey has taken on a life of its own. Now, nearly 40,000 miles later, I thought it was time to share the experiences, stories, and photos of Jefferson's travels. Keep in mind, this entire venture has been done with the deepest respect for the men who held the office as our President; no matter what their political affiliations, personal ambitions, or public scandals may have been. This blog is intended to be a true tribute to the Presidents of the United States and this story will be told Through the Eyes of Jefferson. I hope you enjoy the ride!
