Abigial Adams
Abigial
Adams was born Abigail Smith on November 11, 1744 in Weymouth, Massachusetts,
the daughter of a clergyman.
She was raised by her grandmother. She and John Adams were
married in 1764, and while John practiced law over the next ten years
Abigail gave birth to two daughters and three sons.
As John became
busier serving their country during the events surrounding
the American Revolution, Abigail endured the long separations
from
John and successfully raised their children during extremely
difficult times - wartime shortages, inflation, little hired
help, home schooling
of her children when schooling became unavailable, and incredible
loneliness.
Famous for her long
and endearing letters of love and advice to her husband during
his absences (more than
half their
married life was spent away from each other), she truly
had a great hand in guiding John Adams' political career. This
working political
relationship continued from John's appointment as a diplomatic
envoy in Paris to then becoming the first United States
Minister
to Great Britain, through John's tenure then as the first
Vice President and then the second President of the United
States.
Abigail
and John retired to Quincy, Massachusetts in 1801. Abigail
died on October 28, 1818, and she and John are buried beside
each other
at United First Parish Church in Quincy. |