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A Biographical Dictionary of the Maryland Legislature 1635-1789 by Edward C. Papenfuse, et. al.
Volume 426, Page 98   View pdf image (33K)
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ADA BIOGRAPHIES

October 22, 1768, in Baltimore Town. LAND: at
least 800 acres in Baltimore and Kent counties,
plus 2 lots in Baltimore Town.

ADAMS, HENRY (?-1686). BORN, probably in
England. IMMIGRATED: in 1639 as an indentured
servant to Thomas Greene (?-ca. 1651/52). RE-
SIDED: in St. Mary's County; Port Tobacco,
Charles County, by 1650. MARRIED by 1658 Mary
(1637-?), daughter of John Cockshutt and wife
Jane (1612-?); stepdaughter of Robert Clarke (ca.
1611-1664). Her half brother was Ignatius Cau-
sine (ca. 1642-1695). Her sister was Jane, who
married Thomas Mathews (ca. 1622-1675/76).
CHILDREN. Probably died without progeny. PRI-

VATE CAREER. EDUCATION: literate. RELIGIOUS
AFFILIATION: Catholic. SOCIAL STATUS AND AC-
TIVITIES Mr. by 1658; first appointment to the
bench followed his marriage. OCCUPATIONAL PRO-
FILE: servant, free by 1647; probably worked for
Margaret Brent in 1647; planter, 1649; merchant.

PUBLIC CAREER. LEGISLATIVE SERVICE: Lower

House, Charles County, 1661, 1663, 1671-
1674/75 (Accounts 2; Laws 3), 1676-1682, 1682-
1684. LOCAL OFFICES: justice, Charles County,
1658-1665, 1667-1685 (quorum, 1667-1685);
sheriff, Charles County, 1665-1666. STANDS ON
PUBLIC/PRIVATE ISSUES: probably forced into tem-
porary exile during Ingle's Rebellion, returning ca.

1647. WEALTH DURING LIFETIME. LAND AT
FIRST ELECTION: claimed rights to 50 acres in
1654; acquired at least 600 acres through his mar-
riage. WEALTH AT DEATH. DIED: will probated On

July 4, 1686. PERSONAL PROPERTY: TEV,
£569.15.7 sterling (including 1 slave, 5 servants,
and 28 books). LAND 800 acres.

ADAMS, JOHN (?-?). BORN by 1730 in Somer-
set County. NATIVE: second generation. RESIDED:
in Wicomico District, Somerset County. FAMILY
BACKGROUND. FATHER: Rev. Alexander Adams
(ca. 1679-1769), who immigrated from England in
1704 and served as rector of Stepney Parish, Som-
erset County from 1704 to 1769. MOTHER Sarah,
daughter of Samuel Horsey and wife Ann. BROTH-
ERS: James Alexander (?-by 1741); Rev. Alexan-
der, Jr. (ca, 1725-1767), who was ordained in
London, England, on December 21, 1748, and was
rector of St. James Parish at Herring Creek, Anne
Arundel County from 1748 to 1767 and who mar-
ried on May 19, 1745, Sarah Jones (?-ca. 1782);
William Adams (?-1795); George (?-by 1801);
Samuel (?-by 17%), who married Rebecka Whit-
tington; Stephen (?-by 1801); Andrew, who mar-
ried in 1759 Mary Whittingham; and Henry Smith

(1739-probably by 1769). NIECE: (first name un-
known) Adams, who married William Horsey (ca.
1745-1786). MARRIED on February 14, 1760, Sa-
rah Piper, widow of Clement Dashiell. CHILDREN.
SONS: John (1760-?); William (1765-?). STEP-
DAUGHTER: Ann Dashiell (1751-1778), who mar-
ried William Dixon. PRIVATE CAREER. EDUCA-
TION: literate. RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Anglican.
OCCUPATIONAL PROFILE: probably a planter; ob-
tained the right to build a water mill, 1763. PUB-
LIC CAREER. LEGISLATIVE SERVICE: Lower House,

Somerset County, 1762-1763 (Grievances 2),
1765-1766 (Grievances 2, 3), 1771; Conventions,
Somerset County, 6th-8th, 1775-1776 (did not
attend the 7th Convention). LOCAL OFFICES, jus-
tice, Somerset County, 1766-at least 1777 (quo-
rum, 1768-at least 1777); justice, Court of Oyer
and Terminer and Gaol Delivery, Somerset
County, commissioned 1772; justice, Orphans'
Court, Somerset County, commissioned 1777;
commissioner of tax, Somerset County, 1777-at
least 1783; judge, court of appeals, appointed un-
der the Act to Procure Troops for the American
Army, Somerset County, appointed 1778. MILI-
TARY SERVICE: captain, by 1763. WEALTH DURING

LIFETIME. PERSONAL PROPERTY: inherited

£239.16.6 from his father, 1774; assessed value
£1,065.0.0, including 19 slaves, 1783. LAND AT
FIRST ELECTION: 1,022 acres in Somerset County
(185 acres were a gift from his father; 837 acres by
patent). SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN LAND BE-

TWEEN FIRST ELECTION AND DEATH. Owned

1,746 acres in Somerset County, 1783. WEALTH AT
DEATH. DIED: after 1783, possibly by 1796; size of
estate unknown.

ADAMS (ADDAMS), PETER (?-1785). RE-
SIDED: in Great Choptank Hundred, Caroline
County. FAMILY BACKGROUND. BROTHER: William

Adams (?-by 1788), of Caroline County. OTHER
KINSHIP: William Adams, Jr., and Anne Adams
are listed as his nearest kin in his inventory. PRI-
VATE CAREER. EDUCATION literate. OCCUPA-
TIONAL PROFILE: possibly a merchant. PUBLIC
CAREER. LEGISLATIVE SERVICE: Convention, Caro-
line County, 5th, 1775. MILITARY SERVICE: cap-
tain, militia, elected by the battalion on January 2,
1776; captain, Small wood Maryland Regiment,
1776; major, Seventh Maryland Regiment, 1777;
lieutenant colonel, 1777; lieutenant colonel-
commandant, First Maryland Regiment, 1779,
transferred to Third Maryland Regiment in 1781
and served until 1783. In 1781 William Smallwood
wrote to Gov. Thomas Sim Lee complaining that
Col. Adams was "commonly activated by avarice

98



 

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A Biographical Dictionary of the Maryland Legislature 1635-1789 by Edward C. Papenfuse, et. al.
Volume 426, Page 98   View pdf image (33K)
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