THE ADAMS FAMILY
"The Genealogical History of Henry Adams of Braintree, Massachusetts, and
His Descendants" by Adams was the source of my information on this family. The
Adams family played an illustrious part in American History, as two Presidents of
the United States, John Adams and John Quincy Adams, and Samuel Adams, the Patriot,
and Henry Adams, the Historian, were descended from Henry Adams, the progenitor of
this line in America.
I. HENRY ADAMS
He came from England with his wife, eight sons, and a daughter in 1632 or
'33. They settled at Braintree, Mass. The family was allowed forty acres
at "the Mount" 1639/40. This part of Braintree later became Quincy, Mass.
When Henry died, he included Edward, Joseph and Ursula in his will, hoping
that they would "enjoy all my grounds." The author said that there are
twenty-eight Coats of Arms for Adams, but he did not believe that Henry
claimed any of them.
Virkus' Compendium states that Henry was born about 1583 at St. David's,
Somertshire, England, the fourth generation of the family to live there.
It also states that he married Edith, daughter of Henry Squire, and that
she married again in Medfield, Mass., after his death. It gives his date
of death as Oct. 6, 1646. Virkus said that he came in 1638 and that he
was "Malster and Yeoman" at Braintree.
The Adams book has chapters on the descendants of the following children
of Henry and his wife: (There seem to be only seven, so I don't know about
the other son and daughter.) Lt. Henry, Lt. Thomas, Capt. Samuel, Deacon
Jonathon, John of Cambridge, Joseph (the poor man doesn't seem to have a
title, but was the ancestor of the Presidents), and Ensign Edward, who was
our ancestor.
Line of descent of Presidents John and John Quincy Adams:
1) Henry, 2) Joseph, 3) Joseph, 4) John, 5) John Quincy.
Line of descent of Samuel Adams, the Patriot:
1) Henry, 2) Joseph, 3) Henry, 4) Henry, 5) Samuel. He was the second
cousin of John Adams.
II. ENSIGN EDWARD ADAMS
Edward was born in England in 1630 and came to Massachusetts with his parents
as a baby in 1632/33. He married Lydia Rockwood, born in 1635, daughter of
Richard Rockwood and Agnes Bicknell Rockwood, in 1652. She died in March
1676 and he married Widow Abigail Rutherford (one source said Abigail Day)
1678. His third wife was Sarah Taylor. He settled in Medfield, Mass., with
three brothers. He was an Ensign, Representative of Medfield in 1689, 1692,
1702. He died in Medfield in 1716, "The last of the original settlers."
ROCKWOOD
1. Richard Rockwood m. Agnes Bicknell
BICKNELL
a. Zachary Bicknell, 1590-1636, came from England with Rev. Joseph Hull
to Weymouth, Mass., of which he was a proprietor. His wife, Agnes
Lovell, whom he married in Weymouth England, came to America with
him. If Zachary died in 1636 it must have been very shortly after he
settled in Mass.
2. Lydia Rockwood, born 1635, married Edward Adams in 1652. She died
March 1676.
III. ELISHA ADAMS
Elisha was born Aug. 25, 1666, and married Mehitable Carey of Bristol, Rhode
Island, Dec. 18, 1689. Elisha was a carpenter. He made his will May 12,
1698, and it was proved August second of that same year. He died when only
thirty-two years old. The will gives all real estate to his wife, she being
empowered to sell it if needed "while she remains a widow." She did not
remain one very long, as she married Miles Standish, grandson of the Captain.
Elisha and Mehitable had four children: William, Elisha, Jr., Lydia, and
Mehitable.
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CARY
My information about the Carys came from the CARY FAMILY IN AMERICA, by Henry
Grosvenor Cary. He published a previous book about the Cary family of Eng-
land.
1. John Cary was the son of William Cary who was the mayor of Bristol,
England, in 1611. When he was a young man, he was sent to France by his
father to be educated. His father died while he was there. John returned
to his home, where there was some dissension over the settlement of his
father's estate and he decided to come to America in 1634. He was the
first of three brothers to come to America. James came to Charlestown,
Mass., in 1635, and Miles to Virginia in 1640. Miles was the ancestor of
many prominent Virginians. John married Elizabeth Godfrey in 1644. They
had twelve children, our Mehitable being the twelfth. John and about
fifty other men purchased the land which is now Bridgewater, Mass., from
Massasoit, the Indian chief. The original paper, signed by Miles Stadish,
Massasoit, and fifty-three others, including John, is preserved by the
Bridgewater Historical Society. Of these signers, only sixteen stayed to
settle the town of Bridgewater. John was one of those who helped to found
the town, and was the first constable. (The author stated that this job
was very important.) He was town clerk in 1657. Quotes in the Cary book
identify him as "a prominent man of superior education and intelligence"
and "a great influence in the Colony." "He was an officer of the church,
public-spirited," and "he taught the first Latin class in the Colony."
John died in 1681.
GODFREY
A. Francis Godfrey was in Plymouth in 1637 and in Duxbury, Mass., in 1640.
He bore arms in 1643. Francis was a carpenter and bridgebuilder. He had
a servant named John Pilcher. Francis Godfrey died in 1699. "An old man"
he had called himself in his will. He was worth 117 lbs., 17 shillings,
5 pence.
B. Elizabeth Godfrey m. John Cary in 1644. She died in 1680.
2. Mehitable Cary was born Dec. 24, 1670, at Bridgewater Mass. She married
Elisha Adams. (The Cary book gives his name as Eliashib Adams.) They
moved to Bristol, Rhode Island. After Elisha died she m. Miles Standish.
IV. MEHITABLE ADAMS
She was born in Bristol, Rhode Island, Aug. 3, 1675. She married Nathaniel
Richards. They lived in Norwich, Conn.
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