John Adams

Second President

1 term

*1735-1826

Federalist

*First Vice President

*Helped America break away from Great Britain

*Helped write the Declaration of Independence

Birthplace: Quincy, MA

John Adams was born on October 30th, 1735 in this house in present-day Quincy, Massachucetts.  It is the oldest surviving Presidential birthplace in the United States.

The story

On August 13, 2011, me and my family once again took a side trip on our way from New Hampshire.  This time, we went to Quincy to visit the Adams National Historical Park.  Once we arrived, we began the tour of the many buildings located in the park.  The first one we visited was, appropriately, the John Adams Birthplace.  John Adams' father, Deacon John Adams, lived in this barn-like house when future-Pesident John Adams was born in 1735.
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Home: Quincy, MA

John Adams lived here.  It is named "The Old House at Peacefield".  He died here.

The story

After touring the birthplaces, the tour continued on to the Adams Family home.  The home contained many rooms and the tour of the home took quite a while, so long in fact, that in the middle of the tour, my mom and my brothers had to leave to go back outside.  My father and I were the only ones who made it through the tour in its entirety.
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Stone Library: Quincy, MA

This library contains all of the Adams's books.

The story

The final stop on the tour of the park was the Stone Library, which housed the books of John Quincy Adams.  It was built in 1870 by Charles Francis Adams.
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Grave: United First Parish Church (First Unitarian Church) 

The story

In August of 2008, we went on our annual vacation to New Hampshire.  This year, however, we stopped at Quincy to visit the Adams's tombs.  We arrived in Quincy and located the First Unitarian Church.  After we entered, we were able to sit in the Adams's pew, and afterwards, we headed to the basement crypt.  The basement itself was abit creepy, but we finally located the tombs with the help of a tour guide. 

Statue of Abigail Adams and her son, John Quincy Adams.

This is me, with my bothers Christopher (Middle) and Matthew (left) at the statue in Quincy, MA.

The Adams Pew in the First Parish Church.

Me, my brothers, and my mom in the Adam's Pew.

Outside First Parish Church

Me and my dad outside of the First Parish Church in Quincy MA.

 

Me between the tombs of John Adams and Abigail Adams.  Ironically, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died on July 4th, 1826, the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, hours apart.  Adams in Massachusetts, Jefferson in Virginia.  Adams's last words were "Jefferson Lives", which were considered a tribute to his lifelong friend, Thomas.  However, Thomas Jefferson had died a few hours prior to this, which was unknown to Adams.

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Former Burial Site: Hancock Cemetery, Quincy, MA

Upon John Adams's death in 1826, he was buried in this cemetery.  In 1828, he was re-interred in the Church.