Some info I have found:
Will: From Volume 17 (1873 - 1875) of the York county, ON Surrogate Register in her Majesties Surrogate Court of the County of York. Be it Known that on the fifth day of march AD 1873 the last will and testament of Thomas Adams the elder late of the township of Scarborough in the county of Yeoman who died on or about the tenth day of march AD 1872 at Scarborough and who at the time of his death had a fixed place of abode at Scarborough in the said county of York was proved and registered in the Surrogate Courta true copy of which said last will and testament is hereunder written and that the admin of all and singular the personal estate and effects rights and credits of the said deceased and any way concerning his will was granted by the aforesaid court to Elijah Adams of the township of Scarborough farmer / Robert Dixon the other executor having renounced?/ one of this Executors named in the said will he having been first sworn well and faithfully to administer the same by paying the just debts of the deceased and the legacies contained in his will so far as he is there unto bound by law and to Cohabit a true and perfect inventory of all and singular the said estate and effects rights and credits and to render a just and true account of this executor ship whenever required by law to do so. (signed)W. Cayby(signed)G. Duggan RegistrarSurrogate I Thomas Adams of the township of Scarborough, county of York, and province of Ontario, the elder and yeoman declare this to be last will and testament. I devise and bequeath to my son Henry Adams all the real and personal estate to which he shall be entitled to at the time of my decease in manner following that is to say my real estate is composed of the south part of lot number one broken front concession D of the said township of Scarborough and containing by measurement twenty two acres of land moreor less to have and to hold the same to him the said Henry Adams during his natural life and at his decease to the eldest male issue of his body lawfully together on attaining the age of twenty one years/ the son of my son Elijah Adams to have and to holdunto him said Henry Adams my grandson as fore said his heirs and assigns to and for us and their sole and only use forever and I appoint my son Elijah Adams and Robert Dixon both of the township and county and province aforesaid farmers executors of this my will hereby revoking all testamentary writings. In witness whereof the said Thomas Adams the elder have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty second day of May in the year of our lord eighteen hundred and seventy one signed by the said testator (signed) Thomas (his x mark) Adams Senior as his last will and testament in the presence of us present at the same time who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each Other have subscribed our names as witnesses. The within was read and fully explained to the testator before execution. (Sig) Wm Halliwell township of Scarborough" Jordan Post, Port Perry Co. Ontario LOCAL HISTORY: From "A History of Scarborough" Thomas Adams came from Vermont to Canada in 1808, and built a log cabin on the bank overlooking the lake at Port Union, which was later replaced with a brick house. This was struck by lightening in 1832, and his son William, in the house at the time, was killed. Thomas Adams, often referred to as Uncle Tommy Adams, was a carpenter and also a captain of a sailing vessel during the war of 1812. Once, when he was driven for refuge into the Highland Creek, fearing his cargoof guns, brass kettles and ammunition might be seized, he threw everything overboard; and this drowned cargo is still believed to be at the bottom of the creek. About 1834 he built a sailing vessel at the mouth of Highland Creek named the "Mary Ann". This vessel was engaged in local trade for many years and provided a great service to farmers, carrying potash, grain and shingles away, and bringing back flour, salt, lime, etc. He built the first schoolhouse in this area in 1836, and many of the first frame houses around there were put up by him. He had six sons and two daughters. One son James was a sailor and part owner of the "Highland Chief", a vessel built on the Humber River about 1834, which was later lost with all crew in a Great Lakes storm. Extracts from Fact Folk Lore by John R. Spilsbury Thomas Adams started it all in 1808 when he arrived in Port Union from Vermont. He built a log cabin overlooking the lake on what is now the Johns-Manville property. During the war of 1812, he captained a ship, was driven by the enemy into the mouth of the Highland Creek and threw the cargo of guns, ammunition and brass kettles overboard. During this period a British pay ship was reportedly lost containing 38,000 pounds sterling. Naval researchers have deduced this ship was lost in at a dozen spots on the lake including the Highland Creek. Years later the wreckage of a ship became visible in the ever changing delta of the creek. Then folk lore took over and this became the sunken treasure ship. It excited the imagination of local treasure seekers for years. The last serious search took place in 1936 when Ivan Annis lead a team of hopefuls. "Sophisticated" gold divining rods selected a location. A pit 38' deep was dug and caved in, almost killing the men. No gold was found. As the areas around the lake became settled, trade grew between the cities on both sides. Thomas Adams built a modest sailing vessel at Port Union in 1834 to get a share of this profitable shipping business. During the next 15 years, many small ships were built on the beaches of Port Union. They were called the Highland Rangers. The fleet was active all around the lake. Because of high tariffs in Upper Canada on items like tea, leather goods, tobacco and a government monopoly on salt, smuggling from the United States was a way of life. All the smaller ports on Lake Ontario were involved in the game, including Port Union. The Highland Rangers probably did their fair share of smuggling by night while carrying legitimate cargoes of lumber, potash, apples, wheat and cordwood by day. Married in St. James Anglican Church, Toronto Copied from Mrs. C. M. Carruth's letter, 1961 Thomas Adams lived in Scarborough, Canada, just outside of Toronto. He had a large farm near the lake, a store, and a mill and vessels on the lake. He was a tall, broad shouldered man with heavy white hair. He died in 1873, age 87 year. I wrote to Trenton, New Jersey for grandmother's death certificate. On it, it said her father was born in Mass. USA Thomas adams was married twice, his first wife was 1. Sarah (Mills) Adams 2. Nancy Webster
