John Adams (abt. 1555 - bef. 1604)

Born about 1555 in Barton St. David, Somerset, England [uncertain]

Husband of Agnes (Stone) Adams — married 1 Feb 1575 in Barton St. David, Somerset, England

Descendants

Died before 22 Mar 1604 before about age 49 in Barton St. David, Somerset, England

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Al Adams [send private message], Rosie Blanckenburg [send private message], Valerie Bailey [send private message], and William Adams [send private message]

Biography

John Adams was born about 1555 in Barton St. David, Somerset, England, son of Henry Adams (~1531 - 1596) and Rose Alice (Stebbing) Adams (~1536 - ~1598).^[1]

John married Agnes Stone (~1555 - ~1616)^[2] on 1 Feb 1575 in Barton St. David. Their children were:

1. Thomas Adams (1576 - <1600)^[3]
2. John Adams (1577 - 1609)
3. Elizabeth Adams (1579 - )^[4]
4. Lucy (Adams) French (abt.1574-bef.1605)
5. Margaret (Adams) Warfield (~1579 - 1650)^[5]
6. Rose Adams (1581 - )
7. Henry Adams (1583 - 1646).

John died on 22 Mar 1604, aged ~48, and was buried in Barton St David, South Somerset District, Somerset, England.^[6][1]

Research Notes

John Adams was a husbandman. The earliest record of him was in 1596 when he was named as administrator of his father's estate. On May 27, 1597, he became bondsman for Agnes, widow of John Stone of Barton St. David, Somerset, England, executrix of the will of her late husband.^[7] John Adam's wife was also named Agnes, so John may have become the surity for his mother-in-law, a common occurrance. Parish records prior to 1704, do not exist in Barton St. David, Somerset County, England. Some transcripts were found in Wells for 1598,1603,1606, 1608, 1611, 1612, 1615, 1617, 1622, 1623, 1629, 1634 and 1638, but they contain few Adams entries. ^[8]

The source currently attached for the alleged son named Thomas actually says that a John Addames had a son named Thomas Addames who was baptized on 16 Feb 1583 in Steyning, Sussex, England.

Will

• Summary of the will of John Adams,^[8] written on March 19, 1603/4, three days before his burial:

1. To Roger and Judth Warfield, children of Roger Warfield (son-in-law) of Charleton Mackrell, Somerset.
2. To John, Stephen, and Mary French, children of Richard French (son-in-law) of Misterton, Somerset.
3. To Katheren Adams, dau of John Adams (jr) of Misterton, Somerset.
4. To son, John and his children, John and Katerene.
5. Named as executors wife Agnes Adames and son Henry Adames.

• Note: Son John was left 20 pounds to be paid after four years, if at that time time he was providing for himself and his children. If not, he shall receive ten pounds and ten should go to his children.
• In the Diocesan Records there is a bond for administration for this estate by widow Agnes dated 7 August 1605. She was buried twelve years later in the churchyard at Barton St. David, 15 January 1615/16. [1025]
• His will was exhibited 26 June 1609, by Roger Warfield of Charlton Adam, who was made guardian of the testator's grandchildren (children of his son John), John and Katherene.

(Wells Probate Registry, bundle for 1609, no. 2.)
Notes:^[8]

While on his death-bed and only three days before his burial, which took place on 22 March 1603/4, John Adams had his will drawn up, apparently completely; but it was neither signed nor witnessed; possibly he expired suddenly before these acts could be performed. Furthermore, the will was not brought before the ecclesiastical probate court until over five years after he died, and it was never registered. The original document is preserved in the Probate Registry at Wells, being no. 2 in the bundle for 1609, and a complete verbatim copy of the document is herewith appended:.

"In the name of the father and of the sonn and of the holie ghost amen. The XlXth day of March in the yeare of or Lord God One Thousand six hundred and three [ 1603/4]. I John Adames the elder of Barton David within the dioces of Bathe and Wells being sick in bodie but I thank Almighty God of sound and pfect memory doe make and ordayne my Last Will and Testamente in manner and forme followinge. ffirst I give and bequeath my soule unto the hands of God my mercyfull and Lovinge ffather in full assurance that he will receive it through the meritorious death and passion of his son Jesus Christ my Saviour and redeemer and my bodie to Christian buriall. As for my Terestriall goods wch my god hath lent me 1 give and bequeath them in mannr and form followinge. ffirst I give and bequeath unto Roger Warfield and unto Judith Warfield the son and daughter of Roger Warfield of Charleston Mackrell in the Countyof Somerset Xiij s. iiij d. to be divided between them by equall porcons. Item I give and bequeath unto John French, unto Stephen French and unto Mary French the children of Richard French of Misterton in thesaid county XX s. to be divided between them by even porcons."

"Item I give and bequeath unto Katheren Adames the daughter of John Adams of Misterton aforesaid Vj s. Viij d. Item I give and bequeath unto my sonn John Adames XX" to be paid unto him at the end of flower yeares next after the day of the date of this my last will and testament, if he the said John Adames shall by the end of the said ffower yeares abide and livinge for himselfe and his children. But if he shall divide none for them according to the tyme of the flower yeares before lymitted for the payment of the sale XX li then my will is that he shall have but X li of the said XX li and his children John and Katheren shall have the other X li of the said XX li before given divided between them by equal porcons in fower yeares next after the day of the date of this my last will and Testament for so longe my will is that my executors shall have the free use of the said XX li. And he the said John Adames my sonn shall not receive the said X li wch I have given and be-queathed unto his said children John and Katheren unto his own use but it shalbe at the disposing of my executors to be ordered best for the said childrens good. All the rest of my goods moveable and unmoveable I give and bequeath joyntely unto my wife Agnes Adames and unto my sonn Henry Adames whom I doe make sole executors of this my Last Will and Testament that they may see all things herein contained pformed ac-cordingly."

This will is written in English and on it is an endorsement in Latin by the Ecclesiastical Court, of which the following is a translation: "This purported will was exhibited 26 June 1609 by Roger Warfield of Charlton Adam to whom were granted letters of guardianship by the vicar-general of the persons and property of the above said John and Katherine Adams and also of Roger and Judith Warfield and likewise of John, Stephen and Mary French, legatees above named, he being sworn for a proper and faithful accounting, saving the right [of the Sovereign] etc. Value of inventory £62-0-0." (Wells Probate Registry, bundle for 1609, no. 2.)

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} "UK and Ireland, Find a Grave Index, 1300s-Current", database, URL: Find A Grave: Memorial #62030268, Ancestry Record 60526 #249969 (accessed 14 November 2022), John Adams I burial (died on 22 Mar 1604) in Barton St David, South Somerset District, Somerset, England.
2. ↑ * "U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900", database, Source number: 1423.000; Source type: Electronic Database; Number of Pages: 1; Submitter Code: DP1, Ancestry Record 7836 #6590 (accessed 14 November 2022), John Adams marriage to Agnes Stone in 1576.
3. ↑ * "England & Wales, Christening Index, 1530-1980", database, Genealogical Society of Utah. British Isles Vital Records Index, 2nd Edition, Ancestry Record 1351 #153470431 (accessed 14 November 2022), John Addames's son Thomas Addames baptism on 16 Feb 1583 in Steyning, Sussex, England.
4. ↑ * "Northamptonshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1532-1812", database with images, Northamptonshire Record Office; Northampton, England; Register Type: Parish Registers; Reference Numbers: 46P/204, Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 9198 #159004144 (accessed 14 November 2022), John Adams's child Elizabeth Adams baptism in Nov 1576 in Braunston, Northamptonshire, England.
5. ↑ * "Shropshire, England, Extracted Church of England Parish Records, 1538-1812", database, Extracted Church of England Parish Records; Title: Various publications of parish and probate records, Ancestry Record 61516 #40309602 (accessed 14 November 2022), John Adams's daughter Margaret Adams marriage to Yevan Beyly on 12 May 1601 in Shropshire, England.
6. ↑ * "England, Select Norfolk Church of England Parish Registers, 1538-1900", database, England, Norfolk, Parish Registers (County Record Office), 1538-1900. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2013; FHL Film Number: 1657289, Ancestry Record 9858 #295917 (accessed 14 November 2022), John burial on 19 Jan 1604 in East Harling, Norfolk, England.
7. ↑ Enid Eleanor Adams. Ancestors and Descendants of Jeremiah Adams, 1794-1883 of Salisbury, Connecticut, Sullivan County, New York, Harbor Creek, Pennsylvania and Vermilion, Ohio. Including known descendants of his brothers and sisters, most of whom went to Michigan Seventh in Descent from Henry Adams of Braintree, Massachusetts, Victor, Idaho: Ancestor Hunters, 1972. Page 8. Available on FamilySearch.org (Repeats much of what is in Bartlett's 1927 version.)
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1 8.2} Bartlett, J. Gardner, and Edward Dean Adams. Henry Adams of Somersetshire, England, and Braintree, Mass: his English ancestry and some of his descendants. (NY: Private Printing, 1927) pages 38- 42. Available on FamilySearch.org.

• Burkes American Families of British Descent.

Acknowledgements

Contributors: Joanne Rexford, Paul Patridge, Adele Schauman, Regina DeMarco, Jonathan Capps.

Click the Changes tab for the details on contributions.