Abigail Adams

Abigail Adams was an amazing American. She was born in 1744 in Weymouth, Massachusetts colony. In 1764 she married John Adams, who later became the second President of the United States. She was the first president’s wife to live in the White House.

Abigail Adams was born on November 11, 1744. She lived in Weymouth, MA in the parsonage. It was a big house with many rooms. Abigail lived with her parents William and Elizabeth Quincy Smith. She had two sisters and one brother, Mary, Elizabeth, and William. As a child she was always very curious.

When Abigail was a little girl she always asked her mother if she could go to school. Her mother said no. She was taught to read and write at home. Abigail always read books from her father’s library and listened to her father’s meetings. She loved books and politics. She was very clever and talented.

When Abigail was a teenager she had many friends. She wrote many letters to them, but she was worried about her spelling and punctuation since she did not have a proper education. One of her many friends was John Adams. He often came to visit her and wrote letters to her. In 1764 Abigail and John got married and moved to Braintree. They lived in the house John had inherited from his father. It was small and cozy.

Abigail’s husband, John Adams was a very nice man. When he was a young boy he wanted to be a farmer, but his father objected to it. His father sent him to school and then to Harvard College. He taught school for a while and then he became a lawyer. He was a very smart man.

Abigail Adams had 5 children. The first child Nabby was born on July 19,1765. Their son John was born on July 17,1767. Their second daughter Susana, was born on December, 28,1768 and died a year later. Their son Charles was born on May 29, 1770,and On September 15,1770 their son Thomas was born.

Abigail Adams lived in Braintree Mass. At that time, in 1767, the British required taxes on American documents. John wanted to help the colonies and he soon became a well known spokesman and was often away from home. In 1768 the Adams family moved to Boston. After the Boston tea party event they moved back to Braintree.

When John was away Abigail was often lonely. Abigail managed the farm and the family money. She did a good job. She also taught a black slave how to read and write. Writing letters made her feel better. So did the birth of her son John Quincy.

Abigail loved politics and books. She would always ask John what was going on in the world. At this time it was unusual for women to do so. Whenever she had time she always read books. She often wrote letters to her friends.

Abigail had a good relationship with her husband. She was a very smart woman and often talked to John about politics and women’s rights. When John was away Abigail wrote to him: ‘don’t forget the women dear’, meaning that he should include women’s rights in the continental congress. John wrote back: ‘I can not but laugh’.

In 1770 the Boston massacre happened. The fire bells where ringing and both John and Abigail rushed home afraid that their house might be on fire. When they got home they were relieved to find out that they were safe and later found out that the bells did not mean a fire, but meant trouble. Some teenage boys were teasing and throwing rocks and snow at British soldiers. The soldiers shot and five people were killed. Six were injured. This event was known as the Boston massacre.

One day on August 10, 1774 Abigail said goodbye to John and three other Massachusetts delegates. They were going to Philadelphia to serve in a Continental Congress. It was a hard journey. In the following week she wrote to John: ‘It seems already a month since you left me.’ In November 1774 he returned home.

In April 1775 the battles of Concord and Lexington marked the beginning of the revolutionary war. Many people fled Boston for fear of attacks. Many people passed Abigail’s house. She invited them in and gave them food and shelter. She wrote: ‘the house is in state of confusion.’ After the battles John left for Philadelphia again to participate in the second Continental Congress.

On June 17th, 1775 Abigail took Johnny who was eight years old to watch a battle on Breed’s Hill in Boston.