Two Elizabeth Adams

Samuel Adams was married to two different women named Elizabeth. He married Elizabeth Checkley, daughter of Rev. Samuel Checkley of the New South Church in Boston. Rev. Checkley was a life-long friend to the father of Samuel, and both families were happy when Samuel and Elizabeth decided to married. The Adams and Checkley families were actually connected by marriage during the previous century.

Elizabeth was 24 years old when she married Samuel in October 1749. Her daughter described her as being “a rare example of virtue and piety blended with a retiring and modest demeanour and the charms of elegant womanhood” (Wives of the Signers – The women behind the Declaration of Independence, 60).

Here is an interesting story: Elizabeth Checkley’s mother was the “daughter of Rev. Benjamin Rolfe, minister at Haverhill, at the time of the `Sack of Haverhill’ by the Indians in 1708. In this fighting the minister was killed, together with about one hundred other persons, and many more were carried away. According to Drake’s History of Boston, a maid-servant in the employ of Rev. Mr. Rolfe saved the two little daughters of the minister by her bravery and presence of mind. She overheard the Indians breaking into the house and, springing from her bed, took the two little girls, Elizabeth and Mary, aged respectively nine and eleven years, and hurried them into the cellar where she secreted them under two large tubs. They were not found, though the savages ransacked the whole house. It was one of these little girls, Elizabeth, who afterward became the … mother of Elizabeth Checkley who married Samuel Adams” (Wives, 60-61).

Samuel and Elizabeth were blessed with five children, but only two of them lived to maturity, Samuel, Jr., and Hannah. Elizabeth died on July 25, 1757, less than 8 years after their marriage. The following notation was apparently written by Samuel after the death of his wife: “To her husband she was as sincere a friend as she was a faithful wife. Her exact economy in all her relative capacities, her kindred on his side as well as her own admire. She ran her Christian race with remarkable steadiness and finished in triumph! She left two small children. God grant they may inherit her graces!” (Wives, 61-62).

Samuel, age 42, married Elizabeth Wells, age 29, on December 6, 1757. She was described as being “cheerful and sympathetic; always a faithful and loving wife to Samuel Adams and a tender mother to his motherless children” (Wives, 62-63). Elizabeth apparently showed great loyalty and patience with Samuel and endured hardships in order for him to practice politics. Even though Samuel was born into a wealthy family and inherited the family’s estate, his devotion to the cause of liberty left him less than wealthy. Elizabeth’s ability to do fine sewing and Hannah’s talent with embroidery made it possible for the family to live in comfort. Hannah married Captain Thomas Wells, the younger brother to her stepmother.

The last days of Samuel and Elizabeth were made more comfortable due to a $6,000 claim against the government by his dying son, Samuel, Jr. Samuel died in 1803, and Elizabeth died about five years later.

Samuel Adams

Samuel Adams was a distinguished patriot of the American Revolution. In fact, he is known as the Father of the Revolution. He was born on September 22, 1722, in Boston, Massachusetts. As a descendant of pilgrims, he was taught the principles of freedom from the time he was a baby. His father, a man of considerable wealth and also influence as a member of the Massachusetts Assembly, wanted Samuel to have a liberal education. After taking a preparatory course, Samuel entered Harvard College in Cambridge and received his degree in 1740 at age 18. Samuel was a quiet fellow and was very interested in gaining knowledge.

Samuel’s father wanted him to become a lawyer, but Samuel became an apprentice to Thomas Cushing, a distinguished merchant of Boston who became an active patriot. Even though his father provided financial support enough to have a business of his own, Samuel soon realized that he was more interested in politics than the mercantile profession. He soon became bankrupt because of his inability to keep his mind on his business.

When Samuel was 25, his father passed away. As the oldest son, the responsibilities and cares of the family and estate fell upon Samuel. Even though he had additional responsibilities, he could not keep his mind off the movements of the British government. He spent a great deal of time talking and writing about the oppressions of Great Britain and was in favor of resistance on the part of the colonies. When Great Britain passed the Stamp Act, Samuel took a firm stand against it and other bills to tax the colonies.

He started in 1763 boldly expressing his thoughts about the rights and privileges of the Americans. He wrote a paper offering guidance to the Boston members of the General Assembly stating that Parliament had no right to tax the colonies without their consent. He also suggested that the unification of the colonies for their protection against Britain. Samuel apparently was the first to express publicly such sentiments, which became the “spark that kindled the flame upon the altar of Freedom here” (Lives of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence, 35).

Samuel became a brilliant statesman but continued to be a poor businessman. Samuel was elected in 1765 to represent Boston in the General Assembly where he became distinguished for his intelligence and activity. He became the leader of the opposition to the royal governor and distained the governor’s moves to quiet him. He was one of the most active citizens in demanding that the British troops leave Boston in the aftermath of the Boston Massacre.

Samuel Adams of Massachusetts and Richard Henry Lee of Virginia proposed almost simultaneously that the colonies set up a system of Committees of Correspondence. This system helped to unify the colonies and also put a price on Samuel’s head. When Governor Gage offered to pardon everyone who would be loyal to the King, he particularly excluded Samuel Adams and John Hancock. Adams and Hancock gained in popularity because the people were angry at Gage.

Adams worked in secret to convince the colonies to appoint delegates to a general Congress and became one of the five delegates from Massachusetts. He took his seat in that Congress on September 5, 1774, and remained an active member of that body until 1781. He gladly signed the Declaration of Independence.

Adams retired from Congress but not from public life. He was a member of the committee that drafted a constitution for Massachusetts. He held several public offices successively – member of the Massachusetts senate, senate president, Lieutenant-Governor, and Governor. He was elected as governor each year until his age forced him to retire from public life.

Samuel married Elizabeth Checkley in October 1749. Five children were born to the couple but only two reached maturity. Mrs. Adams died July 25, 1757. Samuel married Elizabeth Wells about 1764. He died on October 3, 1803, at age 82.

Brush Fires of Freedom

“It does not take a majority to prevail … but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brush fires of freedom in the minds of men” (Samuel Adams).

The tea party movement began with a few groups of American citizens who were concerned by the government bailouts of banks and corporations and who thought they were Taxed Enough Already (TEA). The movement continued to grow as the government ran up trillions of dollars in national debt, nationalized health care and failed to secure our borders. Politicians saw and heard their complaints – and then ignored them. The movement now includes millions of patriot conservatives who are clamoring for the rule of law.

Ken Buck, candidate for a Colorado seat in the United States Senate, clearly articulated why freedom-loving Americans are standing up and fighting to take our country back. Check out his comments here. His conclusion: we have a choice; we can either repeat history or make history that will make our posterity proud.

The influence of the tea party is being felt across the nation as many incumbents in the US House of Representatives and US Senate are fighting for their political lives. Conservatives nationwide are telling politicians to stand on constitutional principles and keep their sacred oaths to support and defend our Constitution – or be replaced. The tea party marches are part of a non-violent revolution. Hopefully, we can keep our nation from being “fundamentally transformed” in front of our eyes without this peaceful revolution becoming a bloody and violent revolution.

The words of Thomas Jefferson ring loudly in my ears: “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.” I believe that only our Second Amendment “Right to Keep and Bear Arms” will save our Republic from total destruction and this is why liberals and progressives want to take away gun rights.

James Madison apparently had a similar belief when he said, “[T]he advantage of being armed, which the Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation … forms a barrier against the enterprises of ambition, more insurmountable than any which a simple government of any form can admit of.”

Samuel Adams said, “If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animating contest of freedom, go from us in peace. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen.”
I hope that you love liberty more than wealth and will join the cause for liberty along with the tea party movement. This patriotic movement is not going to go away so you might as well join us and add your voice in this fight for freedom. United we stand! Please join the effort to set “brush fires of freedom” in the minds of our countrymen.