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Abigail Adams

Abigail Smith Adams was born on November 11, 1744 in Weymouth, Massachusetts. Abigail was the second child of four children. Her parents were Elizabeth Quincy Smith and Reverend William Smith. Like any girl of her time she did not have an education. As her curiosity grew bigger she wanted to read and Abigail's intelligence grew too. Abigail often went with her mother to help the needy.

Abigail's love of reading drew her close to John Adams. The first time they met was at her sister Mary's wedding. She was a lovely 15 year-old girl, but her health was rather delicate. John was 27. They met again two years later and fell in love. They spent time together.

One evening during a thunder storm, John Adams proposed to Abigail, and she accepted. They got married on October 25, 1764. Their 54years marriage prove their love was strong, and from their hearts. The young couple lived in John's farm. Later they moved to Boston.

Ten years after their marriage Abigail had children, their names were Abigail (called Nabby), Susanna, John Quincy, Charles, and Thomas. As an infant one of Abigail's daughters died. She looked after their family and home when John went traveling as a circuit judge. Abigail wanted to support John. In 1784 she joined John in Europe (where he was engaged on diplomatic missions). 
  

After Abigail reached Europe, she spent eight months Paris and three years in England. In 1788 the Adams returned to the United States. During the 12 years of her husband's terms as vice-president and president. She divided her time between the capital and Quincy (formerly part of Braintree). Her support of women's rights included calls for more schooling for girls. 

Writing to her husband in Philadelphia in 1776, she urged him to "remember the ladies" in the new nation's laws. Abigail also opposed slavery, which then existed in the country. During the Revolutionary War in America Abigail Adams's letters to her husband were very useful. The letters provided valuable information about British troops and ships in the Boston area. In November 1800, near the end of President Adams's term, his family became the first occupants of the White House.

In spite of attacks of serious illness, Abigail Adams seems to have been of cheerful character and a companionable, popular person. Her letters during this period are full of references to current politics, many of them sharp and supportive, for she was an ardent Federalist. After 1801 almost all of her remaining life was spent in Quincy, where she happily resumed her "business of a dairy-woman." She died in Quincy on Oct. 28, 1818, of typhoid fever.

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