Dr. Samuel Adams

Dr. Samuel Adams

Samuel Adams, born in 1730 in Stratford,Connecticut, became a physician and surgeon. He and his wife, Martha Curtis, left Connecticut in 1764 with their first five children, moving to a newly forming settlement in Arlington, Vermont. Within nine years, he had purchased 700 acres of land of which 130 acres had been improved and had built a house and barns for a large number of horses, cattle, sheep and hogs.

The land on which this settlement had been established was involved in a controversy between New Hampshire and New York. Dr. Adams, acting as an arbitrator in an attempt to settle the dispute, drew the wrath of Ethan Allen and The Green Mountain Boys.

When the Revolution began, Dr. Adams and his sons joined the British forces despite the fact that his father and brothers were firmly on the other side. Although he had attempted to make arrangements for his father to receive his land, it was confiscated by the Americans. The men of the family joined Burgoyne as scouts while their families went to Machiche in Quebec.

The following is part of Dr. Adams petition for land, a testimonial by Reuben Hawley: "Reuben Hawley of Yamaska being duly sworn deposesth & saith that he was intimately acquainted with Doctor Samuel Adams for a number of years before the rebellion commenced & was well knowing to his being a professed loyal subject in all companies and at all times from the beginning of the rebellion to the end of the war and was well knowing to the said Samuel Adams being under confinement for his loyalty and his sons being confined and paying fines and that said Dr. Samuel Adams was obliged to flea to the kings troops for refuge from the persecution of the rebels & that Dr. Samuel Adams paid fines &c, and afterward that the said Samuel Adams served in the campaign with Lord Dorchester upon the Lakes and afterward raised a scouting party and served with General Burgoyne during the whole campaign as Captain of the Rangers upon private scouts and after General Burgoyne's defeat the said Samuel Adams retreated into Canada with a large number of men under his dyrection besides his own Company & was at considerable expense with the sick &c."

We are particularly interested in two of Dr. Samuel Adam's sons as their descendants have received certificates of membership in the United Empire Loyalists' Association of Canada, Colonel Edward Jessup Branch.

The eldest son, Gideon, born in 1755 in Connecticut, served in Jessup's Rangers. In 1784, after the War, he was granted 2000 acres of land because of his rank and service. He took his land in Edwardsburgh, Oxford and South Gower. He and his wife, Mary Ann Snyder, settled on the South Gower land; his sons staying in Edwardsburgh. In South Gower he became a notary public, magistrate and major in the Grenville Militia. He was the fourth great grandfather of Margaret Coulter who was presented with her certificate at our meeting last year.

Another son of Samuel, Andrew Adams, was born in 1763, also in Connecticut.

He served in the King's Rangers and received his land grant in Edwardsburgh where he settled with his wife, Rachel Froom. Rachel was the daughter of James Froom, who was also a Loyalist. Andrew and Rachel were the third great grand parents of Barbara Law, who recently received her certificate.