Abigail Adams and Her Times Part 18

SON OF JOHN AND SUZANNA (BOYLSTON) ADAMS,

SECOND PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES;

BORN 19/30 OCTOBER, 1735.

ON THE FOURTH OF JULY, 1776, HE PLEDGED HIS LIFE, FORTUNE, AND SACRED HONOR TO THE

INDEPENDENCE OF HIS COUNTRY.

ON THE THIRD OF SEPTEMBER, 1783, HE AFFIXED HIS SEAL TO THE DEFINITIVE TREATY WITH GREAT BRITAIN, WHICH ACKNOWLEDGED THAT INDEPENDENCE, AND CONSUMMATED THE REDEMPTION OF HIS PLEDGE.

ON THE FOURTH OF JULY, 1826, HE WAS SUMMONED TO THE INDEPENDENCE OF IMMORTALITY, AND TO THE

JUDGMENT OF HIS G.o.d.

THIS HOUSE WILL BEAR WITNESS TO HIS PIETY; THIS TOWN, HIS BIRTHPLACE, TO HIS MUNIFICENCE; HISTORY TO HIS PATRIOTISM; POSTERITY TO THE DEPTH AND COMPa.s.s OF HIS MIND.

AT HIS SIDE SLEEPS, TILL THE TRUMP SHALL SOUND,

ABIGAIL,

HIS BELOVED AND ONLY WIFE, DAUGHTER OF WILLIAM AND ELIZABETH (QUINCY) SMITH; IN EVERY RELATION OF LIFE A PATTERN OF FILIAL, CONJUGAL, MATERNAL, AND SOCIAL VIRTUE.

BORN NOVEMBER 11/22, 1744, DECEASED 28 OCTOBER, 1818, AGED 74.

MARRIED 25 OCTOBER, 1764.

DURING AN UNION OF MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY THEY SURVIVED, IN HARMONY OF SENTIMENT, PRINCIPLE, AND AFFECTION, THE TEMPESTS OF CIVIL COMMOTION; MEETING UNDAUNTED AND SURMOUNTING THE TERRORS AND TRIALS OF THAT REVOLUTION, WHICH SECURED THE FREEDOM OF THEIR COUNTRY; IMPROVED THE CONDITION OF THEIR TIMES; AND BRIGHTENED THE PROSPECTS OF FUTURITY TO THE RACE OF MAN UPON EARTH.

PILGRIM.

FROM LIVES THUS SPENT THY EARTHLY DUTIES LEARN; FROM FANCY'S DREAMS TO ACTIVE VIRTUE TURN: LET FREEDOM, FRIENDSHIP, FAITH, THY SOUL ENGAGE, AND SERVE, LIKE THEM, THY COUNTRY AND THY AGE.

FOOTNOTES:

[21] John Quincy Adams was at this time Amba.s.sador at St. Petersburg.

[22] "Memoir of S. E. M. Quincy."

[23] "Memoir of S. E. M. Quincy."