John and Abigail Adams always had a very close relationship…

The Early Years

From the time of their marriage in October, 1764, John and Abigail Adams were seldom apart for more than a few days. But as political turmoil began to dominate Great Britain’s colonies in America, particularly in Massachusetts, John Adams (1735-1826) emerged as a leader of a fledgling independence movement. His astute wife Abigail (1744-1818), always her husband’s confidante, was like minded.

John Adams in his early 40s.

Thus when John was elected to represent the Colony at a Continental Congress in 1774, John and Abigail knew they would be separated for far more than a few days. Philadelphia, America’s largest city and the seat of that Congress was a journey of two weeks, with its own perils and dangers. Once John reached Philadelphia, he would have little opportunity to return to Boston. The unrest that had erupted in 1775 had turned into actual armed warfare.

Nevertheless, the couple were able to communicate, and their frequent letters became the core of what would become four generations of Adams’ treasure trove of history.

In January, 1778, John returned home with momentous news. He had been elected by Congress to join Benjamin Franklin in Paris as a diplomatic representative to seek official “recognition” and alliance, i.e. military and financial aid.

Abigail Adams in her thirties.

If Philadelphia was a two week overland journey, the distance to Paris was six-weeks (possibly more), across a wide ocean. There was more than just the danger of a long ocean voyage with assorted perils of nature and vessel. France was England’s bitter enemy throughout centuries of warfare. A man of Adams’ growing stature would be a prize for Great Britain. His capture, or even death, was not farfetched. And the likelihood they would be reunited anytime soon was remote. Even an exchange of letters, something they both treasured, was hugely difficult.

Ships that carried correspondence across the Atlantic were often few and far between, especially since America and Great Britain were at war. If a ship were captured, letters were opened, its contents either informative or ridiculed, were tossed overboard.

And if, by chance, the letter reached the foreign shore, a trustworthy party had to be found going in the general direction. Several hands might be needed before the letter reached its intended recipient. A letter from John might first reach Charleston, and passed to a party going to Richmond, and then to Philadelphia or New York before finally reaching Abigail in Boston.

Abigail and John considered bringing the whole family to Paris.

But after more thoughtful consideration, they believed it would be best for Abigail to remain home with the children – after all, their youngest was only five. The voyage promised to be long, arduous and very very dangerous. And the cost of the entire family living abroad would be prohibitive. The Adamses were not wealthy.

Johnny

Young John Quincy Adams, about ten.

Nevertheless, after more discussions, they made a momentous decision – together. John would take their ten-year-old son John Quincy with him.

It was fraught with peril. The likelihood that Adams might be captured, imprisoned – or worse, was a legitimate concern. What would happen to their son? Who would care for him? Ten years old is still a little boy.

But JQ, as he began to refer to himself, was a precocious fellow, not only in scholarship, but in the strong desire to learn. He had been home schooled since earliest childhood, with some extra tutoring in Latin by John Thaxter, his father’s law clerk. Even brainy Abigail could only do so much, and their son deserved the very best. JQ was torn as well, but he wanted to go.

Neither John nor Abigail had traveled much, and they had never been abroad. But they had heard about European depredation and vice of every sort and were deeply concerned, lest their most promising offspring might fall prey to temptation.

John and Abigail Adams were always affectionate parents, but they were also Puritans, only a generation or so removed from the fire-and-brimstone preachers who believed in witchcraft. Along with their parental duties to care for and educate their children, Abigail (in particular), believed it to be her sacred obligation to keep a close watch on the children’s moral behavior. The straight and narrow, and all it entailed, was permanently etched into her soul. With all his duties, John could not be everywhere; who would watch over the young lad and protect him from vice – and possibly, from himself?

In the end, “duty” prevailed over all else. Duty  to their fledgling country that selected John Adams as its envoy, duty to each other, although their mutual devotion was never in question, and duty to their brilliant son, who deserved the best education they could provide. And duty to God, in whom they would put their trust.

The Parting

 John Adams and his young son had made their plans and packed whatever was needed – which included their own food. (There would be a cook aboard to prepare meals, but food and beverages were not provided.) Their plans needed to be the utmost secret. They were important personages and a great prize to the British.

They had arranged for the frigate Boston to be anchored in Quincy Bay, nearer their home in Braintree, about ten miles from Boston, out of sight and and less conspicuous to British troops.

Not knowing when or if they would see each other again, they said their goodbyes. And an early hour on February 12, 1778 a short, stocky man, his manservant, and a young boy, carrying their personal belongings, shivered in the cold and walked a mile by themselves to the edge of the river. Sailors manning a barge were stationed to meet them at the shore, to take them to their destinies. 

Sources:

Butterfield, L.H. et al, (editors) Adams Family Correspondence, 1761-97

Ellis, Joseph J. – Passionate Sage – W.W. Norton Co., 1993

McCullough, David – John Adams – Simon & Schuster, 2001

Nagel, Paul C. – Descent From Glory: Four Generations of the John Adams Family – Oxfvord University Press – 1983

Shepard, Jack – The Adams Chronicles – Little Brown, 1977