Abigail Adams
1797-1801

Abigail was born November 11, 1744 in Weymouth, Mass.
(Note: I did find one reference that she was born Nov. 25. However, most use the Nov. 11 date.)

Her father William Smith was a Congregational pastor.

She loved to read.

She married John Adams in 1764. She was nineteen years old when she got married.

They had five children; Abigail, John Quincy, Charles, and Thomas. A fifth child died as a baby.

While John was at the Continental Congresses (First and Second), Abigail would write him letters expressing her political views. She was against slavery and thought women should have the right to own property.

Abigail was very concerned about her children living a good Christian life. Her brother gambled and drank. She did not want her children to follow his path. She was very controlling of her children's lives. They sometimes resented her being so controlling.

She was the first "First Lady" to live in the White House. At that time the White House was called the President's House. She had a hard time finding anyone to chop wood for the stove and heat.

Abigail Adams was the first President's wife to live in the White House. She use to hang laundry in the East Room which was unfinished at that time.

People said she gave lively parties and encouraged political discussion at her parties.

Abigail would also send favorable information about her husband to the newspapers.

Adam's political rivals referred to Abigail as "Mrs. President" to imply she had too much political influence on President Adams.

She was not happy when Jefferson defeated her husband for the Presidency in 1800.

Died of typhoid fever October 1818 at the age of 73.

She is buried in Quincy, Massachusetts along side John Adams.

Visit Our Site on Presidents

Presidents of the United States

Books and Websites

Books

Smithsonian Presidents and First Ladiesby James Barber and Amy Pastan.
First Ladies: Women Who Called The White House Home (First Ladies) by Beatrice Gormeley.

Websites

http://www.firstladies.org/ National First Ladies Library
http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/list/058_flal.htmlLibrary of Congress, Images of the First Ladies

Comments and/or corrections should be sent to Jim at jim@anewadventure.org.