A pew, a crypt, a ship, and a sprinkler system
RECAP: After I found out I’m related to Presidents Adams, my amazing friend Michelle hatched a brilliant plan for us to go to Boston and see some sights with her best friend Tory. The fact that I’m presenting about John Quincy Adams in June made this an offer I couldn’t pass up. I’m still in shock how much of my little to-do list we made our way through in two days.
I could package up this trip many different ways and trying to figure it out is getting in the way of actually doing it; let’s not overthink it. In no particular order. And way too much all at once. More like a firehose than a sprinkler.*
Bear with me.
*There’s a sprinkler all the way at the end, if you make it that far! 💦
We sat in the Adams’ pew!
I was not expecting that.
United First Parish Church; Quincy, MA
And went inside their crypt!
The photos do not do it justice. With the tight space and low ceiling, it’s hard to get a good photo showing John and Abigail Adams’ and John Quincy and Louisa’s tombs. Our tour guide, Joan, was fabulous and we could have talked with her hours.
You probably already know that Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died on the same day, July 4, 1826. I recently learned that President JQA found out that Jefferson died two days after he died… and didn’t find out his own father had died until July 9!
Bunker Hill Monument
Just a super-fast visit, but we got to see it!
The monument was designed by Solomon Willard, who I am related to. We both roll up to Major Simon Willard (1605-1676).
USS Constitution
Our oldest commissioned ship! We got to step aboard (I was beyond giddy), but no time to go belowdecks. This time.
Massachusetts Historical Society
I found a treasure trove juicy info on their website and I couldn’t wait for our visit:
It was meant to be!
The very first portrait I saw when we arrived was not George Washington (though I thought it was) but Major General Artemus Ward… who I just discovered I’m related to because of course I am.
(The book I’m reading spells it Artemus but everywhere else seems to be Artemas so it looks like I made a mistake. Not my fault. For once. And who am I to argue with David McCullough? )
1776, by David McCullough
I got to see the version printed by Mary Katharine Goddard!
Founding Mothers: The Women Who Raised Our Nation, by Cokie Roberts; more doodles here
Now… (bear with me!) some stuff happened after, which I will get to. But with all of that, it occurred to me that I’ve managed to connect myself — albeit tangentially! — to four of the Committee of Five. A couple of caveats:
If we go back far enough, we’re all related.
Some of these aren’t familial relationships — but they are connections nevertheless.
Four!! And the last one (Benjamin Franklin) seems like he might be easier than, say, Jefferson.*
John Adams: this is the most straightforward. We both roll up to Henry Adams.
Robert Livingston: extremely peripherally. But still! Dr. Elias Willard (1756-1827) married Catharine Livingston (1755-1827) in 1778. Or 1780? (According to Find a Grave, they met in Boston at a ball given for Lafayette?!) Dr. Elias Ward and I both roll up to Lemuel Willard (1725-1775). Our families are connected! And during the Revolutionary War, no less!
Thomas Jefferson: this one astonished me and is even more tenuous. Still counts, because I make the rules here. The Randolphs were married into the Willards via a Confederate spy. Thomas Jefferson’s mom was a Randolph. The spy (Antonia Ford Willard, 1838-1871) and Jane Randolph Jefferson both roll up to Thomas Randolph (1682-1729) and Judith Fleming (1689-1743). The Willard (Joseph Clapp Willard, 1820-1897) and I both roll up to Major Simon Willard (1605-1676). Yes, this is a stretch. But the story is fascinating.
Roger Sherman: only one to sign all four Big Important Documents (the Continental Association, the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the United States Constitution). I tied myself to him professionally and by marriage, but not genetically. Sherman’s son-in-law, Samuel Hoar, named his son after his law partner … Ebenezer Rockwood, Esquire. Ebenezer and I both roll up to Elisha Rockwood and Elizabeth Adams (who is how I discovered my connection to the Adams family). That said, during this trip we saw a Stone Hoar stone. The families were linked by marriage and I am related to the Stones… perhaps there’s something there.**
After quickly going over a full list of Declaration of Independence signers, here are some connections / likely connections:
Samuel Adams: connected the same way I’m connected with John Adams; we roll up to Henry Adams. (John and Samuel roll up Henry Adams’ son, Captain Joseph Adams, Sr. (1626).
Philip Livingston: it’s all twisty! Catharine Livingston, who married Dr. Elias Willard, and Philip Livingston both roll up to Rev. John Livingston (1603-1672) and Janet Fleming (1694).
Elbridge Gerry: messy and convoluted … but his grandson married a descendent of Robert Livingston’s niece. (See?)
Abraham Clark…? I don’t know, maybe. I have Clarks in my family tree.
Thomas Stone: this seemed incredibly obvious, but it’s not looking promising. He rolls up to William Stone de Twist (1520-1568) and I haven’t been able to link him to our Stones.
William Whipple: I didn’t know anything about Whipple, but Tory mentioned there’s Whipples in her family tree. Let’s put a pin in Mr. Whipple for now. 📌
Why stop there? With the Constitution signers, I’m connected to:
William Livingston: the connection is kinda similar to Philip Livingston.
Gouverneur Morris: he married a Randolph and a Randolph married a Willard.
Thomas Stone signed the Declaration of Independence. This copy was engraved and printed by William J. Stone (1797 or 1798-1865) in 1823. This version was commissioned because the other copy had been “overhandled.” John Quincy Adams hired Stone to make an engraving from the original. Are Thomas and William Stone related? Don’t know, but it doesn’t seem like it. The latter was born in England to Charles Henry Stone and I lose the trail.
*Or maybe not. While hoping to find a list of people who signed the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution in 499 Facts about Hip-Hop Hamilton and the Rest of America’s Founding Fathersby Stephen Spignesi, I stumbled on a list of people related to the Found Fathers. For each, it’s a long list. Except Benjamin Franklin: J.A. Folger and Amy Poehler. He has more Famous Kin though.
**The book connects Roger Sherman to John and John Quincy Adams; perhaps that’s something…? JQA is Roger Sherman’s 10th cousin three times removed, by way of Sir Robert Goushill and Elizabeth Fitzalan.
Which brings me to this cool Rockwood thing …
My cousin Alicia (not on the I’m-Related-to-Everyone side of the family) spied this thing on a walk earlier this week. I looked it up — and found a park! The land was donated by George Ichabod Rockwood (not the George Rockwood I desperately want to be related to). This one was in the sprinkler biz…
The Rockwood Sprinkler Company! 💦
In the early 1900s, Rockwood came up with the Rockwood Sprinkler System — “an automatic fire-suppression system.” You can see a picture of him here, I think, even though he’s labeled as George Rockwell.
George Ichabod Rockwood (1868-1959) and I both roll up to Elisha Rockwood (1716-1788) and his wife Elizabeth Adams (1719-1799).
[Just pausing to enjoy that my cousin Alicia lead me to my cousin Elisha.]
These new Rockwoods spring forth from Elisha Rockwood II (1740-1832) and his wife Abigail Stone (1749-1812).
Stone!! I just found out I’m connected to the Stone family (as are the Adamses)!
I had no choice but to map it out:
Hat tip to Michelle and Tory for enthusiastically digging into the genealogy with me. Any mistakes here are my own.
A couple of notes:
Michelle and Tory (my travel buddies for this adventure and hopefully future adventures!) and I are indicated in purple along the bottom. We found a way to loop Michelle in! By marriage. I swear there’s more here that we haven’t uncovered yet. (She has ties to the Livingstons, Roosevelts, Schulyers, Beekmans, and other prominent families and I’m starting to think she’s just showing off now.)
George Ichabod Rockwood* is indicated by the water droplets (because sprinkler systems, obviously)
And then, I’ve numbered a few people:
📌 William Whipple signed the Declaration of Independence. He was there at Saratoga — and not passively. Enslaved Prince Whipple… and when Prince questioned how he could fight for freedom while keeping someone in captivity, he was like “oh yeah, you’re right!” and freed him. (I’m simplifying it and need to dig into him more.)
John Whipple was murdered! His wife, Elsie Lansing, was involved! Someone, please make a movie about this. Or write a historical novel. Albany County Family Court Judge W. Dennis Duggan published this law history … start on page 123 and read about People vs. Strang. Edward Livingston (1796-1840) represented the people. It is freaking riveting. And friends… the house is still there in Albany! AND they have The 1827 Murder at Cherry Hill tours available upon request. [squeals with anticipation]
Lt. John Whipple (1632-1695) & his second cousin Captain John Whipple Cornet (1625-1685) tried my patience… where does the Cornet come from…? Maybe for clarification. Apparently, their fathers were first cousins and both named John Whipple. They were born seven years apart in England (Essex County). All of these Johns Whipple had brothers named Matthew. Then these two highlighted guys both had sons named John Whipple, who died within a day of each other (June 11 & 12, 1722). Honestly, it’s a whole thing and I’m incredibly confused.
Are the Stones the foundation for this whole thing? We have Stones marrying into the Whipple, Rockwood, and Adams families.
Presidents Adams
President Coolidge
*Also coincidental: one of George I. Rockwood’s siblings was a Ward (recently discovered a Ward connection, too, but haven’t been able to figure this one out).
More adventures
(field trips and/or genealogical exploits)
Saw Washington’s tent tho