Today, we will begin a look at the great grandchildren of Loyalist John Adams and Sarah Coley through their son Jonathan.

NOTE: First and foremost, this is still a work in progress. It’s been at least 20 years since I did a major revision on this family. Many records have been found in that time that tidy up a lot of dates and places, many of which came from family records.

If you are a descendant of John Adams and Sarah Coley and can fill in any more of the question marks, please leave a comment.

Edward William Adams (Jonathan², John¹) was baptized 14 September 1796 at All Saints Anglican Church in Maugerville, Sunbury, New Brunswick, Canada: died after the 1870 census.. He married Eleanor Harris, 13 July 1818 at Dumfries, York, New Brunswick, Canada, who was born in 1799. The 1851 Dumfries, York, New Brunswick, Canada census said the entire family was born in New Brunswick with the youngest four children still at home. In 1860, Edward W. said he was born in Connecticut, wife in New Brunswick, Eunice was born in Maine, and John A.E., 9, was born in New Brunswick. In 1870, Edward and Eleanor said they were both born in New Brunswick, and Grace H., 8, was born in Maine. It appears that Edward and Eleanor had two grandchildren living with them in 1851 and 1860. The family was gone from Aroostook County, Maine in 1880.

NOTE: It is thought that this Edward is a son of Jonathan, given the connection to Connecticut and the fact that he named a daughter Grace, not a very common girl’s name at the time. Some place this Edward as the son of John and Sarah Adams. However, Sarah would have been well into her 50s at the time Edward was born. It is more likely that he is a son of Jonathan and Grace.

Children of Edward William and Eleanor (Harris) Adams:

1. Sarah, born c1820, New Brunswick, Canada; reportedly married James Sullivan; not found in 1850 or 1851 censuses
2. Eleanor Matilda, born 9 July 1822, New Brunswick, Canada; died 1908, York, New Brunswick, Canada; married John Conroy, 20 April 1845, Smyrna, Aroostook, Maine. In 1851, they lived in Stanley, York, New Brunswick, Canada with three young children.
3. William, born c1824, New Brunswick, Canada; reportedly married Ann Tozier. William lived on his own a few doors form his father in 1851 and unmarried at the time.
4. James, born c1830, New Brunswick, Canada; lived a few doors from his father in 1851 and unmarried at the time.
5. Mary, born 1832, New Brunswick, Canada; perhaps married Matthew Stewart, 11 December 1852
6. Daniel, born 2 March 1835, New Brunswick, Canada; died 26 December 1912, Bellingham, Whatcom, Washington; married Mahala Ann Harris. She was born 29 October 1840, Maine; died 21 May 1907, Westborough, Worcester, Massachusetts.
7. Grace Hannah, born 1839, New Brunswick, Canada; died 28 February 1854, Linneus, Aroostook, Maine
8. Eunice, born 1842, New Brunswick, Canada; died before 1870 when her daughter, Grace Hannah, born 14 May 1862, lived with her parents; married Edward Woodworth, 9 June1861, Linneus, Aroostook, Maine. Edward married (2) Charity Tozier, 28 October 1865, Linneus, Aroostook, Maine.

Sarah Adams (Jonathan², John¹) was born 1798, New Brunswick. She died 17 January 1881 at Oromocto, Sunbury, New Brunswick, Canada; married Stephen Kinney about 28 October 1819. He was born 1795; died 7 December 1879, Oromocto, Sunbury, New Brunswick, Canada. Both were of Burton, Sunbury, New Brunswick, Canada and are buried at the Pioneer Cemetery at Oromocto. This couple likely had other children born 1820-1827. Daniel, Hannah, Eunice and Charlotte do not appear in any census with their parents.

Children of Stephen and Sarah (Adams) Kinney:

1. Daniel, perhaps born about 1821, New Brunswick, Canada; died c1855, probably New Brunswick, Canada; married Elizabeth Ann Boyer, 27 February 1846, Carleton, New Brunswick, Canada. Daniel and Bessie had two daughters, although online trees give them five. The other three were Bessie’s from her second marriage to Hiram Hatch in 1856.
2. Hannah, perhaps born about 1823, New Brunswick, Canada; never married. Family information gives her as a daughter, but she is not found in any census with her family. She may have died before the 1851 census.
3. Eunice, born 1828, New Brunswick, Canada; married Tildon Calvin Hatch, 2 September 1847, Sunbury, New Brunswick, Canada. The 1851 census reports that she was sick. They lived at Lincoln, Sunbury, New Brunswick, Canada. Tildon was born 1823, New Brunswick, Canada. It appears that they had no surviving children.
4. Charlotte, born 10 November 1829, Oromocto, Sunbury, New Brunswick, Canada; married Anthony Rogers Hatch, 30 June 1847, Burton, Sunbury, New Brunswick, Canada. Anthony was the brother of Tildon Hatch and lived with his brother’s family in 1851. He was unmarried at that time, but likely married that year.
5. Mary Ann (aka Annie); born 1833, New Brunswick, Canada; died before 1881, probably Burton, Sunbury, New Brunswick, Canada; married James Griffith, 18 August 1870, Burton Sunbury, New Brunswick, Canada. James married (1) Mary Morrison, 27 January 1853, Sunbury, New Brunswick, Canada. There were also four young children under 10 years at home in 1861. All are gone in 1871. James and Mary Ann apparently had no surviving children.
6. Stephen James, born 1835, New Brunswick, Canada; died after 1881; married Lavina Kinney, daughter of Andrew Kinney, 23 July 1857, Carleton, New Brunswick, Canada
7. Sarah, born 2 October 1836/8, New Brunswick, Canada; married John Hubble, 13 November 1856, New Brunswick, Canada. John was born 25 June 1825, the son of Ammon and Elizabeth Hubble; died 11 December 1913, Burton, Sunbury, New Brunswick, Canada. He was a ship’s carpenter.
8. Louisa, born 1841/2, New Brunswick, Canada; married Daniel Gullison. He was born about 1838 and was a carpenter by trade. This couple lived in Burton in 1881 with no children in the household.

Thomas Adams (Jonathan², John¹) was born c1802, New Brunswick, Canada; died 1871, Linneus, Aroostook, Maine; married Clarissa Corliss, 25 July 1825, New Brunswick, Canada. She was born c1804, Maine; died 1876, Linneus, Aroostook, Maine. Thomas and Clarissa could have had as many as three children born before son John in 1833.

Children of Thomas and Clarissa (Corliss) Adams:

1. John Colby, born 31 March 1833, New Brunswick, Canada; died 14 April 1913, Scappoose, Columbia, Oregon; married Mary Ann Whitaker
2. Aaron, born c1835, Maine; died 2 July 1863, Gettysburg, Adams, Pennsylvania
3. Charlotte, born c1837, Maine; died after 1850
4. Hannah, born 12 July 1841, Maine; died 25 November 1870, Linneus, Aroostook, Maine; married Nelson French, c1857
5. Clarissa Annie, born 14 January 1844, Linneus, Aroostook, Maine; died 7 July 1922, Oakfield, Aroostook, Maine; married John Morrison, 18 March 1866, Linneus, Aroostook, Maine
6. David, born 21 March 1846, Aroostook County, Maine; died 17 September 1917, Aroostook County, Maine; married Jeannette Simpson, 16 August 1870, Linneus, Aroostook, Maine
7. Martha Matilda, born 16 April 1848, Maine; died 12 December 1915, Seattle, King, Washington; married Edward W. Sullivan, 10 October 1868, Linneus, Aroostook, Maine. She is called Martha Ewing on her death certificate, but isn’t found in the 1880 or 1900 census.

Frances Matilda Adams (Jonathan², John¹) was born 1804, New Brunswick, Canada; died 8 April 1891, Lincoln, Sunbury, New Brunswick, Canada; married George W. Thomas, 2 July 1825. George was born in 1798; died 12 June 1881. Family tombstone includes Fanny and George; side has Sturges A. Thomas, died 12 Oct 1889, aged 42 years; Frances R. Thomas, died 29 July 1891, aged 43 years. A second side has George E. Thomas, died 17 May 1862, aged 27 years; Adaline Thomas, died 15 August 1885, aged 58 years. Back says “erected by A.D. Thomas.” She is buried at the Lower Lincoln Cemetery.

Children of George W. and Frances Matilda (Adams) Thomas: 

1. Adaline, born 1828, New Brunswick, Canada: died 15 August 1885; unmarried.
2. Sophia Amanda, born 12 September 1831, Fredericton, York, New Brunswick Canada; died 16 June 1916, Carleton, New Brunswick, Canada; unmarried
3. Grace, born 8 August 1833, Fredericton, York, New Brunswick, Canada; died 12 February 1917, Newburyport, Essex, Massachusetts; married Edward Shepherd Boyer, 30 December 1872, Woodstock, Carleton, New Brunswick, Canada
4. George Edmund, born 1835, New Brunswick, Canada; died 17 May 1862, New Brunswick, Canada; unmarried
5. John Lockhart, born 21 January 1839, New Brunswick, Canada; died 20 May 1926, Carleton, New Brunswick, Canada; unmarried
6.Henry Allen, born 1842, New Brunswick, Canada; died 14 March 1898, Fredericton, York, New Brunswick, Canada; married Amelia Jones, 28 July 1870, Brooklyn, New York
7. Albert Duncan, born 27 May 1844, New Brunswick, Canada; died 5 January 1921, New Brunswick, Canada; married Isabella Harvey, 1 June 1881, Fredericton, York, New Brunswick, Canada
8. Sturges A., born 1847, New Brunswick, Canada; died 12 October 1889; married Annie J. Adams, daughter of Daniel, 23 August 1886, Calais, Washington, Maine. They had no children.
9. Frances R., born 1849, New Brunswick, Canada; died 29 July 1891, New Brunswick, Canada; unmarried.

Sophia Ann Adams (Jonathan², John¹) was supposedly born about 1819, but perhaps should be 1809 since if born in 1819, she would have married at 15 – not impossible, but younger than most members of this Adams clan. An 1809 birth date also fits much better with the birth years of her siblings. She married Solomon Sewell, 6 November 1834 and died by 1852. Solomon married (2) Margaret Carrigan, 1852. He was born 1809, New Brunswick, Canada; died 27 September 1879, Lincoln, Sunbury, New Brunswick, Canada. He is buried in Lower Lincoln Cemetery. Neither of his wives is buried with him.

Children of Solomon and Sophia Ann (Adams) Sewell:

1. John Adolphus, born March 1836, New Brunswick, Canada; died 23 March 1905, New Brunswick, Canada; married Louise Adams Segee, c1869. She was born 1845; died 23 May 1903.
2. Frances, born 20 April 1838, New Brunswick Canada; died 31 January 1908, New Brunswick, Canada; married James Abner Hayward, 29 September 1885, Sunbury, New Brunswick, Canada. He was born 1837, New Brunswick, Canada; died 1924. Both are buried at Lower Lincoln Cemetery.
3. Sophia Anna, born 30 April 1841, New Brunswick, Canada; died 3 February 1881, Fredericton, York, New Brunswick, Canada; married George Perkins, c1861
4. Emily, born 10 March 1844, New Brunswick, Canada; died 15 November 1896, New Brunswick, Canada; buried Sunny Banks Cemetery, Fredericton, York, New Brunswick, Canada; married Albert Banks, 15 January 1875, Fredericton, York, New Brunswick, Canada.

George Martin Adams (Jonathan², John¹) was born 25 January 1812/13 at Lincoln, Sunbury, New Brunswick, Canada; died 24 March 1892, also at Lincoln; married Mary Hayward, 30 March 1848, York, New Brunswick, Canada. She was born 24 October 1825; died 9 July 1906. Both are buried in Lower Lincoln Cemetery. In the 1851 census, he was a farmer and Mary was a weaver. Brother Sturges lived with the family at that time. All of his daughters were teachers except for Melvina, who worked in a millinery shop in Woodstock. His will is on record at Burton. He bought land from the Simonds estate in 1850.

Children of George Martin and Mary (Hayward) Adams:

1. Mary Elizabeth, born 10 August 1848, New Brunswick Canada; died 29 March 1928, Sunbury, New Brunswick, Canada; married George Edgar Armstrong, 20 February 1878, York, New Brunswick, Canada.
2. Louisa Jane, born 1850, Lincoln, Sunbury, New Brunswick, Canada; died 20 January 1892, Carleton, New Brunswick, Canada; married Henry Milton Sewell, 23 July 1870, New Brunswick, Canada.
3. John Quincy, born 1852, New Brunswick, Canada; died 5 May1922, Fredericton, York, New Brunswick, Canada; married Elizabeth Wood, 31 October 1888, Fredericton, York, New Brunswick, Canada. She was born 1854; died 1914. Both are buried at Lower Lincoln Cemetery.
4. George, born 1855, New Brunswick, Canada; died 28 June 1872, New Brunswick, Canada; unmarried.
5. Melvina S., born about 6 December 1857, New Brunswick, Canada; married Samuel T. Baker, 24 April 1893, Woodstock, Carleton, New Brunswick, Canada. Melvina was widowed at the time of the 1901 census. It appears she had no children. She isn’t found in the 1911 census.
6. Charlotte, born c1861, New Brunswick, Canada; died after 1881, when she was at home, unmarried
7. Anna Beatrice, born 7 November 1862, New Brunswick, Canada; died 27 August 1941, Sunbury, New Brunswick, Canada; married James Mardesan Mersereau, 22 November 1893, York, New Brunswick, Canada.
8. Lucy Gregory, born 26 September 1866; died 13 December 1929, Lincoln, Sunbury, New Brunswick, Canada; married Charles Wood, 29 June 1887, York, New Brunswick, Canada.
9. Georgie Maude, born 12 September 1873, New Brunswick, Canada; died 17 July 1945, Rusagonis Station, Sunbury, New Brunswick, Canada; married George Elbridge Bunker, 11 March 1893, York, New Brunswick, Canada.