Miss Mary Fifield, only daughter of Richard Fifield of Bos-
ton. Mr. Adams was possessed of an ample fortune for
those days, the fruits of his scrupulous attention to business;
for, though he made himself prominent in political affairs,
he never lost sight of the value of property as a means of
securing the comfort of his family, and their position in
society.

His residence was in Purchase Street, Boston, where in
1712, the year before his marriage, he had bought a piece
of land running on the northwest two hundred and fifty-
eight feet along Purchase Street, and extending to low-water
mark. On the northeast, it was bounded by Dawes's Wharf
(since Prentice's estate) and Bull's Wharf, there being sixty-
two feet between Adams's estate and the north side of Sum-
mer Street. The house fronted upon and commanded a
fine view of the harbor. But few buildings had then been
erected in its neighborhood, so that it stood conspicuous in
that vicinity. On the roof was an observatory, and a railing
with steps leading up from the outside. About the year
1730 it was somewhat improved, and as late as 1800 the
grounds were still adorned with trees and shrubbery. He
also owned other property in that vicinity, and was the
proprietor at a subsequent date of several dwelling-houses.
This property remained vested in him until 1734, as shown
by the records of some of the principal estates. From that
date, no facts appear concerning it until early in the next
century, after it had become the property of his son. From
the little known of Deacon, or Captain Adams, as he was
often called, he appears to have merited to the fullest extent
the encomiums passed upon him by his illustrious son, who
in after years said, that "he was a wise man and a good
man." His name appears in 1739 on the town record, as one
of the committee appointed to draft instructions to the
Representatives in the Assembly.

The ability afterwards manifested by his son in managing
popular assemblies, and in so ordering elections as to insure

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