Samuel Adams (Loyalist)
Encyclopedia
Dr. Samuel Adams was a physician and surgeon, farmer, and loyalist
soldier from Arlington, Vermont.
Adams was born in Stratford, Connecticut
, in 1730. In 1764, he moved with his family to Arlington in the New Hampshire Grants
. On several occasions, Adams served as representative and negotiator for Arlington and other surrounding towns. In 1774, Adams came into conflict with Ethan Allen's
Green Mountain Boys
for dissenting with their land title policy. After a brief trial, Adams' captors had him Tarred and feathered, then, tied to a chair and hung from a sign post as a public humiliation.
In 1776, he was captured by Whigs for his loyalist sympathies and he and his sons were imprisoned. He escaped and fled North behind British lines in Quebec
. Joining the King's Army, he served during the Lake Champlain campaign
in the Autumn of 1776 and raised an independent company known as Adams' Rangers
during the Burgoyne Expedition
of 1777. Four of Adams' sons served in his company, with his eldest son Gideon Adams
, acting as Ensign.
Following the war, Adams and his sons settled in Southeastern Ontario, alongside other disbanded Loyalist troops.
In January 1810, Dr. Adams died in Edwardsburgh
, Ontario at the age of 80.
Loyalist (American Revolution)
Loyalists were American colonists who remained loyal to the Kingdom of Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War. At the time they were often called Tories, Royalists, or King's Men. They were opposed by the Patriots, those who supported the revolution...
soldier from Arlington, Vermont.
Adams was born in Stratford, Connecticut
Stratford, Connecticut
Stratford is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States, located on Long Island Sound at the mouth of the Housatonic River. It was founded by Puritans in 1639....
, in 1730. In 1764, he moved with his family to Arlington in the New Hampshire Grants
New Hampshire Grants
The New Hampshire Grants or Benning Wentworth Grants were land grants made between 1749 and 1764 by the provincial governor of New Hampshire, Benning Wentworth. The land grants, totaling about 135 , were made on land claimed by New Hampshire west of the Connecticut River, territory that was also...
. On several occasions, Adams served as representative and negotiator for Arlington and other surrounding towns. In 1774, Adams came into conflict with Ethan Allen's
Ethan Allen
Ethan Allen was a farmer, businessman, land speculator, philosopher, writer, and American Revolutionary War patriot, hero, and politician. He is best known as one of the founders of the U.S...
Green Mountain Boys
Green Mountain Boys
The Green Mountain Boys were a militia organization first established in the 1760s in the territory between the British provinces of New York and New Hampshire, known as the New Hampshire Grants...
for dissenting with their land title policy. After a brief trial, Adams' captors had him Tarred and feathered, then, tied to a chair and hung from a sign post as a public humiliation.
In 1776, he was captured by Whigs for his loyalist sympathies and he and his sons were imprisoned. He escaped and fled North behind British lines in Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. Joining the King's Army, he served during the Lake Champlain campaign
Battle of Valcour Island
The naval Battle of Valcour Island, also known as the Battle of Valcour Bay, took place on October 11, 1776, on Lake Champlain. The main action took place in Valcour Bay, a narrow strait between the New York mainland and Valcour Island...
in the Autumn of 1776 and raised an independent company known as Adams' Rangers
Adams' Rangers
Adams' Rangers was a Loyalist independent company raised for the British Army during the American Revolutionary war. Led by Dr. Samuel Adams of Arlington the unit's most significant contribution in the conflict was serving as part of the ill-fated Burgoyne Expedition of 1777.-Recruitment:The men...
during the Burgoyne Expedition
Saratoga campaign
The Saratoga Campaign was an attempt by Great Britain to gain military control of the strategically important Hudson River valley in 1777 during the American Revolutionary War...
of 1777. Four of Adams' sons served in his company, with his eldest son Gideon Adams
Gideon Adams
Gideon Adams was a farmer, soldier and political figure in Upper Canada.He was born in Connecticut in 1755 and moved with his family in 1764 to Arlington in the New Hampshire Grants. He served during the American Revolution as an Ensign in his father's company, Adams' Rangers, and later as a...
, acting as Ensign.
Following the war, Adams and his sons settled in Southeastern Ontario, alongside other disbanded Loyalist troops.
In January 1810, Dr. Adams died in Edwardsburgh
Edwardsburgh/Cardinal, Ontario
Edwardsburgh/Cardinal is a township in the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville of eastern Ontario. It includes the villages of Cardinal, Johnstown and Spencerville, as well as several smaller communities....
, Ontario at the age of 80.