Anne Adams was
born July 8, 1729. She was the daughter of Lieutenant Joseph and Rachel (Allen)
Adams. She married Peter Tufts Junior on April 19, 1750. He was the son of
Peter from John and Peter the immigrant. She is best known for caring for the
wounded soldiers during the battle of Bunker Hill. The Somerville Massachusetts
chapter of the Daughter’s of the American Revolution was named for her. In 1909
the chapter dedicated a marker in her honor which was made from the front door
stone from her home nearby. It stands today in the small park at Main and
Broadway in Somerville. Anne died February 7, 1813.
"To the memory of
Anne Adams-Tufts, Born 1729 Died 1813
A heroine of the
Revolution who did active patriotic service after the Battle of Bunker Hill.
This was the
door-stone of her home which stood about 120 feet south-west of this
spot."
Anne’s sister
Mary married Peter’s brother Nathan. Her cousin Anne Adams married Peter’s
brother Timothy (my ancestor) and cousin Martha Adams married their brother
Samuel. Anne, the subject of this story is often called Anna, Ann and Hannah.
There are several history books written on the Adams immigrant families to
Massachusetts. The one this family is best covered in is A genealogical
history of Henry Adams, of Braintree, Mass., and his descendants: also John
Adams, of Cambridge, Mass., 1632-1897 by Andrew M. Adams. That reference is dated, but contains details of
the family’s possible origins in England and details many families, including
presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams.
These sisters—Anne and
Mary (Adams) Tufts were women of strong character and great natural vigor of
constitution. The elder brother married the younger sister, the younger brother
the elder sister. In their respective homes in the early days of the Revolution
they rendered service to their country no less important than that of the male
members of their families. After the battle of Bunker Hill, Anne Tufts assisted
in binding up the wounds of eight wounded soldiers who were brought to her
house; and later in the war when a part of Burgoyne’s army was encamped as
prisoners on Winter hill, she went to the camp and nursed all night the dying
wife of one of the prisoners. Years afterward that soldier journeyed from
Canada, where he had settled after the war, and sought out Mrs. Tufts to thank
her again for that service and to ask her to point out the spot of his wife's
grave.
The Tufts Family in Somerville
by Edward C. Booth,
M. D.
This is a copy of an
extract from a letter written by Aaron Tufts of Pavilion Center, NY to be read
at the centennial celebration of Medford, MA April 1876: "One hundred
years ago today the people on this sacred spot broke the ice for the formation
of a Republic that has spread from ocean to ocean and is likely to overspread
the continent -- One hundred years ago today my Grandfather (Deacon Joseph
Adams) after doing duty at Bunker Hill, furnished the first hospital of the
Revolution. Those killed and wounded on the 19th of April were conveyed to
their respective homes, but those killed and wounded at Bunker Hill living at a
distance, hailing from different parts of New England by my father's invitation
were conveyed to his house in Medford". So Anna Adams Tufts is credited
with housing the first Revolutionary War Hospital. The farmhouse was on the
present site of Tufts College.
Public stories on
ancestry.com
Heroine of the Revolution
Bronze Tablet to Honor Memory of Anne Adams Tufts Dedicated
at Somerville
A bronze tablet to the memory of Anne Adams Tufts, who was a
Patriot in the War of the Revolution and nursed the wounded at the Battle of
Bunker Hill, was unveiled yesterday in Paul Revere Park, Winter Hill,
Somerville, by the members of the Anne Adams Tufts chapter, DAR. The tablet
rests upon the historic doorstone of the Anne Adams Tufts homestead and was
recently presented to the chapter by Miss Maria Brown.
The tablet was unveiled by Miss Sallie Adams, six years old,
of Clinton, a lineal descendant of the sixth generation. The service opened by
the reading of the report of the tablet committee by Mrs. Helen M. Heald. The
report was accepted by Mrs. Abbie I. Carleton, vice regent of the chapter. The
rest of the program was carried out at the Winter Hill Congregational Church,
Mrs. Carleton presiding. Rev. William Pierson of the First Unitarian Church
offered prayer and Mrs. Lucia Tucker Blake rendered several solos. Mrs.
Carleton, in behalf of the chapter, presented the tablet to Mayor Woods for the
city. A historical address was given by Miss Nellie R. Bray and an original
poem read by Sam Walter Foss. Mrs. James G. Dunning also spoke.
The exercises were attended by twenty-six descendants of
Anne Adams Tufts, the oldest being Mrs. Carrie T. Henderson, 83, of Somerville.
Boston Evening Transcript June 22,
1909, page 16.
(This was
sent to me by fellow researcher Tabitha Wallen)
Ancestry (Peter Tufts)
Peter Tufts (the immigrant) (1617-1700)
Tibenham, England, Charlestown, Massachusetts and Mary Pierce (1626-1702)
John Tufts (1664-1728) Malden, MA and Mary Putnam (1668-1758)
Peter Tufts (1697-1776) Charlestown, MA and Lydia Bucknam (1703/4-1776)
Peter Tufts Jr. (1729-1791) Charlestown
MA
Ancestry (Anne Adams) Most trees on ancestry.com seem to agree with the Henry
Adams book mentioned above, which is presented here:
Henry Adams (born in England-1646)
arrived in Braintree (area) around 1632-3. His wife is unknown but he came with
several sons. One of them was John, (called John of Cambridge in book).
John Adams (1622-1706) born in England,
immigrated with his father at a young age. Married Ann Howe
Joseph Adams (1657-1701) Arlington, MA
Lieutenant Joseph Adams (1688-1774)
Arlington, MA and Rachel (Allen) Adams.
Their graves are in the old Burying ground in Arlington and can be seen at
findagrave: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=AD&GSpartial=1&GSbyrel=all&GSst=21&GScntry=4&GSsr=2321&GRid=45254852&
Children:
Peter Tufts (1751-1752)
Peter Tufts 3rd (1753-1832)
married Hannah Adams and had 11
children.
John Tufts (1754-1839) married Elizabeth Perry and had 12 children.
Anna Tufts (1757-1839) married Abel Richardson and had 13 children.
Elizabeth Tufts (1758-1853) married Daniel Swan.
Joseph Tufts (1760-1818) married Abigail Tufts and had 11 children, then
married Hannah (Pierce) Williams.
Lydia Tufts (1762-1801) married Rev. Robert Gray of Dover, NH and had 7 children there.
Thomas Tufts (1766-1830) married Rebecca Adams and had 6 children.
Lucy Tufts (1767-1849) married Henry Putnam, then Jacob Osgood.
Rebecca Tufts (1770-1849) married Nathan Adams and had 2 children.
Sarah Tufts (1772-1843) married Joseph Adams and had 7 children. Rev
war soldier.
