A COLLECTION OF AMERICAN EPITAPHS AND INSCRIPTIONS, WITH OCCASIONAL NOTES, BY REV. TIMOTHY ALDEN.

QUINCY, MASS.

438. Note.-HENRY ADAMS, the ancestor of many families in this country, came, about 1630, to Mount Wollaston, now Quincy, but originally a part of Boston. He was from the county of Devonshire, in England, where he buried his wife. Eight sons accompanied him to Massachusetts, one of whom, Joseph, settled in Braintree, Henry, Jonathan, Peter, and Edward, in Medfield, and two in Chelmsford. The other returned to the land of his fathers.

Joseph Adams, whose wife was Mary Baxter, daughter of captain John Baxter, of Braintree, had three sons, Joseph and Peter, who spent their days in Braintree, and John, who removed to Boston.

Joseph Adams, grandson of the first mentioned Henry Adams, whose wife was Hannah Bass, daugh ter of Samuel Bass of Braintree, had five sons 1. rev. Joseph Adams, who, having been the pastor of the church in Newington, New Hampshire, for sixty-eight years, died, in 1783, at the age of 98 years; 2 capt. Ebenezer Adams, of Braintree;

3. deacon John Adams, of Braintree; 4. Josiah Adams, of Mendon; 5. Samuel Adams, of Braintree.

Deacon John Adams, whose wife was Susanna Boylston, daughter of Peter Boylston of Brookline, had three sons; 1. his excellency, John Adams, LL. D. late president of the United States; 2. Peter Boylston Adams, esq, of Quincy; 3. Elihu Adams, of Randolph, formerly a part of Braintree.

His excellency, John Adams, late president of the United States, whose wife is Abigail, the second daughter of the late rev. William Smith of Weymouth, has had four children.

1. Abigail, who deceased at Quincy, 15 August, 1813, at the age of forty-eight years, who was the wife of the hon. William Smith, of New-York, leaving three children, William Steuben, John Adams, and Caroline Amelia.

2. His excellency, John Quincy Adams, LL. D. minister from the United States at the court of Russia, whose wife is Catharine Louisa, a daughter of Joshua Johnson of Maryland, and whose children are George Washington, John, and Charles Francis.

3. Charles Adams, esq. who deceased at NewYork, 22 December, 1800, at the age of thirty years, whose wife was Sarah Smith, daughter of John Smith, of New-York, leaving two children, Susanna Boylston and Abigail Louisa Smith.

4. Hon. Thomas Boylston Adams, of Quincy, whose wife is Ann, daughter of Joseph Harrod of Haverhill, and whose children are Abigail Smith,

Elizabeth Coombs, Thomas Boylston, and Isaae Hull.

QUINCY, MASS.

439. Note. The following paragraphs are from a sermon on Ps. 112. 6, delivered by the rev. Peter Whitney, at the interment of the hon. RICHARD CRANCH, who died, 16 Oct. 1811, at the age of eighty five, and of his consort, mrs. MARY CRANCH, who died, on the succeeding day, at the age of seventy years.

"The honourable Richard Cranch was born at Kingsbridge in England, in October, 1726. He was descended from reputable parents, who were of that class of christians called Puritans. Accordingly, the son was early instructed in the great principles of religion, and had continually before him an example of strict adherence to the practice of the gospel. The religious sentiments of his parents were of a more rigid cast, than to meet his cordial recepLion; but their piety and sincere attachment to what they conceived to be the truth were always the subject of his admiration. At the age of nineteen he left his native country and embarked for America. Upon his arrival here he resided for several years in Boston, and soon became acquainted with some of the most distinguished characters both among the clergy and the laity. With the celebrated dr. Mayhew he was peculiarly intimate. He statedly attended upon his preaching, and in a short time became a member of his church. His mind

career.

was naturally vigorous and comprehensive, thoughtful and inquisitive. His friendship was therefore sought by the wise and virtuous, and in their society he laid a foundation for an honourable and useful His faculties were continually improving by all the advantages, which books and the conversation of the intelligent could impart. Though he was not favoured with the privilege of an early classical education; yet by unwearied application he soon acquired a competent knowledge of those languages, which are taught in the university.

"With all the sciences he had a general acquaintance; but his taste led him principally to the pursuit of that most important of all sciences, the knowledge of God, of his works, and dispensations. Christian theology arrested his first regards. The study of the holy scriptures was his most delightful employment. To ensure the greatest success in his inquiries into this sacred volume he applied himself to the study of the original languages, in which the Old and New Testaments were written. With the truth of the christian religion founded upon the prophecies of scripture he was forcibly impressed. This impression led him to a course of reading, which might throw light on this interesting portion of the bible. Those prophecies especially, in which the character of the great apocalyptic beast, or antichrist, is described, and which have generally been considered as applicable to the church of Rome, he digested into a system in some respects peculiar to himself. The outlines only of

this system have been given to the publick. It is a subject of deep regret with many that he could not be prevailed upon to present to the world the whole of his learned and ingenious theory. They, who are conversant with prophecy, and have listened to an exposition of his scheme, have been struck with its merits, and pressingly urged its publication.

"In seventeen hundred and fifty he left Boston, on account of the destructive prevalence of the smallpox, and came to this place, then known by the North Parish of Braintree. Here he resided a short time, and had his relation transferred from doctor Mayhew's church to this. Circumstances soon led him to remove from this town to Weymouth. Accordingly he obtained a dismission from this church to the church of Christ in that place, and with that church he stood related till the period of his decease. During his residence in Weymouth he formed that conjugal relation, which through a long life has been a source of the most exalted happiness.

"Being induced in the course of providence to make another remove he returned in a few years to this town; and, with the exception of residing one or two years in Salem, and a few more in Boston, he continued here through the residue of his days.

"His talents and his virtues soon recommended him to the confidence of the people. He was repeatedly chosen to represent the united parishes of Braintree in the general assembly of this state. He frequently received the suffrages of the people for sena