Click to close [X]

Click image to enlarge

ADAMS, JOHN QUINCY. (1767-1848). Sixth president of the United States. DS. (“J.Q. Adams”). 1p. Large 4to. Norfolk, July 26, 1845. A partially-printed contract in which Adams and his wife transfer ownership of a tract of land called “Penn’s Hill,” located in Quincy and Braintree, to the Old Colony Railroad for the purpose of building a rail line between Boston and Plymouth. Also signed by his wife, LOUISA C. ADAMS (1775-1852, “L.C. Adams”) “in token of her relinquishment of dower in the aforementioned premises” and their son CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS (1807-1886, “C.F. Adams”).

In 1775, Adams and his mother Abigail sat on Penn’s Hill watching Charlestown burn during the Battle of Bunker Hill. Located above the Adams farm, Penn’s Hill has been the location of a monument to Abigail Adams, the Abigail Adams Cairn, since 1896 and is a popular biking destination.

An early adopter of the railroad, Quincy was home to the first commercial railroad in the United States, the Granite Railway, constructed to haul stone from Quincy’s productive quarries. Massachusetts was also one of the locations of early passenger rail development. The Old Colony Railroad, (a reference to the Plymouth Colony) was established in 1844 to service the Boston area and is responsible for the suburbanization of its southern sector; although other railroads existed, none of them serviced the areas southeast of Boston. After opening the line connecting Boston to Plymouth, the O.C.R.R. continued to build stations in South Braintree, Bridgewater and Fall River. 

Adams participated in and offered a toast at the official opening ceremony of the Old Colony Railroad on November 8, 1845, to celebrate the first run between Boston and Plymouth. “At all the towns and settlements along the road flags were hoisted and the people were assembled to witness the novel procession and salute it with the roar of cannon, cheers, waving of flags and handkerchiefs and other demonstrations of satisfaction, the whole line of the railroad presenting a gala day appearance. At Abington a large number of children were drawn up in a line to greet the party, and at this place a band of music joined it. On arriving at Plymouth the whole company marched under escort of the band to Pilgrim Hall, which, in the language of a scribe of those days, ‘was opened and warmed with good fires for the occasion.’ After the excursionists had vacated the cars a large party of ladies, gentlemen and children of Plymouth, by invitation of the railroad officials, were taken on board the train and treated to short excursions,” (Opening of the Old Colony Railroad, Hazelboom).

A native of England, Louisa Adams remains the only first lady to have been born abroad. During her marriage, she accompanied her husband to Russia where he was a minister and later earned a reputation for her elegant entertaining in Washington while Adams was secretary of state. One of their sons, Charles Francis Adams, was a Harvard trained lawyer and student of Daniel Webster. He followed his father into politics, serving in the Massachusetts legislature, Congress and as Lincoln’s minister to Great Britain, which he sought to keep neutral during the Civil War.   

Adamssigned our document while serving in the House of Representatives, 16 years after he left the White House. Two small paper seals are affixed to the lower left margin. Folded into sixths with some separation along the folds. In good condition. Attractively framed with color portraits of Adams and his wife. A very unusual association with a rare combination of signatures.

Item #17014

Price: $3,000