J. Q. Adams Exceptional Signed Contract for Family Tomb

ADAMS, JOHN QUINCY. Manuscript Document Signed, "J. Q. Adams," 1p front and verso, 8.5” x 13.25”, Boston, October 2, 1827. Additionally signed twice by Henry Wood and countersigned by George Washington Adams and John Adams II, as witnesses. Fragile intersecting folds with partial edge separations, scattered light foxing, else Very Good.

The contract, in part, "This agreement made between John Quincy Adams of Boston in the County of Suffolk and Henry Wood of Quincy…That the said Henry Wood doth covenant and promise on his part to construct a tomb under the stone temple now erecting in said Quincy, in the middle division of the cellar beneath the porch, on the spot ceded to the said Adams by the Congregational Society at Quincy…The whole to be of handsome hammered granite stone taken from the ledge given by the late John Adams to the Town of Quincy. And the said Henry Wood on his past doth covenant and agree that the said tomb shall be constructed in a handsome and workmanlike and durable manner…And the said John Quincy Adams on his part doth covenant and agree to pay to the said Henry Wood or his order, on the completion of the said work, and the delivery to him of the key of the door…the sum of four hundred & thirty four dollars and eighty nine cents".

Accompanying the contract is a manuscript receipt signed by Henry Wood, in full, "This is to certify that I removed the remains of the late John Adams Esqr with his Consort from his family tomb in the burying ground to the tomb erected under the new stone Temple in Quincy April the 1 1828".

The temple referenced throughout the document is the United First Parish Church where John and Abigail Adams attended, along with their family. The construction of a new church building was financed by the Adams family, commencing in 1828. President John Adams aided the church's construction through a land donation, and the bulk of the granite used came from their family quarry. John Quincy Adams hired Henry Wood to construct a family tomb in the cellar, then had the bodies of his parents exhumed from their graves at Hancock Cemetery across the street and laid to rest in the new crypt. Like his father, John Quincy Adams was buried in Hancock Cemetery upon his death in 1848, as was his widow, Louisa Adams, when she passed in 1852. In December 1852, their only remaining son, Charles Francis Adams, had their remains re-interred in the family tomb along with John and Abigail. The additional two signatories on this document are Adams's other sons, who led tragic lives; his eldest, George Washington Adams (1801-1829), had a reputation as a drinker and womanizer and died of apparent suicide at age 28; John Adams II (1803-1834) served as his father's private secretary during his presidency, then also descended into alcoholism and passed at the young age of 31. Their signatures are presumably quite scarce.

An extraordinary and historically important document from one of America's most prominent families.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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