Susanna Adams

Abigail Adams (née Smith) was born on November 22, 1744, at the North Parish Congregational Church in Weymouth, Massachusetts. Her parents were William Smith and Elizabeth (née Quincy) Smith. She was descended from the Quincy political family on her mother's side and was related to Dorothy Quincy, who was married to John Hancock. Her great-grandfather was John Norton, the founding pastor of Old Ship Church in Hingham, Massachusetts.

William Smith, her father, was a Congregational minister known for emphasizing reason and morality in his teachings. Her mother, Elizabeth Quincy, and her maternal ancestors provided Abigail with early education in reading, writing, and literature. Abigail was not formally educated beyond her early years, partly due to illness and limited opportunities for women at the time, but she was self-educated through her reading and her family's large libraries. She also learned from her grandmother Elizabeth Quincy. The Smith family owned slaves, including a person named Phoebe, who served as a caretaker for Abigail and her siblings; Abigail would later express anti-slavery beliefs.

In 1759, at age 15, Abigail Smith met John Adams when he visited her family. They married on October 25, 1764, at her family home in Weymouth. John Adams was then a country lawyer. The couple settled in Braintree, Massachusetts, where they lived in a saltbox house on a farm inherited by John from his father. They had six children over a period of 12 years: Abigail ("Nabby") (1765–1813), John Quincy (1767–1848), Susanna ("Suky") (1768–1770), Charles (1770–1800), Thomas (1772–1832), and Elizabeth, who was stillborn in 1777.

Throughout their marriage, Abigail was responsible for managing family affairs and her husband's household, especially during his long absences for political work. Their correspondence, preserved in many letters, reveals a close intellectual and emotional relationship and reflects their mutual trust and respect. John often sought Abigail's advice on political and personal matters.

In 1771, John Adams moved Abigail and their children to Boston while maintaining his law practice in the city. Due to political tensions and unrest, Abigail and her family moved back to the farm in Braintree in 1774, which remained their home during the Revolutionary War period. Abigail also managed the family’s financial matters, including investments that proved beneficial after the U.S. government endorsed their full face value.

Between 1784 and 1788, Abigail accompanied John and their son John Quincy to Europe, where John served as a diplomat. They spent time in Paris and London. In Paris, Abigail adapted to her new surroundings, made friends, and developed an interest in theatre and fashion. She became the wife of the first U.S. minister to Britain and had a guardianship role for Thomas Jefferson's young daughter, Mary. The family returned to Quincy in 1788, where Abigail undertook the enlargement and remodeling of their home, Peacefield, now part of the Adams National Historical Park.

John Adams was inaugurated as the second president of the United States on March 4, 1797. Abigail was not present at the ceremony as she was attending to her ill mother. During John’s presidency (1797–1801), Abigail maintained a role of social leadership, hosting dinners and public events, and was known for her active involvement in political and diplomatic affairs. Her influence and correspondence have been historically recognized, and she is frequently ranked among the most highly regarded first ladies by historians. Abigail Adams died on October 28, 1818, in Quincy, Massachusetts.