Abigail Adams

John Ruggles b. Jan 1624/5 in Nasing, England, came to Roxbury in 1635 at the age of 10 years under the care of Philip Eliot; m. Jan. 24, 1650, Abigail Craft, dau. of Griffin Craft one of the first settlers of Roxbury. She was born in Roxbury, 28 March, 1634. She died 19 Jan 1706, having had two husbands after the death of her first husband John Ruggles, who died Sept. 15, 1658, aged 33; leaving three young children.They were:

• John b. Oct 16, 1651; d. y.
• John b. Jan 22, 1653.
• Thomas b. Jan 28, 1655.
• Samuel, b. Aug. 16, 1657.

Widow Abigail (Craft) (Ruggles) (Day) Adams, died in Medfield, Mass., Jan. 19, 1706-7. "John Ruggles died mo. 7, day 15, 1658" according to the church records. His will witnessed by Robert Pepper, Peleg Heath, was dated Sept. 9, 1658. He appointed "my Uncle Ruggles, my father Craft, and my brother Samuel to be overseers; and if my wife mary again, and my overseers do not like the usage of my children, I give them power to take them away and one half of my estte which I leave in the hands of my wife." By the conditions of the will, the mother was to have the whole estate until the children were of age, then John was to have two parts, and Samuel and Thomas one part each. By the will of his father Thomas, John inherited one-half of the house and homestead of Thomas, and brother John and sister Sarah the other half after their mother's decease.John appointed his wife Abigail and father Craft executors. In April, 1662, it became necessary to sell a part of John's estate, which he had pledged in his lifetime, and as he had not come into full possession because his mother was still living, when it appeared that it requred the signature of widow Abigail (now Day), Griffin Craft, Mary widow of Thomas4, and John's two brothers, Thomas and Samuel to complete the sale. This deed was witnessed by the well-known secretary of the colony, Edward Rawson, also recorded by him, and was acknowledged before Daniel Gookin, Sen'r. This deed related, apparently, to the estate on "Meeting House Hill," suggesting a cutting up of the estate. By anticipating in time, events, it may be said here: John6 the oldest son of John5 and Abigail, who married Sept. 2, 1674, Martha Devotion, died Dec. 16, 1694, and administration of his estate was given to his widow Martha in 1695. But Feb. 14, 1704-5, widow Martha had become Martha Payne, and Abigail (Craft) (Ruggles) Day, whose assent was still required to the deeds had become Abigail Adams.

References

• WikiTree Genealogy - SmartCopy: Sep 22 2016, 4:24:47 UTC
• A Genealogical History of Henry Adams, of Braintree, Mass., and ..., Volume 1 By Andrew Napoleon Adams. Page 7 GoogleBooks Page 500 GoogleBooks shows as Lydia Rockwood, since disproved
• The History of Peter Parker and Sarah Ruggles of Roxbury, Mass. and Their ... By John William Linzee. Page 329. GoogleBooks
• http://person.ancestry.com/tree/15626204/person/370895767/facts