Addams Ancestors

FAMILY GROUP RECORD OF
JOHN ADDAMS

John Addams was born in about 1520 of Harley, Shropshire. He was a yeoman in Harley. John was mentioned in a history of Eaton under Haywood in Shropshire: "In 1563 the Lytteltons sold three farms (c. 430 a.) in LONGVILLE and Lushcott, with their great tithes, to John Adams of Harley, Thomas Adams of Acton Burnell, and Thomas Hill. John Adams (d. by 1580) was succeeded by his spinster daughters Elizabeth and Dorothy, who sold their property that year to their sister Mary, also apparently unmarried. Thomas Adams (d. 1593) left his estate to his wife with remainder to his daughters Joan Newnham and Avise Adams. (fn. 25) In 1625 Joan, to whom Avise's share had passed by 1623, settled a moiety on her son William, the rest to be his after her death." (British History Online – Longville, Lushcott and part of East Wall). John's brother was Thomas Adams, as mentioned in John's daughter Elizabeth Adams' will of 1586.

John was mentioned in a deed of 1 May 1565: "Whereas John Lyttleton of Franckley, Worcs, Esq., and Gilbert Lyttleton, gent, son and heir apparent of John Lyttleton, by indenture of 24 Feb. 5 Elizabeth (1562/3) for £231 5s 8d to them from John Adams, Thomas Hyll and Thomas Adams bargained and sold to them jointly 3 messuages in Longfild alias Longveld and Lusshecote, parish of Eaton alias Eyton in the separate tenures of Edmund Adams, the said Thomas Hyll and Thomas Adams, with all buildings and lands, and all tithes of Longfild as separately allotted to them in 4 separate parcels after which bargain and sale in the term of Easter 6 Elizabeth (1564) in the Queen's Bench John Littleton and Brigitt his wife and Gilbert Littleton for better securing the bargain and sale acknowledged the property by a fine in the court as 3 messuages, 200a land, 50a meadow, 150a pasture and 30a wood in Longfild and Luschecote and tithes of corn and grain to be the right of John Adams which John, Thomas and Thomas had by gift of John Littleton and Brigett and Gilbert, which fine was made to the use of John Adams, Thomas Hill and Thomas Adams and their heirs according to the intent of the bargain and sale; and it was allowed that the £95 16s 8d of the £231 5s 8d paid to the Littletons was from John Adams, £55 16s 8d was from Thomas Hill and £79 12s 4d residue was paid by Thomas Adams. Nevertheless the right of succession of the premises on the death of each of the three shall be the corporeal heir unless other provison is made.

Now John, Thomas and Thomas grant by this deed and confirm to Edward Tayley of Harley, jnr., Christopher Morall of Much Wenlock, yeoman and Richard Lewes of Rownd Acton, clerk, the said property. To hold to them forever to the separate uses specified in this. To hold a messuage in Lushecote in which George Russell now lives, a close called the Barn Yard, a pasture called the Field Leasow, another pasture called the Brode Yard, another pasture called the Change, 3 parcels of meadow and pasture called the Mastafild, 2 other pastures called the Bentleys, one other pasture called the newe lands, 1 other pasture called Hodge yate, 1 meadow called Mylward lands and 1 parcel of pasture in Longvelds field, now or late in the tenure of William Parsons, and 1 parcel of land and wood called Longvelds Wood (13 acres) and the tithes of corn and grain in the premises, to the sole use of John Adams, his heirs and assigns.

Witnesses: George Russell, Allen Jurden, William Rooe and William Parsons."

Harley

John was also mentioned in old deeds:"Referring again to the family of Adams or Addams, of whom came Alice, wife of Ralph Corheld of Longville the above pedigree distinctly, by this similarity of Arms, refers her to the family of Adams of Longdon, who entered their pedigree in the Visitation of 1623, and bear as arms Ermine 3 cats a mountain in pale tails coward ppr., other MSS. say az. The present F. Channer Corfield, Esq., of Ormonde Fields, Co. Derby, kindly informs the writer in an interesting letter that he has two old Deeds of the Adams family, both spelt with one " d," one relating to John Adams de Harley in Com. Salop, yeoman, and others who appear to sell lands to John Lyttleton de Ffranckley in Com. de Wigorn Armiger, dated on the back May 1st, 7 Eliz, The other Deed relates to Elizabeth and Dorothy Adams, daughters of John Adams de Harley, temp. Elizabeth. There is in possession of the writer a Deed dated 24 February, 5 Elizabeth, between John Lyttleton of Frankley, Co. Worcester, Esq. , and Gylberte Lyttleton, gent., heir apparent of the said John, on the one part, and John Adams of Harley, Co. Salop, yoman, Thomas Hyll of Much Wenlock, in the Co. of Salop, yoman, and Thomas Adams of Acton Burnell, on the other part, by which the Lyttletons for the som of two hundred thrytty oon pounds fy ve shillings & eight pence " sell to the Adamses and Hill three messuages, farms, or tenements in Longfyldals, Longveld, and Lusshecote, in the parish of Eaton, which were then in the occupation of Edmund Adams, Thomas Hyll, and Thomas Adams. The Deed subsequently mentions Brygytte, wife of the said John Lyttleton. It is signed by John and Gilbert Lyttleton, the seal of the first is gone, that of the second is a bird with the wings raised, rudely engraved. In the endorsement of the Deed the name Adams is spelt Addams, and there is a note " Eliza. and Dor. Addams reless to Mary Addams 23 feb. 22 Eliz Regine." This Deed evidently belongs to the same set as the two mentioned above, and on "the evidence of the Arms given we should conclude that these Adamses belonged to the family of Adams formerly of Longdon. Longville is about five miles east of Church Stretton, on the way to Wenlock, so evidently a branch of the Longdon Adamses was seated at no great distance from Wenlock and Broseley." (Transactions of the Shropshire Archaeological and Natural History Society (Volume yr.1894)

John died in about 1586. An entry is found for John Addams of Harley in the probate index on 3 August 1586. The Act Book has an entry for that date, but the will has not been found yet.

The Act Book entry lists "Johis Addams de vixit poch de Harley defuncti Elizabethe Addams et Dorothey Addams filiabus naturale":
John Addams of the parish of Harley deceased Elizabethe Addams and Dorothey Addams his natural daughters.

John and his wife had the following children:

1. Elizabeth, not married, left a will proven 16 March 1586/7 of Harley: "In the name of God amen I Elizabeth Adames daughter of Jhon Adames of Harley deceased being sicke in bodye and of pfect memory God be praysed doe make my last will and testament in maner and forme following: Imprimus I doe geve and bequeth unto Elizabeth my mayde one flocke bed and seven slippes of yarne. Item I geve and bequeth unto Jhon my sarvant one flocke bed one payre of sheetes and one boulster; and all the rest of my goodes unbequethed movable and unmovable I doe geve and bequethe unto my uncle Thomas Adames and doe make and ordayne Avys Adames daghter of the said Thomas Adames my sole executor made and dated the tenth daye of Marche 1586.
Seled and delivered in the presents of Lancelot Dewpell Rowlande Carter Ieuan ap Davye Jhon Bayly Elizabeth Wotton & Mr Henericus Wisnam".

2. Dorothy, not married.

3. Mary, not married.

4. Alice, born in about 1550; married Ralph Corfield in 1563 in Cardington, Shropshire; died in about 1598 in Longville in the Dale, Shropshire; buried in Cardington.

SOURCES: British History Online – Longville, Lushcott and part of East Wall; Transactions of the Shropshire Archaeological and Natural History Society; Transactions of the Shropshire Archaeological and Natural History Society (Volume yr.1894)