Adams, Andrew, 1736-1797

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Andrew Adams (January 7, 1736 – November 26, 1797) was an American Founding Father, lawyer, jurist, and political leader in Litchfield, Connecticut, during the American Revolutionary War. He was a delegate for Connecticut to the Continental Congress, signatory of the Articles of Confederation, and later Chief Justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court.

Born in Stratford, Connecticut, he attended Yale and graduated in 1760 before reading law with his father. After first practicing in Stamford, Adams was named the King's attorney for Litchfield County in 1772. He moved to Litchfield in 1774 and made his home there for the rest of his life. He received the degree of LL.D. from Yale in 1796. With the coming of the American Revolution, Adams was a member of Connecticut's Committee of Safety. He served in the Connecticut House of Representatives from 1776 until 1781 and was its speaker in 1779 and 1780. During the Revolutionary War, he also served as a colonel in the Connecticut militia. He was appointed to the Second Continental Congress in 1778, signed the Articles of Confederation, and is considered a Founding Father.

After leaving the Continental Congress in 1788, a year later Adams had been named a member of the Connecticut executive council by Trumbull. Adams was also granted a seat as a judge that same year, and he was granted the position of chief justice in 1793, which was the position he kept until his death in Litchfield. Adams lies buried in the West Cemetery there.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Trumbull, Jonathan, 1710-1785. ALS : Lebanon, Conn., to Andrew Adams, 1777 Dec. 5. Rosenbach Museum & Library
referencedIn Frederick M. Dearborn collection of military and political Americana, Part I: The Revolution and the Administration, 1669-1958. Houghton Library
creatorOf Wolcott, Oliver, 1726-1797. ALS, 1780 Dec. 27, Philadelphia, Pa., to Andrew Adams. Rosenbach Museum & Library
creatorOf Adams, Andrew, 1736-1797. Andrew Adams papers, 1763-1797. William L. Clements Library
creatorOf Pierce, John, Jr. Letter, 1775 August 24. American Periodical Series I
referencedIn Chauncey family. Chauncey family papers, 1675-1928 (inclusive). Yale University Library
creatorOf Wolcott, Oliver, 1726-1797. ALS, 1777 Mar. 22, Philadelphia, Pa., to Andrew Adams, North Litchfield, Conn. Rosenbach Museum & Library
referencedIn Sparks, Jared, 1789-1866. Collection of documents concerning the American Revolution, 1740-1866 Houghton Library
creatorOf Pierce, John, Jr. Letter, 1776 August 16. American Periodical Series I
creatorOf Andrew Adams letters, 1769, undated New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
creatorOf Wolcott, Oliver, 1726-1797. ALS, 1778 Apr. 25, York, Pa., to Andrew Adams, Litchfield, Conn. Rosenbach Museum & Library
creatorOf Andrew Adams papers 1763-1797 Adams, Andrew papers William L. Clements Library
creatorOf Wolcott, Oliver, 1726-1797. ALS, 1776 May 6, Philadelphia, Pa., to Andrew Adams. Rosenbach Museum & Library
creatorOf Wolcott, Oliver, 1726-1797. ALS, 1777 Apr. 9, Philadelphia, Pa., to Andrew Adams. Rosenbach Museum & Library
creatorOf Pierce, John, Jr. Letter, 1776 August 28. American Periodical Series I
creatorOf Livingston, Robert, 1708-1790. Letter, 1770 July 31. American Periodical Series I
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Chauncey family. family
memberOf Connecticut. General Assembly. House of Representatives corporateBody
memberOf Connecticut. Supreme Court corporateBody
associatedWith Dearborn, Frederick M. (Frederick Myers), b. 1876 person
associatedWith Livingston, Robert, 1708-1790. person
associatedWith Pierce, John, Jr. person
associatedWith Sparks, Jared, 1789-1866 person
associatedWith Trumbull, Jonathan, 1710-1785. person
memberOf United States. Continental Congress corporateBody
associatedWith Wolcott, Oliver, 1726-1797. person
alumnusOrAlumnaOf Yale University. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Stratford CT US
Litchfield CT US
New Haven CT US
Subject
Lawyers
Lawyers
Occupation
Delegates, U.S. Continental Congress
Jurists
Lawyers
State Representative
State Supreme Court Judge
Activity

Person

Birth 1736-01-07

Death 1797-11-26

Male

Britons,

Americans

English

Information

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