BIOGRAPHY
John Adams was baptised 25th June 1815 at Werrington, Devonshire, England the son of  Leonard Adams [1780-1847] & and his wife
Maria [nee Squires][1791-1873]. His father was a pious man, his family committed to the Wesleyan Methodist Philosophy.
The Baptism entry reads his father: 'husbandman of Yeolmbridge', the ceremony performed by
John Braddon, Minister. Yeolmbridge was a small farming area adjacent the township of Werrington where his parents were
married on the 27th March 1811. John had six surviving siblings; Mary b.1812; Elizabeth b.1813; Maria b. 1819;
Henry Hopper Adams b. 1821; William b. 1825 and Thomasin born 1829.
Two years before he was born, his father was legatee in the Will of Leonard Hopper [1736-1813], his grandmother's brother.
His widowed grand-mother, Elizabeth Adams [nee Hopper] [1744-1821] died when John was aged eleven His grandfather
Roger Adams [1755 -1806] died before he was born.
This maternal 'Hopper' ancestral name was carried by the Adams Family as a 'middle name' for many subsequent generations.
This Direct Lineage dates back to the 16th Century at Black Torrington, Devonshire, the ancient Cradle of the Hopper Family.
Also see: Hopper Etymology [under construction].
 At the age of twenty-two John Adams married Betsy Williams by Banns on the 1st April 1838 at Milton Abbott,
Devon [7.2 miles SE of Werrington]. John was recorded as a labourer and Betsey as a Servant. John signed
his name on the document, Betsey with her mark. Witnesses were John Polgreen and John Olver.
This entry is consistent with the Bible of their son Henry Hopper Adams.
Left: A Copy of Original Civil Marriage Certificate - BDM England.
Betsey Williams;
Betsey Williams was baptised on the 11th December 1813 at Tavistock, Devon, consistent with the Bible
of her son Henry Hopper Adams. Betsey was born the daughter of Thomas Williams and his wife Mary
[nee Bray], she had several siblings.
Further informaton see WILLIAMS FAMILY OF TAVISTOCK, DEVON
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In all John and Betsey had six children in England and a further three born in South Australia*;
Child 1: James Adams was born 9th Sept. 1839 at Eastacott Devon, baptised same day at Dunterton near Tavistock.
His father's occupation was recorded 'labourer'. A strange naming pattern for an eldest son - See notes.
Child 2: Mary Adams born 17th Sept. 1842 at Tavistock. Perhaps namesake of John's sister?
Child 3: Henry Hopper Adams born 30th Dec. 1843 at Tavistock. An ancestral 'Adams' name.
Child 4: Tamzin Adams born 2nd August 1847 at Tavistock. Another peculiar choice of name.
Child 5: Mariah Adams born 24th February 1850 at Tavistock. Namesake of John's mother.
Child 6: William Thomas Adams born 30th April 1852 at Tavistock. William - John's brother & Thomas - Betsy's father.
POST IMMIGRATION;
Child 7: Hannah Adams born 13th May, 1854, Spring Gulley, Mt. Barker, South Australia. Another peculiar choice.
Child 8: John Adams born 27th August 1856, Spring Gulley, Mt. Barker, South Australia. Is self explanatory.
* all birth dates were taken from the Bible of their son Henry Hopper Adams.
 In the 1841 Census [7th June] they were living at Newton, Milton Abbott,
John Adams, age 25, Agricultural Labourer,
Elizabeth Adams, age 25
 Next Page: and their young son James Adams aged 1 year.
At this time John's parents were still living at Yeolmbridge, Cornwall, his father Leonard Adams was recorded as an
Agricultural Labourer,living with his wife Maria and John's younger siblings John & Tamzin were living with them aged fifteen
and twelve respectively. His father died six years later on the 23rd March 1847. His tombstone still stands in the Werrington
Church Yard.
 By the 1851 Census [30th March] John and his family were still living at Milton Abbott, when five more
of their children were recorded;.
John Adams, 35, Head, Agricultural Labourer, Born Werrington, Devon
Betsey Adams, 30, Wife, Born Tavistock Devon
Mary Adams, Daughter, 9yrs, born Tavistock
Henry Adams, Son, 7yrs, born Tavistock
Next page:
 Tamzen Adams, daughter, 2yrs, born Tavistock
Maria Adams, daughter, one year, born Tavistock.
 Their eldest son James was by now aged eleven and was recorded working as a cow-boy a mile away on a
nearby farm at Bradstone about ½ an hour's walk from his parents home. The property 'Hollerex' of 220
acres was owned by Philip Spears who lived there with his wife and young family, employing five agricultural
labourers, 1 boy (James Adams) and plus others. James was recorded as a Servant, age 11, Cow Boy,
born Eastacott, Devon.
On the same Census John's widowed mother had moved to the Hamlet of St. Thomas, Dunhead, Cornwall with her daughter
Thomasine recorded: Maria Adams, Head, Widow, age 65, born Cornwall, Marhamchurch; Thomasine Adams, Daughter, Unmarried,
Age 21, Dress Maker, born Devon, Werrington.
Leaving the Motherland
It was around this time that the entire Adams Family made preparations to immigrate to Australia.
John's brother Henry Hopper Adams had already left England four years before to settle in Auckland, New Zealand. His other
brother William had opted to settle in Victoria, Australia where his wife had a brother living in Melbourne. The rest of the Family
including John, his mother and sisters all chose to immigrate to South Australia. Three months before departure Betsey gave
birth to a son, 'William' in April 1852.
With the necessary papers approved, John and his family were the first to leave the Motherland via Portsmouth [2 miles of Tavistock]
per the Barque 'China' on the 26th July 1852, arriving at Port Adelaide, South Australia on Friday 12th November 1852. The voyage
took 3½ months. Below: The entry from The Ship's List Online
Adams |
John |
38 |
Husbandman |
6/2 |
Devon |
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Betsey |
39 |
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James |
12 |
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Mary |
10 |
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Henry |
8 |
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Thirza |
4 |
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Maria |
2 |
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William Thomas |
inf |
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John's only married sister Maria Matters [nee Adams] was next to embark, with her spouse Thomas Matters and their three sons
per the Barque 'Sea Park' leaving Plymouth 24th August 1852, arriving Port Adelaide 10th December 1852.
John's brother William was next to leave Plymouth with his wife and infant daughter, per 'St. George' 6th October 1852, arriving at
Port Phillip, Melbourne early around 28th November 1852, the voyage recorded taking 7 weeks & 4 days. He placed several
advertisements in the Argus Newspaper seeking his wife's brother. [See Epilogue in the Biography of his father Leonard Adams.
John's mother now aged 66 and his three unmarried sisters Elizabeth aged 37, Maria 32 and Thomasine aged 22 were the last of
the Adams Family to leave England. Departing Plymouth on the 15th September 1852 per barque 'Macedon' they arrived at Port
Adelaide 9th January 1853. On arrival his mother and sisters appear to have lived with John's married sister Mary Matters and
her family.
Eighteen months after arrival sees John and his family settled on a farm at Spring Gully at Mount Barker in the Bowen District.
Mount Barker lies at the foot of the mountain which bears its name, then a small rural town it lies 35kms from the centre of
Adelaide. Here Betsey gave birth to her first Australian born child, a daughter 'Hannah' born 13th May, 1854
- Birthdate from the Bible of John & Betsey's son Henry Hopper Adams.
Just over two years later, at the age of thirty-nine, Betsey gave birth to their last child 'John' born at Spring Gully on the
27th August 1856 - Birthdate from the Bible of Henry Hopper Adams.
 Two years later Betsey Filed a Complaint against a neighbour Jane Alexander, wife of Thomas Alexander
who had threatened to murder her. The Case was heard at the Mount Barker Court 13th October 1858
when Alexander was bound by her husband in the sum of 25 to keep the peace for six months.
Left: South Australia Register: 18th Oct. 1858.
 The Alexanders appear to have been neighbours for the past two years during which time John had a dispute
with Thomas about charcoal. The antagonism between the two families escalated over the next two weeks
when the Alexanders removed some of the fencing panels on John's property turning two bullocks into his
wheat crops, thereafter returning the panels in order to close in the animals. John filed action against
Thomas Alexander and the matter presented at Mount Barker Court on the 3rd November, 1858.
Betsey gave evidence at the Trial.
The Court Ruled in favour of the Plaintiff and Alexander was fined 10 shillings plus Costs.
Left: South Australian Register: 6th November 1858.
Jane Alexander was born in Dublin Ireland [1823] & married Thomas Alexander [died 1898] settling at first at Bowden and
then at Mount Barker until her death in 1917 at the age of 97. It would be reasonable to assume that there was much gossip in the
small community regarding the conflicts. Whether the continuing strain of unfriendly neighbours took it's toll on Betsey's health
will probably never be known, but it was at this time that she became ill with a lingering illness from which she sadly never
completely recovered.
Nine years later John was Issued a Slaughtering Licence by the Mount Barker Council. South Australian Advertiser: 30th July 1869.
 Betsey Adams [nee Williams] died at the Mount Barker property three years later on the 28th July 1872
aged fifty-nine after an illness of fifteen years. The date is consistent with the Bible of her son HHAdams.
Left: Death Notice: Sth Aust. Register. Thursday 15th August, 1872.
Six months later John's mother died at the home of his married sister, Mary Matters, on the 23rd February 1873.
During this time and shortly following several of their children married;
Eldest son James had moved east to work in the Victorian Goldfields as a miner.
He married Charlotte Maria Hamilton at the small township at Pleasant Creek, Victoria
22nd November 1869. They ultimately moved to Castlemaine, where John's brother William
had established himself as a respected Auctioneer,Freemason and twice elected mayor of the town
. James died in a tragic mining accident in 1895.
Daughter Mary had married Thomas Downie under the name 'Mary Ann Williams Adams' [embracing her mother's
maiden name] at St. Paul Adelaide 9th October, 1860. They had Issue.
Son Henry Hopper Adams married Mary Jane Tippett at the Wesleyan Chapel at Mt. Barker 10th May 1870.
He eventually moved to Melbourne where he died Testate in 1915. His bible still exists today.
Daughter Tamzin married thirty-one year old widower John Teakle at Adelaide 19th Nov. 1873. She was living
at Kent Town at the time of her marriage.
Daughter Hannah married William Workman in Adelaide 14th August 1873.
Outcomes for their remaining children Mariah aged around 22yrs at this time, William Thomas aged 18yrs and John
who would have been aged around 16yrs have not yet been established.
Two years after Betsy's death John married the widow Caroline Jury [nee Waypool] at the Registry Office, Adelaide 27th Feb. 1875.
Groom noted: John Adams, widower, age 58yrs - Father's name Leonard Adams.
Bride noted: Caroline Jury, widow, age 42yrs - Father's name Joseph Waypool. There was no Issue from the union.
Eleven years later John elder spinster sister Elizabeth took her own life under tragic circumstances at the home of his married sister
Maria Matters living in Adelaide. The news article relating to her death relates that a few days prior to the incident she was visited
by her brother whom she had not seen for 42 years. Elizabeth had only three brothers, Henry Hopper Adams who had immigrated to
New Zealand 43 years before; William Adams who had immigrated with his wife & family to Victoria in 1852 [34yrs ago] and John.
It is felt that although John was living at Mount Barker he very possibly had contact with his sisters during this time. The Advertiser
[Adelaide] 18th March 1886 Part 1 - Part 2.
Three years later, John was aged seventy-four when, with his 2nd wife Caroline, he visited his eldest son James and his wife Charlotte
at Sandhurst, Victoria, near the Goldfields at Bendigo in 1890. During this visit the family attended the Rational Dress Picnic on the
Road to Fernshaw, Victoria. Several Photos were taken en route by a local professional Photographer dated c.1890
John returned to South Australia where he is believed to have died 35kms from Adelaide at the small township of Magill on the
12th December 1893*. He is believed to have been living at Magill with his married daughter Mary Ann Williams Downie who also
later lived at Norwood a short distance from Magill.
His widow survived him by twenty years an died at Stephany St. Australia 13th Oct. 1915 aged eighty-four.
* There were only two entries in the SA Death Index, which could apply. The previously assumed death for John Adams on the
6th Dec. 1895 at Adelaide, with the aide of several Newspaper Articles, has been found conclusively to be another John Adams.
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Probate was Granted to his Executors, 
