John Adams (merchant) facts for kids

John Adams (born around 1672 or 1673, died about 1745) was a businessman from America. He moved to Canada and became an important member of the Nova Scotia Council. This council helped govern the area. He was also the father-in-law of Henry Newton, another Canadian politician.

Early Life and Military Service

John Adams was born in Boston around 1672 or 1673. His parents were John and Avis Adams. When he was young, he worked as a small merchant.

In 1710, Adams joined a military group called Sir Charles Hobby's New England regiment. He helped capture a place called Port-Royal. This area is now known as Annapolis Royal in Nova Scotia.

Life in Nova Scotia

After his time in the military, Adams settled in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia. He became a civilian again. He traded goods like tools and clothes with the Acadian people and Native Americans living there. He also worked as a real estate agent and a contractor.

Public Service and Roles

On April 28, 1720, John Adams joined the Executive Council of Nova Scotia. This council was a group of people who helped run the government of Nova Scotia. He stayed on the council for 20 years, which was a very long time.

Adams also held other important jobs. In 1725, he became a notary public for Annapolis Royal. This meant he could legally witness signatures and documents. He also became a deputy collector of customs, helping to collect taxes on goods. In March 1727, he was made a justice of the peace. This role allowed him to help keep order and deal with minor legal issues.

Later Life and Retirement

Around the mid-1720s, Adams' eyesight started to get worse. By 1730, he was almost blind. Because of this, he became less involved in community activities and his business.

Adams asked the king for a pension many times. A pension is like a regular payment given to someone after they retire or become unable to work. However, he did not receive one. He believed his poor eyesight was caused by too much sun exposure during an attack on Annapolis Royal in 1724.

Changes in Leadership

In December 1739, the leader of the government, Lieutenant Governor Lawrence Armstrong, passed away. Major Mascarene was supposed to take his place, but he was not there. So, John Adams became the new president of the council. This meant he was in charge of the civil government for a short time.

However, Major Mascarene returned. On March 22, 1740, the council members decided that Mascarene was the rightful president. After this, Adams decided to retire. He moved back to Boston in late August or early September 1740. He lived there for the rest of his life and passed away sometime after 1745.