Richard Adams

Richard Adams (May 17, 1726 – August 1 or 2, 1800) was a merchant, planter and politician from Virginia, who served in both houses of the Virginia General Assembly, as well as the Virginia Revolutionary Conventions, and previously in the House of Burgesses.

Early years Adams was born in 1726, probably on his father's Cumberland plantation near the Pamunkey River in New Kent County, Virginia. He was the fourth son of eight children born to local merchant and planter Ebenezer Adams and his wife, the former Tabitha Cocke, and named after his grandfather (as was his eldest brother, who had already died as an infant). His father was born in London, England, settled in Virginia before 1714 and became a merchant and planter in the colony, receiving land grants in New Kent County and neighboring Henrico County. Three of his sisters married prominent planter/politicians: Tabitha (b. 1728) married Richard Eppes, Anne (1731-1775) became the second wife and widow of Col. Francis Smith of Essex County, and Sarah married Col. John Fry of Albemarle County.

Career

Adams succeeded to his father's mercantile business, and became quite wealthy, with his brother Thomas handling to firm's operations in England from 1762 until 1774. A modern historian estimates that at his death Adams owned at least 16,761 acres, including his residence (on what was variously known as "Church Hill" for historic St. John's Episcopal Church, or "Adams Hill" for his residence), a plantation at White Oak Swamp in surrounding Henrico County, his father's Cumberland Town plantation in New Kent County, a plantation in Essex County, as well as land in the upriver or western counties (Augusta, Botetourt, Fluvanna, Goochland and Patrick). He also owned a coal mine in Goochland County and a half-interest in 3,000 acres in Fayette County, in what became Kentucky.

Adams also served on the Richmond City Council, and fellow council members elected him as Mayor, a position he held 1786-1788.

Personal life Adams married Elizabeth Griffin (1736-1800) on April 10, 1755. They had six sons and five daughters, most of whom reached adulthood. Their most prominent son, John, studied in Edinburgh, became a physician and prominent businessman who also served as Richmond's mayor, nearly two decades after his father's death. This Richard Adams survived his brother Thomas, who married and moved to the frontier to handle business and land there, but died without children. Therefore, this man's grand son William and Smith (who married the daughter of Mrs. Thomas Adams) became two of Thomas Adams' heirs, with William Jr. ultimately moving to the frontier in what became Bath County, Virginia.

Death and legacy Thomas died at some time in the night of August 1-2, 1800. He was buried in a cemetery at Marshall and 23rd Streets in Richmond, near what is now the historic John Marshall House, but was reinterred in 1892 at the now historic Hollywood cemetery. Several of his children continued his business and political careers.

Richmond named a street in his honor and his former residence still exists as Richmond Hill.

The home where he was raised in New Kent County still exists, and is now on the National Register of Historic Places, although the house was extensively revised several times, including during restoration in the 1930s toward a time after this man's death, and the surrounding land is now much smaller.

The Virginia Historical Society holds the family's papers.