Page:Lives of the presidents in words of one syllable (1903).djvu/28

 1797

1801

JOHN ADAMS.

As far back as 1629, a grant of land was made to Thom-as Ad-ams, at a place which is now Brain-tree, in Mass-a-chu-setts. This man did not go there to live but Hen-ry Ad-ams did.

A grand-son of Hen-ry, by the name of John, had a wife whose name was Boyls-ton of the near-by town of Brook-line. This pair gave the name of John to their first child.

He was born in Brain-tree in the fall of 1735. That John Ad-ams was the man who took the place of George Wash-ing-ton, as Pres-i-dent.

In that part of the land, in 1647, a law was made in each town of fif-ty homes, that the young should be taught to write and read. When the town was twice as large a