George Washington Adams

George Washington Adams (April 12, 1801 – April 30, 1829) was the eldest son of John Quincy Adams, the sixth president of the United States. He had a troubled life and died of apparent suicide at age 28. [Shepherd, Jack, "Cannibals of the Heart: A Personal Biography of Louisa Catherine and John Quincy Adams", New York, McGraw-Hill 1980]

Early life and career

Adams graduated from Harvard University Class of 1821 and studied law. After briefly practicing law, he ran for state office. He was elected to the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1826. He wrote a pamplet "An Ornation delivered at Quincy, on the Fifth of July, 1824".

Health

Adams had a troubled life. Although he married, he had a reputation as an alcoholic and womanizer. He was said to be predisposed to gloom and paranoia, a combination that would likely be classified as depressive illness. On April 30, 1829, Adams disappeared from the "Benjamin Franklin" in Long Island Sound during passage to New York City. His body was reported washed ashore on June 13, 1829. [Shepherd, Jack, "Cannibals of the Heart: A Personal Biography of Louisa Catherine and John Quincy Adams", New York, McGraw-Hill 1980] Historians believe that he committed suicide.

Family

Adams had a son named Jacob (1826 - ???). Jacob Adams married Julia (1827 - ???) in Poughkeepsie, New York. The U.S. Census, 1870, for Duchess County, New York, listed Jacob and Julia Adams, and their seven children: Hoxsie, Peter, James, Phillip, Julie, George, and Jackla. A "Hoxie Adams" served as a Sergeant in Company E, 1st Regiment, Veteran Reserve Corps.

In 1876 Hoxsie and James migrated with their families to Atascosa County, Texas, by way of St. Louis. Hoxsie's wife, Marietta DuBois, kept a diary of the journey. Portions of her account were published in the August 22, 1984, edition of the "Pleasanton Express", in an article written by J.C.W. Merchant. A "Hoxie Adams" born 1842 of New York is in the 1880 US Censes for Texas.

Hoxsie Adams died in 1910 and was buried in Tumlinson Cemetery near Leming, Texas. A historical marker at his gravesite names several of his descendants who are buried within the cemetery. Nearby Adams Lane was named in his honor over 100 years ago.

Prior to his death George Washington Adams had a mistress an Eliza Dolph who allegedly gave birth to a child in December 1828 {birth not confirmed}.

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