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Note: Early Vital Records of Essex County show his birthdate as Jan. 28,1794. Less than two years old when his father died. At age 14 he started to learn the carriage-making trade. After the fire of 1881 had devastated Newburyport, he moved to Washington, DC. in 1812, aged 18. He was a member of both branches of the City government for several years and served as President of the Board of Aldermen.He was president of the Firemen's Insurance Company and Cashier of the Bank of Washington. He was apparently a witness to the Will of Griffith Coombe, whose granddaughter, Eliza Barry, would marry James's son, Thomas. Obit.: "Adams. August 10, 1877 at 2 o'clock p.m., James Adams in the 84th year of his age. The funeral will take place at his late residence, No. 218 4 1/2 At. n.w. on Sunday next at 5 o'clock p.m." From The [Washington] Evening Star, August 13, 1877 [From other newspaper:] "The regular meeting of the Oldest Inhabitants' Association was held in the Criminal Court room Wednesday afternoon. Dr. J.B.Blake,President, in the chair, and Mr. Horation N. Easby as secretary. After the transaction of routine business Mr. Easby announce the death of Mr.James Adams and said: Death has again visited our Association and we mourn the loss of another of our vice-presidents. The venerable James Adams who, after having 'lived the life of the righteousness,' died in this city on the 10th of August, 1877, in the eighty-fourth year of his age, leaving a record replete with recollections of his manly virtues, his pure life, his kind heart, and courtesy of manner, which distinquished him as one of nature's noblemen. Mr. Adams came this city in his early youth and has been resident of the city of Washington for sixty-five years. He has filled many offices of honor and trust and had been an active member of the City government. He was Cashier of the time-honored Bank of Washington for thirty-four years, and for thirty years preceding, and at the time of his death, president of the Washington and Georgetown Fire Insurance Company. In administering the trusts committed to his hands, he exemplified the true spirit of the man of conscious rectitude, and brought to the performance of his duties a natural high order of ability, indefaticably cultivated to met the requirements of his official position. As cashier of the Bank of Washington the genuine character of the true man was developed.. He was there brought in business contact with men of every temperament, and none ever parted without a feeling of respect for the fidelity of the official and of the courtesy and kindness of the man who, when impelled by a sense of duty to refuse a request, would invariably soften the refusal by unaffected expressions of regret. In our association the memory of the social nature, kindness of heart and affable manners of James Adams will dwell with grateful emotions of esteem and respect which we enterain for the memory of our deceased associate and venerable vice-president, I offer for adoption the resolutions following :" [Four resolutions were passed, repetitive of the above sentiments.]
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