Barton St David's link to US Presidents

Henry Adams was born in Barton St David in about 1583.  He was a tenant farmer and farmed land in the village and in neighbouring Chartlon Mackrell.  He married Edith Squire in Charlton Mackrell Church in October 1609.  They emigrated to America c1638 and settled in the town of Braintree, Massachusetts. Their 3x great grandson was John Adams, who was the 2nd US President (1797-1801).   He was also the 4x great grandfather of John Quincy Adams, who was the 6th US President (1825-1829).  There is a plaque in St David's Church in Barton St David commemorating this fact.  The wording on it is as follows:

TO THE GLORY OF GOD

IN HONOUR OF ST DAVID

AND

IN MEMORY OF

HENRY ADAMS

BORN IN THIS PARISH ABOUT 1583

AND A FOUNDER OF NEW ENGLAND 1638

ANCESTOR OF TWO PRESIDENTS

OF THE UNITED STATES

OF AMERICA

JOHN ADAMS AND JOHN QUINCY ADAMS

WHOSE EXALTED SERVICES

TO THEIR COUNTRY

EVOKE

A TESTIMONY OF RESPECT FOR

THEIR ANCESTRAL HOME

THIS MEMORIAL HAS BEEN ERECTED BY

EDWARD DEAN ADAMS

A.D. 1926

Edith Squire is also distantly related to the 13th US President, Calvin Coolidge (1923-1929).  She was born in Charlton Mackrell in 1587.  Her sister Ann Squire married Aquila Purchase and the 13th US President, Millard Filmore (1850-1853) is one of her descendants.  Edith's sister Margaret Squire married John Shepard and the 27th US President, William Howard Taft (1909-1913) is related to her.

Plaque on the wall in St David's Church

St David's Church