The Barbour Collection is an excellent source of information on birth, marriages, and deaths in the Colonial era. The index includes vital records for most Connecticut towns up until 1850. This was how I found that Abner was the son of Isaac and Eleanor Adams.

Abner Adams

Born: 5 NOV 1735 in Pomfret, Windham County, Connecticut, USA

Father: Isaac Adams (1698 to 1757)
Mother: Eleanor Longbottom (1709 to 1784)

Spouse: Abigail Hubbard (1733 to 1816)

Married: 31 DEC 1761 in Pomfret, Windham County, Connecticut, USA

Children:

Anne Adams (1762)
Eleanor Adams (1764 to 1834)
Albigence Adams (1766)
Ebenezer Adams (1768)
Abner Adams (1773 to 1857)

Died: 5 AUG 1825 in Hartwick, Otsego County, New York, USA

Burial: Abner Adams Cemetery

Timeline:

1757 Death of father, Isaac
1758 French and Indian War
1761 Marriage to Abigail
1762 Birth of daughter, Anne
1764 Birth of daughter, Eleanor
1766 Birth of son, Albigence
1768 Birth of son, Ebenezer
1773 Birth of son, Abner
1775 American Revolutionary War
1784 Death of mother, Eleanor
1790 Brooklyn, Windham County, Connecticut
1799 Otsego, Otsego County, New York
1800 Otsego, Otsego County, New York
1810 Hartwick, Otsego County, New York
1816 Death of wife, Abigail
1817 Abner signed his Last Will and Testament
1825 Death and Burial

Occupation: farmer

Records:

1790 to 1820 United States Federal Census Records
Connecticut Town Birth Records, pre-1870 (Barbour Collection)
North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000
Connecticut Soldiers, French and Indian War, 1755-62
Connecticut, Town Marriage Records, pre-1870 (Barbour Collection)
Early Connecticut Marriages
U.S. Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783
New York, U.S., Tax Assessment Rolls of Real and Personal Estates, 1799-1804
New York, Genealogical Records, 1675-1920
New York, Wills and Probate Records, 1659-1999
The U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current
Abstract of Graves of Revolutionary Patriots

Variations of Surname: none

The Barbour Collection is an excellent source of information on birth, marriages, and deaths in the Colonial era. The index includes vital records for most Connecticut towns up until 1850. This was how I found that Abner was the son of Isaac and Eleanor Adams.

Spouse:

Abigail Hubbard:

Abigail was born on 3 MAR 1733 in Pomfret, Windham County, Connecticut, USA. She died in 1816 in Hartwick, Otsego County, New York, USA.

Abigail’s father was John Hubbard. He was born on 15 NOV 1712 in Pomfret, Windham County, Connecticut, USA. He died on 23 MAY 1786 in Pomfret, Windham County, Connecticut, USA.

Abigail’s mother was Bridget Spaulding. She was born on 13 FEB 1713 in Canterbury, Windham County, Connecticut, USA. She died on 22 APR 1806 in Brooklyn, Windham County, Connecticut, USA.

Abigail had nine brothers and sisters:

William Hubbard (1731)
Zachariah Hubbard (1735)
Jeduthan Hubbard (1737)
Rachel Hubbard (1740)
Jonas Hubbard (1743)
Jerusha Hubbard (1747)
Calvin Hubbard (1749)
Ebenezer Hubbard (1752)
Bridget Hubbard (1755)

Daughters:

Anne Adams:

Anne was born on 15 JUL 1762 in Pomfret, Windham County, Connecticut, USA. I do not know when she died.

Anne married Azor Allen on 20 NOV 1783 in Windham County, Connecticut, USA. Several family trees have listed at least four children born to this marriage. I have found no birth records to verify this statement.

Azor Allen was born on 11 FEB 1762 in Canterbury, Windham County, Connecticut, USA. He died on 23 MAR 1841 in Greene, Chenango County, New York, USA.

Eleanor Adams:

Eleanor was born on 1 FEB 1764 in Pomfret, Windham County, Connecticut, USA. She died on 11 OCT 1837 in Standing Stone, Bradford County, Pennsylvania, USA.

Eleanor married Jonathan Stevens on 20 OCT 1785 in Brooklyn, Windham County, Connecticut, USA. Seven known children were born to this marriage:

Albigence Stevens (1786)
Asa Stevens (1790)
Simon Stevens (1797)
Lucy Stevens (1799)
Jonathan Stevens (1801)
Sarah Stevens (1803)
Eleanor Stevens (1808)

Jonathan Stevens was born on 16 JUL 1764 in Canterbury, Windham County, Connecticut, USA. He died on 13 JUN 1850 in Standing Stone, Bradford County, Pennsylvania, USA.

Family Pedigrees Connected to Abner Adams:

When I started researching my American ancestors, I discovered a wealth of information about the Colonial Era. There are collections for births, marriages, and deaths in the New England area. There are also wills and land grants.

I was especially interested in connecting these ancestors with the ones across the sea. Like the Puritans, many people immigrated to the new world to avoid religious persecution or to start a new life.

The following pedigrees show the line of descent of these ancestors.

The Hubbards:

Abigail Hubbard’s Grandparents:

John Hubbard was born on 3 MAY 1689 in Woodstock, Windham County, Connecticut, USA. He died on 15 APR 1760 in Pomfret, Windham County, Connecticut, USA.

Mary Elizabeth Kimberley was born on 29 OCT 1683 in Wethersfield, Hartford County, Connecticut, USA. She died on 11 OCT 1754 in Pomfret, Windham County, Connecticut, USA.

Abigail Hubbard’s Paternal Great-Grandparents:

John Hubbard was born on 18 MAY 1656 in Boston, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA. He died in 1707 in Pomfret, Windham County, Connecticut, USA.

Rebecca Wells was born on 10 JAN 1652 in Colchester, Essex County, England. She died in 1689 in Woodstock, Windham County, Connecticut, USA.  Rebecca was 37 years old when she died.

Abigail Hubbard’s Paternal Great-Great-Grandparents:

Robert Hubbard was born in 1631 in England. I do not know when Robert died.

Margaret Allen was born in 1635. I do not know where she was born. She died in 1660 in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, USA. Margaret was 25 years old when she died.

In 1652, Robert immigrated to North America. He arrived in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, USA.

The book, One Thousand Years of Hubbard History, mentions that Robert moved to Dover, New Hampshire. He may have moved after Margaret died. The book also mentions that his descendants settled in Maine. This might indicate that Robert remarried and had more children.

The Allens:

Azor Allen’s Parents:

Joseph Allen was born on 9 APR 1739 in Windham, Windham County, Connecticut, USA. He died in 1815 in Windham, Windham County, Connecticut, USA.

Rebecca Robinson was born on 1 DEC 1737 in Windham, Windham County, Connecticut, USA. She died on 17 NOV 1819 in Windham, Windham County, Connecticut, USA.

Azor Allen’s Paternal Grandparents:

Joseph Allen was born in 1701 in Bridgewater, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, USA. He died in 1771 in Windham, Windham County, Connecticut, USA.

Rebecca Fuller was born on 22 JUL 1701 in Mansfield, Tolland County, Connecticut, USA. She died on 18 MAY 1778 in Windham, Windham County, Connecticut, USA.

Azor Allen’s Paternal Great-Grandparents:

Samuel Allen was born on 4 DEC 1660 in Bridgewater, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, USA. He died on 28 JUN 1750 in Bridgewater, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA.

Mary Pratt was born in 1667 in Weymouth, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, USA. She died on 28 JUL 1727 in Bridgewater, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, USA.

Samuel had previously married Rebecca Carey on 2 DEC 1685 in Bridgewater, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, USA.

Rebecca Cary was born on 30 MAR 1665 in Bridgewater, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, USA. She died on 29 OCT 1697 in Bridgewater, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, USA.  Rebecca was 32 years old when she died.

Azor Allen’s Paternal Great-Great-Grandparents:

Samuel Allen was born in 1632 in Braintree, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, USA. He died in 1705 in Bridgewater, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, USA.

Sarah Partridge was born in 1639 in Duxbury, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, USA. She died on 7 AUG 1722 in Bridgewater, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, USA.

Azor Allen’s Paternal Great-Great-Great-Grandfather:

Samuel Allen was born in approximately 1597 in England. He died on 5 AUG 1669 in Braintree, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, USA.

I found a membership application to the Sons of the American Revolution on Ancestry.com. A descendant, Richard F Allen, listed his sixth great-grandfather as Samuel Allen.

Richard also included the following notation:

“He came to Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1628 and later settled in Braintree.”

The city of Cambridge is a major suburb of Boston, Massachusetts. Braintree is 16 miles south of Boston.

I found three entries for a man named Samuel Allen who immigrated to Massachusetts between 1628 and 1632. I was unable to find a passenger list for a ship that included his name.

1628 Samuel Allen arrived in Boston.
1629 Samuel Allen arrived in Braintree.
1632 Samuel Allen arrived in Cambridge.

The Stevens:

Jonathan Steven’s Parents:

Asa Stevens was born on 27 MAY 1734 in Canterbury, Windham County, Connecticut, USA. He died on 3 JUL 1778 in Wyoming, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, USA.  Asa was 44 years old when he died.

Sarah Ann Adams was born on 31 DEC 1737 in Canterbury, Windham County, Connecticut, USA. She died in 1793 in Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, USA.

Jonathan Steven’s Paternal Grandparents:

Jonathan Stevens was born on 16 APR 1710 in Lancaster, Worcester County, Massachusetts, USA. He died on 2 DEC 1770 in Petersham, Worcester County, Massachusetts, USA.

Mary Douglass Tracy was born on 10 JAN 1711 in Canterbury, Windham County, Connecticut, USA. I do not know when Mary died.

Jonathan Steven’s Paterna Great-Grandparents:

Simon Stevens was born on 13 AUG 1677 in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, USA. He died on 25 JAN 1758 in Marlborough, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA.

Mary Wilder was born on 12 MAY 1679 in Sudbury, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA. She died in 1729 in Plainfield, Windham County, Connecticut, USA.

Jonathan Steven’s Paternal Great-Great-Grandfather:

Cyprian Stevens was born on 13 NOV 1647 in England. He died in 1722 in Lancaster, Worcester County, Massachusetts, USA.

Cyprian married Mary Willard on 22 JUN 1671 in Lancaster, Worcester County, Massachusetts, USA. Five known children were born to this marriage:

Mary Stevens (1672)
Simon Stevens (1677)
Dorothy Stevens (1679 to 1679)
Elizabeth Stevens (1681)
Joseph Stevens (1683)

Mary Willard was born on 7 SEP 1653 in Concord, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA. She died in 1685 in Lancaster, Worcester County, Massachusetts, USA. Mary was 32 years old when she died.

Notes:

John Adams (1595 to 1633) was the first person with that English surname to immigrate to North America from England. In 1621, John boarded the Fortune. This was the second ship, after the Mayflower, to bring puritans to North America. In late November of that year, the Fortune arrived at Plymouth Colony. John was the progenitor of all the Adams descendants listed in these posts.

Creating Your Family Tree

Interested in building a great family tree? Remember these important steps:

Look in your photo albums. You may have old pictures that your parents or grandparents gave you. Or, ask them for copies of photos that they have in their possession. Many people will write names and dates on the backs of photographs. Letters, diaries, and family bibles are also excellent sources for births, marriages, and deaths.

Talk to your older relatives to find out about your ancestry. They may relate stories about an ancestor that you can add to your family tree. Family history is usually not found in newspapers. It is more of a verbal memory that is passed down from generation to generation.

Find the right family tree builder that suits your needs. You can choose one that has a paid subscription like Ancestry.com. There are also free sites like FamilySearch.org.

When you start building your family tree, add documentation to your ancestor’s profile. The records can include birth, marriage, death, census, military, city, and county directory listings. Any information that you can find will help create a life story about your ancestor.

If you have a unique surname, like Wakenight, you may find databases on the internet that are useful in your search. I use SurnameDB.com for my English surnames. There are many others on the internet for other countries like Ireland, Italy, and Germany.

Genealogy is the study of a person’s “line of descent.” As you create your family tree, you would typically start with one individual and go “back into time.” You would add their parents, grandparents, and so on.  There are also family trees that go “forward into time.”  Many of these family trees start with a famous person, such as a president or royalty, and move forward into the present time.  The purpose of this type of pedigree is to establish a person’s bloodline with that famous person.

There is no limit on how big your family tree can grow. The blank canvas is there for you to use. Cherish your family history, and it will be there for generations to come!