My wife found this info and thought we would pass it on. Hope it helps someone. Adams in Chelmsford, MA SOURCE: Footprints of the Patriots BESIDE OLD HEARTH-STONES ABRAM ENGLISH BROWN Boston, Lee and Shepard Publishers, 1897 Page 289 The Adams family early made a record in Chelmsford; and many of that name to-day revert to the mother town as the place of their origin, while the patriotic deeds of their ancestors for two centuries are an inspiration to them. "The family of Adam or Adams (meaning red; adamah, red earth) can claim the distinction of having the oldest individual name on record." -- Adams Genealogy. Two sons of Henry Adams, the immigrant leader who settled in Braintree, were among the founders of Chelmsford. Thomas, born in 1612, was well established with a large family when he was received as a member of the Chelmsford Church, "27th of 2d '56." Samuel, born 1617, was the father of a family when he appears as town clerk of Chelmsford. They did a grand work here during the remainder of their lives. The former died in 1666, and the latter in 1676. Page 290 Samuel Adams was the first miller of the town. On July 3, 1656, he was granted four hundred acres of land to encourage him to set up a sawmill, and later he had one hundred acres more for erecting a corn-mill. These mills marked a new era in the building of houses, as well as the preparation of grains for food. It was on a commanding site just beyond the brook that the miller erected his dwelling. Seven generations occupied the farm, and presided at the mill; but it has now passed into other hands, as have homesteads of other branches of the family. It is apparent that the Adams family of Chelmsford was connected with Samuel Adams the patriot, and it is interesting that the two branches should have been so positive in espousing the cause of the patriots in the Revolution. Pelatiah Adams from this town, who died in the service of his country at Cherry Valley, is remembered by the monument on the Common in his native town; while Samuel, the leader in the Revolution, sleeps in! Granary Burying-Ground in Boston, with no slab to remind the passing stranger of the brave patriot. The Adams Library at Chelmsford is a fitting memorial of not only the donor, but of all the descendants of the early settlers at Chelmsford by the name of Adams.