An American Family History

Samuel Adams, born in 1730 in Stratford, Fairfield County, Connecticut. He was a physician and surgeon.

He married Martha Curtis.

Martha and Samuel's children may have included:

Gideon Adams (1755, married Joanna Benedict Ward),
William Samuel Adams (1756, married Catherine Snyder and Philena Hinds),
Joel Adams (1760),
Mary Adams (1761),
Andrew Adams (1763),
Elijah Adams (1770), and
Ezra Adams (1772).

In 1764 they left Connecticut and moved to Arlington, Vermont. In 1774 Ethan Allen arrested him. After a hearing he was convicted as an enemy, and punished by being suspended from the Catamount Inn's sign.

When the Revolution began, Samuel his sons, volunteered in the King's Rangers.

Samuel retired to keep an inn in Montreal, at Point-aux-Trembles and then moved to Johnstown to be closer to his sons.

He died in 1810 in Edwardsburg, Ontario.

from History of Leeds and Grenville Ontario by Leavitt, Thad. W. H. and  Turner, E. A

The first permanent settlers of Burritt s Rapids were the Burritt brothers Colonel Stephen Burritt, Colonel Edmund, and Colonel Henry Burritt. The latter laid out Burritt s Rapids, on Lot No. 5, in the ist Concession of Oxford. Colonel Daniel located on the north side of the Rideau, Lot No. 25, in the ist Concession of Marlborough. The Burritts were known as staunch defenders of the British flag.

Jemimah Ward, great-grandmother of Hamlet Burritt, was upon one occasion. during the Revolutionary War, set to watch for the approach of Mallory s gang (a band of rebels who plundered Loyalist families in the vicinity of Arlington), as Mallory approached, Jemimah blew a horn the result was that Dr. Adams shot Mallory dead. Her action in the matter becoming known to the Continental authorities, the heroine was compelled to fly for protection to Burgoyne s camp. Dr. Adams was also the great-grandfather of Hamlet Burritt, who now resides at the Rapids.

from United Empire Loyalists' Association of Canada

In the early part of the struggle an event occurred in Arlington involving Samuel Adams. It seems that at a nearby encampment of revolutionary forces, in the course of acquiring food for his troops, Colonel Warner sent out troops as usual for provisions. Colonel Lyon with a company, of whom David Mallory was one, started for the purpose of taking cattle from the Tories. Samuel Adams collected a company for resistance. Mallory and Adams were previously acquainted, both having studied medicine together. Adams warned Mallory of the probable consequences of taking cattle. Hard words passed, and they separated to execute their respective intentions. Colonel Lyon's company collected quite a drove of cattle and were driving them to West Arlington. On an island in the river where the cattle were about to cross, Adams and his men were concealed. As soon as Mallory appeared Adams showed himself and ordered him to stop. A threat was the only reply. Adams coolly said that in case himself was shot there were men ready who would instantly riddle him. Upon this Mallory raised his piece, but not being quick enough was instantly shot down by Adams. Just then a horn was heard calling laborers to dinner. This was taken as a signal for the gathering of the Tories. Lyon's men fled, and the cattle returned to their owners. Dr. Adams fled to Canada, and in 1778 his property was confiscated and his family sent within the British lines.

from History of Leeds and Grenville Ontario by Leavitt, Thad. W. H. and  Turner, E. A

Samuel Adams, of Edwardsburg, who, with his father, acted as a bearer of despatches from Montreal to Kingston, was, on the day of the battle at Crysler's in the neighborhood, and resolved to tarry and see the fun. Having no particular duty assigned to him by the officer in command, he resolved to have a foray on his own hook. Accordingly, in the morning, he left the British lines, and, making a detour through the Second Concession, came out to the river at Raney's farm, in the rear of the American army.

Just as he reached the King's Road, which, at that time, followed the margin of the river, a troop of the enemy s cavalry, that had been quartered at Louck's inn, dashed up at full speed. Resistance and flight being alike out of the question, he threw himself down behind an old log, which barely served to conceal him from the horsemen, who, in their hurry, passed within a few feet without observing him. He had not time to congratulate himself upon his narrow escape, before the noise of accoutrements warned him of the approach of a party on foot, and caused him to repent the rashness of his adventure.

He kept to his lair closely, until he should ascertain their numbers, and soon discovered that his alarm was caused by a brace of American officers, in dashing uniforms, who were leisurely sauntering up the road, their swords dangling on the ground, and a pair of pistols in each of their belts.

Adams felt quite relieved, that the odds were only two to one, and at once made up his mind to bag both of them. Leaving his ambuscade, he planted himself in front of them, and, levelling his musket, with an air of determination, summoned them to surrender their arms, or their lives. To his surprise, they surrendered at discretion, and, arming himself with their pistols, for his musket was unloaded, he marched them back to the woods, and reached headquarters, by the same route he had left, with his prize, in time to take part with the militia in the battle.