The Biographical Dictionary of America/Adams, Thomas

3388229The Biographical Dictionary of America, Volume 1 — Adams, Thomas1906

ADAMS, Thomas, delegate, was born in New Kent county, Va., about 1730, son of Ebenezer and Tabitha (Cocke) Adams. Ebenezer Adams was a native of London, England, who settled in Virginia previous to 1714, and received grants in Henrico and New Kent counties. Thomas was a clerk of Henrico county, and vestryman of that parish, 1757-'61; church warden in 1761, and returned to England in 1762, where he resided for several years. He resumed his residence in Virginia before the outbreak of the Revolution; signed the "Association" entered into by the house of burgesses, May 27, 1774, and was chairman of the New Kent county committee in 1774. He was a delegate to the Continental Congress, 1778-'80, and signed the articles of Confederation, and subsequently removed to Augusta county, Va., where he served as state senator, 1784-'87. He married Elizabeth (Fauntleroy) Cocke, widow of his cousin, Bowler Cocke. He died in Augusta county, Va., in October, 1788.