Born on November 11, 1744, Abigail Smith came into the world in the Massachusetts colony during the difficult period of English rule that was destined to end one day.1 Her family was highly respected in the town of Weymouth, where she was born. Her father, William Smith, was a Congregational minister, and her mother, Elizabeth Quincy, came from a prominent family in the colony.2 Abigail spent her time at her grandmother's home where she studied English, French, and history, all the while learning a well-rounded education resulting from the many hours spent in his father's library. His mother's father, John Quincy, was a member of the colonial governor's council and colonel in the militia. She was also speaker of the Massachusetts Assembly, a position she held for 40 years until her death at age 77.3 Her interest in government and her career in public service influenced her greatly. Her grandfather died three years after her marriage to John Adams. Married at age 22, Abigail and her new husband, John Adams, settled on a farm in Braintree, Massachusetts. John Adams was a recent graduate of Harvard and was eager to begin his career in law. Despite the differences in their formal education, their marriage was a partnership of equal minds. With his growing interest in politics, he became Massachusetts' delegate to the Continental Congress in 1774; this governing body of the colonies met regularly in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. With her husband's new political responsibilities, Abigail was often alone on the farm raising and educating their five children as well as managing all of the farm's affairs. Between the years 1774 - 1784, Adams and her husband were separated more frequently and communicated m...... middle of paper......er. Web January 17, 2012. Lester J. Cappon, et al. The Adams-Jefferson Letters: The Complete Correspondence Between Thomas Jefferson and Abigail and John Adams / Edited by Lester J. Cappon. Chapel Hill: Published for the Institute of Early American History and Culture in Williamsburg, Virginia, by the University of North Caroline Press, c1988.,1988. Catalog of the UNIV DE LA VERNE. Network. January 17, 2012. National First Ladies Library. Abigail Adams Biography. National First Ladies Library. Network. January 10, 2012.Madeline. Female heroine Abigail Adams. The My Hero project. March 12. 2005. Network. January 14, 2012.Pearson, Judy C. Conflicting Demands in Correspondence: Abigail Adams on Women's Rights. Today's Talk 23.4 (1975): 29-33. Communication and mass media completed. Network. January 17, 2012.Stevenson, Keira. Abigail Adams. Abigail Adams (2005):1. EDS Foundation Index. Web 13 January 2012.