Birth Date: September 27, 1722
Birthplace: Quincy, Massachusetts
State Represented: Massachusetts
Occupation: Merchant, politician
Age at Signing: 53
Death: October 2, 1803; at the age of 81
Quote: “The right to freedom is the gift of God Almighty….The rights of the Colonists as Christians may be best understood by reading, and carefully studying the institutes of the great Lawgiver and head of the Christian Church: which are to be found clearly written and promulgated in the New Testament.”

Summary: At the age of fourteen, Samuel Adams was already attending Harvard with the intention of becoming a minister. However, his father and mother wanted him to become a lawyer and merchant, respectively. He became the latter and could never focus on business, though he was invested in politics. His father died when he was twenty-five, and Adams was left with the entire estate and an inheritance, which he squandered in a few years. After being previously engaged in small politics, Adams became a part of the radicals of Massachusetts. He was one of the first American leaders to deny the acts and authority of Parliament and stand for American independence.

Adams was one of the driving forces in every move of independence that happened in the years prior to the Revolution, including planning the Boston Tea Party. He formed many committees, took stands against every act that was passed, and was elected to the Continental Congress June 17, 1774. As a member of the Second Continental Congress, he signed the Declaration, and many members of the congress noted on the passion that Samuel Adams had. It was said of him, “His unshaken courage, and his calm reliance upon the aid and protection of heaven, contributed in an eminent degree to inspire his countrymen with a confidence of their final success.” After the war, Adams became a part of the senate, was elected lieutenant governor, and eventually became the governor of Massachusetts following John Hancock. And above all, was his faith. He said, “I… rely upon the merits of Jesus Christ for a pardon of all my sins.”

Samuel Adams:
The Declaration of Independence Signing

A Short Story by Emily Trester

August 2nd, 1776

Samuel Adams stood at the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia Pennsylvania, deep in thought about his next move. Surely the decision to start bringing about freedom, all through signing the Declaration of Independence, was the right one. 

What would it mean for the future of the thirteen American colonies? Will there be success with finally being freed from British rule, or will Great Britain make an even stronger effort to overrule the American people?

He stopped in his tracks at the thought of the potential risks awaiting. The idea of being imprisoned or executed was something that continued weighing on the back of his mind the more he thought about it, heaving out as a sigh.

Another thought crossed his mind as he continued reflecting on his efforts.

“Was the ruling from the British government all that bad?” He said aloud to himself, eyebrows furrowed at how these words echoed in his mind.

He shook his head, going deeper into thought as he scrunched his eyebrows. 

Surely all my efforts were done for a reason. God had brought me this far. 

After all, the dire need for freedom was evident. Right then, his eyes somewhat widened at what appeared in his mind next.

Life for my family could be thrown into chaos by the British government. 

He leaned against the wall and folded his arms.

What fate could potentially befall my loved ones and I? I can’t bear the thought of anything happening to my family and friends.

He knew, despite these risks, it was important to bring about freedom from the imposed British ruling. An unpleasant fate could definitely come about, but standing up for what he believed in, for the American people, meant freedom for America to thrive as its own nation. After all, God stood for freedom for His own children, and surely the colonies needed the same to be able to thrive. 

It would be the beginning to bring freedom and a better life for us, for all the American people. This needs to happen.

Even though the American colonies had been a part of British rule for so long, there was so much potential to come for the American people as an independent nation, he just knew it. 

Life would be much better if it was led under more freedom and less control.

Adams thought about the future the Declaration of Independence would start to bring, all while trying to keep his mind from the danger he could put himself in. He felt a wave of success over what he had been able to accomplish so far. He recalled being a part of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. This opened the door to other opportunities to fight back against British law, such as establishing the Sons of Liberty Society and the Boston Committee of Correspondence. The work he had done and all he stood for had all been challenging yet rewarding. This was no doubt fundamental to the growth of what the American Colonies would have with newfound independence. 

The more he thought about it, the more he knew that he was willing to do whatever it took to ensure that the American colonies would get their freedom. After all, he had been using his time in the Massachusetts House of Representatives to give speeches on this much needed independence. This was all done with every ounce of his strength as he made sure that the need for freedom was clearly heard. 

Samuel Adams, with all these thoughts running through his mind, finally remembered and had a much stronger conviction than before about why he started in the first place. He knew what he needed to do to proceed. He glanced at the document and the future it would start to bring. The people of the American colonies needed better lives filled with more freedom. Someone had to help fight to bring it all to fruition.

A loud chime from the grandfather clock sounded, causing him to jump and for his mind to go back into the present moment. He strode forward into the room where he was to officially put his signature on the Declaration of Independence document.

 This is it, he thought as he stepped forward. He could feel the Lord speaking directly to his very soul about this decision. 

Time to take part in the beginning of helping the American Colonies officially establish independence.

The amount of bravery Samuel Adams felt to do what was right outweighed any fear of consequences that could come about.

He slowly bowed his head.

“Lord, I know you are calling to me to help bring about freedom for American citizens. Thank you for giving me the gift to help advocate and fight for independence no matter what. I know you will bring us through and not let any harm come to us.”

He walked forward until he was standing right in front of the Declaration of Independence document waiting for his signature.

“Amen.” He said slowly, confidently, nodding to the other delegates standing nearby. 

He could see the future before him now. Whatever it took, and with God by his side, he knew that he would never give up no matter what boulders tried to come into his path. The Lord would continue to see him through, and the amount of courage he now had wasn’t going to let anything get in the way.

Adams picked up the ink and quill pen, smiling at the vision of the start of a new beginning rising before the American people.

“Let freedom ring.”