On the 24th of September, 1839, Mr. Adams was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth P. Simpson, daughter of the late Deacon Samuel Simpson, of Deerfield, a veteran in the war of 1812. Mrs. Adams's paternal grandfather, Major John Simpson, participated in the battle of Bunker Hill, and, it is said upon good authority, fired the first shot, on the American side, of that famous engagement. It occurred in this wise: The men in his line were instructed by their commander, Colonel Stark, not to fire a gun until the British had arrived at a certain point, forty paces distant from the American works. When the red-coated invaders had advanced to within that distance, the major (who was then a private), an excellent marksman, being unable to withstand so good an opportunity, fired before the order was given, and dropped his man. The fire was then opened along the whole line. On being reproved for disobeying orders, Mr. Simpson replied, "I never could help firing when game which I was after came within gun-shot." He died October 28, 1825. From this happy union of Mr. Adams with Miss Simpson two children have sprung: Elizabeth, born June 15, 1842, and Phinehas Adams, Jr., born December 26, 1844,--both being born in the same house in the city of Lowell. The former is the wife of Daniel C. Gould, paymaster of the Stark Mills, and the popular tenor singer at the Franklin-street church, to whom she was married the 10th of September, 1868. Mr. Gould is the son of Deacon Daniel Gould, who was the first railroad-station agent in Manchester, a position he held until succeeded by the late Henry Hurlburt. Mr. Phinehas Adams, Jr., married Miss Anna P. Morrison, of Belfast, Maine. About a year after being married, Phinehas Adams joined the First Congregational church in Lowell. Mrs. Adams was a member of the same church. On removing to Manchester, both had their relation transferred to the Franklin-street Congregational church. At a business meeting of the Stark Corporation directors, in 1879, on the suggestion of Edmund Dwight, it was voted to present Colonel Adams with a suitable token, bearing testimony of the high respect in which he is held by them. Therefore, on the 17th of November, 1879, that being the date completing his thirty-two years of service as agent of that corporation, they presented him with one of the most valuable gold watches made by the Waltham company, together with a massive gold chain and an elegant seal. Inside the watch-case is engraved the following: "The Stark Mills to Phinehas Adams, November 17, 1847-1879. William Amory. Edmund Dwight, treasurer." Accompanying these superb gifts was the following letter, expressive of sentiments that any honorable man would be justly proud to merit:-- "BOSTON, November 15, 1879.