John Hancock’s house once stood at this site, with his pasture being the present location of the State House. On June 17, 1788, Abigail Adams (1744-1818) and John Adams (1735-1826) arrived in Boston aboard the ship “Lucretia” and were greeted by enthusiastic crowds. After nearly a decade abroad, with Abigail joining John in Paris and London for the last four years, their return was celebrated with cheering people and ringing church bells. David McCullough’s John Adams describes the joyous scene: “People were cheering, church bells ringing, as the Adamses came ashore. Along the route to Beacon Hill, more throngs lined the streets. ‘The bells in the several churches rang during the remainder of the day – every countenance wore expressions of joy,’ reported the Massachusetts Sentinel.” The Adamses brought with them a substantial collection of belongings, including clothes, books, china, furniture, a York rosebush, a four-post Dutch bed, a great Dutch chest with heavy brass pulls and claw feet, various tables, and a set of six cushioned Louis XV chairs and a settee.
