Lucinda Whitmer
LUCINDA ABIGAIL ADAMS JUDD HISTORICAL PROFILE
Lucinda Abigail Adams was born on 13 December 1799 in Bastard, Leeds, Upper Canada, British Colonial America to her father Daniel David Adams (36 years old) and her mother Lois Chamberlain Adams (36 years old) as the fourth of 10 children. Her older siblings were Alfred (9), Waite (9), and Jared (2). It appears that a twin brother Hiram was born at the same time as Lucinda but did not survive infancy.
In the first years of her life the United States was young and full of immigrants from all over Europe having come to the American Colonies in search of religious and economic freedom. This was a period of rapid industrialization and many of those in the region where Lucinda was born were transitioning from farming to working in mills and factories. Countless technological advances were developed including the steam engine and cotton mill that completely changed the landscape and opportunities available to those of her time.
11 days before her first birthday, Lucinda’s little sister Lucy was born on 2 December 1800. By 1802 the family had moved to Norwich, Connecticut where her little brother Calvin G was born on 16 January 1802. The following year President Thomas Jefferson acquired a massive amount of land from the french doubling the size of the United States overnight. The Louisiana Purchase opened the West to the booming immigrant population and new opportunities for all Americans to make a living. 2 years later in 1805, Lucinda welcomed another little sister Sally into the family.
On 28 January 1814, Lucinda’s youngest sibling Lyman Parkhurst was born as the country was still embroiled in the War of 1812 another war with Great Britain. It took several years of hard-fought battles across the country, and General Andrew Jackson’s victory in New Orleans, to bring the war to an end. The economy in Connecticut was suffering tremendously during these years due to trade bans between Great Britain and the U.S.
At the age of 17 Lucinda lived through an unparalleled phenomenon known as the “year without a summer.” Due to an eruption of a volcano, Mt Tambora, in Indonesia in 1816, temperatures in the summer remained unusually cold across America and food production suffered. Conditions included average temperatures of 45 degrees Fahrenheit and a dry fog that would not go away with rain and hung in the air, reddening the sky. American’s tried moving to other parts of the country but were unable to escape the effects of the unusual weather patterns. Lucinda’s community, like many others, experienced a religious revival as people looked to faith for an explanation of the unusual weather phenomenon.
By the following year Lucinda had moved back to the town of her birth 375 miles northwest of Norwich, across the border to Bastard, Leeds, Canada West, British Colonial America. On 24 February 1817, 17-year old Lucinda married 19-year old Arza Judd Jr. there and the two made their home and started a family beginning with the birth of their first daughter Mary on 26 November 1818. On 25 September 1820 their first son, Daniel Adams was born. Then the following year on 15 September 1821 Lucinda bore little Rachel, her third child. Three years later on 24 August of 1824 another son, Hyrum was born to Arza and Lucinda. Another year later brought their daughter Lois into the family on 15 September 1825.
Two years later on 15 October 1827 another son, Zadock was born. Then a year later another son, Alexander was born. On 21 March 1830 a daughter, Naomi was born to Lucinda. This period of time was known as “The Great Awakening” in America, a protestant revival movement prompted by deteriorating religious excitement and lack of faithful devotion. Numerous preachers were traveling the country and giving lectures to large assembled crowds.
Sadly on 1 January 1832, shortly before her 2nd birthday Naomi passed away. Two months later on 11 March a son named Ezra was born. Then on 23 January 1834 Arza, Lucinda’s last child was born. Unfortunately he only lived a day and on 24 January 1834 both Ezra and Arza passed away. 11 days later Lucinda followed her sons to the other side. She passed away in Leeds on 5 February 1834.
She was preceded in death by her father and 3 of her children Naomi, Ezra and Arza. She was survived by her mother Lois Chamberlain Adams, six of her siblings including: Jerad, Lucy, Calvin, Sally, Lucy, and Lyman, her husband Arza Judd Jr and 7 of her 10 children including: Mary, Daniel, Rachel, Hyrum, Lois, Zadock and Alexander and their families. She was kind, loved to cook, enjoyed laughing, and loved to go camping and fishing.