John Adams
John Adams was a husbandman of Barton St David in Somerset, holding the family's copyhold land there. He is called "the elder" in his will, to set him apart from his eldest son, also John. He was born about 1555.
His father, Henry Adams, died without a will in 1596. On 12 August 1596 the bishop's court granted administration of Henry's goods "Johanni Addams eius filio naturali et l[egi]timo", to John Adams his natural and lawful son. Administration was the court's authority to gather in a dead person's goods, pay the debts and distribute the rest. The inventory came to £22 2s, and the creditors were summoned in January 1596/7.
On 27 May 1597 John stood surety for Agnes, the widow of John Stone of Barton St David. His own wife was also named Agnes. Bartlett guessed from the surety that she was a Stone, but no record says so.
On 19 March 1603/4 he made his will: "I John Adames the elder of Barton David ... being sick in bodie". He left twenty pounds to his eldest son John, on a condition. If John "shall provide none for them", half was to go to John's own children, John and Katheren. He left bequests to the children of Roger Warfield of Charlton Mackrell and of Richard French of Misterton. Bartlett took the two men to be his daughters' husbands. The rest went "joyntely unto my wife Agnes Adames and unto my sonn Henry Adames whom I doe make sole executors".
The will was never signed or witnessed. He was buried at Barton St David on 22 March 1603/4, three days after it was written. His goods were valued at £62. Agnes took administration on 7 August 1605, and the will itself was not exhibited in the court until 26 June 1609.
His son Henry emigrated to New England in 1638 and settled at Braintree. Henry's descendants include Presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams.
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Cite: Heirology, "John Adams (1555-1604)", https://heirology.com/ancestors/john-adams-1555-1604-6bd6f1.