Chancey Adams, M.D., a successful medical practitioner of Concord, was born in North New Portland, Me., March 15, 1861, son of Benjamin and Eliza Briton (Sawyer) Adams. He belongs to a branch of the famous old Massachusetts family of the same name. Henry Adams, the founder of the Massachusetts family, was an English emigrant, who came over to this country in the year 1630, with his eight sons, and settled in Braintree, in the Colony of Massachusetts. Of these eight sons, one subsequently returned to England. The names of the others, according to the records of Massachusetts, were: Peter, Henry, Thomas, Edward, Jonathan, Samuel, and Joseph. Samuel was the father of two sons, one of whom was Joseph Adams, who lived in North Chelmsford, Mass. Joseph was the father of Benjamin Adams, who was the father of William Adams, who was the father of Solomon Adams, who was the great-grand-father of Dr. Adams. Solomon Adams migrated from North Chelmsford, Mass., his native town, to Farmington, Me., at the close of the Revolutionary War. The record shows that he had served his country during that war from May 15, 1777, to May 15, 1780, in Captain James Varnum’s company, of Colonel Michael Jackson’s regiment; but his active military service actually extended beyond these dates. William Adams, son of Solomon and grandfather of Dr. Adams, was a native of Farmington, Me. He passed his entire life in that town, engaged in farming, and died June 12, 1862, at the age of seventy-three years. He married Nancy Hiscock, and had a numerous family of children, of whom three died in infancy. The others were born as follows: Thomas H., March 14, 1813; Hannah B., October 19, 1815; William, Jr., August 21, 1817; Nancy K., August 4, 1819; John R., August 17, 1821; Benjamin, April 7, 1823; Samuel, April 11, 1825; Lucy J., October 6, 1829; and Dolly, September 3, 1835. Of these the sole survivor is Benjamin, the father of Dr. Adams. He is a native of Farmington, Me. In early manbood he studied law while teaching school, and was subsequently admitted to the Franklin County bar. He then took up his residence in North New Portland, Me., where he was engaged in the practice of his profession from 1847 to 1870 when he moved to North Anson, Me. He is now seventy-four years old. From 1849 to 1854 he was Postmaster at North New Portland. He was Register of Probate from 1854 to 1855. In 1873 he was a member of the House of Representatives of the Maine legislature. 1849 he married Eliza Briton Sawyer, daughter of Ephraim and Elizabeth (Williams) Sawyer. Lemuel Williams, the grandfather of Mrs. Eliza Adams, was a native of Woolwich, Mass., now in Maine. Having enlisted in Colonel Nixon’s regiment, he served during a part of the Revolutionary War. The children of Benjamin Adams were Sarah Frances, Ellen Maria, and Chancey. Sarah Frances, who married John P. Clark, a lumberman of Skowhegan, Me., has had six children, of whom five are living. Ellen Maria died at the age of two and one-half years.
Chancey Adams was educated in the district schools of North Anson, Me., and at Anson Academy, graduating from the latter institution in the class of 1880. For six months after his graduation he was employed in the drug store at North Anson. Then, feeling the need of additional education, he entered Waterville Classical Institute (now Coburn Classical Institute, Waterville, Me. ), and graduated from the same in 1881. In the autumn he became a student of Colby University in Waterville, and, after completing the course, graduated in 1885. After this he taught for several terms in the district schools of Waldoboro and Embden and in the Phillips High School. Having decided to enter the medical profession, he attended the Portland Medical School and the Maine Medical School in Brunswick during the years 1888, 1890, and 1891, graduating (from the latter institution) in June of the last-named year. From 1886 to 1891 he employed all his spare time in a drug store in the interests of his intended profession. After graduating from the Maine Medical School, he entered the United States Marine Hospital at Staten Island. Thence he went to Taunton, Mass., as assistant physician in the insane asylum of that city, where he remained until January 1, 1893. Desiring to qualify himself still further for the medical profession, he then went to New York City, and took a three months’ course in the Post-graduate Medical School and Hospital. After this, on September 26, 1893, he opened an office in Concord, where he has since been in active practice. Dr. Adams already occupies a front place in his chosen calling, and his ability and skill are acknowledged by his medical associates. He has been elected a member of the North Bristol (Mass.) Medical Society, which made him a member of the Massachusetts State Medical Society. He also belongs to the Centre District Medical Society of New Hampshire and the New Hampshire State Medical Society. On January 25, 1897, he was elected City Physician of Concord for two years.
On January 9, 1893, Dr. Adams married Laurinda Clara Coombs, of Gloucester, Mass. They have had two children: Benjamin W., who died in infancy; and Edmund Chancey. In politics the Doctor is a Democrat, and he cast his first Presidential vote for Grover Cleveland in 1884. He is a member of Blazing Star Lodge, No. 11, of Free and Accepted Masons, of Concord; and of Concord Lodge, No. 8, K. of P., of Concord. Amply qualified by the services rendered to their country by his ancestry on both sides, Dr. Adams is also a member of the Sons of the American Revolution.