RC (Adams Papers); addressed: “Mrs: C. Johnson / Washington.”; internal address: “Mrs: C. Johnson / Washington.”

“Just as the first Guns fired my Dear John entered upon this world of care,” LCA later wrote of the birth of John Adams 2d, designated JA2 in The Adams Papers , early on the morning of 4 July. At 10:30 P.M. the night before, she sent William Smith Shaw to fetch Thomas Welsh, who arrived at midnight. LCA delivered JA2 with the assistance of Welsh, eight-year-old Caroline Smith, and a servant. JQA arrived later in the day, writing in his Diary, “For this new blessing, I desire to offer my humblest gratitude to the throne of Heaven.” JA2 was baptized on 17 July by Rev. William Emerson of the First Church of Boston. LCA was not well enough to attend, but later recounted the event: “My Boy was named John after his Grandfather as soon as he could be carried to Church; and Long before I was able to rise from my bed— He was beautiful, and I fear I was too proud of being the Mother of two fine Children” (vol. 8:172–173; LCA, D&A , 1:188–189; D/JQA/27, APM Reel 30).