The Essex County Court records the following:"

"September 1640 - Robert Adams to be set by the heels in the stocks for being uncharitable to a poor man in distress, taking his canoe, for charging the court with injustice, etc. (Richard Roots testified that he and Skudder took Adams' canoe on the Lords' Day but did not take it over - Waste Book)."

"30 December 1645 - John Kitchen v. Robert Adams. Defamation. Defendant fined 5s for saying that the court ought to have thrown the case out. Elnow Downeing testified that Robert Adams called John Kitchen a false fellow."

"26 December 1648 - Robert Addams answers to Mary Oliver for taking away a ladder."

In 1646 he was appointed pound keeper for Salem. About 1649 he moved to Newbury where he lived the rest of his life. By a deed of 22 May 1651 from Edmond Greenleafe, for 60 pounds, he bought a farm in Newbury over the Little River, " with all the house, barne housings, Hovills, fences, timbers & privledges of commons, profitts and hereditaments there unto belonging with both upland and meadowes conteinuing about 150 acres of upland," " also about 50 acres of meadow."

"30 September 1651 - Richard Kent v Robert Adams of Newbury. For denying him passage in a usual highway. Jury found for defendant."

"27 September 1653 - Richard Kent v Robert Adams. Appeal from the commisioners of Newbury. Kent promised not to use a certain way for fourteen days and to accept a new way if it be laid out in that time, otherwise to use the old way, only to go about the orchard. The Newbury town records note laying out a highway three rod's wide from the island of Richard Kent over Robert Adams' marxh next Dole's into the common upland; and, in consideration, the town granted said Adams land adjoining northerly John Hull's eleven acres. Richard Browne testified that the townsmen went to Goodman Adams and told him they had ome to lay out the way in the controversy for Richard Kent, and that the latter would agree to anything that was reasonable; that said Adams would not yield, and they laid out the way for Richard Kent. Mr Woodman testified that Richard Kent, Jr., coming home for Rowlye Mill, complained that Goodman Adams molested him on the way that was laid out by his house, and attempting to go through a piece of land, Goody Adams forbade him and stood between him and the bars; then deponent knocked down the bars in two places and went through. Judgement was entered for Adams."

"In 1654 Lieutenant Robert Pike ran afoul of the General Court for his views and statements. The court stripped him of his public offices and rights. Many of his neighbors, including Robert Adams, signed a petition on behalf of Pike. The court, angered by the public outcry, responded with an inquiry against the signers. A few stood their ground, but most, including Robert Adams, made feeble excuses that they didn't understand what they were signing, were sorry they had offended the court. The court had them cowed."

"In 1658 he was charged with attending a Quaker meeting at Salem at the home of Nicholas Phelps, his son-in-law's brother {Note: perhaps Uncle}, and was charged court costs. He was made a freeman 27 March 1660."

"He served on the trial jury in 1657, '60, '61, '63 and '69. In April 1671 he was on a list of church members at Newbury."

"In King Phillip's War he furnished some supplies including the use of his horse for which he billed the county. He was on a coroner's jury 16 October 1680 concerning the death of a negro."

"Like most of the Newbury people, he became embroiled in the Rev. Parker- Woodman dispute, and because of something he said, he was ordered by the court of May 1672 to make a public acknowledgement the next lecture day at Newbury or pay a fine."

References: Robert Adams of Newbury and His Descendants; Newbury V.R; N.E.H.G.S.:126, 11:53; Essex Quarterly Court Files; Essex Antiquarian II:18; Savage; Essex County Probate File 298.

John Threlfall erected a new headstone at his own expense for Robert Adams in place of the old one which was almost completely gone. It reads; "In Memory of Robert Adams Who Died October 12, 1682 Aged 80 Years." source: Correspondence with Beverly Amaral (bevis@ford-outlet.com)quoting John Threlfall the noted author and Adams family researcher.