John Adamson was a mason at the time of his marriage in Yorkshire, and he is described as a mason or bricklayer in city directories of Toronto in the 1830s and early 1840s. He immigrated to Canada in 1833 with his wife’s family. Starting in 1834, he began acquiring land in Pickering township, in what was then Ontario County, but he doesn’t seem to have moved there until 1844. In the 1830s, he is said to have been involved in the construction of Toronto’s first sewer system, and he is also known to have built houses. The 1842 census shows he had seven employees. He was partners with George Harbron, who was married to his wife’s sister. John was a volunteer fireman. In Pickering township, he set up a brickmaking operation, and also farmed. Although an Anglican, in the late 1840s he built a Methodist church on property he donated for the purpose. (His wife’s family were Methodists). He carved the pulpit from wood. (It has since been stolen, as has been a reportedly beautiful dining room set which he also made himself.) He is buried in the cemetery attached to the church he built.
He is said to have had dark brown hair and dark eyes.
Events
Date of Baptism: 8 December 1799.
Place of Baptism: Norton by Malton, Yorkshire
See the Commentary section.
Date of Death: 31 July 1856
Place of Death: Presumably Salem Corner, Pickering Township, Ontario County, Canada West.
The date is given on his gravestone, and in Our Family History (p. 120): "He died July 31st, 1856. They were hauling in their wheat that day."
Place of Burial: Salem Cemetery, Pickering township, Pickering County, Ontario.
His gravestone exists.
Relationships
Father: Samuel Adamson.
Mother: Sarah Sanderson.
See the Commentary section.
Spouse: Elizabeth Sadler (11 August 1808 - 14 April 1901). Married 1 June 1828 in Thornton Dale, Yorkshire.
The date and place are given in the parish register.
Children:
(Complete source citations for facts about the children on this page are currently outside of the scope of this project. Sources include Yorkshire parish registers, Canadian censuses, Ontario birth, death, and marriage registrations, gravestones, and Our Family History.)
Mary Adamson (25 October 1828, baptized 26 October 1828 in Thornton Dale - died 8 February 1830, buried 9 February 1830 in Thornton Dale)
Samuel Adamson (born 19 December 1830, baptized 22 December 1830 in Thornton Dale - died 3 September 1900 in Rosedale, Manitoba, Canada) married Mary Ann Wilson.
Mary Adamson (born 28 January 1833, baptized 3 February 1833 in Thornton Dale - died 28 August 1833 in York (Toronto), Upper Canada)
John Maw Adamson (born 8 September 1835 in York (Toronto) - died 4 December 1836, buried 6 December 1836 in Potter's Field Cemetery, Toronto)
Thomas Adamson (born 1 February 1837 - died 3 September 1900 in Rosedale, Manitoba) married Rachel Bowers.
Robert Adamson (born 8 April 1839 in Toronto - died 5 February 1918 in Toronto) married Margaret Maria Gibson on 16 May 1872 in Brooklin, Ontario.
Sarah Ann Adamson (born 5 September 1841 - died 26 April 1923) married Robert Graham 14 May 1859 in Ontario County, Canada West.
William Wilfrid Adamson (born 10 February 1843 - died 4 May 1912 in Tay township, Simcoe County, Ontario) married Margaret Moody.
John Maw Adamson (born 28 February 1847 - died 8 February 1928 in Greenwood, Ontario) married Adelaide Victoria Harvey.
Henry Gamble Adamson (born 14 July 1849 - died 26 April 1935 in Bracebridge, Ontario) married Elizabeth Beatrice Cooke on 6 June 1876 in Toronto, Ontario.
Evidence
From the Norton parish register:
Baptisms in 1799
John son of Sarah Adamson and Samuel [Nov.r] 8
From the Thornton Dale parish register:
John Adamson and Elizabeth Sadler both of this Parish were married in this Church by Banns with Consent of those required this First Day of June in the Year One thousand eight hundred and twenty eight By me R:B:Scholefield Curate
This Marriage was solemnized between us John Adamson Elizabeth Sadler
In the Presence of George Beal Adah Maw William Sadler George Skelton Clerk
[John had been a witness at the 1824 marriage of Elizabeth Sadler's brother John.]
[Baptisms]:
When Baptized: October 26th [1828]
Child’s Christian Name: Mary Daughter of
Parents Name. Christian: John and Elizabeth
Surname: Adamson
Abode: Thornton
Quality, Trade, or Profession: Mason
By whom the ceremony was performed: R:B: Scholefield Curate
When Baptized: 1830 December 22nd
Child’s Christian Name: Samuel son of
Parents Name. Christian: John and Elizabeth
Surname: Adamson
Abode: Thornton
Quality, Trade, or Profession: Mason
By whom the ceremony was performed: R:B: Scholefield Curate
When Baptized: Feby 3rd [1833]
Child’s Christian Name: Mary Daughter of
Parents Name. Christian: John and Elizabeth
Surname: Adamson
Abode: Thornton
Quality, Trade, or Profession: Mason
By whom the ceremony was performed: R:B: Scholefield Curate
[Burials]:
Mary Adamson Thornton Feb.y 9th [1830] year 1 R:B:Scholelfield Curate
John Adamson and George Harbron entered into a mortgage 31 October 1834 with S Darcy Boulton of Toronto which they paid off 1 August 1843. They purchased land on Lot Street (now Queen Street) for £137.
In 1837, John Adamson is recorded as volunteering his services to work the first fire engine bought by the city of Toronto. He was chosen “second branchman”. (Robertson’s Landmarks of Toronto pp. 566 ff.)
1842 census information (not an exact transcript):
Head of Household: John Adamson
Owner of dwelling: John Adamson
Entitled to vote: John Adamson
Occupation: Bricklayer
Number of natives of England in family: 4
Number of natives of Canada in family: 3 [This number seems to have been written in error in the French Canadian column.]
Number of years in Canada: 9
Number of males under 5: 1
Number of females under 5: 1
Number of males aged 6 to 13: 2
Number of females aged 6 to 13: 1
Number of members of the Church of England: 1
Number of Canadian Wesleyan Methodists: 1
Number of male servants (presumably meaning “employees”): 7
[The census was taken shortly before 1 February 1842.]
On 22 February 1842 George Harbron and John Adamson of Toronto Builders purchased for £150 part of Lot 5 on Queen Street east of Denison’s Lane in Toronto. In 1845 John Adamson sold his part to William Mathers.
On 15 December 1842, John Adamson purchased for £150 the southeast quarter of Lot 8 in the 5th Concession of the Township of Pickering, Ontario County.
On 2 March 1843 John Adamson and George Harbron purchased for £262 Lot 3 and the east half of Lot 2 on the north side of Richmond Street east of Church Street in Toronto. There were many subsequent transactions connected to this land.
On 1 August 1843, George Harbron and John Adamson sold for £400 land on Lot Street in Toronto.
On 26 June 1845, John Adamson sold for £100 land on the south side of Dundas Street west of Yonge Street. He had bought it in 1842.
On 19 January 1847, John Adamson sold land in lot 5 Concession 9 in Pickering Township, Ontario County, for £500. His wife Elizabeth relinquished her dower in the land.
On 14 December 1849, John Adamson purchased the north-east quarter of Lot 8, Concession 5 in Pickering Township, Ontario County.
1851 Census of Canada West, Ontario County, Pickering
http://data2.collectionscanada.gc.ca/e/e095/e002363000.jpg
[The census was actually taken in early 1852.]
John Adamson Brick Layer [Place of Birth] England [Religion] Methodist W [Age next birth day] 46
Elizth Adamson [England] [Methodist W] 44
Saml Adamon [England] [Methodist W] 22
Thos Adamson [Canada] [Methodist W] 15
Robert Adamson [Canada] [Methodist W] 13
Ann Adamson [Canada] [Methodist W] 11
Wm Adamson [Canada] [Methodist W] 8
John Adamson [Canada] [Methodist W] 5
Henry Adamson [Canada] [Methodist W] 3
On 23 July 1852 John Adamson and his wife Elizabeth sold for £600 land on the north side of Hospital Street in Toronto.
On 5 October 1852 John Adamson purchased for £800 the north half of lot 7 in the 5th concession in the Township of Pickering.
A memorial to an indenture:
No 11337 Recorded the 27th day of August A.D. 1852 at 10 Oclock AM G Flount D.R.
A Memorial to be registered pursuant to the Statute in such case made and provided of an Indenture of Bargain and sale made the Twenty second day of All February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty two by and Between William Osborne of the City of Toronto in the Township of York in the Home District in the Province of Canada Land Agent of the first part Anne Osborne the wife of the said party of the first part of the second part and George Harbron and John Adamson of the same place Builders of the third part Whereby the said William Osborne for and in consideration of the sum of fifty pounds of Lawful money of the Province of Upper Canada to him in hand paid by the said George Harbron and John Adamson the receipt whereof is acknowledged did give grant bargain sell alien assign transfer release enfeoff convey and confirm unto the said George Harbron and John Adamson their heirs and assigns all that certain parcel or tract of Land situate lying and being in the Township of Tecumseth in the County of Simcoe in the Home District and Province of Canada Containing by admeasurement Two hundred Acres be the same more or less being composed of the south and north halves of Lot number three on the thirteenth consession of the said Township of Tecumseth To have and to hold the said above granted premises with all the privileges and appurtenances thereof to the said George Harborn and John Adamson their heirs and assigns to them and their own use forever And by the same Indenture it is witnessed that the said Anne Osborne the wife of the said William Osborne consideration of Five Shillings to her in hand paid by the said George Harbron and John Adamson paid hath remised released and forever relinquished her Dower in the said Premises unto him the said George Harbon and John Adamson their heirs executors administrators and assigns which said Indenture is witnessed by Samuel Shaw of the City of Toronto Cutler and this Memorial thereof is hereby required to be registered by me the said Grantor therein named Witness my hand and seal the sixth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty two
William Osborne
Signed and sealed in the presence of Samuel Shaw William Shaw
John Adamson's will:
This Indenture Witnesseth that I John Adamson of the Township of Pickering in the County of Ontario and Province of Canada West: Yeoman, do hereby make my last Will and Testament, it being uncertain the time of my departure; and being now in my perfect memory and Powers of Mind:-- to prevent any Confusion in my Family after my decease. I do arrange my Worldly affairs as follows. that is to say,
First: My Will is That my funeral charges and just debts shall be paid by my executrix and executors hereinafter named: -- The residue of my Estate and property which shall not be required for the payment of my just debts, funeral charges, and expences attending the execution of This my last Will, and the administration of my Estate, I Give, Devise, and Dispose thereof as follows, namely:
I Give and Bequeath to my beloved Wife Elizabeth Adamson all my real estate, personal property, goods, and chattells, household furniture, beds and bedding: for her use and support during her natural life, and the maintaining and educating my children who are under the age of twenty one years: -- Also I Will and Request that in case my Wife Elizabeth Adamson should die before the time that one or more of my youngest children shall come to the age of twenty one years, my Executors shall apply the profits or interests that may arise from my said real Estate, personal property, goods, and Chattels for the maintaining and educating either one or more of my said youngest children shall come to the Age of twenty one years as the case may be.
I Will and Request that all my Children (seven in number) shall have an equal share of all my Estate real and personal which said equal shares shall not be received until my Wife Elizabeth Adamson’s death -- but if the death of my Wife Elizabeth Adamson should take place before my youngest son(?) Henry Adamson shall come of Age then the said equal shares shall not be received until my said son Henry Adamson shall come to the age of twenty one years, subject to the following arrangement, (that is to say:)
I Will and Bequeath to my Eldest son Samuel Adamson his heirs and assigns the north fifty acres of Lot number seven in the fifth concession of the Township of Pickering. [pencilled note: Samuel was killed at Manitoba on 3rd Nov 1900 He had not disposed of this parcel]
I Give and Bequeath to my youngest son Henry Adamson his heirs and assigns the south fifty acres of the north hundred of Lot number seven in the fifth concession of the Township of Pickering aforesaid. [pencilled note: Henry sold this to Cawthra of Toronto][pencilled note: Henry cut and sold a lot of(?) wood off this place & depreciated the value]
I Give and Bequeath to my son Thomas Adamson his heirs or assigns the north east quarter of number eight (fifty acres) in the fifth concession of the Township of Pickering Aforesaid. [pencilled note: Thos sold this to Mulcock][pencilled note: Thomas was killed at the same time as Samuel -- He left no will -- Had nothing to will -- His widow Rachel Adamson lives in Toronto -- He left a family all grown up.]
I Give and Bequeath to my son Robert Adamson his heirs and assigns the east half of Lot number three in the Township of Tecumseth. [pencilled note: Robert sold this to Wm Train of Tecumseth now lives in Flos]
I Give and Bequeath to my son William Adamson, his heirs and assigns the north half of Lot number eighty in the first concession, east of the Penetangueshine Road in the Township of Tay. [pencilled note: Wm has not parted with this His P.O. is Waverley.]
I Give and Bequeath to my son John Adamson his heirs my west house situate on Richmond Street in the City of Toronto. [pencilled note: John has not parted with his Greenwood]
I Give and Bequeath to my daughter Sarah Ann Adamson her heirs my East House situate on Richmond street in the city of Toronto. [pencilled note: Sarah Ann Graham Minnedosa]
I Will and Request that as soon as the death of my beloved wife Elizabeth Adamson shall take place my real Estate and personal property to me belonging shall be valued by three honest and disinterested persons to be then appointed by Executors herein after named to ascertain the amount of the value of my said estate real and personal and then to be divided in such a manner that each child may have an equal share. Also I Will and request that in case my said beloved Wife Elizabeth Adamson shall die before my youngest son Henry Adamson shall come of age the valuation of my said Estate real and personal shall not take place and the division made untill my said youngest son Henry Adamson shall come to the age of twenty one years. [pencilled note: E A died in Apr 1901]
I Will and Request that as soon as the amount of the value of each of my said children’s share is ascertained in the way and manner before mentioned if the bequest by me made to each of my children as mentioned in another part of this my last Will and Testament shall amount to more than each child’s share then my said children whose bequest shall amount in value to more than each of my children’s share shall pay the balance to each of my children whose bequest comes short in value to each of my children’s equal share.
Also I Will and request that should any of my children die under age and without heirs that child’s share shall be divided equally among my surviving children.
Lastly I do hereby nominate and appoint my beloved Wife Elizabeth Adamson the Executrix and my (faithful -- crossed out) oldest son Samuel Adamson and my faithful and true friend William Bower Executors of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking all former Wills and Testaments by me made. [pencilled note: Executors all dead]
In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal [rest missing?]
Attached note:
S ½ & N ½ of lot 7 5 Con Pick’g
Rel. Es. R. 22 Nov. 1898 rec’d 28 Nov 98 Hy Adamson of Pick’g yeoman P’P’ -- Charlotte Elizabeth Cawthra of Toronto widow Hy Cawthra of same place Esquire & Wm Mulock Esq. Trustees under will of Joseph Cawthra deceased [?]
&
Elizabeth Beatrice Adamson wife of H [?]
NE ¼ 8 5 Con -
5276 B(?) Jan’y 16/84 Jany 25/84 Thos Adamson & wife to Wm Mulock
Attached note:
Write to Sam’ls widow
Attached note:
Write to Wm result of negotiations
There is no personal estate now outstanding
Samuel, Henry, Thomas, Robert, William & John were the only sons of Testator, and Sarah Ann the only daughter of Testator
John & Wm are willing to stand by the will & expr agreement waiving any claim to valuation --
Write Mulock and Cawthra as to this
In Train’s case all parties quit claimed
Also write to Sarah Ann & see what she will do
Attached note:
Values according to John Adamson
Henry’s 50 acres $1000
Thos 50 acres $1500
Sam’l’s 50 acres $1500
Wm’s said to be worth about $1500
Gravestone (Salem United Church Cemetery, Pickering, Ontario):
In memory of John Adamson A native of Yorkshire who died July 31, 1856 aged 52 years
Transcriptions from Our Family History:
A description (or descriptions) of the house John Adamson built in Pickering township (Our Family History, pp. 107-108):
In the summer kitchen with its brick floor and cherry table set with the complete set of willow pattern china dishes was a large window like our picture windows now a days. Outside, every year, by my choice, grew little red dahlias and coloured morning glorys, and in front of another window was a large round bed of annuals. This house was surrounded by flag stone walks and flag stone porches. The house was furnished with beautiful furniture and an extension table of cherry with twelve chairs of cherry, the backs of which were twisted limbs. Also a cherry tea table to match. A beautiful chest of walnut and a beautiful walnut serving table graced the living room. In the early days walnut trees grew in great numbers around Toronto.
The first acre of land for the Salem Cemetery was given by John Adamson in 1844 and services are held every last Sunday in June as decoration day. More land has been added and it is very attractive.
The yellow house near the sixth concession, one might call it Greenwood, has flagstone walks and large patches of flag stones on which one can walk in front of the doors. There is a little picket gate with some irons on a chain to make it stay closed and a pump near the corner of the house with a dipper hung with which to have a drink. Everyone, after taking a drink, threw the remains into a red radish bed. Oh, what radishes were ready in two weeks!
A short distance away was a sunflower path fifty feet square with a path leading to the privy which was white-washed inside and out and which could not be seen for the tall sunflowers.
from page 120:
Elizabeth Maw Sadler and John Adamson came to Canada from Thornton Pickering Yorkshire, England, in 1832 to “little Muddy York”, Toronto.
In partnership with John Adamson was George Harbron and his wife Mary Sadler, Elizabeth’s sister.
They were stone masons and built some of the first fine houses in Toronto. They had forty men working for them and went to Hamilton to bring back stones for sills, etc. They built the first seven in Toronto.
They built four lovely brick houses, two for John and two for George. When George died Mary lived in one and had the rent of the other on which she and her son, William (Bill) lived.
John Adamson and family moved to Greenwood, Pickering, Ontario, in 1844. He died July 31st, 1856. They were hauling in their wheat that day.
When a mason he went to work in a clean white suit with blackened boots with heels well polished.
from page 143:
Elizabeth Sadler Adamson’s orchard had a hawthorne hedge a quarter of a mile along the sixth concession of Pickering. Entering the big gate to a long lane, one arrived at the house with a huge fireplace in it into which a team of oxen drew the logs. A hawthorne hedge went along the south and east of the orchard in which grew a beautiful apple striped inside and out with red, Strawberry Pepper. Near it stood an old brass pan filled with pansies. One could lay on one’s back and eat the Snow apples which grew in front of the living room.
from page 146:
Grandma’s Well
Near the house was a platform with about twelve heavy timbers. In the middle was a box two feet square covering a hole. A well pail hung on the pole. This was put into the well and, hand over hand, was pulled out. The well was thirty-five feet deep and the water came to fifteen feet from the top. The water was cool and clear. Grass grew around the platform. At the edge grew a perennial flower of pink and mauve, light and rich. It came up every year.
Commentary
John’s parentage
These facts are relevant circumstantial information:
Time and place of birth:
John Adamson was married in Thornton Dale, Yorkshire, and his monumental inscription states that he was a native of Yorksire. The 1851 census (actually taken in early 1852) gives his age at his next birthday as 46 and his monumental inscription gives his age at his death in 1856 as 52.
Based on this information, we should be looking for a birth or baptism in the early to mid 1800s in Yorkshire, probably not far from Thornton Dale.
Occupation and skills:
John’s occupation is usually recorded as stone mason, and sometimes as brickmaker. Soon after his arrival in Canada, he involved in the construction of Toronto’s first sewer system. After moving east of Toronto, John Adamson created a brickmaking operation on his property. He constructed several of the surviving older houses in the neighbourhood and built a Methodist on his property for the use of the community (John’s wife was a Methodist). He is also known to have been an outstanding woodworker, carving the pulpit and items within the church (which have since been stolen), and making some very fine furniture (also now stolen).
Naming patterns:
John’s children were named:
Mary (died young)
Samuel
Mary (died young)
John Maw (died young)
Thomas
Robert
Sarah Ann
William Wilfred
John Maw
Henry Gamble
The parents of John’s wife were Wilfred Sadler and Mary Maw. “Gamble” is known to have been used as Henry’s middle name as it was the surname of a family friend.
Based on typical naming patterns during the period, the names Samuel and Sarah Ann, and possibly Thomas, are fairly likely be significant in John Adamson’s family.
Based on these considerations, I long ago formed the suspicion that John came from the area of Norton near Malton in Yorkshire. A John Adamson, of the right age to be John’s father, had a brickmaking operation in Malton, and this John and his wife Hannah had a son John baptized in Norton in 1806. Unfortunately, this son died two months after his baptism, and John and Hannah appear to have had no further sons named John. However, there were other Adamson families in the neighbourhood. In particular, my attention was drawn to Samuel Adamson and his wife Sarah, who also had children baptized in Norton during the same period. This couple had a son John baptized in 1799. This date seemed a little too early to be consistent the other evidence for John’s birthdate given above, so I reluctantly looked elsewhere. I systematically investigated all the John Adamsons born in Yorkshire in the early to mid 1800s, and more or less ruled them all out. (For a time, I thought I had shown that John was the son of George Adamson of Loftus, but evidence eventually surfaced contradicting this.) John Adamson became a brick wall in my research.
DNA evidence:
DNA evidence now (2025) strongly supports that John Adamson was the son of Samuel and Sarah Adamson. It seems I was placing too much trust in the accuracy of the 1850s evidence for John’s age.
The DNA evidence works like this:
John Adamson left several children who have living descendants. Samuel and Sarah Adamson had (in addition to a son John in 1799) a son Thomas in 1786 with living descendants. If John were Thomas’s brother, some of their living (or recently deceased) descendants would be fourth cousins. Many of John’s and Thomas’s descendants have excellent paper trail genealogies back to John and Thomas. I have already confirmed with DNA many of the paper trails of John’s descendants. Comparing the DNA between descendents of John and descendants of Thomas who have taken Ancestry.com DNA test clearly shows a relationship between John’s and Thomas’s descendants at the fourth cousin level or closer. (Closer is impossible for geographic reasons. John emigrated to Canada and most of his descendants either remain there or have a well known origin from there, while the descendants of Thomas in question either remained in England or emigrated to the USA.)
Here are the branches that I will use to show the connection:
Thomas Adamson (b. 1786) had, among other children, a son Samuel Adamson (b. 1813) who emigrated to the USA, ending up in Ohio. He also had a son James Adamson (b. 1820), whose descendants remained in Yorkshire.
The John Adamson of this page (who I am arguing was Thomas’s brother) emigrated to Canada and had, among other children, Samuel Adamson (b. 1829), Thomas Adamson (b. 1837), Robert Adamson (b. 1839), John Maw Adamson (b. 1847), and Henry Gamble Adamson (b. 1849).
A gg-grandson of James Adamson (d. 1820) and took Ancestry.com DNA tests and his results show the following “matches”:
A gggg-grandson of Samuel (b. 1813) – 27 cM;
A gg-granddaughter of Samuel (b. 1829) – 42 cM;
Two great-grandchildren and one gg-grandchild of Thomas (b. 1837): 54 cM, 56 cM, 37 cM;
A great-grandson of Robert (b. 1839) – 28 cM;
A great-grandson and a ggg-granddaughter of John Maw (b. 1847) – 37 cM, 20 cM;
A great-grandson (me) of Henry Gamble (b. 1849) – 27 cM.
The descendant of Samuel (b. 1813), in addition to the match above, shows a match to me (a descendant of Henry Gamble Adamson) at 23 cM. Since the descendant of Samuel (b. 1813) is two or three generations younger than most of the others, it is to be expected that fewer and lower matches show up for him.
Also, the daughter of the gg-grandson of James Adamson (d. 1820) shows a match, that for some reason is missing in her father’s list on Ancestry, of 24 cM to a great-grandson of Samuel (b. 1829).
Assuming the John Adamson of this page and Thomas Adamson (b. 1786) were brothers, both sons of Samuel and Sarah Adamson, then the closest relationship in any of the matches above is 10 degrees of genetic separation (fourth cousin once removed). I believe it is unlikely, given the numbers, that John and Thomas’s relationship was more distant than brotherhood.
Naming patterns, as discussed above, are additional evidence for this relationship. The John Admason of this page named his eldest son Samuel and second daughter Sarah, following the most common naming pattern if his parents were named Samuel and Sarah.
Also, as discussed above, there is some support from occupational evidence. John started a brickmaking operation in Canada, and was an outstanding worker in wood. During the period when Samuel and Sarah were having children baptized in Norton there was another Adamson family having children baptized in the register who had a brickmaking operation. I am not sure what the relationship between the two families was, but it is certainly conceivable that the John Adamson of this page learned about brickmaking from the other Adamson family, especially considering that John’s father died when John was a young teenager.
There is also evidence connecting John’s woodworking skills to Samuel’s family. I am not sure what Samuel’s occupation was, but Samuel’s father, uncle, and brother are all recorded as being carpenters.
I think that, taken together, the evidence that John Adamson was the son of Samuel and Sarah Adamson is convincing. Most likely, the ages recorded in the 1851 census and on his burial monument are off by a few years. I think it is less likely that the John of the 1799 baptism died and another son John was born a few years later with both the burial and baptism being unrecorded.
The evidence for the identity of Samuel’s mother is as follows. Samuel’s eldest child was baptized in Norton in 1782. Four of the entries for the baptisms and burials of Samuel’s children in the Norton register record the mother’s name as Sarah. Samuel Adamson married Sarah Sanderson in Burythorpe in 1781. Robert Sanderson was a witness at the marriage of Samuel’s daughter Sarah.
References
John Adamson household, 1842 census of Canada West, Toronto (City), St. Georges, Volume 1, Reference MG 31 C1 (item number 11172); digital image, Library and Archives Canada, Censuses (https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/census/Pages/census.aspx : accessed 9 March 2014),citing LAC microfilm C-1344
A digital image may be viewed here: http://data2.collectionscanada.gc.ca/1842/uc/jpg/004569584_00487.jpg
John Adamson household, 1851 census of Canada West, Ontario (district 26),Pickering Township (subdistrict 245), ED 12, stamped page 139, line 15; digital image, Library and Archives Canada, Censuses (https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/census/Pages/census.aspx : accessed 9 March 2014),citing LAC microfilm C-11742
A digital image may be viewed here: http://data2.collectionscanada.gc.ca/e/e095/e002363000.jpg
John Adamson: Last Will and Testament, Pickering-Ajax Digital Archive (Canada). Digital images may be viewed here: http://www.pada.ca/books/page/?id=2110&view=image&
John Adamson - Elizabeth Sadler marriage, Thornton Dale, Yorkshire (Bishop’s Transcripts); FHL microfilm 990864, item 2 (Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah).
A transcription of the gravestone of John Adamson is available in the Pickering-Ajax Digital Archive. URL: http://www.pada.ca/cemeteries/results/?name=9417
“In memory of John Adamson A native of Yorkshire who died July 31, 1856 aged 52 years”
Marker: J.A.
Hawn, Elizabeth Beatrice Adamson. Our Family History. (Gravenhurst, Ontario: Baxter Press Ltd., October 1969).
[Elizabeth Beatrice Adamson Hawn, the compiler, was a granddaughter of John Adamson.]
McLean, Beatrice, and Mrs. Irven McLean. Greenwood Through the Years (Greenwood Farm Forum, 1960). Digital images: Pickering-Ajax Digital Archive
URL: http://www.pada.ca/books/details/?id=89
See in particular page 13 (the construction of the church at Salem), and pages 42 and 43 (a description of the brickyard at Salem.)
Ontario. Probate Records 1854-1865. [FHL citation: "Ontario, Ontario, Canada records," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C39L-W86W?view=explore : Nov 25, 2025), image 99 of 478; . Image Group Number: 008482774]
Parish register, Thornton Dale, Yorkshire. Digital images on Findmypast.co.uk accessed 24 February 2018.
Ontario. Land Records 1848-1854. [FHL citation: "Ontario, Canada records," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSVK-N9YY-Z?view=explore : Nov 25, 2025), image 709 of 761; . Image Group Number: 008126229]
Ontario. Land Record 1855-1859. [FHL citation: "Ontario, Ontario, Canada records," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3H6-Y9F8-D?view=explore : Nov 25, 2025), image 269 of 650; . Image Group Number: 008637063]
Pickering. Deeds 1847-1850 [FHL citation: "Pickering, Durham, Ontario, Canada records," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3Q8-YSMS?view=explore : Nov 25, 2025), image 264 of 537; . Image Group Number: 008549857]
Pickering. Township Property Records 1805-1850. [FHL citation: "Pickering, York, Home District, Upper Canada, British North America records," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSY9-SQ8D-G?view=explore : Nov 25, 2025), image 47 of 93; . Image Group Number: 008346852]
Pickering. Deeds 1850-1855. “FHL citation: "Pickering, Durham, Ontario, Canada records," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3Q8-YSMQ?view=explore : Nov 25, 2025), image 254 of 535; . Image Group Number: 008549858]
Tay Township. Land Records 1847-1863. [FHL citation: "Tay Township, Simcoe, Ontario, Canada records," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3HX-79Q7-W?view=explore : Nov 25, 2025), image 66 of 259; . Image Group Number: 008636975]
Tecumseth Township. Deeds 1847-1854. [FHL citation: "Tecumseth Township, Simcoe, Ontario, Canada records," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3QZ-CSGR-6?view=explore : Nov 25, 2025), image 208 of 260; . Image Group Number: 008548544]
Toronto. Deed Abstracts 1856. [FHL citation: "Toronto, Ontario, Canada records," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3H6-L3HX?view=explore : Nov 26, 2025), image 450 of 473; . Image Group Number: 008636266]
Toronto. Deeds. May 1799- December 1850. [FHL citation: "Toronto, Ontario, Canada records," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3H6-GQ95-Y?view=explore : Nov 25, 2025), image 312 of 481; . Image Group Number: 008636063]
Toronto. Deeds 1833-1835. [FHL citation: "Toronto, Ontario, Canada records," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3H6-NS15-5?view=explore : Nov 26, 2025), image 302 of 434; . Image Group Number: 008637229]
Toronto. Deeds January 1845-July 1845. [FHL citation: "Toronto, Ontario, Canada records," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3H6-GSTQ-K?view=explore : Nov 25, 2025), image 238 of 417; . Image Group Number: 008637233]
Toronto. Land Records. 1839-1843. [FHL citation: "Toronto, Ontario, Canada records," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3H6-LSRP-Y?view=explore : Nov 26, 2025), image 620 of 687; . Image Group Number: 008637231]
Toronto. Land Records 1800-1958. [FHL citation: "Toronto, Ontario, Canada records," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3H6-BH8S?view=explore : Nov 25, 2025), image 645 of 664; . Image Group Number: 008637191]
Toronto Land Records 1800-1958. [FHL citation: "Toronto, Ontario, Canada records," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3H6-BCZ2?view=explore : Nov 25, 2025), image 647 of 664; . Image Group Number: 008637191]
Toronto Land Records 1800-1958. [FHL citation: "Toronto, Ontario, Canada records," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3H6-L95B-7?view=explore : Nov 25, 2025), image 198 of 295; . Image Group Number: 008637160]
Will of George Adamson. Proved 1849 in the Exchequer Court of York, volume 221, folio 1068.
Will of Thomas Adamson of Lofthouse. Proved 1854 in the Prerogative Court of York, volume 234 folio 226.
Wood, William R. Past Years in Pickering. (Toronto, 1911).
York. Land Records 1843. [FHL citation: "York, Ontario, Canada records," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3H6-RGJC?view=explore : Nov 25, 2025), image 272 of 510; . Image Group Number: 008637123]
York. Land Records 1843. [FHL citation: "York, Ontario, Canada records," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3H6-RGXL?view=explore : Nov 25, 2025), image 369 of 510; . Image Group Number: 008637123]
York. Land Records 1846. [FHL citation: "York, Ontario, Canada records," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3H6-PS9K-L?view=explore : Nov 25, 2025), image 116 of 513; . Image Group Number: 008637128]