Roots in Ulster Soil, p. 155:
"John Adams had a farm at Ballyweaney (later called Chequer Hall farm) and he registered the freehold of this farm on 30th October 1780. In the 18th century weaving was usually carried on by weavers working in their own houses, but John Adams was before his time in that he erected a weaving shed on his farm. Here he employed quite a lot of weavers to produce "Chequer" linen, which was woven with blue and white linen thread in the pattern of a chequerboard. The thread was spun and dyed, as well as woven on the premises. There was a substantial trade in "Chequer" both in Great Britain and in the United States of America. It was particularly popular for the curtains and hangings of four-poster beds of that period. The "Chequer" was stamped with a brass stamp bearing an illustration of a spinning wheel and the words "Jn. Adams, Loughgeel, Antrim" round the outside. This brass stamp was found some years age in one of the fields at Chequer Hall when it was being ploughed and came into the possession of J.B. Hamilton, solicitor, of Ballymoney. John Adams died in 1807 and after his death the manufacture at Chequer Hall gradually ceased, and the weaving shed was converted into an ordinary farm building.
p. 158:
"In his will John Adams left L400 and the profits from his farm at Glenleslie to his daughter Mrs. Elizabeth Brown (Glenleslie to go to grandson John Brown on his mother's death): to daughter Mary bones the farm at Ballyboyland, where they now live; Chequer Hall to his daughter Ann. He also leaves small annuities to William Boreland of Ballyboyland and Robert Boreland, who lived with him at Chequer Hall. John Adams died 12th August 1807, aged 65, and is buried at Kilraughts Old Graveyard."
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
ADAMS, John (1742-1807), a farmer in Ballyweaney, Loughguile, Co., Antrim, was also a pioneer of industrial production of linen, moving away from the old system in which self-employed linen weavers worked in their own homes, producing linen webs to order for itinerant drapers.
Adams employed a "great number of hands" in weaving sheds and other buildings on his farm, which came to be known as Checker Hall. They were engaged in spinning, dyeing and weaving an unusual blue and white chequer linen, which became very popular for bed hangings, and was exported to England and America. In 1784, over 100 workers, in gratitude to their employer, reaped his corn in one day, and were afterwards entertained by Adams. Adams died 12 August 1807 and was buried in Old Kilraughts. His will distributed land and property between his wife, Elizabeth Borland and five daughters, two of whom were blind and unmarried, but Checker Hall's linen production ceased. Account books survive. His brother James Adams owned a thread factory and two farms, and he had at least one other sibling, a sister. His sons-in-law were Rev. James Brown, d.1850, (qv?), James Bones, d. 1841, (qv?), a United Irishman who emigrated to Savannah, Georgia, and Rev. William J. Staveley, son of William Staveley, d.1825(qv?).
Linde Lunney, May 25, 1999
"John Adams had a farm at Ballyweaney (later called Chequer Hall farm) and he registered the freehold of this farm on 30th October 1780. In the 18th century weaving was usually carried on by weavers working in their own houses, but John Adams was before his time in that he erected a weaving shed on his farm. Here he employed quite a lot of weavers to produce "Chequer" linen, which was woven with blue and white linen thread in the pattern of a chequerboard. The thread was spun and dyed, as well as woven on the premises. There was a substantial trade in "Chequer" both in Great Britain and in the United States of America. It was particularly popular for the curtains and hangings of four-poster beds of that period. The "Chequer" was stamped with a brass stamp bearing an illustration of a spinning wheel and the words "Jn. Adams, Loughgeel, Antrim" round the outside. This brass stamp was found some years age in one of the fields at Chequer Hall when it was being ploughed and came into the possession of J.B. Hamilton, solicitor, of Ballymoney. John Adams died in 1807 and after his death the manufacture at Chequer Hall gradually ceased, and the weaving shed was converted into an ordinary farm building.
p. 158:
"In his will John Adams left L400 and the profits from his farm at Glenleslie to his daughter Mrs. Elizabeth Brown (Glenleslie to go to grandson John Brown on his mother's death): to daughter Mary bones the farm at Ballyboyland, where they now live; Chequer Hall to his daughter Ann. He also leaves small annuities to William Boreland of Ballyboyland and Robert Boreland, who lived with him at Chequer Hall. John Adams died 12th August 1807, aged 65, and is buried at Kilraughts Old Graveyard."
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
ADAMS, John (1742-1807), a farmer in Ballyweaney, Loughguile, Co., Antrim, was also a pioneer of industrial production of linen, moving away from the old system in which self-employed linen weavers worked in their own homes, producing linen webs to order for itinerant drapers.
Adams employed a "great number of hands" in weaving sheds and other buildings on his farm, which came to be known as Checker Hall. They were engaged in spinning, dyeing and weaving an unusual blue and white chequer linen, which became very popular for bed hangings, and was exported to England and America. In 1784, over 100 workers, in gratitude to their employer, reaped his corn in one day, and were afterwards entertained by Adams. Adams died 12 August 1807 and was buried in Old Kilraughts. His will distributed land and property between his wife, Elizabeth Borland and five daughters, two of whom were blind and unmarried, but Checker Hall's linen production ceased. Account books survive. His brother James Adams owned a thread factory and two farms, and he had at least one other sibling, a sister. His sons-in-law were Rev. James Brown, d.1850, (qv?), James Bones, d. 1841, (qv?), a United Irishman who emigrated to Savannah, Georgia, and Rev. William J. Staveley, son of William Staveley, d.1825(qv?).
Linde Lunney, May 25, 1999
Roots in Ulster Soil, p. 155:
"John Adams had a farm at Ballyweaney (later called Chequer Hall farm) and he registered the freehold of this farm on 30th October 1780. In the 18th century weaving was usually carried on by weavers working in their own houses, but John Adams was before his time in that he erected a weaving shed on his farm. Here he employed quite a lot of weavers to produce "Chequer" linen, which was woven with blue and white linen thread in the pattern of a chequerboard. The thread was spun and dyed, as well as woven on the premises. There was a substantial trade in "Chequer" both in Great Britain and in the United States of America. It was particularly popular for the curtains and hangings of four-poster beds of that period. The "Chequer" was stamped with a brass stamp bearing an illustration of a spinning wheel and the words "Jn. Adams, Loughgeel, Antrim" round the outside. This brass stamp was found some years age in one of the fields at Chequer Hall when it was being ploughed and came into the possession of J.B. Hamilton, solicitor, of Ballymoney. John Adams died in 1807 and after his death the manufacture at Chequer Hall gradually ceased, and the weaving shed was converted into an ordinary farm building.
p. 158:
"In his will John Adams left L400 and the profits from his farm at Glenleslie to his daughter Mrs. Elizabeth Brown (Glenleslie to go to grandson John Brown on his mother's death): to daughter Mary bones the farm at Ballyboyland, where they now live; Chequer Hall to his daughter Ann. He also leaves small annuities to William Boreland of Ballyboyland and Robert Boreland, who lived with him at Chequer Hall. John Adams died 12th August 1807, aged 65, and is buried at Kilraughts Old Graveyard."
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
ADAMS, John (1742-1807), a farmer in Ballyweaney, Loughguile, Co., Antrim, was also a pioneer of industrial production of linen, moving away from the old system in which self-employed linen weavers worked in their own homes, producing linen webs to order for itinerant drapers.
Adams employed a "great number of hands" in weaving sheds and other buildings on his farm, which came to be known as Checker Hall. They were engaged in spinning, dyeing and weaving an unusual blue and white chequer linen, which became very popular for bed hangings, and was exported to England and America. In 1784, over 100 workers, in gratitude to their employer, reaped his corn in one day, and were afterwards entertained by Adams. Adams died 12 August 1807 and was buried in Old Kilraughts. His will distributed land and property between his wife, Elizabeth Borland and five daughters, two of whom were blind and unmarried, but Checker Hall's linen production ceased. Account books survive. His brother James Adams owned a thread factory and two farms, and he had at least one other sibling, a sister. His sons-in-law were Rev. James Brown, d.1850, (qv?), James Bones, d. 1841, (qv?), a United Irishman who emigrated to Savannah, Georgia, and Rev. William J. Staveley, son of William Staveley, d.1825(qv?).
Linde Lunney, May 25, 1999
"John Adams had a farm at Ballyweaney (later called Chequer Hall farm) and he registered the freehold of this farm on 30th October 1780. In the 18th century weaving was usually carried on by weavers working in their own houses, but John Adams was before his time in that he erected a weaving shed on his farm. Here he employed quite a lot of weavers to produce "Chequer" linen, which was woven with blue and white linen thread in the pattern of a chequerboard. The thread was spun and dyed, as well as woven on the premises. There was a substantial trade in "Chequer" both in Great Britain and in the United States of America. It was particularly popular for the curtains and hangings of four-poster beds of that period. The "Chequer" was stamped with a brass stamp bearing an illustration of a spinning wheel and the words "Jn. Adams, Loughgeel, Antrim" round the outside. This brass stamp was found some years age in one of the fields at Chequer Hall when it was being ploughed and came into the possession of J.B. Hamilton, solicitor, of Ballymoney. John Adams died in 1807 and after his death the manufacture at Chequer Hall gradually ceased, and the weaving shed was converted into an ordinary farm building.
p. 158:
"In his will John Adams left L400 and the profits from his farm at Glenleslie to his daughter Mrs. Elizabeth Brown (Glenleslie to go to grandson John Brown on his mother's death): to daughter Mary bones the farm at Ballyboyland, where they now live; Chequer Hall to his daughter Ann. He also leaves small annuities to William Boreland of Ballyboyland and Robert Boreland, who lived with him at Chequer Hall. John Adams died 12th August 1807, aged 65, and is buried at Kilraughts Old Graveyard."
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
ADAMS, John (1742-1807), a farmer in Ballyweaney, Loughguile, Co., Antrim, was also a pioneer of industrial production of linen, moving away from the old system in which self-employed linen weavers worked in their own homes, producing linen webs to order for itinerant drapers.
Adams employed a "great number of hands" in weaving sheds and other buildings on his farm, which came to be known as Checker Hall. They were engaged in spinning, dyeing and weaving an unusual blue and white chequer linen, which became very popular for bed hangings, and was exported to England and America. In 1784, over 100 workers, in gratitude to their employer, reaped his corn in one day, and were afterwards entertained by Adams. Adams died 12 August 1807 and was buried in Old Kilraughts. His will distributed land and property between his wife, Elizabeth Borland and five daughters, two of whom were blind and unmarried, but Checker Hall's linen production ceased. Account books survive. His brother James Adams owned a thread factory and two farms, and he had at least one other sibling, a sister. His sons-in-law were Rev. James Brown, d.1850, (qv?), James Bones, d. 1841, (qv?), a United Irishman who emigrated to Savannah, Georgia, and Rev. William J. Staveley, son of William Staveley, d.1825(qv?).
Linde Lunney, May 25, 1999
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