User:WilyD/William Case/Ezra Adams

Ezra Adams (1788 - 1871) was a Methodist circuit rider.

Preaching
Adams converted to Methodism on August 4th, 1811, while living in the Eastern townships of Lower Canada. He moved to York, Upper Canada in the spring of 1812, where he became a schoolteacher. Adams was accepted on trial as a circuit rider by the improvised Canadian Annual Conference of 1813 organised by Henry Ryan, and assigned to the Long Point Circuit. There he worked alongside David Culp. In 1814, he was moved to the Bay of Quinte Circuit. At the annual conference for the Genesee District, on June 29th, 1815, Adams' trial period ended, and he was made a deacon. Adams was assigned to the Bay of Quinte Circuit that year, where he again rode alongside David Culp. That year saw an increase of 123 members in the Methodist church on their circuit, spurred by a revival in Adolphustown.

In 1817, he was assigned to the Hallowell circuit, alongside Wyatt Chamberlain. In 1818, he was assigned to the Ottawa circuit, where he laboured with Renaldo Everts.

At the 1819 conference, his trial period ended, and he was given deacon's orders. That year, he was again assigned to the Ottawa circuit. In 1820, he was re-assigned to the Thames circuit. There he contract an illness quite severe, that most expected him to die, and fellow circuit rider Ninian Holmes prepared a funeral sermon for him. Although he eventually recovered, his illness prevented him from riding for much of the year, and membership in the Episcopal church on his circuit decreased by twenty seven.

In 1821, he received his elder's orders. That year, he remained on the Thames circuit, where he joined by Thomas Demorest. The pair oversaw an increase in church membership of sixty-seven people. In 1822, he was assigned to the Niagara circuit, where he rode alongside John Ryerson. In 1823, he was assigned to the Niagara circuit, where he rode alongside William Ryerson. The pair oversaw increase in church membership of seven, including Henry Wilkinson of St. Catharines.

In the 1830s, Adams worked at a Methodist mission and school in Muncey with George Henry. Between 1831 and 1835, the number of Methodists in Muncey grew from 57 to 257.

Personal life
Adams married Isa Proctor. They had six children:


 * Betsy Almira Adams (1815)
 * Henry Proctor Adams (1822)
 * William Case Adams (1823)
 * Eliza Roxana Adams (1828)
 * George Washington Adams (1830)
 * John Adams (1832)

Isa died during childbirth.