This locket was given to Abigail by John on his departure for Europe to serve as Peace Commissioner in 1779. This gold locket contains plaited hair under a glass bezel. Inscription reads: “Hair of John and Abigail”. The front of the locket shows paint on ivory of an allegorical figure looking towards the sea with inscribed shield. Inscription reads: “YIELD WHATEVER IS IN THE RIGHT”.
The exact origin of the locket is unknown. John could have purchased it in Philadelphia while serving in the Continental Congress before departing for Paris in February 1778. Despite wartime disruptions to commerce, merchants were still operating at that time.
Alternatively, the locket may have been acquired in France. John was appointed joint commissioner to France alongside Benjamin Franklin and Arthur Lee, sailing to Paris with his young son, John Quincy, and arriving on April 1, 1778.
Over a year later, John returned home with John Quincy in June 1779. During his time at home, John drafted the Massachusetts State Constitution. In September, he was appointed to negotiate treaties of peace and commerce with Great Britain and is believed to have given the locket to Abigail before departing again. He sailed for France with his sons John Quincy (12) and Charles (9) that December. After a leak on the frigate La Sensible forced them to dock in El Ferrol, Spain, they traveled across northern Spain by carriage and donkey, arriving in Paris on February 9, 1780.
Abigail would not see John again until the summer of 1784, when she arrived in London after the war. The locket stands as a symbol of their long separation and John’s sentimental nature.
Lockets have held an iconic place in history since the 15th century, when men and women wore them as pendants, brooches, or rings containing portraits or perfumed cloth. By the 17th century, they became symbols of mourning and political sentiment. For example, after King Charles I’s execution in 1649, supporters kept his portrait hidden within their lockets. The 18th century saw the emergence of specific motifs, such as “eye” lockets featuring painted eyes of loved ones, and hair inside lockets became increasingly decorative and visible.
Over the years, lockets have evolved to reflect changing trends. The 1980s experienced a revival of classic, engraved Victorian lockets, while the 1990s favored minimal heart designs. The 2000s introduced birthstones and other decorative gems.
British locket enthusiast and collector Sheherazade Goldsmith states about lockets: “They’re heirlooms that represent a moment in time…walking in London I’d come across engraved silver hearts in Portobello Road antique stalls and wonder about the stories.”
As Mr. Goldsmith’s quote points out, lockets continue to be popular, because they are rich in stories and are such deeply personal gifts. Abigail’s locket has a story to tell. The figure on the front of the locket is a woman looking out to sea. John gave this to Abigail as he is called to diplomatic service overseas. How appropriate is this figure when we think of Abigail once again saying goodbye to John. The back side contains hair from both John and Abigail. A remembrance for Abigail that her husband is still close to her heart.
Dimensions: The locket is 5.0 cm tall and 3.8 cm wide.
Grantham, Samantha. 2024. “Love and Mourning: What’s inside of a Locket? - Wenham Museum.” Wenham Museum. August 14, 2024.
Harris, Wilhemina. 1966-1968. Historic Furnishings Report of the Old House, Adams National Historic Site, Quincy Massachusetts, Volume X.
“History of the Locket | Lockets Past and Present.” n.d. With You Lockets.
Massachusetts Historical Society: Adams Family Timeline. 2025.
Rachel Church. 2023. “The Surprising History of the Locket.” Victor Mayer. February 20, 2023.