 He soon began to exhibit his literary skills, and in 1779 he initiated a diary which he kept until just before he died in 1848.Until the age of ten, Adams grew up on the family farm in Braintree, largely in the care of his mother.Though frequently absent due to his participation in the American Revolution, John Adams maintained a correspondence with his son, encouraging him to read works by authors such as Thucydides and Hugo Grotius.