In my paternal lineage, My Lineage from the Roots Up, vol. 2, there are two “Adams” chapters. Whether these two families are linked in between is unclear at this point, but here’s how I’m linked to them. Additional references and footnotes are available in the published book.
My great-grandmother was Lizzie Adams (d. 1975, Indiana), who married Dave Prater in 1913. She was born June 11, 1889, in Kentucky, to Rev. John Adams and Sarah Amanda (Williams) Adams. Rev. John was born May 1863 in Kentucky to Daniel Adams and his second wife Matilda (Kilgore) Adams.
John Adams and Sarah Amanda “Mandy” Williams were married about 1885 and had at least 12 children, including Lizzie.
John’s father Daniel Adams was born July 9, 1799, in Roaring River, Wilkes Co., North Carolina, to Stephen Adams and his first wife Mary Mollie (Webb) Adams. Daniel also had 12 children (including Zilpha Adams Prater), but between two wives.
Stephen Adams was born in 1778 in Roaring River, Wilkes Co., North Carolina, to John Hobbs Adams, Jr and his first wife Nancy Ann (Caudill) Adams. He had at least eight children, all presumably with his first wife.
John Hobbs Adams, Jr was also known as Old John of Kentucky and is said to be the predecessor of all Adams’ in Letcher Co., Kentucky. He had 14 children, only the first 3 with his first wife. He was born about 1747 in Fairfax Co. of Virginia Colony (later to become Loudon Co.) to John Hobbs Adams and Ann Caudill.
This is where the line starts to fray. John Hobbs Adams (Sr.) was born about 1727 in Stafford Co. (later became Fairfax Co. and then Loudon Co.), Virginia, to Benjamin Adams (d. 1756) and presumably Nancy Agnes (Ezell) Adams. Benjamin was born by 1710 in Isle of Wright, Virginia, to Thomas Adams (1690-1752), who is said to be the son of William Adams (1660-1701) who immigrated from England.
So this is where that line ends. But I hit upon another Adams family when looking at a series of maternal lines off the Prater line.
Mary (Adams) Clagett was born about 1616 (baptized October 25, 1616, at St. Leonard, Eastcheap, Bridge Ward, London) to Sir Thomas Adams and Ann (Mapted) Adams. She married Edward Claggett (1613-1672) about 1636, presumably in London. (Edward was mentioned in Samuel Pepys’ diary of the London fire of 1666). Among their children was Thomas.
Thomas Clagett was born in England about 1645 (baptized April 10, 1645, St. Mary’s Hill, London). He was an officer in the Royal Navy before arriving in Maryland in 1670. He settled in Calvert Co. at St. Leonard’s Creek, which he named. His marriages are a matter of debate, but his children included a son Thomas, who inherited the family estate at Weston (and was buried there).
This Thomas Claggett (Jr) was born presumably about 1675 in St. Leonard’s, Calvert Co., Maryland. He married Mary Keene likely about 1700 in Maryland and named his children in his will. His daughter Elizabeth was born about 1708 in Prince George’s Co., Maryland, and married Thomas Sprigg Prather about 1725.
From here, it would seem to be a straight paternal lineage down the Prater line. But the Praters have an endogamous heritage and some uncertainty about which sibling had which child.
Thomas Sprigg Prather and Elizabeth Clagett’s grandson William Prater married Elizabeth Fugate. Their daughter Obedience “Biddy” Prater married her cousin William Musick Prater.
William and Biddy had Elias Prater, who married Zilpha Adams (daughter of Daniel above). Their son Elijah was my great-great-grandfather (Dave Prater’s father).
So the lines do cross here - but whether the Adams’ families were related in England is still an unanswered question.